The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1893-06-01
BRIGGS is BADLY BEATEN.
Closing Scenes in the Great
Heresy Trial.
The General Assembly Votes on
the Question.
An Overwhelming Verdict Against
the Defendant.
The Appeal from the New York Presby-
terry Sustained by Large Major
ity-The Penalty Remains
to BE Fixed.
By the Associated Press,

WASHINGTON, May 3l.-B9fore pro-
ceeding to vote upon the question of
sustaining the appeal from the judg-
ment OF the New York presbytery in the
case of Prof. Briggs, the Presbyterian
general assembly this morning engaged
IN haif-hour's devotion. Rev. A. Mel
son Holifeld of New York conducted the
exercises, giving en- exposition of the
eighth chapter Of Romans.
Then the assembly conve ned as an &c
clesiastical court. Fifteen minutes were
exhausted in a desultory discussion Of
the order of procedure, as the result OF
which the assembly ordered with evil
dent confusion and lack of understand
ing just what they were doing) that the
roll be called. The commissioners. as
called, were to give the reasons for their
votes. The speeches were limited to
three minutes. While this preliminary
was being settled, Briggs quietly came
in and took seat.
Under the call OF the roll each mem
Der rose in turn and stated whether he
voted for or against entertaining the ap-
peal from the New York presbytery
which acquitted Prof. Briggs. and his
reasons therefore.
Rev. Anthony @. Junkin of Los AM
geles eaid every doubt had been scat
tered to the wind By the admissions of
the defendant. His error, in the
speakers opinion. was the doctrine OF
naturalism, out of which grew most of
the errors now affiicting the churches.
Rev. John T. Hopkins, also of Los An
geles, said he was obliged to vote to sus-
tain the appeal, on account of the
threatened disruption, and Prof. John
M. Coyner, of the same presbytery, said
he would do the same.
Elder William I'll. Hamilton, of Oak
land, said be had come to Washington
absolutely unprejudiced. but he-szUaa
afraid the church would be in an uncar-
tain condition i the appeal was not GUS
aflqRep 'Uurusu OF the remarks OF Kew.
J. M. Newell, of the San Jose presby-
terry, was that If DR.. Briggs was sus-
tanned every preacher, professor and
Sunday school teacher would be privi-
legged to preach any views he pleased,
Captaih Jacks, OF San Jose, said all
over the land were young ministers from
the Union seminary stepped in the fear
ful doctrine taught by DR.. Briggs. III
the professor knew, he said, of the dam
age he was doing, he wo uld stop this
thing and would have done with it for
ever, and stop bringing ruin upon the
young ministers of the church.
AS one after another OF the members
briefly indicated his position, Professor
Briggs became weary of the talk, asked
and was granted permission to retire.
Alter recess the debate was continued,
with the majority of the speakers
against DR.. Briggs, though he found
number OF warm supporters, the most
notable one perhaps being 8 graduate of
the Union theological seminary, James
f. Garvin, missionary to Chile.
Elder Thomas McDougall OF Cincin-
natl precipitated lively scene. s'If it
be in ORDER" he began, "I would like to
ask IL the omniEcience, veracity, char
acter of God Almighty, of the Lord
Jesus Christ, may be questioned. God
Almighty has said Isaiah said thus and
30. DIR. Briggs has said to God AL
mighty that Isaiah did not write half OF
the book that bears his name. The
Lord Jesus Christ said in the New Tes-
lament that Isaiah wrote the book bear
ing his name."
DR.. Henry M. storrs said: "I call
the gentleman to order"
Rev. II. Milton Shields of New Mex
leo said: ''If the statement quoted WAS
not in DR.. Briggs inaugural, it is not
before the assembly,"
The colloquy was carried on in the
midsto of great confusion, cries of ''order''
rising from all parts of the house and
the moderator and McDougall both try
ing to be heard.
Elder McDougall, the storm having
cslmed down, concluded that Christ
said: mo man can come unto the
Father but by me-" "Dr. Briggs says.u
continued McDougall, ''that Mattineau
found God through reason and Newman
found Him through the church. Whom
will you believe, Christ or DR.. Briggs %
An extension of half an hour to the
afternoon session enabled the clerk to
progress in the roll call through the
synod of Oregon. The assembly then
took recess until this evening.
The call of the roll WAS resumed at
the evening session. Only a small per-
centage OF members took advantage of
the privilege of speaking.
1t was s: AS O'Clock when the moder.
ator put the question: ''Shall the
specifications on error be sustained ?n
and DR.. Roberts, the clerk, read the
iret specification, in substance that
The presbytery of New York, on objec-
ions made by DR.. Briggs, required the
prosecuting committee to amend the
amended charges and specifications by
striking out charge four. The speci6ea-
ion was declared sustained by vote of
2S2 to 100.
Specifications second to twelfth, all |
relating to Irregularities in the proceed !
ngs OF the New York presbytery, were
seriatim.
The second ground of appeal alleged
ne reeeIving OF important testimony,
md was based upon three specifications
N first. A division was taken, the re-
ult being the specification was sus-
aimed by viva voce vote.
The third ground of appeal alleges a
of prejudice in the con.
uct Of the case. and OF it's six specifi-
ations the Briggs men carried two and