New-York tribune., 1872-05-27
THE PRESBYTERLANS.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN ITS SOCIAL RELA-
TIONS-A HUGE BODY-ITS POPULAR ASPECT
VISIT OF THE SCOTCH PREsBYTERIANs.
IFROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSEl
DETROIT, May ga capital story is that of
old Bishop Pontoppdan, about the kraken 400 feet long,
which, rising suddenly from the used to delight in
fnging its huge body athwart the Norwegian SHIPS,
sinking them In the sport. The story Is regarded as
mere effort of the witty father to surpass the miracles
and legends of his religious while not more truth
full or spiritual brethren. But possibly 1t was prophecy
or premoniton 1t is not necessary to keep the sea
serpent part the story but here in Detroit just now,
there is q huge ecclesiastical body" cast upon the
town. bigger in number of men than Pontoppdans
kraken In feet, and arising as suddenly to the
eyes of Detroiters as though 1t had just ar
rived from Lake Superior. The body can be borne
by this glorious town without risks but one can hardly
look upon it and not fear that some day it will light
upon city less populous less Presbyterian and crush
IL out OF sight Other conventions pack hotels and con-
SOLE hlle they exhaust the avaricous puhleans Dut
bodies ecclesiastical twice as huge stay three or
four times as long, and fling themselves squarey across
the domestic hearth Probably this Presbyterian Assem-
bly, is the greatest kraken Of them ALL for while the
Epscopaians meet but in three years. the Metho-
dss but once four and the other great denominations
with even less frequency, this Convention gathers up
400 TO coo delegates every year to spend ortnghI
among the families of its faith in the devoted city,
But the Assembly, like the transformed princes OF
and escape from their hungry and sleepy ecclesiastical
body~ into form more suited to modern ways and
wants So the question of representaon-how to keep
the constituent presbyterie duly represented and yet
reduce the number Of commissionershas been urgently
discussed Just now. Some proposed to have synods not
presbyteries represented. the 15 presbyteres beng
comprised IN the 35 synods; but this would nuiny the
name and make a Synodca not Presbyterian Churcn;
Others would have ministers eligible or represented
except settled PASTORS but this would disranchlse
nearly half the clergy Others, again, would not allow
any presbytery second clerical ana seeona Iay oee
cate Tor membership OF "a ministers and upward, as
now but make the minimum for the additional delegates
40 clerical members In presoytery, Bu h ar %oa
full A committee TO solve this trying problem
appointed last year. ana WSen etSod @ S
another form, recommending that out or NUMBER OF
synods select smaller number But the report and the
debate both came to nothing ana the whoe ucui'y Is
pushed over to another years Assembly.
The question bread and butter settled, the Assembly
and its hosts begin to vie with one another in providing
famIiarize their friends with the machinery of the
Church as never before evening meetings are devised
anternises Foreign missionaries bring the faro fields
of heather life vvidly TO sight this was last evenings
business men OF their country which neither docu
from Congress the census nor perhaps eye
has half powerful stage either IN Gis cast Of Of
characters or scenes enacted as the peopr1 prro,,ed
his huge map, 25 feet long. and showed them
their great country not as traversed with aafoads oa
diyided by political lines merely. but as hed where
200 missionaries beside the settled ministry IN sell
SUSTAINING churches, in sefsacrince ana sunerinR
spreadng the knowledge OF Divine love and law There
"a almost always very realistic proof OF the interest
and yaue OF these meetings, in the increased spiritual
life OF the churches visited by the Assembly Anotner
effort OF the Assembly toward its tse Vp
nnptnnity secured aud offered them OF hearing disn-
ruished Visitors who but for an organized representative
eody 10 come to might, would never be heard sucn
are fhe eminent visitors Just here from the Established
Church of scotland-of whom more anon: on .ono,,v mol,
come TO their homes, there are numberless courteses
detroit has the honor this OF having solved the
probem aslto the 500 delegates might get acquainted
with one another and has instituted half dozen social
receptions in as many different private mansions, the
doors OF which all open TO the Commissioners Sew
eral OF these receptions held Saturday teyening
last one to tonight at the Executive mansion, Gov
Baldgin's, this evening. Saturday next the Common
Connci for this Is a yrtuous town will be polite 10
the guests OF their citizens; the street cars
have already been made free TO them Tor the whole
fortnight and very probably excursion on the river
and lake or to the lustrous University close az hand
will continue, though not exhaust the proofs OF Detroit
Presbyterian friendship.