The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-25
PROF. BRIGGS SPEAKS
The Presbyterian Divine Ar
cues His Case in Assembly.
OR. siRcH's STRONG WORDS.
He C1ssas IAss - Qsestios the Man
Against the Church.

WASHINGTON CRY, May oI-The Pres
nyterisn general assembly resumed its
session this morning. The COMMITTEES on
AID TO colleges recommended that the
proposition Of Arthur Brown 70 donate
I'D acres OF land at Salt Lake City as . site
for the location Of Westminster college in
Utah, be respectfully declined. The re-
port OF the committee on foreign missions
stated tha, an effort would be made this
year to raise 81. So 90. A recess was then
taken until 80 O'Clock.
At the afternoon session Moderator
Craig convened the assembly Is a court.
DIR. Briggs assembled the platform amid i'm
tense quiet and made . brief preliminary
statement regarding the time he required
for argument.
d.. W.. r. Birch. chairman Of the prose
cutting committee, Their took the door.
After touching on the history of the case,
DIR. Birch said:
We are here to invoke this supreme court 70
put IN end to tire aissenslon and dispufAtion
watch the New York p.esoy,sry has vainiJ en-
csavo-e: TO silence The form in which the
hnai iaegrsu. OF the New York psssoyssry 10
returned gives the impression that the alleged
errors OF Prof B.iges we're uniIrporssn. aud
that no essential doctrine was contYaaie.ed-
There has Teen q tendency TO mininix. the fuil
force OF ;hs Indictment The errors charged are
fundamental The asgument IL made that al
sppeai cannot be taken from the verdict OF ac-
quisfsl He who teaches that tho power OF the
general bly, can be nulided By the viii OF
asinsis pfesbytesy Lifts the banner OF treason
sgAiuas isc pseseyscry ard the church iour
appellant eeseeches the venerable court 10 ex-
eresss its authority in = crisis 50 momentous a.
to make every plea ios delay OF Judgment out OK
order.
AISLE O'Clock DR.. Brigg arose to reply
10 the opening Of the prosecuting commit
tee and protest against the entertaining OF
the appeal by the general assembly. DR..
Briggs went on to argue:
That the form OF appeal Was incorrect and
snas there were many things In IL which must
Dc removed before the assembly could enter
TAIN IL lie also poiatcd out tha; matter was in
Guided La tho spfeai which rendered il invalid.
a much more fundamental question 10 at stake
tnaa any principle or doctrine that has yet been
discussed That was. whe,he. the Presbyterian
church should be considered a merely = volun-
fary religious society Of the church Of Jesus
Christ. IL was the civil law OF the Isnd that no
nan should be twice triad for tie same oncnse.
Was tie Presbyterian church ready to igaore or
violate . veil settled principle found by Gen.
furies o! observation and experience 70 be es-
sentiai 70 tue well being OF tie people
without any sufficient causer II this
appeal 10 sustained what would become Of
the unfortunate precedent which would be fol-
lowed by the public prosecutors WHO would
magnify their ONCE and bring In d ffsrences OF
opinion and establish = new aud easy way for
iitieants to secure an authoritative decision Of
the genera. assembly II many matters which
are uoY regarded a. legitimate matters OF pri
vate opinion. and thus anperii the constitution
by an amending series OF heresy trials. and re-
snit in changes In the doctrine and law OF the
Presbyterian church.
The general assembly could not lawfully re-
wise or amend the constitution by . final judg.
rnent in hercsy trials. The public prosecutors
were pushing the Presbyterian church tnto an
Inconsistent and dangerous position. They ore
enaeavoring to sccure q new definition OF dogma
by snsl judgment In heresy trials. when they
ought 10 aim to secure them by overlurss In ac-
cordance with the provisions OF tie form OF gov.
eminent.
DR.. Briggs spoke an hour and half. and
then yielded for n motion to adjourn.