The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1893-05-24
THE CASE OF DR.. BRIGGS
Recommended that the Appeal
be Entertained.
REPORT OF JUDICIAL COMMITTEE

A Majority aud Minority Finding Pre-
sented- Former Recommends that
After Due Discussion the Assembly
Vote Upon "a Resolution that the Case
Proceed to Trial-The Minority Report
WASHINGTON, May 24-The Judicial
Committee Of the Presbyterian General
Assembly, in its report on the Briggs
case, recommended that the appeal from
the decision Of the New York Presbytery
be entertained.
The special order for 2:30 o'clock yester
day, the hour Of meeting, was the report
of the judicial committee on the Briggs
case. Immediately after the opening
prayer, DR.. Baker, chairman, was recog
nized, and addressed the Moderator and
Assembly as follows;
81 had earnestly hoped that but one re
port would be presented by our committee.
But in this l have been disappointed
presume the failure was inevitable l take
however, comfort in the thought that there
is something better than even Unanimity,
and that something is fidelity to con
science It is fidelity to conscience
ity report and it is fidelity to conscience
that has compelled the minority report.
While we speak thetruth with all badness
let us speak it ever in love; and shall we
not all resolve that whatever be the de-
cision, and God only knows what that de.
cision is to be- we will, as loyal Presbyteri-
ans, abide faithfully by that decision? Let
us resolve that we will sternly frown upon
4 Il
from whatever quarter it may come of
schism or division in our dear church. Re
calling our ordination vows, let us submit
ourselves to one another in the Lord, 10y
ally abiding the decision which shall be
reached by our constitutional methods.
The report was as follows:
In the case of the Presbyterian Church
in the United States of America against
the Rev Charles A. Briggs, ID. D., being
an appeal 20 the General Assembly from
the decision and final judgment of the
Presbytery of New York, rendered January
9, 1892, the judicial committee begs leave
respectfully to report that they find:
"l-That the appellant in this case is the
Presbyterian Church in the United States
Of America, represented by the Prosecuting
COMMITTEES appointed by the Presbytery of
New York, and as such is entitled to con
duct the prosecution until the final issue
be reached,
''2-That the appeal and specifications
of error alleged have been filed in due
time
"3-They therefore submit resolutions:
That the appeal be entertained.
"lhat three hours be allotted for such
hearing, viz, one and one half hours to
each party, and after hearing from the
members of the Assembly, three hours be
ing ALLOTTED for such hearing, the Assem-
bly, shall then vote upon the following
resolutions:
Resolved That the appeal from the de
cision and final judgment Of the Pres
bytery of New York, rendered
January 8, 1888 be entertained by
the General Assembly, and it is
ordered that the case proceed to trial in ac-
corlance with the provisions Of the Book
OF Discipline"
The report is signed by the following
members of the committee: George d.
Baker, chairman; John T. Duflield, John S.
Hayes. james T. Leftwich, James NJ
Maxwell, d. J. Sanders, John Peacock,
j. s. Randall, Edward f. Green, Thomas
McDougall, Cyrus l.. Pershing, William
Fulton, George w. Cummings, IL. NJ.
Graydon and James L. Orr.
The minority report is as follows:
owe tnd the appeal in order and we
respectfully recommend to tine General
Assembly that the parties be heard in
accordance with the Book of Discipline
section 90 "