Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-05-26
TELEGRAPH C.
DR.. BRIGGS SPEAKS.
He Occupies -Four Hours and a Half
Arguing Against the Appeal.
THE BIBLE THE WORK OF GOD
Colonel McCook Concludes His Argu.
ment for Entertaining the Case.
His Reasons Stated.

wAsurSoroS, May 25.-Professor
Briggs rcsuming his speech In defense
Of the action Of the New York presby-
terry In his case and In opposition to
entertaining the appeal therefrom,
said:
"The presbytery Of New York, the
largest In the Presbyterian Church,
after long and patient consi derntion
Of the merits Of the case, gavo yer.
dict Of acquittal. Would the general
assembly be willing TO give the same
amount OF time aud patience TO tho
consideration OF the merits OF the case
~ the appeal 10 entertainment IL you
override all the provisions VI the con.
stitutlon and tho maxims OF civil law,
the usages Of civil and ecclesiastical
courts, In order to entertain the ap.
peal, and then rush to hasty declG-
lon, you will strike deadly blow Mt
the constitution and discipline OF the
Presbyterian church.
DIR. Briggs then reviewed the his
tory OF the case through tho various
stages.
1.-THE general assembly," he said,
"cannot take the case under consider
alton. The matter IL In the hands OF
the synod OF New York. That synod
has thrown Its shield over the de.
PENDANT and will protect not only him
but Its own rights OF hearing the cnse
without having Its Jurisdiction inter
fered with rashIy by the assembly.
II the assembly should decide to come
to q final decision on the New York
presbytery IL would not yet be Anal
decision, for tho defendant, presbytery
and synod could not accept u NJ either
constitutional or valid"
At 1925 DIR. Briggs yielded TO q mo-
ton TO adjourn, having occupied three
hours anu fifty-two minutes.
After recess DR.. Briggs spoke bitterly
about the omission from the brief OF the
prosecutors Of the questions put TO him
10 test his faith anu his answers there
10. What right had those appellants
TO omit such matters Us thcy pleased
from an official or semi.oflicial docu.
ment? He wished 10 make an explicit
denial Of the charges that he had
preached doctrines against the funda-
mental doctriues Of the church.
81 Affirm that believe" he said,
turning with outstrotched hands ts
the audience, that the Holy Scriptures
are the work OF God"
DR.. Briggs closed with IN appeal
that the case might 20 TO the synod OF
New York. II that was done he would
MD In tho solution OF the case, and
then II Il were sent back to the next
general assembly, he would abide by
It's decision Whatever II might be. He
lad taught for twenty years ~ the
Union Theological Seminary, snd Of
NIL persons that had been taught by
him he challenged any Of them to
say he had taught them anything that
interiered with the true discharge VI
their holy duties.
DR.. Briggs concluded his address at
$40 O'Clock aud On he took his seat n
wave OF applause ran over the rear OF
the church which evoked an indig
nant rebuke from the moderator.
M'CooK's ARGUMENT.
Then Colonel McCook began
the closing argument for the
prosecuting committee In support OF
the recommendation that the appeal
be- entertained. Almost nj the open.
ing DR.. Briggs interrupted TO correct
what he claimed was u missiatsment.
Moderator Craig said to Briggs that he
had been allowed four and a MALI hours
without interruption; that McCook
heard him through without objection
and that Briggs should allow MoCook
to 20 OH In the tame way. Colonel
McCook said:
"Great weight has been given the
technical questions raised In the
interest Of the appellee and based upon
u clause In the fifth amendment OF the
Constitution OF the United States:
Nor shall any person bs subject fol
the same ofisnse 10 DO twice put In
jeopardy Of life or limb II has beer
Ihgeniously claimed that the appeal
place tho Appollee's ecclesiastical life
Ia jeopardy second time. This
Inappropriate uAs OF the term
'eccI. siastical life' seems 70 hav.
confused the minds Of some. Tines,
are not criminal proceedings involving
peril to the lie or limb Of the appellee.
They are proceedings to enforce con.
tract or rather TO detsrmine whether u
contract has been maintained In all II,
integrity.n At <:35 after speaking nj
hour and twenty minutes, u recess WI,
taken until evening.
MoCook continued his speech and con
sidersd tho plea that the acquittal by
the lower court bars the right OF an
appeal and asserted that such claim
was not true In fact, nor sound In law
also that II was regular for appeals tl
be taken from presbytery to the gen
erai assembly. In conclusion MoCooh
gave tho reason OF the prosecute G
committee why the appeal should b'
entertained. Among other things they
say 1t 10 impcratively necessary that
finaI decision DO reached at the earliest
possible date ~ great and widespread
injury Is certain to come from pro
tracted delay. II the doctrines pre-
scented by Briggs be- erroneous, AZ the
committee believes, then through de
lay "her.tical opinions" are tuIe Il
gain ground and the church be afit clet
injuriousiy through the continuance o
uncertainty and doubt.