The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-05-21
PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLIES,

Important Issues Before the
Northern Assembly AZ CleVe-
Innd-FFateFnhl Relations with
the Southern ChuFeh-The Ed
eFsliP Overture. Fl
The four principal Presbyterian bodies
in this country will hold their annual
assemblies this month. The Northern
Assembly will meet at Cleveland, OhiO,
the Southern at St. Louis, and the Cum
berland at Jefferson, Texas, May 90; the
United Presbyterian Assembly will open
at Wooster, Ohio, May %. The Assembly
is the highest court Of these churches, II
is composed of delegates from presbyter-
les and the chief officers Of the various
Boards sit a corresponding members. 1t
hears all appeals from synOds, receives
overtures from presbyterieS and reports
from the departments Of missions, educa-
ton, publication, etc, exercises a super
yisory power over the theological
scminaries, and in cooperation with the
Presbyteries effects changes in the gov
eminent Of the Church.
The Presbyterian Church in the United
States Of America (NOrthern) comprises
| ia presbyteries, Of which sixteen are in
| foreign lands, arranged in thirty.Rye
svnoI. I, hns 4g5 G3l communicates
i,0iG churches, and over half u million
Sunday school scholars, In 1887 the
Church was divided, and the parties we're
known as the Old and New School
Churches, although these we're not official
designations, In 1870 the Old and New
School Assemblies formed IN organic
union, and became the leading Presbyter'
ian body in America,
The Northern Assembly will DO opened
at Cleveland May 20, with a sermon by
the Rev. Samuel J. Wilson, Moderator OIL
the last Assembly. Among the subjects
for deliberation and action will be iraier'
nal relations with the Southern Church
the finances Of the Boards, the overture
on the eldership, negotiations with, the
Reformed Church Of America for closer
union, the sustentatiOn scheme, n court o.
appeals, the hymn.bOOk question, thu
mileage system, the ratio OF representa-
ton, and ministerial relief.
The question Of fraternal relations
with the Southern Church has had wide
discussion since the failure Of the confer
cnce ut Baltimore last January. Tho
comments Of the UNCONVENTIONAL press, q
first somewhat sharp, have become mild
er, and the spirit shown on both side
leads to a hope that reconciliation MAJ
yet take place.
The cldership question promises Il
occupy considerable share Of attention
The last Assembly sent down to the pres
bytCries for ratification the following
overture;
II any particular church, by vote o
members in full communion, shall prefer
to elect ruling elders for q limited tint
in the exercise OF their functions, thi
NAV hr done provided the full time b'
not less than three years, aud the session
he made to consist Of three classes, one o
which only shall be elected every year
and provided that elders once ordainc,
shall not BE- Invested Of the office whcl
they are not reelected, but shall be emit
tied to represent that particular Churcl
in the highest julicalories, when appoint
cd by the session Of the prcsbylery.
Returns have been received Of the yott
Of 1903 presbyteries on the overture; 4
vote yen, 25 nay and cast "tie" votes
Other prOsbyteries. are yet to be heart
from, but Il Is not' probablc that thei
votes will defeat the ratification. Aitel
the prcslvterics have ratified the over
turp. the Assembly must again approyt
il before il can become operative. Somt
who have scrutiniEed the vote CAREFUL!
say that the nays come from those pres
byteries situated on the border Of Mnsol
and DixOn's line, and which represent
the conservative elements Of Presbyter
ianism. II il commended by them that ]
will bu dangerous, in view Of the strength
Of this sectional opposition, for the Assem-
bly, Ia insist npOn the immediate passage
of the overture. Fears are expressed
that another schism may he forced by tho
suddcnncsl with which constitutional
change il proposed to bC effected afteI
the reunion. The Monmouth Presbytcry
takes this view Of the question, and has
adopted an overture to the Assembly ask
| ing il to suspend its sanction. Among
the prominent commissioners to the As
lembly arc the Rev. Drs. John &. Lord
Of Buffalo; X. W. Patterson, Of Chicago
y. u. ITotchkins, Of the Presbytery o
Chester;S y. r. Wilson, Of the Presbyter!
Of Huntingdon, and NJ. =. GOOdale, o
Albany. Commissioners are expected