The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-28
THE PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBL Y.


TAKEN up.
The present system OF sustentation, its continu-
ance as separate scheme or consolidation with
the Board OF Home Missions, was earnestly dis.
cussed for two hours. Drs. Van DYKE OF Brook
Ign; Campbell, Of Rochester; Backus OF Baltimore,
and others taking part. The report OF the commit
tee with the resolution declaring that the sustenta
ton scheme has the confidence OF this assembly as
wisely formed and well conducted plan and that
1t Is no longer to be regarded as mere expert
ment was finally adopted. The committee was
continued and DIR. Jac0bus was reapp0nted secre
tary or the committee.
Elder Samuel J. Freeman. or New York. read the
report OF the Committee on Mileage. The report
shows that without single exception the presby-
teries had paid their mileage Dues not penny
being deficient and that the presbyteries OF Boston
and oregon had 0verpad. an irreguarity which
the committee were disposed to pardon. The as
sessment OF presbyteries Tor millage was then
fixed at six cents for each communicate The re-
port was adopted.
telegram was received and read by the Moder-
ator from the First Presbyterian church OF Albany,
N. y, pledgng $1,000 contribution towards defray-
ing the debt of the Board or Foreign MISSIONS. 1t
was announced that the minutes of the Synod OF
CINCINNATI had been received and found correct.
The question OF term OF service or elders or
rotary eidership then came up on report from the
Judicial Committee, on an appeal OF Mr.. Fisnback
from the Synod OF Illinois South, and report IRON
the Committee on Bills and Overtures on an over
ture asking the action Of the Assembly on the sub
ject prOtracted discussion ensued occupying
nearly the entire morning session. DIR. McGill, OF
New Brunswick, spoke at length against the rotary
system as subversive OF the office ITSELF 1t was
urged by other speakers that In view OF an early
Church South and other bodies, this Assembly
should not take definite action. The question was
ultimately disposed of by the Assembly adopting q
resolution referring all overtures and papers re-
lating to the term OF service OF elders to special
committee OF seven, to report TO the next Assem-,
persons interested be requested to give their
opinions In writing to the committee
The appeal OF Mr.. Fishback was referred back to
the Synod OF Illinois South, with instructions to
reopen and hear the case.
The Moderator announced the following commit
tee to confer with similar committee frsm the
Reformed Church relating to the union OF the two
churches:-Rev Doctors W: Adams, New York;
phia; M. W. Jacobus. Pennsylvania; Arthur Mitch
ell, Illinois, Elders George Junkin, Philadelphia;
W. $. Gilman, New York; William Rust, New Jer-
sey; Albert Small Maryland.
The Moderator announced that the business be-
fore the Assembly could all be disposed of at the
session tonight.
Evening Session.
The evening session was opened with prayer by
the Rev. DR. Eells, of Cleveland.
DR.. Dufiield, from the Special Committee to
which had been referred a fraternal appeal
the subject OF Christian union signed by fifty
ministers representing seven leading denomina-
With an spec eslre peka ee
pOintment OF representatives from this General
Assembly to the Worlds Evangelical Alliance, TO
be held in New York on the 22d OF October next
submitted report. in substance, that while
heartily endorsing Christian union and deeply
noble work, yet the committee were not prepared
to recommend to this Assembly, as proposed IN the
fraternal appeal. the appointment ofvtwenty-fve
delegates to the Evangelical Alliance. The report
was ado pied.
The Moderator announced the following gentle
men as q committee OF seven on terms o elder
ShiD TO report to the next Assembly Rev. Drs.
McGlll New Jersey; W Z. Moore, Ohio: W. f.
William Strong @ LODGE aGp
DR.: R: R. Booth, Of New York, reported plan for
minutes OF the General Assembly, which was
adopted The report provides first That
to the names or ministers without charge
or without a. church, which shall be dlscon.
from preaching by sickness or old age the Presby-
terry to which he belongs shall order him re-
orably retired, using the designation, III.
r." Third, when minister is neither
has nsa ss but s
an Evangelist. Fourth, all ministers negotiating
with view to settlement OF active work shall be
reported as In tvdfStu Presbyteries are requested
to review their rolls to carry out this plan.
The hour OF special order for the hearing OF
WeTas S Alliance IN New York in oc
tober next having arrived, the Moderator, Rev. Dr.
CrOsley, in a few Introductory remarks introduced
Assembly on the important work OF the Alliance,
and urging the organization of branch alliances
among the different Presbyteries.
Dr. Nicolls OF st. Louis, and DR.. Prochet, OF
Genoa, Italy, followed DR.. Schan In eloquent
speeches commencing the work Of the Alliance
The Committee on Church ErectiOns submitted
report urgngly commencing the building OF
manses: The report was adopted and the COM
The report OF the Mileage Committee was recon-
sdered and an assessment to PresDyteries was
made OF seven cents to each communicate instead
OF six.
The Assembly next adopted several items SUBJ
mitted In the report OF the Committee on Home
Missions
Dr. Dickson Chairman OF the Committee on Con-
ference with the Aid School Synod OF Missouri,
submitted his report, which was received.
The Moderator announced the following gentle
men as "a new and nnal Court OF Appeals" In &C
cordance with the report OF the Committee on
semb y REV Drs. George ". MusSraye. Of Phila
dephIa; Henry A. Nelson, Of Cincinnati; Francis
l. Patton, OF Chicago James o. Murray OF New
York; Elder Judge Allison. OF Philadelphia;
Truman p. Handy, OF Cleveland, and Henry Day,
OF New York.
Dr. Nicols, from the Committee on Bills and
Overtures, submitted a report on several over.
lures Of q local character, which were adopted;
also resolution appointing DR.. Howard Crosby
and DR.. Hatfield, the stated clerk OF the Assembly;
a committee OF correspondence with all bodies OF
the Westminster aith with the view OF holding an
Dr. Herrick Johnson submitted propositions
relative to liqudatng the unprovided for balance
OF the debt OF the Board Of Foreign Missions, which
were adopted.
The standing committees OF the Assembly were
then called by the Moderator, and, having no
further reports to make, were all discharged, with
the exception OF the Committee on Leave OF Abb
sence.
DR.. ErsKine, from the special Committee on OBJ
servance OF the Sabbath, submitted an immense
preamble with long series OF resolutions, on this
subject holding the owners OF stock OF steamboat
and railroad companies In great measure resp0n-
sble for the proper observance OF the sabbath.
The cry OF six Thousand railroad engineers for Sab
bath rest had already gone over the land.
At the conclusion Of the reading Dr. Booth OF
New York. moved to refer the report 70 the next
General Assembly, which was lost.
motion TO refer the report to special commit
tee, to report to the next General Assembly, was
adopted.
The Assembly, az halfpast ten p. NJ, adjourned
to meet tomorrow night At half-past seven.
The members will visit Washington tomorrow
morning, and be received at the Executive Man
sion by the Cabinet.
All business OF the session concluded tonight,
and the meeting tomorrow evening viii be for the