The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-06-03
The General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church of America at Chicago.
INIlERESIING LETTER FROM REV. WIZ
r. HIGGINS, OF SUPERIOR, ONE
OF THE DELEGATES.

CHICAGO, ILL, May 24th 1871.
Editor of the Superior Times
Dear Sir. With your permission / will pen few
words for your columns, concerning the General As
semby OF the Presbyterian Church now in session 10
this city
Rev. q. NJ, Humphrey DID,, of Philadelphia, was
chosen successor of that model of Moderators Rev
Dr. j. Trumbull Blekus of the last Assembly The
new Moderatoslas worn WELL though a trife too mild
perhaps Fofs slight pale man with an expanded
orelreaa aatS imprcsses the observer a of in
eliseiual poe aud kindlincss of heart.
Rev. Hcnick Joson, D. D., ef IfsIa1el (tl,e
successor of Albert Barnes) passing the desk I
write nquilcs after Lake Superior, region in which
he feels interested, he has done much to build up
the Church at Marquette.
l have met many other pleasant acquantances.
Among them, Rev. J. NJ. Barnett, so well known in
Superior and vicinity; Rev. D. NJ Moore of Kansas,
who once in Ohio village performed a marriage
ceremony in which l took great interest; Rev. d.
Rice ID, of Lafayette, Ind, whose friends yet recol
lcct with pleasure visit made by him to Superior in
1860; Rev. George Bltlow, a schoolmate, and many
others I might mention, the topic OF any general
interest have met delegates. As " lockers on IN
Venice" aud interested visitors to the Assembly many
other acquain ances of the writer are here found.
Rev. Geo, Sluter late of Duluth is seen day by day
looking down on the Assembly with great interest
from the gallery above the Moderator's desk A min
ister and elder from Dunton H.. greeted me this
morn. They report the health of Mr.. S. W. Smith OF
Superior but little better, which am iadced sory
to hear.
But l have said enough of personal matters now
word for "the good gray heads that all men know"
Dr.. Henry E. Smith of Union Theological Seminary
at this moment comes into this Assembly Postofice
room where am writing, and takes his seat at large
table where others driving the pen. He is a noble
looking man. | have heard him speak twice D1s.
Musgrave and Junkin, the war horses of the Old
School have spoken early and often DR.. NJ is the
Nestor of the Assembly and always listened to. Dr.
Junkn in a few of his numerous speeches is listened
to reuctantly by some, as he is begerent deblter
aud not always on the popular side Yet generally he
is well received. Governor Pollock of Pennsylvania
has about much to say as anv one man, and often
pops up speak just second too late to the great
qualification of many admirug friends who want the
Governor to speak only every other time. Neverhe-
less the Governor often talks sense and has no little
influence with the body. Rev. Drs John Hall, Ak
man, Eells, Jonathan Edwards Backus Hltfeld, Reed
Johnson, and many others have been found equal to
the able discussion and solving of every complicated
question, and competent to and the feel
ngs of the Assembly all topics cf vital Importance
l have heard it remarked and feel it is true that
there have been but few tilesome boring speeches
during the session thus far OF course the usual mum
Der of wild and hasty resolutions have been offered on
all questions, from mileage to psalmody but they are
easily disposed Of motion to lay them on the table
has chorus of ''ayes" from the five hundred Commits
sioners that tells the ambitious weakling with empha
sis, that literally "there is OF talking" A
motion that seems to the majority uncalled for, or
beneath the character and Christian designs of the
Assembly is hopeless case the moment the advocate
closes his mouth. Some delegate will answer it in
two or three sentences expressing the mind of the
Judicatory and goes the motion; it matters
whether made by the most inexperienced elder or the
greatest Doctor of Divinity 1t must be sense and to
the purpose, or it will please five hundred think
ing minds. Consequently the business of the body
has gone on well as it usually does
The reports of the various Boards of Church work
have been read, each day. Then the Secretary of
the particular Board which has reported speaks upon
the subject with facts, illustrations arguments and
appeals, and is followed by other able speakers who
prepared on that particular subject. Thus Edu-
cation for the Ministry" is the topic order of the
day. for occasion. The great Importance of train
ing men to preach the gospel is presented and much
that is interesting is said. Generally one speaker is
found TO excel others particular subject. Thus
Rev f. A. Noble of Pittsburg made Me great speech
in urging the Assembly to provide more liberal sup
port for its students for the ministry. Rev W. Y.
Brown of Colorado made Tie speech on Church Free
ton. Not TO mention more, Dr. Cyrus Dickson one
of the Clerks of the Assembly, and . most eccentric
speaker, convulsed the house with uncomfortable
laughter, and then moved it to tears, in a notable
speech on Home Missions to-day.
The Memorial Fund Committee reported nearly
eight millions in place of the five millions called for,
in their report yesterday afternoon and for one min
ute thousand people stamped and clapped their
hands in exultant joy then and sang the doxo
ogy in voice like the voice of many waters, and were
then led in eloquent heartfelt thanksgiving PRAYER
to Almighty God by Dr. Hall of New York City. 1t
was a great scene and one | can never forget Last
evening devoted to congratuatory addresses of
excellent Christian spirit.
Last Sabbath l heard DR.. Hall, the celebrated
preacher of Fifth Avenue, New York in the morning
in Patterson's Church. and in the evening in Kit
tredge's. Immense congregations came to hear him.
But it lesson worth remembering to see the
unaffected simplicity, cearness and earnestness with
which the great preacher presented the saving gospel
of Jesus Christ He speaks extemporaneously though
evidently after thoughtful study His power all of it,
is only this he makes you feel that what he says is
true. He has way of saying things which causes