Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-06-14
Presbyterian General Assembly.

A correspondent of the New York Journal Of
Commerce, writing from indianapolis on the 91st
ult., gives the following account Of the General
Assembly of the Old School Presbyterian Church
which was then in session in that city:
Since last wrote, important matters have
transpired. The North Western Seminary has
by an overwhelming majority been located in
Chicago, and DR.. Rice, DR.. Willis Lord, OF
Brooklyn, DR.. LeRoy Halsey, of Louisville, and
Dr. Scott, of Cincinnati, have been just now e.
lected to the four Professorships. This has set
tied question which has been agitated with
some partiZan boldness and zeal for considera-
BILE time past. Indeed, it will be told the in
quirer that parties range under the banner OF
DR. Rice, or OF DR.. MacMaster according to their
views of the policy of the church in regard to
the slavery question. DR.. Rice has been during
all his professional life an editor and has stood
before the church as the defender Of her con-
seryatism, while Dr. MacMaster, on the other
hand, has been equally distinguished for his rad
icalsm and abolition principles. You will per-
ceiye, then, that this late contest in respect to
this Seminary may be viewed as it actually was,
test of the comparative proves of her Conser-
vative and Radical elements in the Old School
General Assembly. The vote for the first Pro-
fessor in the Seminary brought out the whole
strength of each, which stood-Rice 214 against
McMaster 45. Nearly five to one, the members
of the present Assembly are conservative.
DR.. McMaster was known to have threatened
that if too hardly pressed, he would hoist the
banner !of Anti-SaYery, and make the Assem-
bly, look face to face at question which was
secretly deciding every vote and lying at the
foundation of every institution. And he was g.
dual to his threat so far as unfurling his colors
is concerned. Yesterday afternoon for two hours
and more he stood before the General Assembly
denouncing the whole policy of the church in re-
gard to slavery. He was heard with great at
tention while he thundered forth both the wrath
of God and man against the iniquities of slavery.
DR.. McMaster is recognized by all sides as an a.
BILE. laborious and learned man. His personal
appearance is striking He is upwards of six
feet high, with a figure fieshless and 8 complex
ion bloodless. His shoulders are round to the
extent of deformity, and yet he stands erect and
walks with commanding dignity. His head is
small and the cerebral developments meagre,
and consequently the observer is thrown upon
two facial features for the discovery of his char
acter. The eve is dark and firmly set, and CLEANS
with something like an unearthly fire in his
seasons of anxiety or excitement, while over his
whole countenance is spread that remarkable
cast which physicians recognize as the symbol
of almost perpetual pain. Such is the man who
did all in his power yesterday to blow up the
Conservatism of the General Assembly. Forty
five only stood by him, and doubtless his agita-
ton vii! have little influence over the destinies
of body so determined to pursue its old and
well trodden paths.