The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-05-24
.PRESBYTERIANS GET HOT.
The Moderator Asks a Brother Not
to Put Words Into His
Mouth.
Also Suppresses Brother Briggs
Who Would Speak on
r His Case.
thssAppssi Of shs New York
y rfssbytsry.

Dsolsisn Of ths General Assembly to Hear
thsgAppsel Of ths New York
v psssbytsry.
WASHINGTON, May 28.-Ths morning Sos
sion Of the Presby tsrian general assembly
rlunasd into the Biaes question imme-
diatsly after prayer. Dr.. Young. chair
man Of the committee on bills and over
turss. tosk the foor TO present report dis
tributinR number OF bills and ovsrturss
to several committees. Among them were
some bearing directly OF indirectly upon
the Briggs case. before the judicial com.
mittes. Rev. Booth, OF New York, en-
tered . protest against the obvions attemut
TO influence ths judicial committes by
pou ing In n on IL these ovsrturss for snd
against the case.
Prof. Town. Br0gs' oo-laborsr and sym.
pathizsr, said: I'VE have . right to know
The sentiment Of. tho church upon any sub
jsct before II, and the only proper why TO
spsurs knowledge Of that sentiment Ia
through the com mittees Of the assem- bly, !"
DR.. HsErick johnson. Of the No Cormick
Theological seminary. Chicago. one Of the
foremost B igRs leaders in the body. spoke
briefly. and Rev. Thomas q. Hall, of Chi
oago. said:
"Prsosdsnts and practices in civil courts
have NO weight with ~. No court would
have taken mp the prosecution of an inno-
cent man. Ecclesiastical presidents are
owe, vhelmingly In favor Of the right of
petition. II ID right sveey citizen pos
sssss%" (Applauss).
The accommodation Of the committee
was finally adopted by deeisivs vote In
the majority.
missions was read and adopted. Ex.Mod-
tian commission organized for wo X in con-
nection with the United States arm . sub
mitted a ssntemsnt TO the effect that tho
commission must discourage the enlist
nsnt of sons Of Christian families into the
army. unless some safeguards now lacking
the army 10 NOT prohibited. other BY law or
regulation, and 10 encou'aRed BY the exam
pie OF elder officers aud soldiers; the post
cantesn affords Unrestricted opportunity
for, and inducement to. drink; she arehi-
tseturs Of barracks places Christian SOL
dis's.ats fearful disadvansage. exposing
them 10 the vices and iudeoenciss Of irrsli-
aious members OF the rank and 6le; Sunday
work not called for BY any exiaenoy 10 still
required BY army authorities; the recon-
mendationS of religious teachers in the army
for the benefit of soldiers do not rscsivs
the approval or consideration Of the susho.-
tiles, In fact they ere discouraged.
Tho commission recommended that army
orders of Aug. 6 last on this subject be re-
voked and that chaplains be appointed fot
every regiment. The RECON- lamentations of
the smmitsss were approved and the re-
port received.
The ., eeial order for the afternoon sss-
tee on the Briggs case. Immediately after
the opening prayer, DIR. Baker, chairman.
was recognized and addressed the modsra-
tor and assembly ns follows: Il had e,1n-
sstly hoped that but one report would be
presented BY our conmittse. But In this
have been saLpointsd. But shnll We
not all resolve that whatever the decision
finally reaohed, We will, a. loyal Presby-
tsrians, abide faithfully BY the deslsic n.
Let us resolve that We will stsrnly fiown
upon and utterly discountenancs any sug-
gsstion. from whatever quarter IL may
come, Of sohism Or division In our dear old
church."
Tho majority reports finds that tho sp.
peal and up citicstions Of error alleged
were hled in due time. and submits resola.
tions that the appeal ba enter rtained, that
three hours bs allotted to The hearing. and
one and half hou TO each pa y. and
tho assembly thea vote upon the resolution
that the appeal be eatertained by The
general assembly and the case proceed to
trial in accordance with the provisions Of
the book of discipline. The report 10
signed by Baker. chairman; Duffisld HAYS.
Leftwioh. Maxwell, Sanders. Peacock,
E"sds Gss:n AeReus. G2ss r., rsrshiDs
Baker also presented a supplemental report
giving the principal reasons which influ-
encsd the com mmittse in reaching it, con.
cusions.
The minority report was read BY Rev. 9,
j. Nichols. Of st. Louis. He said hc
and his associates are undor suspicion al
ready a. appearing to oppose the appeal.
This ia not their attitude. They are not
antaGonizinR The claim of power in the as
ssmbly to entertain the appeal. The min-
ority 70, ort recommends that the nsjority
report be amended by substituting the fol-
lowing:
awe fiud the appeal In order and rsoom-
mend that the parties be heard In accord
snos with the provisions Of the book of
discipline. We ask this for the following
reasons: The majority report pre- judges
the appeal BY advising the assembly to do
what the book Of discipline says shall b,
determined emily after the artiss have been
heRrd.''
This report 10 signed BY Meyer. Stebbins
and Nichols. The majority rsport fixed for
the assembly the very form Of the verdict
which IL WAS asked 10 roach. This the mi
nority thought was not regular nor law.
The minority did not deem IL proper to pre-
Judge the case and ths sfore rsfrainsd from
bringing In their individual opinions TO in
fiusncs tho assembly In the case.
When the motion to ass the clause lin
iting debate TO three houts was offered.
Cutoheon, Of Dstroit, moved to strike out
ths Limitation. At this point DR.. Briggs
arose 10 address the assembly and imms-
diatoly he and the moderator engaged in an
amin nntedscolloquoy upon his right to bs
heard. Briggs finally yielded. 'rhsa the
moderator said:
II would suggest in ths interest Of
brotheFly kindness and pssoe-"
''6ay Justice" exclaimed voice from the
gallery. which was said 10 be that Of Prof.
Henry Preserved smith. of Cincinnati.
''You wait" rat0rtsd MOdst stOr Craig
"Don't you put words into my mouth. 1
speak for bfotherly kindness and peace.
which are higher than Justice. for out Of
them come justice"
The moderator thea announced that In
accord with tho book OF government the
assembly would be turned into judicial
court Of the Lord Jesus Christ, and follow
ing the rulss. called for the reading OF The
Judgment notice Of appeals, she appsals.
and specifications OF errors alleged. After
this was done BY the stated clerk. the court
adjourned antil $50 y. III. Tomorrow aftsS-
noon and the assembly until 98O .. n.
LITTLE Rock. Ark, May 23.-Ths Cum