New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-12
DIR. BRIGGS OUT OF PRESBYTERY.
HIS NAME ERASED FROM THE ROLLS IN
RESPONSE TO HIS LETTER OF
WITHDRAWAL

The connection OF the Rev DR.. Charles A. Briggs
with the New-York Presbytery was finally severed
yesterday. when. at the morning session OF the
meeting OF the Presbytery, letter was read from
DR. Briggs by the stated secretary OF the Presby-
terry. DR.. G. w r. Birch. in which the former
withdrew from the Presbytery without adding any
explanatlo DR.. Briggs recently Joined the Epie-
copal Church and will take orders In IT, There
was little discussion OF the letter, 1t being found
that II member OF the Presby;ery resigns. unless
some action is being taken at the time when the
letter Is received looking toward his compulsory
dismissal the rule OF the Book OF Procedure pro-
vides that his shall be erased from the roll OF
the Presbytery without comment. and the erasure
be reported TO the General Assembly. Dr. Briggs
letter as follows
No 100 West Ninety third-st.. March o. 1895
To the Moderator. Ministers and Elders OF the
Dear Brethren: After long and careful reflection.
nsve decided to sever my with
the Presbyterian Church In the United states. l
withhold the for this decision IN the IN
Ina, have remained Under your Jurisdiction as
long as could do 50 Win good T y breh
rem. and. so far as possible. to relieve them rom
~ Tor my 9c,G nf tS presbytery
OF New-York. and hold myself free 10 unite WIN
c a. BRIGGS.
DR.. Briggss letter was read by Or. Birch. Re-
porters were not allowed 10 be present at the
meeting Dut II Is understood tnat III" 'ho''" ~
erase his name from the roll was not carried
without considerable opposition II IS known that
one member declared that this was an attempt 10
hush up the matter. and that II had gone TOO Iar
AT the present time 10 be hushed up In this way
Some OF those present thought that the whoie mat
ter should be referred to the General Assembly,
but It was pointed out that II the action OF the
New-York Presbytery was not satisfactory to the
Assembly the latter could reopen the matter. IL
is certain however that the erasure OF Dr. Briggs
name from the rolls finally sewers his connection
with the Presbyterian Church. although one OF the
members OF the Ncw-York Presbytery declared yes
,crday that Or. Briggs could be excommunicated
by the General Assembly II 1t 50 desired.
The resolution TO Or. Briggs's name from
tho rolls moved BY the Rev. Or George Alex
we'll tho monthly meeting. OF the fresDy'gTry,
the proceedings lasted Throughout ne ua!. ne
General Assembly-which VIII be convened next
month at Wnona. Eagle Lake lnd-were eI niG.ra
were chosen. their names being as follows:
Ministers The Rev Or JOHN r.. DAVIES 'he Rev.
Dr. W g. ROBERTS. the Rev Or. ". l. MOORE the
Rev Dr. CHARLES \. STODpARD. the Rev. CHARLES
PAYSON MALLORY. the Rev. DR.. FRANCIS BROWN
and the Rev GEORGE NIXON.
Ruling clder--sII.As B. HRowNELI- HENRY w
IEssUP. GEORGE ". sTERRY. JOHN f. PARSONS
THOMAS 5 STRONG. OSCAR z. BOYD and RUSH
TAGGART
The cectIon tor moderator. succeed tho Rev.
pred resulted IN the choice Of tho Rev. pr John
% ONCE OF the moderator IL six months The Rev
Dr. Thomas Douglas WAS elected temporary clerk
The annual report Of the Committee on Temper
arcc which IS o. IN" standing committees. was
| az important one. ~ II referred to the charges
laf.', brought IN The Voice against Yale liar-
yart Cornell and other universities. 70 the effect
| that no attempt made to prevent the sale OF
Intoxicating NgIoT. 10 ID" students OF these uni
yer-.fes The report completely indicated the al
'hor~s OF tho universities and deprecated the az
,arks - "A certain Journal published in this city
A. entirely unwdrrlntcd The report was read Dy
tho chairman Of the committee. the Rev. Or DAVID
S-unrt Dodge. who In a short speech. commended
those colleges IN which PresDytcIanS were chiefly
Interested For tho high stand taken on the ques-
t0n of temperance.
The trustees %: he rrcshytcry presented A report
on tho rroperty interests % the Presbyerv, which
was adopted and the following trustees wer" elected
. n the vacancies caused by the expiration OF the
terms - once % four members of tho body: The
ROY pr Robert r. Booth. Colonel John j. Nc
cook William t. Magic and James Yereance.
These nli succeeded Themselves. their new terms OF
ONCE being ,or three years.
.ere appointed for three years. They were subsan-
italy the same before Tho Rev. stephen
Fighter dismissed from the New,York Presby.
terry In order that he may join the Presbyiery Of
Washington City and the Rev. Robert II. Heron
dismissed - become a member OF the Presoy-
/ OF Hudson, y Y.