The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-05-27
DR.. BRIGGS SUPPRESSED
Interruptions Not Permitted by
Moderator Craig.
CLOSING APPEAL OF THE ACCUSED.

CLOSING APPEAL OF THE ACCUSED.
Explicit Denial OF the Charges of ueresy.
Lively Tilt Between the Fnctions--NIod-
evatOr Craig Has His Hands FuIl-SIuci,
Excitement Visible In the Assembly,
WASHINGTON, May 26.--Dr. Briggs fin
thed his set remarks and then spoke ex.
tomporaneously until the end of his adj
dress. He called the attention of the as
sembly to the stars at the bottom of Page
o in the brief of the prosecutor. They
were not stars of glory, lie said, but stars
of shame, for they indicated an omission
which should not have been Nude. What
right had these appellants to omit such
matters rs thoy pleased from an official or
semiolilcial document? DR.. Briggs asked
this question with some feeling as il he
felt TINT an attempt had been made TO
strengthen the case of his opponents by
emitting something il, his behalf He
then supplied the omitted part, which coll
sisted of the eight questions put To DR..
Briggs to test his faith and the answers to
them.
He wished, he said, to make an explicit
denial of the charge that he had preached
doctrines against the fundamental doc
trines of the church. 81 affirm that l be-
lieve," he sud, turning with outstretched
hands to b audience, "the Holy Scriptures
to be the Word of God" lie affirmed his
faith honestly and uprightly every three
years in making the rcaflirmation of faith
which was required Of him by the Union
Theological seminary. He affirmed that
he held to the whole doctrine taught in the
first chapter of the Westminster confess
sion. Anything he might have said that
might conflict with these statements was
due to neutrality-suspicious., but he charged
no one with misunderstanding willfully.
A Pathetic Appeal.
DIR. Briggs closed with an appeal, touched
with n suggestion of pathos, that the case
might go to the synod of New York. If
that were done he would aid in the full
solution of the case, and then if it were
sent back to the next general assembly he
would abide by its decision, whatever it
might he. He regretted if he had said
anything that had caused trouble in the
church. No one regretted it more than he
did. lie had taught for 81 years at the
Union Theological seminary, he said APP
pcaiingly, almost pathctically Only four
other teachers of Presbyterian theology
had taught longer than he; only two had
been the instructors of more ministers of
the church than he. OF all persons who
had been taught by him he challenged any
OF them to say that he had taught them
anything that had interfored with the true
discharge of their holy duties.
DIR. Briggs concluded his address, hay
ing spoken at three different sittings of
the court. AS he took his seat wave of
applause ran over the rear of the church.
which evoked An indignant rebuke from
the moderator, who said he hoped that
none OF the commissioners sitting rs Judges
had so far forgotten themselves as to show
by their applause II prejudice in favor of
one side of case before hearing all the
argument. And if the galleries" he con
tinued, shall attempt to interfere with or
influence this high court by unseemly out
breaks, will order them cleared and have
the court continue its Sittings with closed
doors"
Several gentlemen contradictorily stated
out of order that commissioners were
guilty of the applause; that they were not;
that the applause was confined to the gal.
leries, and that the galleries were limo
cent AS nearly Us could be determined,
the real culprits were in the seats occupied
by visiting clergymen.
Lively Cross Fire.
Colonel J. J. McCook closed the argu-
ment for the prosecuting committee in
support of the recommended OH that the
appeal be entertained Almost mt the
opening DR.. Briggs interrupted Colonel
McCOOk to correct what he claimed was n
mistake made by the latter, when lie said
that the appellee Briggs had stated that
the appeal was not taken in time.
Dr. Briggs did not say that admit
that the appeal was taken in time
Colonel McCoQk That is perfectly salts
factory. The matter WAS of triiiing mo-
ment i'll any event, and is particularly so
i'll view of the admission just made.
y few minutes later, after quoting from
n letter written by DR.. Briggs TO Dr. Birch,
in which lie declined to meet the prosecut-
ing committee before any proceedings were
had under their appointments DIR. Briggs
arose.
DIR. Briggs-May ask question?
Colonel Cook-You may interrupt me as
often us you please.
Moderator Craig-Dr. Briggs, | allowed
you to speak four and half hours without
Interruption
DR.. Briggs-I wanted to correct mis-
statement
Moderator Craig-C Colonel McCook heard
you throughout without objection. al Sc
though he might have challenged many of
your statements. Now let him so on i'm
the same way. That is only fair and proper.
DR.. Briggs-lt is understood, then, that
do not consent to the incorporation of
any misstatement.
Moderator Craig-Oh, certainly And do
not suppose that Colonel McCook gave hi S
assent to score of things you said, but he
bore them well. Colonel NIcCook will
proceed.
y Commssioner-Mr. Moderator, what
are the privileges of the members of the
New York presbytery at this stage?
LIZ l,rniN-'En cit n. fniof - ,,l,-.il.l..