The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-25
Vigorous Contention by Rev. Dr. Birch that it
Is the Assemblys Duty to Reopen the Ques-
tion and Try the Alleged Hereto.
Professor Briggs Allowed Five Hours
to Present His Side of the Case.
Nearly Third of His Time Devoted to Pro-
testing Against the Entertainment Of the
Appeal-Bsptist Publication Society.
THE BRIGGS APPEAL.

WASHINGTON, May 24-Eorelgn mfssiong
is q subject which 10 nos likely TO provoke
any heretical utterancss. so the general
spectators were not 80 much interested in
this mornings session of the Presby terrain
General Assembly as those in the after
noon session, when the assembly sat as o
high court TO consider the appeal IN the
Briggs case. Still, the members of the as
sembly seemed to have deep interest IN
the subject of foreign missions-s work in
which the church has spent over q million
dollars during the past year. Close atten-
tion was paid TO the reports as they were
read. and she stirring speeches that fol-
lowed were applauded. The assembly got
through good deal Of work in the morn
Ing.
The peremptory order for the afternoon
was the Briggs case. and the assembly 10
now to devote itself to that if it abides by
its decision of yesterday, until IL 10 finished.
The second days proceedings In the CON.
sideration of the case passed OF quietly.
An audience that tested the capacity Of
the church gathered TO hear the arsu-
ments many of the ladies remaining In
the galleries from early morning through
out the day. The full membership OF the
prosecuting committee OF the New YORK
Presbyter was present and Professor
Briggs was sustained by the immediate
presence OF Dr. ID. Is. Frazier, or Newark,
q trustee of Union Seminary. and Judge d
NJ. Cutcheon. of Detroit Before the after
noon session closed Dr.. Birch had concIud.
ed his opening address in support Of the
report of the judicial committee. recon.
mending that the appeal be entertained,
and Professor Briggs had occupied one and
. half of the i've hours which be said was
necessary in which to make his reply and
protest against entertaining the appeal
served for the officers Of the assembly.
parties to the case. chairmen of the various
committees In connection with the meeting
of the assembly. ex-moderators and elders
pews in the body of the church were given
over TO visitors. clergymen preferred. and
the galleries to ladies who were not adj
mitted to the main floor. A small detail or
police were present to AID the ushers in
carrying out these arrangements.
FIVE HOURS GRANTED BRIGGS.
After the opening exercises this after
noon Moderator Craig convened the as
sembly as q court Rev. George ID. Baker.
chairman, reported that the judicial com.
mittee unanimously recommended that the
prosecuting committee be allowed one hour
to open its case; that five hours be given to
Professor Briggs and that the committee
be given two hours in which to close. TO be
extended. If desired. to four hours.
AS DIR. Briggs assembled the platform the
quiet of the vast audience was intense.
His remarks were but preliminary, and his
opening sentence was spoken with . dis
tinotness that penetrated the entire house.
Il regret" said he. Ito come before you in
this hot weather with q request for more
time. Theimportance of the subject, how
ever, requires IL. and am glad the COM
mittee has conceded it. i will shorten it 60
far as / can. NV argument on the basis OF
q half hours. and L have allowed myself
half hour in which to reply to
any argument which / may not have
anticipated" DR.. Briggs then went on to
say that he had number OF complaints
now before the New York Synod. and still
more to be presented to it. and he tboughs
be ought to have the permission to have
them read the same as was given, he IS.
serted. to the other side. With the under
standing that he wouid be permitted TO
have them printed. DR.. Briggs said that he
would not tire the assembly In reading
them now.
Dr. Crsig reminded the speaker that be
was just now discussing question or time
only. and that when he came 60 that polnt
in his argument where he might desire 20
introduce these com plants the moderstor
would lnterrogate the house 10 what 10
would 10 Dr.. Briggs remained standing,
as if uncertain whether to proceed or not.
but the moderator cut short any intention
DE-. Briggs may have had of continuing by
saying: Tho time is accepted"
Prosecutor Birch's Address
The assembly thus having given DR..
Briggs all he had asked. Rev. DIR. w. +.
Birch, chairman of the prosecuting com.
mittee, took the floor. After touching u pom
the history of the cese DE-. Birch said, In
part:
The General Assembly entertained the appeal
OF the committee OF prosecution. and sent down
decree to the Pres6ytsry OF New York deiin. ,.
case. The decree or the General Assembly
ordered the Presbytery 70 try the case upon ita
merits. and gave IL liberty TO amend the indict-
ment In accordance with the general nature OF
the same. Thus the Presbytery was free only 20
examine the charges, weigh the testimony and
decide to sustain or not sustain. The decree OF
the General Assembly was not 0Deyed by the
New York Presbytery. it traDscended its
owned proper function as a trial court by record
ing its unvillingness 10 express its approval OF
the critical or theological views which were the
basis of the charges. The Presbytery acquitted
the defendant on the ground that, although he
might deny lat Moses wrote the law which the
Gentle Christians observed. although there
were cases whore church and reason could do
what the Bible could not d0-enable man TO
find God-yet such statements did not trans
grees the limits OF liberty allowed under the con-
stitution of the Presbyterian Church 10 scholar.
snip ana opinion.
We are here TO invoke this Supreme Court TO
put an end 10 the dissension and disputation
which the New York Presbytery vainly endeav-
ors TO silence; first by the dismissal OF the case
against DIR. Briggs, qualifying both the dismissal
and the acquittal by the positive disclaimer Of
any approval of the contrOverted statements or
the inaugural address TO critical or theological
views and manner or expression. The form In
which the final Judgment OF the presbytery was
returned gives the impression that the alleged
errors of Prof. Briggs were untmportant, and that
no essential doctrine had been c0ntradicted.
They had tendency TO minimize the full force
of the Indictment. The errors charged arc
fundamental. The charges related:
First-To the question as to the supreme and
secoDd-To the question as TO inerrancy or
truthfulnsss OF the inspired work of God
Third-.ro the historical validity or the Old
Testament
Fourth-Asto the fulfllment OF Messianc pre-
diction-a question OF supreme Importance in
truthfuiness Of Scripture and OF the truthfulness
of God.
Fifth and Lastly-There is the doctrine or re-
demption concerning which ~ has been alleged
that Prof. Briggss teachings have been especial
ly erroneous and hnrt.ul, but which could only
be partially tried in the lower court
Here Is series or errors covering the wnole
fundamental structure OF our faith. IL is
question purely doctrinal and, therefore, OF
universal importance so Tar as Presbyteranism
Ia concerned It can be finally settled by no
presbytery synod, hut requires the decision
OF the presbytery and church In It's highest
court.
In reply to the argument that an appeal
cannot be taken from verdict or seeuit