The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1893-05-25
IRE BKlGGS CASE UP
Great Interest Being Taken in
the Trial.
CRAIG AND si-LTH HAVE A TILT.

DIR. Briggs Tries to Speak, but is Pre-
vented by the Moderator-The Majority
and Minority Reports of the Judicial
Committee Made.
WASHINGTON, May 24.--At no time
since the General Assembly began its
sessions in this city has there been so
large an attendance as there was when
the report of the judicial committee in
the Briggs case was read. DIR. Briggs
occupied a chair Immediately in front of
the pulpit and TO the right Of the mod
orator. He sat quietly throughout the
preliminary proceedings, and as DR..
Baker read from the report from time to
time he took notes as quietly as if, in
stead of being the central figure, he was
almost counsel Of the man under re-
ligious indictment. Moderator Craig
called for absolute quiet so that the men
upon whom such great and tremendous
duty involved might be able to hear
calmly and dispassionately all that
might be said. I'm the name Of God
and the Presbyterian church, said DIR.
Craig, II beg you to keep perfectly
quiet. l should be mortified beyond the
possibility of expression If any man
were to be disturbed by any evidence of
disapproval. l would, if it be in my
power, stamp it out with a ruthless
hand"
The majority report recites the case of
the church against DR.. Briggs as being
In the nature of an appeal. The judicial
committee have examined the papers
and find the appeal in order, and recon-
mend that 1t be entertained and issued
and that the case proceed TO trial. The
resolutions submitted are as follows:
Resolved, That the general assembly finds
that due notice of the appeal In this case has
been given and that the appeal and the speci-
fcations Of the errors alleged have been fled
in due time, and that the appeal is in order in
accordance with the provisions of the book Of
discipline.
Resolved, That after the Judgment, the no.
tices Of appeal and the specifications Of errors
alleged have been read and the parties have been
heard, viz, the prosecuting committee and the
Presbytery of New York, as to whether such
appeal shall be entertained, three hours being
allotted for such hearing, viz. one and one
half hours TO each party, and after hearing
from the members of the assembly, three
hours being allotted for such hearing, the as
sembly shall then vote upon the following
resolutions:
Resolved, That the appeal from the decision
York, rendered Jan. Q, 1898, be entertained
| by the general assembly, and it is ordered
that the case proceed to trial in accordance
with the provisions of the book of discipline.
The minority report was read by the
| Rev. S. j. Nicolls, DID,, of st. Louis
| He said he knew that in making a mi
nority report he and his associates were
under suspicion already as appearing to
oppose the appeal. This was not Their
attitude; they were not antagonizing the
claim of power in the assembly to en-
tertain the appeal.
The minority report was then read
1t recommends that the majority report
be amended by striking out all that fol
lows, beginning with the recommends
tion that the appeal be entertained ant
issued and substituting the following:
I'VE find the appeal in order anC
recommend that the parties be heard il
accordance with the provisions Of tht
book of discipline. Among the reason,
for this, it is stated, that the majority
report by recommending that the ap
peal be entertained and issued, pre-
judges the same by advising the assem-
bly, to do what the book Of discipline
says shall be determined only after tn,
parties shall have been heard" 1t i
|
port is contrary to both the letter anC
that and no other reasons recited SHOULD
be amended.
The first resolution was adopted nen
con. Then a motion to pass the secon,
resolution was offered. Mr.. Cutcheol
of Detroit moved to strike out the lin
itation of time of debate by the partie
in interest to three hours, but the assem-
bly, refused to remove the restriction
At this point Professor Briggs rose as
to address the assembly. Immediatel
a buzz of comment swept over tn
house, while he and the moderator en-
gagged in an animated colloquy upon hi
right to be heard at that time. Profei
sor Briggs yielded TO DIR. Craig and n
sumed his seat. This was the prelud
of an incident that created some con
ment on the floor.
The moderator said: Fl would sus
gest in the interest Of brotherly kint
ness and peace"
"Say justice, exclaimed voice frol
the gallery, which was said to be that {
Professor Henry Preserved Smith {
Cincinnati, who is under condemnatio
of the Cincinnati presbytery for preacl
} ing sim liar to that of Professor Brigg
"You wait, "retorted Moderator Graz
sternly. Don't you put words into IN
mouth. speak for my brotherly kline
ness and peace, which are higher tina
justice, for out of them comes justice
The moderator then said that Profess
Briggs had asked him the privilege
speaking, but that he had insisted thu
. the professor had no right to speak
that time. DR.. Craig said, however, tn
there would be time when his brothe
, Professor Briggs, should speak. I'll
1 moderator then announced that in a
!. cordance with the book of government
. the assembly would be turned into a j
!. dicial court of the Lord Jesus Chri
and, following the rules of procedur
called for a reading of the Judgment n
tice of appeal, the appeals and the spe
ifications of all errors alleged, Mhi'
was done.