Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-05-26
DIR. BRIGGS CASE.
Leaders in the Fight Com
plete Their Addresses.
SALIENT POINTS OF THE PLEAS

An Eloquent WindUp by the Professor
and "a sharp Exchange Over His InteT-
rupiion OF the Chief Prosecutor Ar
rnngcments SIaGc for General Debate
and Taking a Vrte--Unitcd Presby:e-
rians Make Worlds Fair Protest.
WASHINGTON, May 26.-The general as
sembly has reached the conclusion of the
argument by parties IN interest upon Ia
recommendation of the judicial COMMITTEES
that the appeal of the prosecuting commit
tee in the Briggs case he entertained. t."
public interest of the previous two days
was, if anything, increased. Among the
spectators was the venerable Rev. II. y.
Field, u. d, Of New York. Profess
Briggs spoke altogether four ana Aai.
hours at three diiferen5 siJtin2s OF 80
court Colonel J. J. McCook, Of the COO
mittce on prosecutions, closed the argument
on behalf of the prosecution. He divided
his arzyumen: into two parts, speaking an
hour ard twenty minutes in the afternoon
and concluding at the evening session.
Defends the New York prcshyteTy-
Continujn-. his argument DR.. Bri;r~
said that the presbytery q New YORK, tlr
largest pres bytery in the church, after a
long and patient consideration of the case
gave verdict of acqujttal Would the
general assembly give the same time and
patience to considering the merits OF the
case if the appeal should be entertainoa;
and was il likely that 50 numerous body
would he "a more equitable court than the
presbytery OF New York? His Contcu-
ton, in part. was that the pre>hytery Of
New York rendered its verdict despite
great pressure upon its members TO con-
vict. lie then went into a review of his
case and recited al the facts over again
Wants the Case 70 Goto the synod
He declared that If the appeal should b.
entertained 1t would be violation Of the
constitutional rights OF the pTe~byterE of
New York, and deprive him Of his right of
complaint guaranteed in the constitution,
and closed with "a appeal, touched with =
suggestion Of pathos, that ;be case might
go to tn synod Of New York. II that were
done he would aid in the full solution cf
the case, and then if il were sent back To
the next general assembly, he would abide
by lis decision, whatever Il might he. lie
regretted if he had said anything that had
caused trouble IN the church.
His services a. Tsucher.
No one regretted il more than be did
He had taught for twenty years at the In
ion Theological seminary. he continued APP
peaIin4ly, almost pathe tjcai!y. 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 thac
had been taught by him he challenged any
of them TO say that he bed taught them
anything that had iutorferei with the true
discharge ct their holy duties.
He Stands Law and Equity.
The professor CLOSED his address with the
following:
Though the mills of God grind slowly,
Yet they Grind exceeding small;
Though with patience He stands waiting,
With exactness grinds He all.
"The massive walls Of law and equity
frowu upon this appeal. Upon these bat
Elements the appellee taxes his stand. The
constitution of our church l. his banner
Here he Will remain standing whatever
may betide. He can do 10 other. Here
stands the presbytery of New York which
has acquitted him. Here stands the synod
of New York which has taken jurisdiction
of his mplaints. Here will rally sooner
or later all who are loyal to Presbyterian
law and discipline; all who have confidence
in truth and scholarly Investigation; all
who would advance in the eyes of the
world the historic faith and order of our
church; all who seek the peace and pros
perity of the kingdom OF God"