The record-union., 1893-05-27
Exciting Scenes in the Presbyte.
rian General Assembly.
INTERESTING SPECTACLE NEVER TO
BE FORGOTTEN.
The Meeting Voted by a Large Major
ity to Entertain the Appeal In the
Briggs Heresy Case-Proceedings in
the Trial to Commence This Morn
ing-Defendant Arraigned and Con-
demnd by Many of the Clergy.
Special to the REcoRD-UN1oN.

WASHINGTON, May 26.-By vote OF
400 to l45 the Presbyterian General AS
sembly this afternoon decided to enter
tain the appeal in the case of DR.. Briggs,
and the assembly will proceed with the
trial tomorrow morning. The roll-call
on the resolution was taken amidst al
| most painful silence, during which de-
fendant watched with feverish anxiety
the progress of the vote. All over the
house and in the galleries the vote was fol-
lowed intently. While the roll was being
called Moderator Craig yielded the chair
to exModerator William c. Roberts,
D. D., and himself voted faye"
Throughout the long debate of the
| morning, there were many evidences of
feeling, and several of the speakers took
| advantage of the opportunity to arraign
the defendant, shake their fingers sternly
at him. and otherwise express condemn
! ton. AS one brother expressed it, "They
forgot for the time being that they were
members Of the court of Jesus Christ"
1t was an interesting spectacle, and a
scene never to be forgotten.
When the Assembly reassembl this
morning consideration of the Briggs
case was resumed.
At the request of Rev. DIR. Niccolls of
st. Louis and Elder Pershing, they were
retired from the Judicial Commission in
the case, and Rev. w. r. Reynolds of
Minnesota and Elder Law of California
appointed in their places. Rev. Mr..
Hoyt was added to the committee to visit
President Cleveland in the matter of the
traffic in firearms in the Western Pacific.
| The main question, "Shall the appeal
by the New York Presbytery to the
General Assembly be direct, instead of
first going to the synod, be entertained p"
was then taken up.
Dr.. Ketchum of New Jersey favored
sending the case back to the synod, and
said at the end of the debate he would
make motion to that effect.
Elder McDougall of Cincinnati stated
that by an arrangement with the Chair
man of the Judiciary Committee, he was
charged with the duty of opening in sup
port of the motion to entertain the appeal,
and took the platform.
Elder McDougall referred to certain re-
marks which Briggs made in his own de-
fense, and said he offered, if the case was
sent back to the synod, to waive constitu-
tional right.
NO." said Briggs, interrupting.
"Ah, 1 thought So" said McDougall
"You will get the case back to the synod,
and then you will insist upon all the con-
stitutionai rights that you can think Of"
The elder continued in a bitter strain,
and now and then a murmur of surprise
swept over the assembly.
Briggs asked for a moment to reply to
McDougall, amidst cries of mo, nor'
and Hear him ~
Briggs was given one minute, and ex-
planned that be had not offered to waive
any constitutional rights, but said he
would leave the settlement of those rights
to the decision of the synod.
DR.. Fulton of Philadelphia was per-
sonally sure that although the assembly
might have a majority in favor Of trying
the case here, public opinion was over
whelmingly against such a course.
DR.. Hays Of DanvilIe, Ky, made a
strong argument in favor of the present
consideration Of the case.
Dr. Heinrich Johnson of Chicago said
bilO OhAJ AhbCL klObdIAOL vi liIO rules OI the
church was to send it back to the New
York Synod.
DR.. McGaw of Toledo said the question
was what course should be taken to
secure peace the earliest. The course
was surely to send the case to the synod.
Elder Thomas Kane of Chicago favored
sending the case to the synod
E11or Of
cussed the views held by DR.. Briggs, and
denounced them.
Rev. Thomas G. Hall of Chicago made
an earnest appeal in behalf of Dr. Briggs.
At 1870 the assembly took a recess till
2:30, without having reached decisive ac-
ton.
Elder Cutcheon of Detroit was the first
speaker of the afternoon. He was one of
Professor Briggs supporters, and in
sisted that the case should be considered
on the single question of the appeal.
The venerable DR.. Duffield Of Prince-
ton College said he had great personal
appreciation of the scholarship and
Christian character of DIR. Briggs. 'sIf
his logical faculties were equal to his
scholarship, do not know his equal in
the intellectual world of America at
least.'
When DR.. Duffield finished, the most
sensational scene of the day and assem-
blv ensued. In the course of the vener
able DOCTORS remarks, his statement of
Professor Briggs teachings was oues-
toned by several Commissioners. and
the Professor himself gave utterance to
an expression which could not be Under
stood by the reporters. but as DIR. Duffield
stepped down he came almost into direct
contact with Professor Briggs, who, with
flashing eyes, had sprung to his feet de-
manding to be heard. A storm of dis
sent and cries Of 'Orderun Immediately
broke over the assembly.
A scene of great excitement and disor-
der ensued, until finally DR.. Briggs took
his seat and the storm subsided. A pas
sionate address against the plea of DR..
Briggs was made by William c. Young.
d. D., Of Danville, KY, Moderator of the
Assembly. After further argument the
debate was declared closed.
Judge Purnell of Baltimore then Of
fered his motion to remand the case to the
New York Synod. This was defeated bv
a viva voce vote, and again by a rising
vote The question then recurring on the
resolution of the Judicial Committee that
the appeal be entertained, the ayes and
noes were demanded, and the roll-call