The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-05-26
SPEAKING IN HIS OWN BEHALF
Dr.. Briggs Makes a Grand Effort Be-
fore The Assembly.
SAYS THE BIBLE is INSPIRED
He Objects 10 the Appeal From the Find
ings of the Synod and Shows Himself
to Be an Able Advocate.
Associated Press.

<ASoOSAehbC0 L ANOOs
Washington, May 25-In the Presby-
terian general assembly today, after
briefly restating the point made yes
terday, Dr. Briggs said in part:
"The Presbytery of New York, the
largest in the Presbyterian Church, af-
ter long and patient consideration of
the merits of the case, gave a verdict
of acquittal. Would the general assem-
bly, be willing to give the same amount
of time and patience to the considera-
ton of themerits of the case if the ap-
peal were entertained? If you override
all provisions of the constitution and
make civil law usages civil and ecclesi-
aStical in order to entertain an appeal
and then rush to a hasty decision, you
will strike a deadly blow at the con-
stitutional discipline Of the Presbyter-
ian Church. Is not this too heavy
a cost to pay for the sake of secur-
ing condemnation of one man, how
ever Objectionable he may be? Com
mon law lays down this fundamental
principle, which applies to this case
If to any: 1t is for the public good that
there be an end to litigation. The gen.
eral assembly cannot take the case un-
der consideration. The matter is in the
hands Of the synod of New York, That
synod has thrown it's shield over the
defendant and will protect not only
hut ite,n ,terl,t Dfh I,a
case without having it's jurisdiction
interfered with rashly by the assem-
bly,. If the assembly entertains this ap-
peal the glory of the synods will have
departed and those who have thus sue
ceeded in breaking down the prece-
dent will drive a coach and four
through the breaches in the palace of
justice. If the assembly should decide
to come to the final decision of the New
York Presbytery, it would not yet be
a final decision for the defendant pres
bytery and synod could not accept 1t
as either constitutional or valid"
Dr. Briggs spoke bitterly about the
omission from the brief of the prose-
cutors of questions put to him to test
his faith and his answers thereto. He
wished to make an explicit denial of
the charge that he had preached doc
trines against the fundamental doc
trines of the Church.
II affirm that 1 believe" he said,
turning with outstretched hands to the
audience, 'the Holy Scriptures to be
the work of God"
Briggs closed with an appeal that
the case might go to the synod of New
York. If that were done, he would aid
in solution of the case, and then If
it were sent back to the next general
assembly, he would abide by its de-
cision, whatever it might be. He re-
gretted it if he had said anything that
caused trouble in the church. He had |
taught for twenty years at the Union |
Seminary and of all the |
persons that had been taught by him, |
he challenged any of them to say he
had taught them anything that had |
interfered with a true discharge Of |
their whole duties DR. Briggs con-
cluded his address at $40 o'clock and
as he took his seat a wave of applause
ran over the rear of the church,
which evoked AM indignant Iebuke
from the moderator.
Then Colonel McCook began the clos
Ing argument for the prosecution. The
committee was in support of the recon-
mendation that appeal be entertained.
Almost at the opening, DR.. Briggs in
terrupted to correct what he claimed
was misstatement. Moderator Craig
said to DR.. Briggs that he had been
allowed four and one-half hours with
,ut interruption; that McCook heard
lin through without an objection, and
hat Briggs should allow McCook to
70 on in the same way
Colonel McCook said Great weight
las been given the technical questions
aised in the interest Of the appellee
md based on a clause in the fifth
amendment Of the Constitution of the
United States: Nor shall any person be
ubject for the SAME offense to be twice
,ut in eopardy of life and liberty 1t
ad been ingeniously claimed that an
ppeal from the New York Presbytery
yould place the appelee's ecclesiastical
fe in jeopardy second time. This is
n inappropriate use Of the term "ec-
lesiasticai life 1t seems to have con-
used the minds Of some. These are not
riminal proceedings involving peril to
fe or liberty of the appellee. They are
to enforce contract, or
ather to determine whether the con-
ract had been maintained in all its
ltegrity." In conclusion, McCook
ave the reason of the prosecuting
ommittee why the appeal should be
Among other things, they
ly it is imperativeIy necessary that a