New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-30
ON TRIAL FOR HERESY.
DIR. BRIGGS CALLED TO THEBAR
DR. j. J. LANfPE'S ABLE ARGUMENT FOR THE
PROSECUTION.

THE DEFENDANT MAKES STRONG PLEA
BEFORE THE GENERAL AssMEBLY-REPUDI.
ATING DOCTRINE AsCRIBED TO HIM-A
VOTE MAY BE TAKEN TODAY
iBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rEIBUSE-T
Washington. May 20.--At last the trial Of Pro.
fesscr Briggs upon the charge of heresy for hold.
ing doctrines not in harmony with the Bible and
the Standards Of the Presbyterian Church has
been started in the supreme court Of the Church,
and verdict will doubtless he reached
on Wednesday. 1t will then be known whether
in the opinion of the majority of the General As
scmbly, from which there is appeal ecclesi-
9stically, the inaugural address OF DR.. Briggs de-
livered in January, 1891, is or is not hcrctcal.
The scene in the New-Yorl Avenue Prcsby-
tcrian Church to-day has been dgniicd in the
extreme. The clouds and the rain did not de-
crease the attendance. and al early hour not
seat vacant. The commissioners. bent on
their responsible duty, were in their seats during
the devotional half hour preceding the actual
business session. 4 few preliminary questions
settled. The memorial signed by the elders
and Geacons Of the Church., with reference to
the Interpretation of the last de.yerance relative
to the nerIancy Of the Bible il came from
God, was placed in the hands of the Committee
on Bills and Overtures rev Synod-Mon-
Il question in regard TO the Presbyterian exhibit
at the Worlds Fair, wnich referred 10 the
Finance Committee with power. Dr. William
{. lcurI made chairman of the Committee
on tire Relation of Theological Semnaries to the
Assembly in place of Dr. Hays, excused on az
count of i'll health, and DR.. DNoa. Of New-Jersey,
was added tt the committee.
Then the Assembly changed its character and
became a legislative body instead of an admins
tratiyc body Judicial body instead of one
signed to consider the routine work of the Church.
4 nse of solemnity falls upon the 500 commits
siorers and many spectators as DR.. Craig sayG
slowly ard with emphasis
1nE GREAT TRIAL or.
~ as Moderator, do solemnly announce that
this 4 ~cmbg is about 10 pass to the considera-
ton of business assigned for trial. and do enioin
upon the members 10 regard their high character
a. judges of the Court of Jesus Christ and tho
solemn duty in which they about to engage
We are now sitting in our judicial capacity
Tie floor was then given to DR.. Baker Of the
Judicial Committee. who rises to announce tho
question of time to be consumed by the several
parties interested. -Four hours and half were
given to the appellants seven hours to the appellee,
two to the commissioners from the Presbytery Of
Ncw-York, and two to the members of the Gem
eral 4 semby. Another important statement by
the Judicial Committee 10 the eject that
while the appellants would have the right 10 close
rather than follow ;he appellee. he wished it un-
derstood that the prosecution would Introduce in
its opening all the matter which it proposed TO use
in arguing the case No new matter whatsoever
would be introduced in the closing argument
The report was adq/ked, and then DR.. Craig gave
word expressing his confidence in the parties
present lie said that neither one should travel
ont Of the record which they had agreed to abide
BY and would not be allowed under any clrcum-
stances to present any eNtraneous matter
TIE DEFENDANT AND HIS COLLEAGUE
AgAIn the hush fell upon the house. Az the
Moderator's right hand sat one of the best-known
Prr>bytnrians in the United States, and not alone
in this country is the reputation of Dr. Briggs
held in high estecn. Eprofean universities have
added their honors TO those received from Ameri-
can institutions As an authority upon the
Hebrew language he has few equals. AS a student
of the Westminster Assembly divines and their
writings 10 man, American or European, VIII
clam supcrorty ii is only his theology whlch
is in question In that supreme court OF the
Church. lis methods, his manner, his aoillty
as "A teacher aie not under review. VITA MN
sits hi, able colleague his associate IN the prepa-
ration Of the great Hebrew lexicon, now oeln8
lishnl, his friend and ally in the trial aooue
70 be.in between Dr. Briggs and DIR. Brown
lie piles of books covering the record OF the case
in the Presby terry, and writings when the pro-
fessors have prepared for the defence OF the 10
fendant
THE LEADER OF THE PROSECUTION.
Across the aisle a; the table OF the prosecu-
ton sat Dr. Birch. the chairman of the committee
that began the proceedings which have led 10
the trial No other man j. more loyal TO the
tltn
because he thought that the honor of the Church
had reon asssiled in the inaugural address that
he called for a committee of inquiry few weeks
oftor its delivery As he made tie notion tho
Moderator Of the Prcsbytery appointed him chair
man of the committee. As his report was ac-
cnrrcd he was made chairman OF n" Prosecuting
Committee when Judicial proceedings were p"2uh'
HIS short thcksrt frame has become quite as
familiar in tbc courts OF the Church since THAI
time as the taller and more spare figure OF Dr.
Eri,c; With Dr. Birch sat his colleagues in the
prosecution. Or. J. ]. Lampc and Colonel McO oo".
Tin, platform was crowded a. usual, and men
and women alike stood in the galleries waiting
for .he openihg words They were these, spoken
by DR. Birch:
Mfr. Moderator, Colonel McCook will present
tbc nrelimnary statement and the evidence which
we expect TO use.
Not "elShlN sta'ti'h'' o"' HUM ''"' "'''
the trial was in progress. In the former sessions
Colonel Mct'ook had stood on the lower platform
To-day he stood beside the Moderator, head and
shoulders above al, his neighbors. His broad
chest was thrown hack and every word came forth
imnrcs ,iv~ly as though the speaker was conscious
Of the great responsibility laid upon him in in
PRODUCING evidence which might lead TO the eX-
ru,ion of minister from the Office to which he
had been set apart at ordination
Colonel McCooks statement consisted mainly
in giving the references to the evidence which the
prosecution proposed TO use. In doing so he re-
ferred to a pamphlet which he called the printed
record 1t contained the appeal and the minutes
of the Presbytcry, but DR.. Briggs objected to ito
being called printed record, as it was not in any
sense a part of the record of the case With Q