Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-19
IT IS CONSERVATIVE,
The Judiciary Committee of the
Presbyterian General Assembly.
THAT MEANS ANTI BRIGGS,
According to an Expression of the Chairman,
DIR. Baker-Interest Felt in the Selection of
the Members of This Committee-Some
Encouraging Reports.

Probably the most significant action Of the
general assembly today was the appointm emit Of
the committees This feature Of the sessions
is always looked forward to with the great
est attention and interest. for the COM
plexion of these committees may well be
looked upon as giving an idea of the attitude
the assembly is to take on all matters that
come before it. This year, as result Of the
important questions that come before the body
for consideration or settlement, the Briggs
case, the seminary question, the
problem of revision and others only less I'M
portant, the appointment of the committees was
a matter Of even greater interest than in most
years.
When the time came for the announcement
this morning there was hardly commissioner
absent from his place in the church, and every
man listened with the closest attention while
the lists were being read of. SO that he
might know on which one he was expected
to serve. DR.. Roberts, the stated clerk, who
read the lists for the moderator, said that there
was no need of the listeners paying such very
close attention, inasmuch as the correct and
revised lists would be printed in The STAR.
THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
Perhaps the most interest clustered about the
names of the members of the judiciary commit
tee, for this is the committee that will pass
upon the appeal in the case Of DR.. Briggs
and will report to the assembly upon
the question Of the propriety of that body
entertaining the appeal. Rev. DIR. George ID.
Baker was the man selected to act as the chair
man, and as soon as his name WAS called out
there was an instant buzzinR Of tongues and a
putting of heads together to discuss the mean
ing of ths appointment.
Dr. Baker is the pastor Of the First Presby-
terrain Church Of Philadelphia, and is looked
in the city Of brotherly love. He
was prominently mentioned for the
position of moderator. Of this assem-
bly,, and was tho only one Of the
candidates who made a running against DIR.
Craig. the successful candidate in yesterday 9
election. DIR. Baker is not a large man, but his
intellect is large enough to make up the Diff
ference and his manner lie one of utmost COR
dlality and courtesy. He is an easy, graceful
speaker.
What ia more to the point however, is the
fact that he is classed among the conservatives,
and as such his appointment gave the greatest
satisfaction to that faction of the assembly. by
all odds the largest. The committee is for the
most part made up of men who are known to
be conservative, that is, to be more definite,
anti-Briggs men.
A TALK WITH CHAIRMAN BAKER
A few moments after the announcement. Of
the committees was made DIR. Baker was met by
STAB reporter in the lecture room OF the
church. and in the course of the conversation
that followed he was asked what he thought Of
the committee Of which he was the head.
Il really do not know" he laid. II simply
heard the list read off as you did. but should
think from the reading that it was conserva-
tive committee by large majority"
DO you mean that it is anti-Briggs?'
81 mean conservative. You can interpret the
word as suits YOU In this particular j am
usually ranked among the conservatives my
self"
I'm the general acceptance of the phrase the
committee would be regarded as anti-Briggs,
would it not?'
Possibly"
DR.. Baker did not dare to discuss the merits
of the Briggs case, nor the possible action the
committee might take in the premises. He did
say. however, that he thought it was highly
probable that the committee would be able to
report to the assembly by next Tuesday.