Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-06-02
IDR. BRIGGS SENTENCE
Suspension From the Pulpit
Said to be Too Severe.
THE ASSEMBLY FINISHES ITS WORK

Was Adopted by the Assembly = DE.
Briggs Refused to Relieve the Tension
VIII Stick to His Former Utterancss.
WASHINGTON, June 2.-The Presbyterian
General Assembly of 1898 finished its
labors last night at $3.50 and was declared.
by Moderator Craig to be dissolved.
The Moderator stated last week that he
expected to get away from the city by
Thursday and he was not very far wrong In
his calculation. A very few of the mem
bers managed to leave the city on late
trains last night, but the majority of them
waited this morning before gathering their
effects together and bidding good-by the
brethren with whom they have labored for
the past few days By night there will
be scarcely one Of the visiting delegates in
town.
Although by the decision of the General
Assembly Dr. Briggs has been deposed
from the ministry there was a general
feeling that the sentence was too severe
and there was a disposition among many
of the members at the closing session last
evening to attempt reconsideration OF the
vote of the action.
The last day attracted the usual crowds
which has all along taken deep interest in
the proceedings.
Rev. Dr. Peacock upon invitation of the
Moderator offered tho opening prayer
when the Assembly came together at the
call of the Moderator. DR.. Craig then
convened the Assembly as a court, to hear
| the report of the committee appointed to
prepare the explanatory minute in the
| Briggs case.
The Stated clerk announced that Rev.
Robert Moore, of Ottawa, had stated that
| he was present last night and voted to
| sustain the question of the appeal from
the New York Presbytery's decision, but
| owing to a severe cold, was unable to
make himself heard. Mr.. Moore's vote
was recorded, making the number OF votes
| to sustain an even 500.
Rev. DIR. Hoyt, chairman of the commit
tee, before making the report called upon
| DR.. Baker, chairman, of q subcommittee
| sent to interview Prot Briggs In a spirit of
| conciliation, to report the result OF that
| interview. Dr. Baker said the committees
| had hoped that Prof. Briggs would say
something which might relieve the tension
of the present distressing situation. But
this hope had not been realized. Prof.
Briggs stated his irrevocable determination
/ to abide by the declaration made in his
address before the Assembly in his defence
i and continue to teach the doctrines there
/ avowed Whereupon, DR.. Baker said, the
| committee took the action which Mr.. Hoyt
| would now report to the General Assem-
bly,.
The report after reciting the charges in
the case, proceeds:
| This judicatory finds that said final
| Judgment of the Ppresbytery of New York
is erroneous, and should ba and is hereby
reversed; and this General Assembly sitting
as a judicatory in said case. coming now
| to enter Judgment on said amended
| charges, finds the appelles Chas. ~ Briggs
has uttered, taught and propagated views,
| doctrines and teachings as set forth in said
| charges contrary to the essential doctrine
of holy scripture and the standards of said
| Presbyterian Church in the United States
of America and in violation of the ordina-
tion vow of said appelles, which
said erroneous views and doctrines
strike at the vitals Of religion
and have been industriously spread
wherefore this general assembly of the
| Presbyterian Church in the United States
| Of America, sitting as judicatory in thi $
cause on appeal does hereby suspend
Charles A. Briggs, the said appellee, from
the office of a minister in the Presbyter-
ian Church in the United States Of Amer
lea until such time as shall give satisfac-
tory evidence of repentance to the general
assembly of the Presbyterian Church In the
| United States of America of the viola tion
by him of the said ordinary VOW as he rein
and heretofore found"
1 The report of the committee was adopted,
whereupon Rev. DR.. Spraguo gave notice
that at the proper time protest would be
offered against the finding Of the assembly,
as being too severe sentence for the
honored scholar named, and as tending to
restrict the liberty heretofore enjoyed by
bearers in the Presbyterian church.
The committee Of which DR.. Hoyt was
chairman was made up as follows:
Ministers-H. w. Congdon, of New
York; James H. Brookes, Missouri; Cal.
vim w. Stewart, Nebraska; w. w.
Harsha, Nebraska; j. j. Lucas, Indiana;
George D. Baker, Pennsylvania; E. p
Whallon, Indiana, and Thomas D. Ewing,
Iowa.
Elders - John Randolph, Baltimore
Thomas McDougall, Ohio; David Jacks,
California; Edward T. Greene, New Jer
sey; James A. Curry, Kentucky, and E
D. Warfield. Pennsylvania
The committee were given leave to re
tire for consultation, and the Assembly, as
court, adjourned, to be reconvenod at the
call of the Moderator.
Wednesday nights vote on the appea
was divided as follows: To sustain, 298
to sustain in part, So; not to sustain, 116
Total vote. 38S to 110 against Dr. Briggs.