The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-06-10
The General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church of America at Chicago.
ANOI'HER INTERESTING LETTER FROM
REV wa. r. HIGGLNS
CHICAGO, May 3oth, 1871.

| REV. wa. r. HIGGLNS
CHICAGO, May 3oth, 1871.
Editor Superior Times
Dear Sir By your courtesy will again offer a few
lines regarding the proceedings of the General Assem-
bly, Business at this date is proceeding rapidly The
prospect is that will be through tonight Yester-
day and to-day best speakers have debated the
construction OF the financial system of the Presbye-
ran Church. Musgrave, the Daniel Webster of the
Assembly held enchained and interested in forci-
BILE speech of an hour and half yesterday in which he
denounced the measures of centralizing and con.
solidatng the Boards and Funds of the Church. as
outonary and aught with the greatest danger to our
future welfare a church His speech was quite ad
cdptaed1m, abounding in wit, special pleading, and
every artifce by which accomplished debater would
overthrow his opponents views. Hall, of New York
City, reviewed his speech just before adournme last
evening and destroyed its effect in some measure
And to-day, Edwards of Baltimore and Judge Allison
OF Philadelphia crossed swords the same topic AL
lison siding with Musgrave. Finally compromise
motion carried, which goes into effect this present
year, looking the calling forth of contributions from
| every member of the church. and placing all work.
home and foreign financial foundations.
The present Assembly has shown much interest in
the Sabbath School question; in the subject of Man
ses parsonages In the subject of the Susentation
Fund, which regards establishing system by which
in the ofa few years each of 5000 ministers
shall be guaranteed at least thousand dollars per
annum. A new hymn book for the church has also
been determined on, and general, every effort is
being put forth to make the reunited Presbyterian
Church body in active working order, so organized
as to call forth the utmost work, prayer praise,
preaching, lioeraty and Christian life from every
member of every church in the whole denomination.
We look With admiration upon the perfect organiza-
ton of the Methodists and Epscopalians and the
firing zeal of Baphsts and Congregationalists, and
at last in this Assembly to have come to the
conclusion, that if the Presbyterian Church would do
its proper share of the much needed Christian work in
this land it fall behind in any respect the
systematic aud hearty church life of sister denomna
tions To find strength in union, and to organize vic
tory are the watch words of the hour.
But it is gratifying fact that amid all this falling
into line and putting of the uniform in our regi-
ment of the great spiritual army, have heard
word or breath of bigory mere selfish sectaran-
ism from single member of this vast representative
gathering. On the contrary, think that the firm
l-.~- which is provdentially forced upon the minds
OF all that there is work tor US to do IN this anu
has also tended to strengthen previous conviction
that every branch of the One Vine in this goodIy land
has right to live and flourish a right to its own
pruning its life blood in full circulation and its
Eschol clusters of much fruit" for the Master
We of the Presbyterian would pruno, and trim,
,,sI AND
not hinder Others God forbid. We will rejoice in
their frutage and they in ours but like them we do
not feel liberty to neglect the cultivation of what
the Master has committed us. Yet the grapes from
the differing branches the same. They are alike
nourished by the blood of Christ, and the smile of
God They will alike be found hereafter in the new
wine" of the kingdom.
Various meetings of interesting character have
been held on the evenings of our session. A temper
ance meeting last evening well conducted A
missionary meeting Sabbath night addressed by veter
ans from the front The Assemby's communion last
Friday night. fine discourse the late Prof T. e.
Skinner of Union Theological Seminary by DR.. G. L.
Prentss on Thursday night. Or. Prentiss has been
elected to the chair of Didactic Theology in the Chi
cago Theol. Semi
Among the minor items of business transacted BY
the Assembly, note Saturday last the granting of
request made by the Presbyery of ST. Paul in refer
to transferring the County of St. Louis, MIMI,
from the Synod cf Wisconsin Ito which it was tempo
rarly attached by the reconstruction act of last year
for good reasons to the Synod of Minnesota. |. was
with reference to this matter, had the pleasure of
visiting the Presbytery of St Paul its late session in
Saltwater. Dr. Frederic I. Brown the well known
F. B." of the Presbyterian and one of the repre-
sentatves of st. Paul Presbytery has taken part in
the Assembly debates two three occasions. He
is fine exemporaneous speaker, and able debater
Last Sabbath preached by request at Dunton, III.
Was gratiied the good father of the late An
son Burlingame, the friend of China. Next Sabbath
[ am expected to preach at Michigan City, Ind.