The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-05-30

Night.
WASHINGTON, D, c., May 20,-The
greatest ccclesiastical trial OF modern
times, as it is termed, was begun to-day
in the New York avenue Presbyterian
church, when Dr. Briggs, the Union
Seminary professor, faced his accusers
md his five hundred judges. The gen.
eraIassembly OF the Presbyterian church
in the United States OF America sat as
n hiph court. The court represented
nearly million Presbyterians in this
country, who recognize tho supreme
authority OF tho general assembly in
ecclesiastical matters. There was
large attendance at the church, people
crowding into the galleries The pro-
ceedings were exceedingly formal in
character
qbo principal argument for the pros
ocution was made by Rev. Joseph j.
Lampe, D. D., who finished in the
afternoon, having spoken three hours
and quarter.
Prof. Briggs then began his answer,
TO which seven hours had been allotted,
and continued it ut the evening session.
He will conclude tomorrow, and then
Colonel McCook will close for the pros.
ecution. 1t is scarcely probable that
vote on the question ot sustaining the
appeal will bo reached before Wednes-
day
FIXING THE TIME.
Tho closest attention was given DR..
Baker, chairman OF the judiciary com
mlttee, when he rose from his place on
the platform to make the report OF the
committee US to the disposition OF time
in tue trial The arrangement con-
tainod in tho report, he said, was agree
able to both sides. The appellants
would open and close tho case, A hours
being allowed them, while the appellee
IDr Briggs) would be allowed 7 hours.
The New York presbytery, from whose
judgment the appeal was taken, would
be allowed two hours, with each speak
er limited to ten minutes, and following
them the members OF the general as
sembly wonld be heard in two hours
under the ten-minute rule. Then tho
vote would be taken on each speci6ca-
ton.
Dr.. Baker said the appellant would
introduce IN their opening case all mat
tcrs they intended to present No new
matter would be introduced.
Aiter some desultory debate on "the
conduct OF the debate" the report was
adopted unanimously and the moder-
ator arose to caution the mlssioners as
to the manner OF their bearing during
the trial. lie said neither party should
travel out OF the record, nor should
they under any circumstances intro.
duce extraneous matter. No personal
ities should be indulgod in, and he
hoped that il any misstatement was
made that the party OF the other side
in all brotherly love and kindness
would call attention to it
These preliminaries had occupied
about half an hour and it was just 10
o'clock and minutes when Col. Nc
Cook took tho stand, and the great trial
might be fairly said to have begun.
His ispurpose ut that time was merely to
notify the court and appellee OF tho
citations and references which the pro-
secntion expected to use in presenting
their case.
THE TRIAL BEGINS.
He said; "Mr. Moderator, Fathers
and Brethron:-When sitting as judi
CatOry in judicial case the members OF
the court are charged as judicial
judges OF the contents oil the constitu.
ton oi the Presbyterian church in the
United States OF America consisting OF
the confession Of faith, the larger and
shorter Catechisms the form OF govern.
inent, the book OF discipline and direc.
tory Of worship, copy OF which was in
troducod in evidence by the appellant
The members Of the court arc also
charged with judicial knowledge OF tho
contents Of the Holy Bible, copy OF
which was introduced in evidence by
the appellant, aud any portions OF tho
Holy BibO and tho constitution Of tho
church may be referred TO by the ap.
pelIant without any previous design on
the part or tho parts thereof to be
used
Colonel McCoot then stated tho mp.
peIIanIs would use and refGr to certain
dosslmnNtOd parts OF tho printed docu.
meht containing the record OF tho case
minutes OF tho presbytery OF New York,
volume Ia atonogruphiC reports Of tho
itiaI IN tho presbytery OF New York
November 0, 1892, to January o, 1903;
third edition OF tho inaugural address"
Dr. Briggs "Whithor Biblical Study"
Who Wrote tho Pontateuch," and
"Who Wrote Isaiah" DR. Briggs' article
~ the Presbyterian RevictD for April, 1884,
,NOwman's ApOl0gia Pro Vih Sua;"
Martincau's Seal OF Authority In Re.
iiglon,' Andovor ROviow, volume 10
Niuonen's Prophets and Prophecies in
lsraol, 1857
Colonel McCook stated in closing
mat the appellants hoped and expect
ca TO use but little more than half the
ume assigned to them by tho commit.
Zee, and he introduced Dr. Lampo to
present the APPELLANTS opening argu.
nuut
OPENING ARGUMENT
Dt LampO said that in accordance
with the book OF discipline the ap.
pclIants assign five grounds in appeal,
namclyi lrrogularity in tho proceed.
lhg' OF the prCsbytory OF New York
receiving proper aud declining to re.
eulHo Important Testimony; manifesto.
non Of prejudice In tho conduct Of tho
GAse and mistake or injustice In the
decision, lis proceeded 80 discusa tho
utsi ground from purely legal stand
POINT aud laid much stroas on the
lNct that Dr. Briggs objected to 80.
iRe 10 trial on two OF tic
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