The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-05-25
The FIRES Or BRICCSISM
REMARKS BY JUDGE JEssUr
An Attack Made Upon tho Idea Of Gen
ernl Assembly as Exemplified In
the Portland. Washingtonan and
NIGGA Gatherings.

Plttsburg, W N.-The under fires
of BriggsismN Nh are ever burning be-
Meath the sur of the Presbyterian
church broke ut unexpectedly today
In the assembly. They broke out with
force sufficient to disturb the equanim-
ity which for the past few days had
settled down upon the assembly. The
ever watchful ultra conservatives were
up and awake at the first appearance Of
the old trouble and the promise Of a
debate was rich and full when sud
denly quiet was restored by the en-
trance Of the procession Of visiting
delegates from the United Presbyterian
assembly, In session here, and other
corresponding bodies. Before visitors
nothing unless 1t was kind and pleas
ant was to be said. So the measure
that had awakened the old-time ami
mostly was quickly put to vote and
passed In manner that told the
stranger nothing of what lay behind.
The question which had thus upset
the temper of the assembly was a sim
pie proposition to change the general
assembly from an annual to a tri-ennial
gathering. No one spposed that there
was anything sub rosa about this over
ture. which had come before the as
sembly In a perfectly regular way
from the presbytery Of Lackawanna.
IT had met with consideration on COM
mittee on bills and overtures and was
reported adversely along with q lot Of
overtures relating to the general as
sembly. An hour was fixed foT the con-
sideration Of report Of committee. The
hour found the assembly listless and
inattentive. Little interest was mani
tested in the matter. The finding Of
the committee presaged the adverse
action of the assembly. Some interest
might be excited by the debate on the
proposed reduction Of assessments for
assembly expenses, but to change the
assembly to a triennial gathering was
an impossible proposition.
Judge Jcssup's Remarks.
Judge William H. Jessup, brother to
the Syrian missionary, Henry Harris
Jessup read the Uackawanna overture,
which set forth in full the reasons that
had influenced the presbytery to make
the proposal. These were simply sea-
sons of "a business and financial char
acter. They were readily answered,
and when 1T was apparent that the
overture would be lost Judge Jessup
made an attack upon the commiNee's S
report, which was am attack upon the
idea Of a general assembly as exempli-
fled in the Portland, Washington and
Saratoga gatherings. The same terms
that have been employed by the New
York coterie of liberals to describe the
assemblies that tried DR.. Briggs and
Professor Smith were heard in this ar
gument In favor of tri-ennial assembly.
What body in Christendom," vt was
said, in reference to the monarchial
gatherings of Methodists and Protest
ant Episcopals, ''has ever exercised the
power of this general assembly? What
body has ever been so swayed by the
popular applause? Where In q court
of justice, when a mans future was at
stake, were decisions influenced by the
clapping Of hands?
MIR. Moderator" the speaker cried,
"my feelings have been outraged in
this and other assemblies by the loud
handclappings of the members of the
DOuy IlOW ID JuStiSc " pS SHPSSe~N
from these annual assemblies; better
give the Presbyteries a chance to say
whether or not they are to be held every
year or every three years"
Exposure from Philadelphia.
A preacher from Philadelphia, recog-
nizing the spirit of the movement as
one of dissatisfaction with general as
semblies per Sc, quickly made exposure.
He characterized the demand for the
change as coming from that same
quarter of unrest and disquietude and
lessening respect for the highest court
of the church which had been so active
and persistent In its criticisms of the
deliverances of the general assembly
on doctrinal questions of the last few
years.
At this point just as the business was
warming up in filed the double column
Of visiting delegates.
Tomorrow the report on theological
seminaries will be heard for the first
time In four years; this report has
caused no uneasiness in the assembly.
There Is no trouble anywhere now
among the theological seminaries, and
the report simply shows the great
growth of Auburn, Mccormack and
Princeton. and recommends a long list
of professors, directors and trustees
elect to the several boards and fac
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