Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-05-25
ARGUMENTS BEGUN
In the Case That Is Troubling
Presbyterianism.
STATEMENT FOR THE PROSECUTION

Made by Bev. DE-. Birch-The Errors Al
legged Against The Defendan;-New
York's Pre>bytcry Cciticized for Its Ac
tion-Dr. I;riGrs Takes the Floor with
an Argument Claim NJ No ,JGrisdiction
Meetings of Other Religious Bodies.
WASHINGTON, May 2f.-Arguments in
the Briggs case have begun and the aU-
dience that listened TO them was one thu
packed the church The ladies hal tn
gallery and they completely filed it While
the floor was rs fully occupied by clergy
men and prominent laymen. The frs;
thing settled was the time to be occ"ple'
in deb; and Professor Briggs got the five
hours he wanted; also permission to reHd
number of complaints and have The"
printed Rev. Dr. Birch, chairman Of the
proSecutina committee, then took the iacr
and gave the history of the case. He sail
the pres yttry of New York hal disohe,ed
the decree of the assembly by declining to
express itself on the basis of the charges
against Dr.. Briggs.
Ground Of the I're>bytery's ACauittaL
The prcsbytery had acquitted the de-
PENDANT on the ground that although he
might deny that Moses wrote the law
which the Gentle Christians observed; al
reason could do what the Bible could not
do-enabie man to find GOd-yet that
such statements did not transGress the
limits OF Liberty allowed under tn consti-
tuition of tue Presbyterian church 10
scholarship and opinion. DR. Ri rch said:
1--WE are here TO invoke this supreme court
to put an end to the diSscnSlCn and dispu-
tation which the New York preshytery
vainly underworld to silence, first by the
dismissal Of the case against DR. Briggs,
and, second, by the acquitthl of Dr. Briggs,
qualifying both the dismissal and the
Quittal 10y tine positive disclaimer of any
approval of the controvcrted statements Of
the inaugural address.
Fundamental Errors Charged.
"The errors charged are fundamental.
The charges relate: First, TO the question
rs To the supreme and only authority in
matters OF faith and practice: second. TO
the question as to the ineTrancr or truth
fitness Of III" inspired word OF God; third,
to the historical validity OF the Old Tesla
1neut: fourth rs TO the fu!hlimcnt of Mes
sianic prediction-u question of supreme
Importance in its bearing upon the view
which i taken of the trUJn(ElueSs of scrip
ture and Of the truthfuiness Of God; fifth,
and lastly, there j. the doctrine Of redemp-
ton concerning which il has been alleged
that Professor Briggs teachings have been
especially erroneous ana hhrtlut-
Summary of She Doctors argument.
DR. Birch then proceeded to argue the
case lie autagoujZed the proposition OF
the defense that nm appeal cannot be taken
from a verdict OF acquittai. OF those who
had supported Dr. Briggs not one in hun
6red would now subscribe to the inaugural
address-which i the cause of the trouble.
The Presbyterian church would not be
justified in toleratinc what in other
churches was called brua l-church princi-
Piles. The questions before the court We're
to be answered for all American Presby-
terians and for years, to come. He then
appeaIed TO the court TO make every plea
for delay of judgment ont of order and pro-
tect the communion from the peril OF
broadness which "will empty our souls of
conviction and our hearts of victory"