The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-05-24
BRIGGS AGAIN ON TRIAL
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DECIDES
10 HEAR ms CASE.
Tho Alleged Heretic Attempts To Speak,
But IL Deprived OF "A Hearing.
Members Entertained.

hours devotion previous 10 the beginning
Of the days business OF the Presbyterian
Assembly was conducted by Rev. a. Mel
son HalliAeld, OF Newark ~ J.
Under the rule. Or. Young. chairman OF
the committee on bills and overtures,
| took the floor TO present a report from
that committee. distributing a number OF
bills and overtures to several committees
Of the assembly. Among them were nine
bearing directly or Indirectly Ipon the
case before the judicial committee. the
| Briggs case, and these were recommended
| to be sent 10 that committee.
The Rev. Or. Charles II. Booth Of
! New York, secured the floor, and in a
! low tone of voice began TO speak to the
| question. There were cries Of louder"
| from all parts Of the house. 10 which he
| responded apologetically, as he took the
| platform, saying: Let me get up steam
| first. Having got up steam, he stated
that he desired 10 enter his protest against
| the obvious attempt 10 influence the Ju-
| dicial committee, a sort Of trial court,
| by pouring upon IL these Overtures for
and against the case which il was con-
| sidering. Il believe it to be false In
! principle and fatal in policy" he said.
] As ne LOOK MS seat IT NDIfA iNoAg 7A"litr' "a
| commissioners vOciferously claimed the
right of succession to his place, bat
Moderator Craig's attention was given
/ 10 Professor Brown, Professor Briggs
colaborer and sympathzer I'm the Union
| Theological Seminary. There are some
| Of us here" he said, who are glad TO
| know that there are fifty or sixty Of
| these overtures that have been sent 30
| the committee on judiciary. But / think
r..Hmn Hone % 9 hot
| committee. II is the business Of the COM
| mittee not TO decide questions, but TO
/ report business TO the assembly for dis
| position here. We have the right 10
| know the sentiment Of the Church upon
| any subject before it. and the only proper
way 10 secure it's knowledge Of that sem
| timent IS through the committees OF the
| assembly"
After further discussion. the recon-
mendation Of the committee as to the dis
| position Of the overtures was adopted by
| "A decisive vote.
The Judicial Committee Of the General
| Assembly has decided 10 recommend that
| the assembly hear the Briggs case. and the
report be made the first thing this even
| ing The committee 81 is said. is unani-
| mOusly OF the opinion that the appeal
| by the prosecuting committee from the
| judgment Of the New York Presbytory
| WIllcn acquitted tne professor was I0t-
! ular in form. that is that the record in
the case was technically correct in an
the details. Upon disposition Of the ap-
| peal the committee divided and two re-
| ports will be made. The majority viii
| recommend that the appeal Doe entertained
/ and heard; the minority that 80 be sent
10 the New York Synod for hearing The
/ majority I'm favor of hearing the case
(and Brgss) is reported to be I'm ratio
Of four 10 one.
The expectation that action would be
taken I'm the Briggs case drew 10 the
| New Y0rk-ayenue church this afternoon
a larger crowd than was present az any
time previous. The galleries and even
the stairway were packed to suffocaton.
| The platform was filled with distin-
| gJished visitors and members Of the
assembly. Among them was Senator
| Cullom. OF Illinois.
Dr. Briggs made his first appearance
on the floor of the house. He occupied
a chair on a low platform, Immediately
I'm front of the pulpit, and to the right of
the moderator. Just TO his right and I'm
| front of the moderator also sat Rev.
| G.. w. f. Birch. chairman of the prose
| cutting committee while I'm the main aisle.
! Just behind DTS. Briggs and Birch, SAT-
! Mr.. j. j. McC0ok, "a leading member of
! the prosecuting committee. DR. Briggs
| sat quietly throughout the preliminary
! proceedings. apparently uumiudful OF the
fact that ne was the observed of an OBJ
| servers i'm this distinguished body. AS
| DR. Baker read from the report. Dr.
! Briggs. from time 20 time took notes, as
| e. instead Of being the central figure. he
! was at most counsel for the man under
| religious indictment.
Before the reading Of the report besan
/ Mr. McDougall, Of Cincinnati, moved that
! the case before the assembly take pre-
| cedence over all other business, and this
| was speedily carried.
The venerable Dr. Smith, Of Baltimore,
| nrobablv anticipating an Outburst, sought
| i'm advance 10 pour oil on what he thought
might develop into troubled waters. For
his reason ne suggested that an eN-
pressions Of approval or disapproval be
prohibited.
Moderator Craig emphasized this sug-
gestiOn and called for absolute quiet so
that. the men upon whom such great ana
tremendous duty devolved might be able
70 hear calmly and dspassionately all
that might be said. In the name OF
Cod and the Presbyterian Church. said
DR.. Craig. 81 beg you 10 keep perfect
Quiet. should be mortified beyond the
oossibHitv of expression. If any men were
TO be disturbed by any evidence OF dis
apnroval I would. # it be In my power
gtamp il out with a ruthless hand
pr Paker chairman Of the judicial
committee. was then recognized, ana
read his report. o. which the substance
is i'm resolutions presented for action by
the assembly as follows;
Resolved. That the General Assembly
lrds that due notice Of the appeal in this
case has been given, and that the appeal
and specifications Of the errors alleged
have been filed in due time and that the
appeal is In order I'm accordance with the
provisions of the book of discipline
Resolved, That after the judgment. the
notice OF appeal the appeal and the
specification of errors alleged have been
read and the parties have been heard
viz: The prosecuting committee and the
Presbytery Of New York. as 20 whether
said appeal shall be entertained. three
hours being allotted for such hearirg-
viz. one and one-half hours 10 each
PARTY and after hearing from the mem
bers Of the assembly. three hours being
allotted for such hearing. the assembly
shall then vote upon the following reso-
luUons.
Resolved That the appeal from the de-
cision and final judgment Of the presby-
ferv of New York. rendered January 9.
lSq2 lee entertained by the General Assem-
bly,. and IL Is ordered that the case pro-
ceed 20 trial I'm accordance with the pro-
visions OF the book ~ discipline
This report is signed by fifteen members
Of the committee.
The minority report recommends the
substitution for the above resolutions the
following;
We find the appeal IN order and recon-