The Indianapolis journal., 1893-05-31
And Points Out Statements That He Alleges
to Be Untrue. and One in Particular,
Which He Claims to Be Rank Heresy.
Or. Briggs Also Frankly Explains His
Doctrine to the General Assembly.
And Tells the Commissioners that Progressive
sanctifcation lie the True Belief-Colonel
hcCook Closes for the Appellants.
DIR. BRIGGS CONCLUDES.


His Argument Yesterday Full Of strono
Points Against the Prosecution.
WASHINGTON, May SO-This was the
second day devoted to the actual trial Of
Professor Briggs before the General As
sembly on the charge of heresy. So far
from diminishing the interest in the case
would seem to be on the increase. Not
withstanding the many counter attractions
in connection with Decoration day, there
was yet large crowd early on hand at the
New York.avenue Prssby terian Church. and
when the days session began the galleries
were crowded as usual.
When DR.. Briggs. in closing his defense.
solemnly challenged the court 10 judge
him justly the scene was most impressive.
and even the most unrelenting anti Briggs
men.in the assembly admitted that the al.
legged hereto had made q wonderfully
strong presentation of his case. For con-
siderable portion Of his time be
followed the same lines of argument
that he used before the New York
Presby terry. with such omissions and addi'
tions IS were necessary to make is timely
and pertinent. His argument as he pre-
sented it. was not one that gave any
chance for oratorical effort. 1t was q
carefully prepared technical paper, which
entered deeply into the intricacies of the
case. Much of the address was taken bod
lily from the defense" and this DIR.
Briggs had his friend, DR.. Brown. OF
Union. read for him. DE. Brown is o man
of fine presence and magnifcent voice.
While be read the man whose orthodoxy
is the great question now before the Pres
byterian Church sat back in chair
upon the platf orm and took little needed
raaf ha hau nj 0f
thing like sensational features. The near.
est approach TO this sort of thing was when
DE-. Briggs quoted q sentence from DR..
Lampe's address of yesterday, and charac.
terized it as rank heresy, if there was
over heresy,
THE INSPIRATION OF THE BIBLE.
After the minutes of yesterdays pro.
ceedings were read and approved this
morning. DE. Young chairman of the
committee on bills and overtures. reported
that the committee requested that the
answer TO the overtures regarding the de-
liverance of the assembly of 1902 upon the
inspiration of the Bible. made last Sunday.
be returned to the committee. This was
ordered and then Dr.. Young presented O
substitute. This. he said, was the unani-
nous expression of the seventeen members
of the committee present, the largest mum.
ber at any meeting yet held. threads:
In answer to the overtures from the presby-
teries of Newark and ST. Louis and the me-
mortal of q large number-more than three huns
dred-01 the elders, deacOnf and members or the
Presbyterian Courch. witt reference 10 the de-
uverance OF the Portland assembly on the in-
spiration OF Holy ecripture, We would recon-
mend the following: This General Assembly re-
affirms the overture OF the deliverance OF the
sembly OF 1892 touching the inspiration OF Holy
Scripture, TO wit That the original Scriptures OF
the Old and New Testament being immediately in-
spired of God, were without error, and. in so do
ing. declare that the said deliverance enunciates
no new doctrine and imposes no new test or Or
thoduxy, but interprets and gives expression to
that which has always been the belief OF the
churca as taught In the Westminster Confession
of Faith.
This report was given the place on tho
docket occupied by the one for which ~
was substituted. the second special order,
after the Briggs case shall have been DIS
posed Of
Rev w. c. Wagner. of Mount Morris. Ill.
called the attention of the assembly to the
fact that this was Decoration day, and
gave notice that he would ask the moder-
ator. at some convenient point In the pro.
ceediDgs, TO entertain motion that fifteen
minutes be given to an appropriate recog.
milton Of the day By singing of national
hymns. q prayer or remarks. The moder-
ator said he would bear in mind the sugges-
ton. and then convened the COMMITTEES az
q court in the words of the form of govs
ernment. announcing that "the body is
about to pass to the consideration OF the
business assigned for trial. and 30 enjoin
on the members to recollect and regard
their high character as judges Of court
of Justice and the solemn duty In which
fnav ara abOnt 70 ANTI