Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-13

TWO HOURS OF STORMY DEBATE.
a Memorial Attacking the General Assembly
Before the New York Presbytery.
At the meeting Of the New York presbytery
Yesterday afternoon Prof. Francis Brown Of
Union Seminary moved that the official an
nouncement from the general assembly Of the
reversal Of the presbytery's Judgment and the
suspension Of DR.. Briggs be not entered upon
tne records. He also put forward set Of reso-
buttons and a memorial to be presented to the
next general assembly, attacking the constitu-
tonality OF the general assembly's appeal, not
only the methods which were observed in its
conduct, but also on the ground that that body
had no right Whatever to take MP the question
before it had been submitted to the synod.
After Prof. Brown had read the memorial,
which was quite lengthy, he proceeded to state
his case. No one interrupted him, but the min
ute that he sat down q dozen men arose clamor-
ing for recognition.
There was confusion, and at one time four
men claimed the floor at the same time. Nearly
two hours Of stormy discussion ensued in
which an effort was made to lay the memorial
on the table until October. Four motions to
adjourn were lost.
The moderator decided that the discussion
was in order. and the body, by q vote of 50 to
Al, refused to lay 1t on the table. By flank
movement. however, the directors had discus
sion suspended while DR.. Herman Faust, once
q rabbi. asked for and obtained acceptance into
the Presbyterian Church.
Then a motion to adjourn was carried and
the memorial goes over with other unfinished
business for October's meeting. In the mean
time the decision of the general assembly will
be recorded on the minutes Of the New York
presbytery.
The memorial states:
shvta an
sent that the general assembly, June /, 1898,
having entertained and sustained the appeal,
reversed the action Of the presbyterv and pro-
ceeded to pass sentence upon the defendant,
VINO appeared as appellee, which judgment Of
me general assembly has now been COMMUNE
Gated to this presbytery."
Upon these facts and the Judgment aforesaid
the presbytery Of New York beg leave to make
the Following representations:
i. That the general assembly Of 1893 has en-
tertained and sustained an appeal purporting
to be taken by public prosecutor from a YER
dict Of acquittal given in this presbytery. and
mas on the basis Of said appeal proceeded to re-
verse said verdict OF acquittal and has con-
demned and passed sentence upon a member of
tins presbytery who has already been acquitted
by the presbytery Of the charges brought
against him, which act OF the GENERALLY assembly
OF 1898 appears to this presbytery to be Of at
least doubtful constitutionality and to affect the
principal recognized in the Constitution Of the
United States, and especially recognized by the
general assembly Of 1886. in the case Of the
Rev. Albert Barnes. as a fundamental maxim Of
law, that no man shall twice be put in jeopardy
for the same offense
z That the general assembly Of 1898 has en-
tertained and sustained an appeal against an
action OF this presbytery, whereby the synod Of
New York has, without the consent Of this pres
bytery, been deprived of its right to have Its
action, IL called in question at all, revived by
the synod before the general assembly should
be called upon to pass it.
.. That the general assembly Of 1893, after
entertaining and sustaining the appellee and re-
1ectlnR the decision of this prestytery, has pro-
ceeoeo 70 pass sentence on q member Of this
presbytery and suspend him from the Office of
a minister Of this church instead Of directing
the presbytery to take the required action with
reference to its own member, which proceeding
appears to the presbytery to be without war
rant in the book of discipline on the form Of
government to infringe upon and diminish the
right and authority Of a presbytery to ordain.
install, remove and judge ministers and to tend
toward Capitalization Of power.
L. That the general assembly Of 1898 in re-
versing the verdict Of acquittal given by this
presbytery. and passing sentence upon a men,
Der OF this presbytery, seems to this presbytery
to have taken as its standard Of judgment not
SO much the Holy Scriptures and the con-
fession OF faith and catechisms and subscrip-
ton formula Of the church, as o certain par
acuiar Interpretation among several possible
and legitimate interpretations Of these docu-
ments, and the presbytery would respectfully
inquire whether this is rot q violation of the
rights. conferred upon such Office bearer in the
church by the constitution, and solemnly re-
iterated and confirmed at the reunion in 1859
D. That the general assembly has passed SEN
tence upon member Of this rresbytery by en-
teriLg judgments upon charges 1. 2, 8, 8, 6 and
of the amended charges presented to the
presbytery November 9. 1892, upon which
charges he has been fully acquitted by the
presbytery without pronouncing or voting upon
said charges with their specifications in detail.
which appears to this presbvtery to conflict
with the spirit Of the requirements of the book
Of discipline, the presbytery submitting, in it's
opinion, that the principle there set forth
should in Justice and equity hold also in regard
to proceeding before the appellate court In the
absence Of distinct provisions to the contrary.
And the presbytery further represent that the
precedent in the case Of Barnes should, In its
opinion. be regarded as applying here.
The document closed with q resolution de-
Ginning to enter the notice of the assembly upon
the presbyterys books until further action Is
taken