Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-05-15
TELEGRAMS TO THE STAR
This Afterneon's Dispatches.
ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS.
LATEST FROM THE LAVA BEDS.
Marrow Escape Of Generals Davis and
Gillem from DrOWni
Captain Jacks New stronghold.
bravery Of the warm Spring Indians
I'm the Lssae Fight.
They Xiii Two MOdOc Braves and Re.
capture ali the Plumber.
ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS.
LATEST FROM THE LAVA BEDS.
Captain Jacks New streush hold.

NEW YORK, May ia lava bed dispatch OF
the 18th says that Generals Davis and Gi,lem.
in crossing Tulle Lake the previous evening
during heavy gale, had narrow escape from
drowning, the boat becoming unmanagesble.
The present force at the command OF Gen.
Davis is not considered sufficient to make a sue
cessfnl attack on the Modocs in their new
stronghold, but the General will endeavor 10
hold the Indians where they now are and await
relnforcements with mortars hurrying forward
and expected in two DAYS.
THE TROOPS AXE SUFFERING
rom want OF water. Willow creek is the near
the troops. The Modocs have their families
with them, and IL Is not thought they will seek
to leave their PRESENT position until they have
children. Their loss in the fight Of Saturday
was
TWO BRAVES KILLED,
a large part Of their horses, ammunition and
clothing captured, and about two tons of pro-
visions destroyed. The Modocs entered the
tight stripped to their breech-clouts, but could
not resir the Warm Spring Indians, who
trotted into the tight and ran the Modocs past
their plumber, retaking all.
The Presby terrain General Assembly.
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO BE CONSIDERED.
NEW YORK, May I5.-aev. John Hall in a
letter ON the PRESBYTERIAN general assembly.
which commences its session in Baltimore to-
day, says it represents a church formed from q
recent union of what were known as the old
school and new school churches. Ii doesn't in
clude the united Presbyterians, who maintain
separate existence in the matter Of praise, nor
the large section of the Presbyterian church in
the southern states still standing out on the
issues OF the late war, nor Covensnters who still
retain some OF the Peculiarities Of the historic
body in Scotland, nor does 1t include the re-
formed church, which lately dropped the word
"duties."
WHAT THE ASSEMBLY, INCLUDES.
The general assembly of the Presbyterian
church of the United States Of America in
cludes IS synods, les presby teries, and about
4 m he vi 4pl a. A. m hes
The number OF communicates is reported at
46s, l64 and the Sunday school membership Is q
little over this number. The total money con-
tributions to church objects in 1872 were
S10,GS6, 526, not including aid given schemes OF
beneyolence, Of which the Presbyterians are
liberal supporters.
HOW THE ASSEMBLY Is CONSTITUTED.
The presbytery consists of minister and elder
from each congregation in a manageable DIS
trict, and the presbyteries choose annually del
egates to the general assembly, to which body
there is the right of appeal from decisions of a
synod comprising larger districts than presby-
teries, just as there is the right of appeal 10 q
in its jurisdiction. The meeting Of the general
assembly usually occupies fortnight, and DIR.
Hall says
THE STRENGTH OF THE SYSTEM
is supposed to be In its interesting every portion
of the church. moderator is chosen by each
assembly, and he subsidies into the ranks at the
close Of each year. Elders have been COM
monty chosen for life. Some think that rots-
ton would admit of the Introduction Of new
blood, and this point, known to the church a.
"RoTARY ELDERsHrP QUESTION
will come in for discussion. So will the opera
tons Of the new committee called .'sustenta-
tion," which, aiming at the increasing number
of stated as distinguished from casual m mis-
tiers, and also their incomes, is supposed by
some TO be on the same ground with the home
m ision board, whose provisions, IL is alleged on
istrations to those without the organized church
Rev. Dr. Hall concludes his letter by SAYING
every friend Of order and good morals may:
without compromise, wish the reverend aud
venerable duty good success.
TO-day's PrOceediugs.
BALTIMORE, Nav 15.-The s5th annual meet
ing OF the General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church of the United States convened in this
city this morning at II O'Clock in the Central
Church, corner of Saratoga and Liberty streets.
For some time before the hour of meeting the
body Of the church was filed with delegates
and the alleries were crowded with ladies. A
few minutes before n O'Clock the organ pealed
forth the anthem show Beautiful upon the
Mountains" which was sung by the fun choir.
pastor of the church, after which 31s hymn,
"All hail the power OF Jesus name" was sung.
the who lie assembly and congre CATION uniting
with grand effect Rev. DIR. Ellis, of Cleveland,
then read part of the Eth chapter Of Luke,
commencing with the first verse. Rev. DIR. 8.
G. Brown, president of Hamilton college, New
York, followed In prayer, invoking peace and
harmony In the great work Of the church.
Rev. DIR. Samuel j. Niccolls, of st. Louis,
moderator OF the assembly, next gave out the
second part Of the 18th Psalm: 81 Love Thy
Kingdom, Lord, after the singing of which DR..
Niccolls proceeded to deliver a sermon, having
for his text the 5th verse of the 18th chapter OF
st. Luke: "And the apostles said unto the Lord,
increase our faith, !" the general tenor of the
sermon be ng the relation of faith to the life of
the church and the necessity Of active and
enlarged faith for the increase OF men and
means in the work Of the church, and for its
unity. The conclusion of the sermon. which
occupied forty minutes in delivery, was fol-
lowed by singing, after which DIR. NiccolIs
called the assembly to order, Offering a PRAYER
beseeching the blessings OF Almighty God on its
denberations. Rev. DIR. Smith, from the COM
mutee OF arrangements, recommended as the
first business of the assembly the election
OF a moderator. The roll was then called
commencing with the presbytery Of Albany.