The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1893-05-31
THE BRIGGS CASE
Comes Before the Presbyterian
General Assembly.
The Majority of the judicial Committee
Decide to Proceed with the Trial
Prof. Briggs Attempts to Speak
but Is Denied the Privilege.

WASHINGTON, May 94.-After devo-
tional exercise in the Presbyterian
general assembly yesterday morning,
DIR. Young, chairman of the committee
on bills and overtures, reported num-
Der of overtures and bills. Among
them nine bearing directly or indirect
ly upon the Briggs case, which is be-
fore the judiciary committee. He asked
that they be sent to the Judiciary COM
mittee. Rev. Charles Fl. Booth, OF New
York, protested against the attempt to
influence the judicial committee.
Prof. Brown, of Union Theological
seminary, spoke in favor Of DR.. Youngs
report. After several speeches for and
against the committees bills the rec
ommendation of the committee that
the overtures and bills be sent to
the judiciary committee was adopted
by decisive vote in the majority.
The expected report on the Briggs
case attracted large attendance at
the afternoon session. DR.. Briggs
made his first appearance on the floor
on this occasion. A motion to give the
case preference over all other business
was carried. Moderator Craig then ap-
pealed earnestly to the commissioners
to restrain all expressions OF approval
or disapproval.
The majority report recites the case
of the church against DR.. Briggs as be-
ing in the nature Of an appeal. The
judicial committee has examined the
papers and find the appeal in order and
recommends that it be entertained and
issued and that the case proceed to
trial. The report is signed by the MEM
bers Of the committee.
DIR. Baker also presented a supple
mental report giving the reasons which
influenced the committee in reaching
its conclusion. Among others, he says
that should the case be decided on ap-
peal from the synod of New York, the
commissioners from that synod would
be debarred from deliberating or vot-
ing on the case. This might work dis
advantage to the defendant himself.
The report concludes by urging the set
tlement of the issues in the case with
out delay as an imperative duty.
The minority report was read by
Rev. S, J. Nicol, d. D., Of st. Louis.
He said that he knew that in making a
minority report he and his associates
were under suspicion already as ap-
pearing to oppose the appeal. This
was not their attitude; they were not
antagonizing the claim of power in
the assembly to entertain the appeal.
The minority report was then read. II
recommends that the majority report
be amended by striking out all that
follows, beginning with the recon-
mendation that the appeal be enter
tanned and issued, and substituting the
following: "We find the appeal in or
der and request that the parties be
heard in accordance with the book OF
discipline"
Some time was occupied in consider
ing the parliamentary situation and
Mr. Cutcheon, of Detroit, moved &c
strike out the limitation of time of de-
bate by the parties in interest to three
hours, but the assembly refused tc
remove the restriction. At this point
Prof. Briggs rose as If TO address the
assembly. Immediately buzz Of com
ment swept over the house while he
and the moderator engaged In an ami
mated colloquy upon his right to b'
heard at that time. Prof. Brigg'
yielded TO DR.. Craig and resumed hi
seat.
The moderator said: 81 would sug
Rest in the interest Of brotherly kind
ness and peace"-"say justice" ex
claimed voice from the gallery,whicl
was said to be that of Prof Henry Pre-
served Smith, of Cincinnati.
"You wait" retorted Moderator
Craig, sternly. "Don't you put word
into my mouth. speak for brotherl!
kindness and peace, which are highe
than justice, for out of them come jus
tice." The moderator then said tina
Prof. Briggs had asked him the priv
lege of speaking, but that he had in
sisted that the professor had no righ
to speak at that time.
The moderator then announced tha
in accordance with the book of govern
ment, the assembly would be turne'
into a judicial court, and following tn
rules of procedure called fora reading
Of the Judgment notice OF appeal, tn
appeals and the specifications of the Ell
rors alleged. The reading occupies
more than an hour and half and ex
hausted the remainder of the after
noon session. The court then I'D
iourned until 2:3O this afternoon.