New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-01
PRICE THREE CENTS.
PROF. BRIGGS A HERETO.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKS.
THE PROBABLE JUDGMENT, SUSPENSION
FROM THE MINISTRY.
or 400 VOTES TIE PROFESSOR RECEIVED lle-
s5 MEN VOTED TO SUSTAIN IN PART AND
:3s TO SUSTAIN wHOLLY-oNLY two
srEcIfIcATIoSs THROWN OUT.
rsr 1ELEoRApu TO THE TRIBuxEs

| TELEGRAPH TO THE IRIBCNEs
Washington. May 3l.-After many days the
General Assembly tf the Presbyterian Church has
given its verdict as 10 the heresy of Dr. Charles A.
Briggs Of Union Theological Seminary. Late
tonight vote taken upon the specifcat tions
OF error in the appeal of the Prosecuting Com.
mltfee against the verdict of the Presbytery which
acquitted Dr. Briggs last winter. The clerk an
nounced that 400 men responded to their names
on the final rolI-call. OF these lls voted not to
sustain the appeal s5 voted to sustain in part.
which Is equivalent, however, in the summing
up to sustain and POS voted to sustain wholly,
making the vote 3s3 &c Il6
DR.. BRIGGS EXCUSED FROM ATTENDANCE.
Dr. Briggs was not present while the votins
was taking place, he had been excused by
the Moderator at his own request in the morn.
ing, giving as his reason the fact that he had
become weary from the long session. Dr. Brown
sat at the table and recorded the vote for his
own purpose, while in the galleries, one Of the
most interested of the hundreds Of people who
crowded the church, sat Professor Smith, of Gin.
cnnati, pencil and roll-call in hand Thirty -four
ballots were taken, one for each specification In
the appeal. before the rollcall was finished. All
Of the specifications under the first second, third
and fifth grounds Of appeal were sus-
tanned. Two under the fourth ground were
lost. These related to the charge that DR..
George Alexander, the Rev. Antonio Alright, Dr..
Henry NJ. Field. of The Evangelist" President
Hastings, of Union Seminary, and DR.. Henry van
Dyke made speeches at the Presbytery trial, af-
ter showing a manifestation Of prejudice The
othe: specification lost that Professor Brown,
Dr. Field, DR.. Hastings, DR.. van Dyke and DR..
j. H. McIlvaine took part in the trial after
manifestation of prejudice in the conduct Of tho
case.
Three or four Of the specifications were sus'
tanned by apparently 80 close vote that the
commissioners were counted. The one relating
TO the directors officers and professors of tho
seminary who had voted to acqut DR.. Briggs
in the Presbytery was sustained by vote OF
236 to 234.
THE PYOBABLE PENALTY.
Now that the vote of the Assembly has been
taken the men who have sat in Judgment upon
Dr. Briggs are discussing what shan DO done
with him. The Moderator will appoint in the
morning a committee of fifteen to bring In an
explanatory minute II is probable that IN view
of the large minority verdict Of suspension VIII
he recommended for the case Is not officially dD"
posed OF until this judgment is adopted ins
opinien of the probable vedict is given on the
authority OF DR.. Hcrrck Johnson, who voteo
throughout for DR.. Briggs.
One of the younger members OF the Presoy'
terry who had spoken IN the afternoon very
strongly in favor of DR.. Briggs and voted for
his acquittal tonight said to The Tribune cor
respondent that there was no probability ana
no possibility of division in the Presbyterian
Church. A few might leave it If DR.. Eiggs
were sentenced, but it would be small num-
her. and he wished the fact emphasized that
loyal as were the men who had sat under Dr.
Priggs's teaching TO him, they were more loyal
70 the Presbyterian Church and would re-
"'"', NOT THE END OF TROUBLE.
The members Of the New-York Synod voted
almost soldly against sustaining the appeal
which was practically vote for DIR. Briggs. Ono
of the Professors able supporters, who did not
wish TO give his name for publication. said that
the present was only the beginning OF trouble.
Tomorrow the Committee will probably brina
in its verdict. and then the Committee on Theo'
logical Seminaries will submit it's report. the in-
crrancy dogma will he discussed. church unity
will have hearing. and a few minor reports Will
he adopted: but il is certain that the number OF
people who will listen to these reports Will be
much smaller than the number Of those who have
taken part in the vote and debate today. Many
men left the city tonight