The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-24
THE BRIGGS CASE UP.
Presbyterian Divines Wax
Warm in Its Discussion.
PROF. SMITHS SUGGESTION.
He Makes Re0a1k From the Gallery
That Settles Moderator Craig
The Report On the Army.

plunged into the Briggs question immedi-
ate!y after prayer. DR.. Young. chairman
OF the committee on bills and overtures.
took the floor TO present a report distribus-
ing number of bills ard overtures 70 sew
eral committees. Among them were some
bearing directly or indirectly upon the
Briggs case before the judicial committee.
Rev. Booth, OF New York. entered a pro-
test against the obvious attempt TO iniiu-
ence a judicial committee by pouring IN
upon /, these overtures for and against
the case. Rev Brown, Briggs colaborer
and sympa;hizer. said:
We have q right 20 know the sentiment Of the
church upoa asy suc,sct before IL. aud the ooly
proper way 10 secure kuo.ledge of that sea.i-
mens IL through the committee OF the assembly.
DR.. Herrick Johnson. Of the Mccormick
Theological seminary, Of Chicago, one OF
the foremost Briggs leaders in the body.
spoke briefly. and Rev. Thomas G. Hall, Of
Chicago. said:
The pseee9ents ana practices in civil courts
have no weight vita Us. The court would have
ssken al the prosecution OF an innocent man.
Ecclesiastical prcccdeuss are overw he mingly
in favor OF the right OF petition. /. il tae right
that every citizen psssesseA tApplsuse.i
The recommendation Of the committee
was finally adopted by decisive vote IN
the majority.
Ex-Moderator Smith. president o: the
United Christian commission organized
for work in connection with the L nitec
states army, submitted statement to the
effect that the commission must disconr-
age the enlistment of the sons of Christian
families into the army unless same safe
guards now lacking are thrown around
them Gambling in the army is not pro-
nibited either by Law or regulation, and
this was encouraged by the example of
older officers and soldiers. The post
canteen affords unrestricted opportunity
for and inducements to drink. The
architecture Of the bar racks places
the soldiers at fearful disad-
vantage, exposing them to vices
and indecencies Of the irreligious
members Of the rank and file. Sunday
work, not called for by any exigency, is
still required by the army authorities.
The recommendation of the religious
teachers In the army for the benefit Of
soldiers did not receive the approval or
consideration of the authorities. In fact
they were discouraged. The commission
recommended that the army orders Of
August last on this subject be revoked
and that chaplains be appointed for every
regiment. The recommendations of the
committee were approved and the report
received. The special order for the after
noon session was the report of the judicial
committee on the Briggs case. Imme-
diatcly after the afternoon prayer, DR..
Baker, chairman, was recognized and ad-
dressed the moderator Of the assembly az
follows:
earnestly hoped that but one report would
Q presented by our committee. but In this
have been disappointed. But shall we not all
resolve that whatever he the decision dnally
reached, We viii. as loyal Presbyteriaus, abide
by the decision. Let US resolve that We will
frown down and utterly d,scountananeo any
suggestion from whatever quarter it may come.
Of schism or division in our dear church.
The majority report finds that the APP
peal and specifications of error alleged
were filed in due time. and submit resoiu-
tons that the appeal be entertained, three
hours to be allotted to the hearing and
one-haif hour to each party, and that the
assembly then vote upen the resolution
that the appeal be entertained by the gen.
eral assembly and the case proceed to trial,
in accordance with tho provisions of the
Book Of Discipline. The report is signed
by Baker. the chairman; Du,iield. Hays,
Leftwich, Maxwell. Sanders, Peacock.
Randall, Green. McDouga!i. Pershing,
Fulton, Cummings. Graydon and Or.
DIR. Baker also presented a supplemental
report, giving the principal reasons which
influenced the committee In reaching their
conclusions.
The minority report was read by Rev. S.
]. Nichols, of ST. Louis. He said he
knew tina; in making n minority report me
and his associates are under suspicion
already as appearing TO oppose the appeal.
This Was no, their attitude. They were
not antagonizing the claim OF power in
the assembly To enter;ain the appeal.
The minority report recommends that
the majority repor, be amended by substi-
tutiug the following;
We lni the appeal In order and recommend
tha; the parties be heard la accordance with .ac
provisions OF the BOOK Of Discipline. We nsx
this for the following reasons; The ma osity re-
po.. p.,judges tho appeal by advising the as
ser.ialy t. !o what the Book oi Discipline saws
shall tie determined only after the parties have
been heard.
This report is signed by Meyer, Steh-
bins and Nichols. The majority report
fixed tor the assembly the very form at
verdict ii was asked TO reach. This the
minority thought, Was not regular nor
lawful The minority did not deem il
proper TO PREJUDICE the case. and therefore
RETAINED from bringing in their individual
opinions TO influence the assembly In this
case. and such should not have been enter
tanned. The majority reror; was then
aiopted. When the motion Ia pass the
section limiting debate TO three hours vas
Is 4
10 strike Oh; the limitation. A: this poin,
nr. Briggs arose - address the assembly.
and immediately he ana the moderator
engaged n an animated ooiioqay on his
right - he heard. Briggs finally Welded.
Then the moderator said Il would sug-
gest IN tue interes, OF hgotherly Kindness
and peace
say. iastlce, said voice from the gal.
ierv. bach MAS said 80 l,e that OF Prof.
Henry Preserved Smith, -: Cinc!nnati.
"Iou wAlt. reiorged Moderator Craig.
'tiou's yo;l pat words into NY month. I
speak Tor broineTiy ktu4ncss and peace.
uhtca are higher than jgssice. for our %.
them comes justice.
The moderator then Announce. that il.
accord with the h,ek 81 government tile
assembly would 1e saspet in;o iadjcial
court e.: the Lord Jesas Cbz.s;. and .olsas.
lbs th3s tss rules called far rsailnx q;
the Judgment, notice 81 auraSls, the III.
reals a-d spee.0cstsons 81 errors ALLEGED.
After tbs Mss done ~ the stzte,! clerk
the cours adjourned Until as = ~. TO-
MORTON afternoon ard the assembly aat.!
30 tomorrow.
baptist Convention At Denver.
nF~yKa Max 1E--TAe session 81 the
baptist " o;aea : uome N3ss.oos ~ae.ef,
afsgs4l a tsh vrA(~e service IRIS alu-aIs-