Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-05-24
Two Reports Presented by an I'M
pOrtant Committee.
JUDICIAL COMMITTEE DIVIDED.
The Majority Favors the Hearing
of the Appeal by the General
Assembly-Only Technical Diff
ferences Exist-A Gentleman
Who Would Put WORDS Into the
Moderator s Mouth.


bly this morning-big men physically
and mentally.
There was the tall figure OF Rev. Tom
Hall. the broad frame of Elder Eudaly,
and the great form OF Judge Wills, OF
Gettysburg.
There were others equally burly and
brainy. IL was a SkirmiSh preceding
the battle Of the giants. Voices rang
out loud and clear and earnest In a
short debate over proposal 70 refer
Oyertures relating 70 the Briggs case TO
the Judicial Committee. Anti-Brlggs
men opposed such a reference, but the
proposal was finally carried; not be-
cause OF the strength OF the Briggs side
so much as the superior strength OF the
position they held on this particular
point. In this matter they had the
Committee on Bills and OvertuTes with
them. The lawyers threw themselves
into the midst of the conflict with the
theologlsns and were worsted. Rev.
Tom Hall routed them with ecclesiastic
law. The right Of petition was main
tained. II was the opening Of an in
teresting day. The report OF the Ju-
dicial Committee on the appeal Of Prof.
Briggs was the order for the opening
Of the afternoon session.
At no time since the General Assem-
bly, began its sessions has there been so
large an attendance as was assembled
when, at 800 o'clock this afternoon, DR..
Craig called the Assembly TO order
The platform was filed with distin-
guished visitors and members OF the
Assembly. Among them was Senator
Cullom, Of Illinois. DR.. Briggs, on this
mOmentous occasion.
MADE HIS FIRST APPEARANcE
on the floor of the house. He occupied
a chair Oh a low platform Immediately
in front Of the pulpit, TO the right or
the Moderator. Just at his right and
In front OF the Moderator also sat Rev.
G.. w. F. Birch, Chairman Of the Prose-
cutting Committee, while in the main
aisle, just behind Drs. Briggs and Birch,
sat Rev. J. j. McCOOk, leading men,
Der OF the same committee. DR.. Briggs
sat quietly throughout the preliminary
proceedings apparently unmindful OF
the fact that be was the observed OF oil
observers.
Before the reading OF the report be-
gan Mr.. McDougRll, OF Cincinnati,
moved that the case before the Assem-
bly, take precedence OF all other busi-
ness, and this was speedily carried.
The venerable Or. Smith, Of Baltimore,
probably anticipating an Outburst,
sought I'm advance TO pour oil on what
he thought might develop into troubled
waters. For this reason ne suggested
that all expressions Of approval or dis
approval be prohibited. Moderator
Craig emphasized this suggestion, and
called for absolute quiet so that the
men upon whom such great and tre-
mendOus duty involved might be able
10 hear calmly and diSpasSiOnately all
that might be said.
"In the name OF God and the Presby-
terian Church." said Or. Craig, al beg
you to keep perfect quiet. ] should
be mortified beyond the possibility OF
expression II any man were to be dis
turbed by any evidence OF disapprOval
] would, II IL be in my power, stamp II
out with ruthless hand"
THE DAY N DETAIL.
The morning session plunged into the
Briggs question Immediately after
PRAYER. Under the rules, DR.. Young,
chairman OF the Committee on Rules
and OVertures, took the floor 10 present
a report from that committee, distrio-
uting a number Of bills and oyertures
10 the several committees Of the Assem-
bly,. Among them were nine bearing
directly or Indirectly upon the case te-
fore the Judicial Committee (the Briggs
case).
Rev. Charles Fl. Booth, Of New York,
secured the floor and entered his pro-
test against the obvious attempt to in
huenes the Judicial Committee, q sort
of trial court, by pouring in upon il
these oyertureS for and against the
case.
Prof. Brown, Prof. Briggs co-laborer
and sympathiZer in UDion Theological
Seminary next TO the floor.
There are some Of US here" be said,
"who are glad TO know that there are
fifty or sixty OF these Overtures that
have been sent 20 the committee on the
Judiciary. We have a right to know
the sentiment OF the church upon any
subject before IL, and the only proper
way to secure a knowledge Of that SEN
timent is through the Committees OF
the Assembly"
u =
upon DR.. Herrick Johnson, OF McCor-
mick Theological Seminary, Chicago:
ut is not a question Of Interpretation
OF law" be said, "that these OYertures
present. They only ask reference TO
the syned OF the case, II IL is found 70
be advisable. This determination may
be properly reached by consideration
OF these OvertureS. These petitions
give US light as TO the voice OF the
Church: whether we shall issue the case
or send it 70 the synod"
The Rev. Thomas c. Hall, of Chicago,
loomed mp IN the middle aisle, and his
appearance evoked a storm OF applause
which showed that the Briggs element
In the Assembly was by no means incOn-
siderable: "PrecedentS and practices in
civil courts have no weight at this. No
court would have taken up the prose-
cution.
ECCLESIASTICAL PBECEDENTs
are overwhelming in favor of the right
Of petition. 1t is a right that every cit
iZen possesses"
DR.. Young In concluding the discus
sion, stated that the eOuamittee had 20
zeal in this matter unletS it was for
consistency Of action on hhe part of the
General Assembly. "WA are in favor Of
giving the committee sll the light on
the subject possible. w have nothing
70 hold back; we have fear OF the f.
nal results. Give what sy be called