New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-03
CHTRCH GOVERNMENT.

t-NwIFIDY SIZE OF THE AssEMDLY-A PROPOSITION
TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ITS MEMBERs-THE
ROTARY ELDERsHIP QUESTION DECIDED.
lFRoM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSEl
CLEVELAND, Ohio, May 31.-Ihe second Mon
dav since this Assembly convened has dawned and yet
there are almost no emp! DenVn's -.
eide which Of 70 striking characteristics Hi te ASSEM-
bly, are worthy of most admiration-its patience u 80
dispatch By this time, in former years there
would many empty seats but now the interest
IN the proceedings undated and the closest attention
still given every necessary detail remarkable as
signment has been made for this evening Instead Of
devotng itself 10 the completion OF unfinished matters Of
the day the Assembly has-at the request Of the Mode
rator-resoved occupy the evening session with adj
dresses before popular audience, upon tie topic Our
Church Position and It's Mission with addresses by
the venerable Or. C. c. Beatty Robert Carter, Judge ALI
son and Secretary Dickson The Assembly bids fair TO
rival its prototype Of 1857 which, readers Of previ
GUS article will remember began its fourteenth day with
200 OF roll o. 223 members present At all events
the Church can trust that little or no hasty action
will be found on this record TO be depiored'
But II one shOuld charge this patient treatment
OF business upon the members appreciation OF the nearly
hospitality they are receiving from their Cleveland
brethren equal attention be directed 10 the dispatch
with which business is carried through No tedious
speaker fails the amusing concert OF the Assem-
by's "QuostiOn - Question: and the Moderators
timely gaveraps. The Moderator hammers them INTO
The house and house filings them back merclessy Oh
the Moderator until they submit With every regard 10
necessary details the Assembly does not permit dull
speakers 10 waste time postpone leading matters to
The next day or the Assembly, even spare mo-
discussing what can be more suitably GS us ~,
An excellent illustration OF this spirit was SHOWN IN 10
days Of the most Important quesuons u
it's well known that this Presbyterian Assembly, rep
resenfing Church Of 1900 ministers and 49o,OUO cor
uuuicants has since the reunion so huge DOuy
"a 10 be almost unmanageable; and II was he uuty OF
this Assembly has been, indeed though IN VAIN IOr
AL the since 1870 10 provide way Tor tne reuuo-
ron OF ifs business IL costs the Church @3OOOO an
the Assembly 10 say nOtAlng OF inc
TDe1se enfaied upon the churches in the city OF meet
INC for enferfanment. There only six or seven cities
in The land large enough endure this tax coming as
doc nnon some one OF every year and not quadren-
tS up ~ ,nny the MethOdists The body TOO
erscme for the satisfactory dispatch OF business
large number Of members take part IN tne IN
the irving OF ecclesiastical controversies are reshuou
by an Objectionable necessity " COMMISSIONS Ae iu
peraye need OF reduction IN the SIG " 's'S hosr1
l. from these considerations 20 evident as We sno M,
to-day the report Of the Commlttee) tnt ons
has taken the matter in hand. The following Cemn.tee
noon Minister'S Drs K W. Patterson, ~ IL CIeveianu,
X. ID. Harper, (. H. McMullin, and T. b. Haineia
Elders, L. ID. Mansfield, LIZ d.; the Hon H. '. Al
lsOn, the Hon. L. W. Anderson Gen L. Arson Moore.
This Committee stated the for reducing the rep
resentatOn OF Presbyteries in the Assembly as given
above and considered briefly plans that have pee
suggested They regarded derogatOry ~ the parity OF
various ministerial functions 70 rule ministerial editors,
fepresepted thought small presbyteres Ought not ~ be-
combined order make up minimum OF "a ministers
~ the unit OF representation anu is :. wou De 1iyss
have two and only two, delegaIes- Inc conclusion
reached that only one InetAon WIZ pIoouce per
mnenty available change that VIII De yus. 70 All par
and that IL representation by synods, instead OF
presbyteres The Committee therefore recommend tnat
change be made in chapter ~ seeuon - anu 81 sSe
Church that wherever The word presDy teIy O
y sAAA ssad " d nod; and nSDe-" '" "a ~ Wv