The morning call., 1893-05-27
Waging a Bitter War of
Words.
WRATH OF THE GODLY MEN.
Learned Leaders in Presbyterianism
Seemed to Forget That They
Constituted Court.
Special to THE MORNING CALL.


The rullcal on the resolution was taken
amidst almost painful silence, during
which the defendant watched with fever
ish anxiety the progress of the vote All
over the house and in the galleries The vote
was followed intently. While the roll was
being called Moderator Craig yielded the
chair to ex-ModeraIor William c. Roberts,
DID,. and himself voted AYE"
Throughout the long debate of the morn
ing there were many evidences of feeling
and several of the speakers took advantage
If the opportunity to arraign the defend
ant, shake fingers sternly at him and other
wise express their condemnation.
AS one brother expressed it, They for
got, for the time being. that they were
members of the court of Jesus Christ" 1t
was an interesting spectacle and scene
never to he forgotten.
When the Briggs case came I'D, at their
own request Rev. Dr. Niccolls of ST. Louis
and Elder Pershing were retired from the
judicial committee in the case, and Rev.
w. r. Reynolds of Minnesota and Elder
Law of California were 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 Presbyterv to the General
Assembly be direct, instead of first going
to the synod, be entertained ?" 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 a motion TO that effect
Elder McDougall of Cincinnati stated
that by an arrangement with the chairman
of the judiciary committee. lie was
charged with the duty of opening ip sup
port of the motion TO entertain the appeal
and took the platform.
Elder McDougall referred to certain re-
marks which Briggs had made in his own
defense, and said he had offered, if the
case was sent back TO the synod. to waive
his constitutional rights.
NO." said Briggs. interrupting.
''Ab. l thought soP' said McDougaIl.
You will get the case back to the synod
and then you will insis: upon all of the
constitutional rights that you can think Of"
The elder continued In bitter strain,
and now and then murmur of surprise
swept over the assem- bly,.
Briggs asked for a moment to reply to
McDougall. and midst cries of mol mol"
and Hear him!' Briggs was given one
minute. and explained that he had not
offered to waive any constitutional rights.
but said that he would leave the settlement
of those rights to the decision of the synod
DIR. Fulton of Philadelphia was person.
ally SURE that although the assembly might
have a majority in favor of trying the
bar iniO bol.
ingly against such a course.
DR.. Hays of Danville, KY, made a strong
argument in favor of the present consid-
Grafton of the case. and DR.. Heinrich john
son of Chicago said the only Interpretation
of the rules of the church was to send the
matter back to the New York Synod.
DR.. McGaw of Toledo said the question
was what course should be taken to secure
peace at the earliest possible moment; that
course was surely to send the case TO the
synod. Elder Thomas Kane of Chicago
favored sending the case to the synod, but
Elder Hinckey of PHILADELPHIA discussed
the views held by DR.. Briggs and de-
nounced them. Rev. Thomas c. Hall of
Chicago made an earnest appeal in behalf
of DR.. Briggs.
Elder CuIcheon Of Detroit was the first
speaker of the afternoon. He was one of
Professor Briggs warm supporters, and
insisted that the case should be considered
on the single question of appeal. The
venerable DIR. Duffeld of Princeton Col
lege said he had great personal spprecia-
tl0n of the scholarship and Christian char
acter OF DR.. Briggs. II his logical facul-
ties were equal 20 his scholarship Duf1ield
did not know his equal, in the intellectual
world OF America at least
When DR.. Duffield had finished the most
sensational scene of tile day and of the
venerable Doctors remarks his statement
of Professor Briggs teachings was ques-
toned by several commissioners, and the
professor himself gave utterance to an
expression which could not be understood
by the reporters. But as DR.. Duf1ield
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 dissent and cries of "order'
Immediately broke over the assem- oily. and
a scene of great excitement and disorder
ensued, until finally DR.. Briggs took his
seat and the storm subsidized. Then pas
sionate address against the plea of DR..
Briggs was made by William G. Young,
ID, of Danville. KY. moderator of the
last assembly. and after some further ar
gument the debate was declared closed
Judge Purnell Of Baltimore then offered
his motion to remand the case to the New
York Synod. This was defeated by viva
voce vote and again by rising vote.
The question now recurring on the reso
luton of the Judicial committee that ;he
appeal be entertained, the ayes and noes
were demanded, and the rollcall began.
The result of the vote was announced as
follows: Ayes 400. noes 145.
The judicial committee was instructed 10
prepare programme for procedure in the
trial of the appeal. and the assembly de-
cided to proceed with the trial tomorrow
morning
At the night session the first order of
business was the report of the committee
of the board of church erection. Among
the recommendations was one to the effect
that not less than S150,C00 was necessary
for the work OF the board during this fiscal
year. After some remarks the recon-
mendations of the committee were adopted.