The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-24
Majority and Minority Reports Submitted,
Both Recommending that the Appeal Of
theNsw York Presbytery Be Entertained.
Judicial Court Organized by the Assem-
bly, for Determining the Case.
Preliminary Skirmish in Which Rev. 7. G.
Hall Routed the Lawyers Briggs Not
Allowed 10 Speak-0ther Meetings
THE BRIGGS CASE.


Morning skirmish in the Assembly Followed
by the Report OF the } Judicial Committee
WASHINGTON, May 2S.-Big men Ioomed
up in the Presby terlan General Assembly
this motning-big men ply sically and men,
tally. There were the tall figure of Rev.
Thomas c. Hall. the broad frame of Elder
Eudsly, the great form of Judge Wills. Of
Gettysburg. There were others equally
burly aud brsiny. 1t was n skrmish pre-
cedinr the battle OF the giants. Voices
rang out loud. and clearly and earnestly in
a short and sharp debate over n proposal
to refer overtures relating TO the Briggs
case to the judicial committee. Anti Briggs
men opposed such q reference. bat the pro-
posal was finally carried. not because OF
the strength of the Briggs side go much rs
the superior strength of the position they
held on this particular point In this mat
ter they had the committee on bills and
overtures with them. The lawyers threw
themselves into the midst of the oonilicr
with the theologians and were wcrsted.
Rev. Thomas c. Hall ronted them with &C.
clesiastiesl law. The right OF petition was
maintained. Ii was the opening of ON ip-
teresting day.
Immediately after the opening exercises
this morning under the rules. DR.. Young.
chairman of the committee on bills and
overtures. took the door to present report
from that committee dIstri butIns q number
of bills and overtures to the several COM
mittees of the assembly. Among them
were nine bearing a,Iecsiy or @ Incorrectly
the Briggs case
Rev. Charles Booth. of New York. secured
the floor and entered his protest against
the obvious attempt to make the judicial
committee q sort of trial court by pouring
iii upon IL these overtures for and against
the case which il was oonsldering.
Professor Brown. Professor Briggs CO.
laborer and tympathizer in Union The.
illogical Seminary. next Rot the noor.
There are some of us here" he said "who
are glad TO know shat there are tifty or
sixty OF these overtures that have been
sent to the committee on judiciary We
have q right 10 know the sertiment OK tho
church upon any subject before it. and the
only proper way to secure knowledge OF
the sentiment Is through the committees OF
the assembly"
upon Dr. Herrck Johnson, of Mccormick
Theological Seminary. Chicago. one OF the
foremost Briggs leaders IN the body. 1t
is not O question of Interpretation OF law"
he said. "tbat these overtures present
They only ask reference TO the synod OF
the case if ID is found TO be advisable. This
matter may no properly reached by q con-
sideratiOn of these oyertures. These petit
tions give us light as TO the voice of tie
church. whether we shall try the cese or
send it to the synod"
REV. T. c. HALL TAKES HAND.
Rev. Thomas e. Hall. of Chicago, loomed
up in the middle aisle. and bis appearance
evoked q storm of applause. which showed
that the Briggs element in the assembly
was by no means en- inconsiderable one.
''Precedents and practices in civil courts"
his clear voice rang ont have no weighs
with us. No courJ would have taken up
the prosecution of an innocent man. APP
plause. Ecclesiastical precedents are
Overwhelmingly In favor of the right of pe-
titon. 1t is q right that every citizen pos
sesses." lApplause.
DR.. Young in concluding the discussion.
stated that the committee had no zeal in
this matter unless it was for consistency or
action on the part OF the General Assembly
I'VE are In favor OF giving the committee
all the light upon the subject possible" he
said. I'VE have nothing TO hold back: We
have no fear of the final result. Give what
may be called the weaker side. If you
please. the benefit of all the doubt in the
premises"
The recommendation of the committee as
to the disposition OF the overtures was then
adopted by decisive vote.
The report of the committee on homo
missions was read and adopted. Ex-Mod.
orator Smith. president OF the United
Christian Commission. organized for work
In connection with the United States army.
submitted o statement. 1t was 10 the ef-
feet that the commission must discourage
enlistment OF the sons of Christian families
into the army. unless some safeguards,
now lacking, arc thrown about them.
Gambling in the army Is not prohibited.
either 10y law or regulation, and Is en-
conraged by the example of older officers
md snlR ha fear aaf1 rds
restricted opportunity for. and induce
ment to. drink; the barracks place Chris
tIan soldiers al a fearful disadvantage. ex-
posing them TO tue vices and lndeceDcies
OF irreligious members of the rank
and file. Sunday work. not called
for by any exigency. IS still
required by the army authorities. The
recommendation of reli gious teachers in
the army for che benefit OF soldiers do not
receive the approval OF consideration OF
the authorities. in fact they are discour-
aged. The commission recommended that
the army orders OF Aug last. on the sub
ject. be revoked and that chaplains be ap-
pointed for every regiment The recon-
mendations OF the committee were ap-
proved and the report received. A recess
was then taken.
BRIGGS or THE PLATFORM.
At no time since the General Assembly
began it's sessions has there been so large
an attendance as was assembled when. at
2:3O O'Clock. DR.. Craig called the assembly
to order. 1t was generally known that tho
report of the judicial committee in the
Briggs case was the special order, and this
WAS sufficient to crowd the house. Caller
les and even she stairweys were
packed to suhocafion. The plat
form was flied with distin guisbed
visitors and members of the assembly.
Among them was the tall. familiar figures Of
Senator Cullom. of Illinois. DIR. Briggs on
this momentous occasion made bis first sp-
pearance on the floor of the house He oc-
cuDied a chair on low platform immedt-
ateiy in front of the pulpit and TO the right
OF the moderator. Just to his right ana
in front of the moderator. also. sat Rev. q.
w. L. Birch. chairman of the prosecuting
committee while in the main aisle Just be-
hind Dire. Briggs and Birch sat Dir. j. j.
McCook. a leading member of the Same
committee. DIR. Briggs sat quietly through
out the preliminary proceedings. apparent
ly unmindful of the fact that be was the
observed of AL observers. AS DIR. Baker
read from tee report. DIR. Briggs from time TO
time took notes as quietly as If. instead OF
being the central figure. he was, at NEST,
counsel of the man under religious indict-
ment.
Before the reading of the report began
Mr.. McDouGal. of Cincinnati. moved that
the case before the assembly take preced.
enco Of all other business. ana this was
speedily carried. The venerable DIR. Smith,
OF Baltimore. probably antici pating au
l.