The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-20
A GREAT CHURCH COUNCIL.
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE
PRESBrTERIAN BODY.
The Centennial sunday Question Under Dis
cu--ion-A LARGE Committee Going TO
Phila adeiphia-kev. DIR. A Adams's Protest.

Pbiia adeiphia-Kev. Dr. Ad mss Protest.
Nearly all the delegates to the General
Assembly OF the Presbyterian Church were In
tseir places in the Brooklyn Tabernacle yester-
day morning, but the number " spectators was
hardly so large as upon the opening day. Tue
hrst half hour was given up to devotional exer-
cises, conducted by Prof T.. ID. Morris, Of the Lane
The ologica Seminary, Cincinnati.
The Rev. DIR. VeD DYKE, who took the Moder-
stor's chair at half past o'clock, Is one OF tho
most popular ministers In Brooklyn, where he has
done pastoral work for quarter OF century.
He is. probably, past nfty years OF age, but his
thick beard and whiskers are almost black, and
his hair Is but slightly stresked with gray. His
eyes are bright and piercing, and his general ex
preston denotes keen observation, ana bound
lees self reliance. lie Is an acknowledged au-
thority on all points pertaining to Presbyterian
usaRes.
The Rev. DR.. 8. Ireneus Prime said that so
large and important an ecclesiastical body a. the
General Assembly OF the Presbyterian Church
ought not to separate without expressing Its
sense OF the fitness OF closing the Centennial
Exhibition In PHILADELPHIA on Sunday lie read
aresolution to the effect that II having been de-
termined two wears ago not to open the Exhib-
tion upon Sundays, and 1t being also contrary to
law to do go, the General Assembly recorded Its
Exhibition In charge had decided To abiue by
their Original resolution, and hoped no influences
would induce them to change measure so emi-
The Rev. DR.; johnson proposed, as an amend
ment, that delegation from the General As
sembly should go to Philadelphia, and PERSONAL
ly present the resolution to the Commissioners.
Dr. Primes paper concluded with the quotation,
The nation that honoreth me, | will honor"
The Rev. Dr. Jonathan Edwards took excep-
ton to this as being incorrect The declra-
tion, he SAID, was, lie who honorsth me will
honor but he was not prepared to say, In be-
half Of the General Assembly that God would
honor whole nations that honored him. And"
said DIR. Edwards, taking hts seat amid loud
laughter, at Is much better TO be right than
wrong. even In so trivial matter as this"
A delegate thought the resolution should con-
tain some reference to the size and Importance
Of the General Assembly, or that. at least, the
bearers should be instructed to explain its
| magnitude to the Centennial Con mmissionsrs.
TOO MUCH oLoRIrIcATIos.
DR.. Prime replied that the last time he had 1
had glorined II to the utmost, and II was ordered
| to be all stricken out. lLaughter.l
motion to refer the resolution to a commit
tee was lost and IL having been adopted. II was
resolved to send a copy OF It to the Centennial
Commissioners by delegation from the Cen
motion to send DR.. Prime alone to Pnlladel-
| pbia was not we'll received, and II was decided
| to appoint delegation OF seven ministers and
six laymen to wait upon tue Commissioners,
although Dr. Dfckey vainly tried TO secure the
| tsrs at all, on the ground that there was feel.
| ing In Phllsdelphia and throughout the country
| tnat the latter alone were opposing the opening
OF the EIhioition on sundays while the former
The Rev; DR.. DIeekenridse led the delegates
In prayer that The mission might serve to fortify
the Commissioners In their resolution to pre-
serve the Sabbath inviolate.
The Moderator appointed tho following repre-
sentatives OF the General Assembly to go to
| Phiiadslp phia The Rev. Drs. :. l. Prime. WIN.
Adams. Jonathan Ed wards, W. l.. Breckenridge,
| Il. H. Beadle, j. 5. Jones, and Everdrd KENO
| shall the Hon. WIN. Strong. Ebenezer NJ. Nc
Pherson. silas 4. Bowen, wm. q. Moorehead, J.
delegation Will probably start for Philsdelphia
to-day.
tenni Commissioners be requested TO prohibit
tho sale OF Intoxicating hsuuTs ON the Exnipi-
| Commissioners had been legally advised that
! they no tower to make any such prohibi-
tOn and the argument being advanced tn Il the
proposed request from the General Assembly
would only serve to enlbarrass them, ana pos
sbly prejudice the question OF closing the EK-
hioition on sundays, the resolution was laid
upon the table.
WHERE COOPERATION Is NOT NEEDED.
| DR.. Adams read q report from committee ap-
pointed to confer with a committee OF the synod
Of the Reformed Churcn, with a view OF obtain
ing the coo ger ton of that booy. IL was to the
effect that all the objects aimed at could be at
| Ia ned without any sucn cooper alton.
After recess the Synod OF Missouri presented
amenonai upon "Popish Baptism IN which 1t
W announced that AT a meeting OF that body
resolutions had been adopted recommending
th4t converts from Roman Cdtholicity TO Pres
| byterianism should be again baptized. as the
| Church of Rome was not any part OF Inc Church
| OF Chri I. ana the baptism admt nistered by IL
was wholly Invalid and worthless. rne SYNOD
| asked tue General Assembly to approve its &C
| tiOn, but the deleg tes evInced no great desire
| to take the question: and after a very Urief
discussion the memorial was referred 10 Tue
| Committee on Bills and Overtures.
Tue Rev. Dr. Asalns had been appointed by
| the MODERATOR to serve upon committee ON
| theological seminaries. He asked to be excused
| from serving, on the ground that he was himself
| President of the Union theological seminary IN
| New lOIk. lie spoke gOrously Tor some ten
| minutes, pointing out the incOngruity OF theo-
| logical Professors, OF whom there were several
on the committee besides himself, passing upon
| their own ctiOns.
| lne Moderator however, was averse to excus-
| inR ID. Adams and he hoped the request W. Id
| be witburiwn. IL seemed to convey an infer
| ence. he said, that the delegates might suspect
| on coMuiltees IN whose rcports they might De
supposed to have some personal int resi-, ana
q Is. he was assured, was entirely erroneous. A
motion TO table Dr. AdamsS request was lost
| by verr small majority, and spirited debate
| followed.
Tne Rev DR. Musgrave said n there was an
| honest III N IN the Tabernacle that man was Dr.
| Adams. lApplsuse.l But although nobody
| could tor moment, suppose that In whatever
| IositiOn he was laced he would act otherwise
| than conscsuiiously, theological professo 5
| very different from Dr. Adams might occupy
the . siiOn from when he desired to be excus-
ed, and use his opportunities IN mis- own inter
ests. lie respected DIR. Adamss de icacy, and
| hoped lie would he allowed to withdraw. Dr.
| Adams and four other theological UrOfe fessOrs
| were excused from serving.