New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-05-23
RELIGIOUS INTERESTS.
THE PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

! AfPoLNTMENr OF COMMITTEES AND OTHER ROUTINE
BUsINEss-FISANCIAL STATEMENTS.
ST. LOUIS, May 22.-The second days SEES
sion OF the Presbyterian General Assembly opened
win prayer this morning by the Moderator, the Rev j.
g. wilson, and half an hour spent In devotional ex
ercses The programme provides for two sessions each
Jay beginning at O'Clock and continuing TIL p.
M With recess at D. for unch the second session
from 20 10 p. IN. The Moderator announced the APP
pointment OF the regular committees.
great part OF the morning session was taken M IN
considering the formula FOR the admission OF members
70 The Church. At the last session Of the Assembly
formula had been presented By committee and refer
req 10 this Assembly. Several members had amend
ments to offer aud many had new formulas made out.
AFTER considerable discussion, motion Of Dr. Niles OF
! Philadelphia. the whole matter referred to COM
mite Of seven. who instructed to report by Mon
/ day noon, or sooner. If possible.
AT noon, the report OF the Committee the Con soli
Dalton of the Boards of the Church saken up 1t
contains the financial statistics OF several Boards and
Committees the figures being taken from the minutes
OK the Assembly for the ending May 1878. and are
| aggregated as follows:
,. S,,. $50 $50 printing &c 2t s67 travelling and one, r
sr 5Sy Total funds received 81 344 80
g1aeI imonE The Boar follows: Foreign Missions 500 49,
| men, s'9,-6O Publication sjjsJ6
! Ihe amount spent by these Boards is "a follows:
Fo,esn Ms91, s575505 Home M'on; s282O5G Church
snser Re- e. Bi3Sj, freedmen SJ4 S34 Publication, Dol
/ O4b. Total 81 - $50
In regard to the consolidation of the different depart
mens of work for the purpose OF increasing their eff
cheney. the Committee recommend the establishment Of
-FOUR distinct Boards for the oversight and control OF the
benevolent work which the Church at home
ana abroad, follows; Board Of Foreign Missions.
Board Of Home Missions. Board Of Education and Re-
lief, ana Board Of Publication 1t is recommended. fur
ther' that the standing Committee Benevoence and
Finance be discontinued.
The minority report. submitted by Or. Herrck John
son. provides for the Boards recommended by the
majority, with the addition OF Board OF Church Ereo
| ton. Both reports were received.
In the afternoon session, Dr. r. Booth the Chairman
OF the Committee Consolidation, a pointed speech.
detailed the in which the majority report had
been prepared one reason why the majority and mi
nority reports different that, By order.
the hrstTepot had been printed COays before the Gene
RAJ Assembly met and after 1t was printed the mem
bers OF the Committee took further action on it.
However he believed they were met 10 represent the
Interests OF Cod and for one, the minority report had
in 1t greater wisdom than the other. he would cheer
fully vote for It, In the matter OF economy he knew
that the majority report went li,te further than the
minority report
Dr. Howard Crosby OF New-Yorl, followed Dr. Booth
He believed they we're puzzlins the people with these
benevolent works, aud that tho reason why consO
daton necessary. He had read both reports care
fully, bu: not satisfied with either. Therefore he
moved an amendment, that the Home Mission Board
comprehend hve separate departments under the same
secretary anu Board the same controlling legislative ana
executive officer, each department 10 have its own
bureau clerk and that these nve departments be de-
voted tCfirst evangelical work; second, church cree
ton; third SUNDAY schools; fourth, freedmen, hitE,
Dr. Hunt Of the Prcsbytery of Llckawauna. Penn.
spoke the question. warning the Assembly % beware
OF ccnrai& duu, c1nsOdtOr nr anything Oi the KIND
a. everywhere It leads - wrangdoing
Tomorrow morning DR.. Herrick Johnson. who sub
United the minority port VIII nave the moor,
! THE PRESBYTERIAN TROUBLE IN CHICAGO
THE REV. DAVID SWINGS WITHDRAWAL FROM THE
CHURCH-THE HISTORY or HIS TRAL-PROF.
PATTON's APPEAL AN EFFORT To SECURE VIC
TORY IN DEFEAT-THE FEELING IN CHICAGO
CHICAGO, May 2l.-In view of the an
nouncement that the Rev. David swing has determined
TO withdraw flCm the PIesby terrain Church. review Of
the circumstances which led 70 hts recent rial By the
Chicago Prestytery the charge OF hcresY Will be Of
interest. Prof swia, has been pastor Of the Fourth
Presbyterian Church, wealthy and influential congre-
CATION year,. H. Is considered the most eo-
quent preacher IN the West His personal character Is
dign fed gentle; rich and varied. and he
! "a held In highest favor by all denominations.
The fire of 1871 having destroyed tie church. his
CATION secured McVlCkars Tleater on Sunday morning
and the attendance averaged 200 until be recently
turned to the church on the Old site, where the
same large and intelligent gre cation has since re-
sorted. His preaching las always been evangelical and
he is the only Chicago minister who has publicly
attacked evolution His pulpit style earnest and fer
vent his thoughts characteristic blending Of poetry
and sphiosopAy, his special religious appeals being
| for good lives and love for God end man. His
or hodoxy az a Presbyterian was never called IN ques
ton until the arrival Of the Rev Francs L. Patton OF
Brooklyn who procured q upon DR.. Cuyler for
permitting Miss Smiley 10 occupy his pulpit. Mr.. Pat
ton who is the editor OF religious newspaper, assaed
Prof Swings doctrnaI position, and after awakening
considerable excitement IN the church, cited him before
the Presbyerv for trial chargesthc first acS
ing unfathfulness, and the second heresy Tie trial
began formally April 20, and was concluded on May
90 Prof swing acquitted on both charges ~ a
vote OF A. TO 10 the side OF the defense every
Presby terrain minister Of standing and influence IN the
city.
Under the rules OF discipline the Preshytery may cen
sure the prosecutor for caumny II he fails 70 make bis
casa A motion to this effect Withdrawn at the re-
quest of Prof swings friends on the assumed under
standing that scandal vas now ended and that no
appeal would be taken. After the withdrawal Mr.. Pat
ton amid general surprise and disgust gave notice OF
his appeal to the synod and heard TO declare that
he would carry II 10 the General Assembly This ia the
cause OF Prof Swings withdrawal He desired TO leave
the Church at the outset rather than submit TO
trial, on account Of the personal ANNOYANCE.
His colleagues IN the ministry pleaded that ne
should permit the trial 10 20 ON, because n
| he was not a Presbyterian, tney were not, and It
desirable that the question sAoud ut >etiItu MS
doctrusl sounduess VS. clearly proved from his ser
mons and by oral evidence every tenet except pre-
destination. and this IL one OF DOZEN points upon
which the Auburn declaration b Of rights, or the New
School the reunion. aiirms the privilege OF individual
Judgment Mr. Patton aware or PrOI swings reIlc
rance appear trial and Of his resolve 10 leave the
church II the prosecution taken To second Judca
tory. the prosecution utterly broken DOWN
charged with manifest reason that he made the appear
without the merits ~ Tie case and 10 com
Del Prof SWING 10 furnish him victory IN defeat, ny
abandoning the church voluntarily "a he had said ne
/ would.