Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-05-23
NORTHERN ASSEMBLY.
The Briggs Matter Comes TO the Front
with a Found.
by Telegraph TO The Dispqtch.l

10y telegraph 10 tne Dl5Dftc1.l
WAsHINGroS. ID. C.. May 22. Rev. Thomas
BracScn. of Wakeny, Kan, conducted the
half.hour's devotional exercises with which
the second weeks session of the Presbyte-
ran General Assembly was ushered in tins
morning. Promptly at $3.50 Moderator
Craig opened tue assembly with pray er.
and the special Committee on sabbath
Observance, OF which the late Colonel
Elliott /. Shepard was chairman, submit
ted It's fifth annual report.
4 he Briggs question then came TO the
front at a bound, and it did not mitigate
the results of a short Struggle to know
when II was over that IL was chiefly the re-
suit of q misunderstanding.
Dr. Young, chairman OF the Committee
on Bills and Overtures, announced what
had been done with number OF overtures
from presbyterIes, twelve OF them re-
latlng 10 the Briggs case having been re-
teTrod to the Committee on judiciary.
THE TROUBLE BEGINS.
DIR. Young had scarcely ceased speaking
when Dr. Herrck Johnson, OF Chicago,
inquired what had become OK the over
ture from his presOytery IN the Briggs
case. which overture besought the assem-
bly, to refer this celebrated case back to
the Synod OF New York.
Or. Thomas G. Hall. of Chicago, in SYM
patty with DR.. Briggs. made a speech IN
Briggs case to the Judiciary Committee
first. as all would eventually so there.
Fielder Eudaly, of Cincinnati, got the
floor ana stated that the assembly had to
do simply witt, the law as 1t is, not as 1t
ought TO be.
There was general parliamentary con-
fusion. various commissioners attempting
to get the floor, amid which the announce
meut was made that the Chicago overture
had gone 10 the Judiciary Committee.
While the moderator was attempting TO
put the question DR.. johnson renamed
upon his feet. calling out repeatedly: Il
claim the rignt to be heard" his words be-
ing received with applause.
THREAT OF APPEAL.
Commissioner Cutcheon, of Detroit,
stated that there was an overture from his
pres Dytery. and in view OF that tact he
supported the motion TO refer all Briggs
overtures to the Judiciary Committee. He
complained that the moderator had not
permitted him TO speak, although he had
been repeatedly upon his feet. Mr..
Cutcheon said he would appeal from the
decision of the chair and was applauded.
Dr. Young. from the platform, asserted
that the moderator could not see every
man who ought TO be seen. and this state
ment received the vigorous applause of the
anti-BrIggs people. Mr.. Cutcheon, who is
physically one of the largest men on the
floor, retorted that ne failure to see him
was possibly due ~ .ae fact that he was SO
small.
Moderator Craig, in reply, said il made
no difference how many times Mr.. Clutch
con had been on his feet SO long as he had
not caught the eye of the Char. He add
ed: II never. knew such an outbreak
while vote was being taken" and this
remark was received with loud applause.
The reference of overtures to the Judi
CARY Committee was carried. ald then
MIR. Craig stepped to the front of the plat
form.
SHORT AND SHARP.
What he said was short and sharp.
Don't you try TO overwhelm us with such
points at this stage of the game" he said,
emphasizing his remarks by flourish OF
the gavel. which he held in his hand.
This was greeted with cheers. and the in
cident ended for O time.
MISSIONS AMONG FREEDMEN.
Rev. George l.. Spinning. of New York,
read the report of the committee on the
board OF missions among freedmen. The
report showed that the receipts were
less than those of the previous year and
$4,000 less than the expenditures, which
were Si93,000. 1t is stated that the chief
agency IN the education of the colored
race was Biddle University. which has a
faculty OF eleven professors. ten OF whom
ere colored and 2S7 pupils last year. They
recommend areyision of the assignment
OF Church funds among the several boards
with view 70 increasing the amount To be
gwen to the freedmen. The assembly was
asked to approve the boards request for
$25o.o00 for the work. also 70 approve
measures 70 be taken for the raising OF
100000 for Biddle University.
Rev, MIR. Savage, of Cape Fear Presby-
terry. described the work of the board
among the people of his race. which, he
said. could not be told or comIrehended
an report upon the subject. Speaking
TO criticism that the negroes in the South
do not come into the Presbyterian Church
- pumerously as they do into the Me-
thodist or Baptist churches. he said that
proportionately as many colored people in
tho south went into the Presbyterian
Church a. white people went into it in the
North. The colored people. he said in
conclusion. had plenty of grit and some
grace. but 70 make their churches truly
effective they needed greenoacks, and
these they asked iron sbs Church. The