New-York tribune., 1876-05-20
THE SUBJECTS UNDER DISCUSSION

Esr AROUSED BY THE CENTENNIAL RES S''hUIioNs
JEALOUS SUPPORT OF THE DELEGAiES-"ohh
AMONG GERMANs-THEo. oGICAL Summaries.
Persons who have watched the Assembly during
the comparatively brief time that it las been III ses-
ion cannot have failed to perceive that as IN all
similar conventions, the bulk OF the wOTk ucNol'eS
unon a few members who appear conspicuous carly
IN the session and are listened to with attention
Whenever they rise TO their feet The men who
nave claimed the closest attention thus far
are DR.. William Adams DIR. Charles y. Dckey,
Ur. Jonathan Edwards and DR.. G. W. MusgFsvo'
With the exception of DR.. Dickey, they are men
whose hair is gray, and Drs Adams and MuSeraVc
are especinlly venerable in appearance. Dr.. Dckey
is not more than 40 years of age OF medium hlght'
with clear, ringing voice and attractive manners
The newly-elected Moderator, Dr. van DYKE mas
been resident and pastor in Brooklyn Tor nearly
n quarter of q century, with the exception oil
two or three years during the war, Wheh he
preached to congregation in one ot the
Southern States. His sympathies We're with the
South. and thus is said to be principal reason
why he received so many votes. Ii was thoughl
that his election would have favorable influence
in bringing about reconciliation and union bc'Ween
the Northern and Southern Presbyterian bodies.
His appearance stamps him as clergyman lie
wears the traditional straghtlycat coat. which but
tons to the neck his hair is scarcely touched WITH
gray, and he has a full black beard.
Devotional exercises preceded the business session
of the Assembly yesterday. Many additional dele
Gates have arrived. swelling the entire number to
about go The attendance Of persons not delegates
varied somewhat during the day, but was not so
large at any time as on the previous day. Routine
renorts and the appointment of standing commit
tees occuped the first hour of the session. The
Moderator SAID that he had occupied nearly the
whole of the night in making his appointments, and
hc wished TO apologize in advance for any mistakes
he had made A number Of reports were handed ILL.,
and the Moderator had inquired if the Assembly
was ready to consider the place OF holding the next
Assembly when DIR. = Ien1us Prime lntroducedr rcSo-
lutions in regard to closing the Centennial E@nbi-
tion on SUNDAY. which marked the FIRST eNcIhhg
event of the Assembly and aroused considerable dis
cusson The resolutions stated that the General As
sembly while IN sympathy with the objects OF the
Exhibition rejooed that it to be closed on sun
dav Sncl action on the part Of the Comm sioncIs
was becoming nation whose God was the Lord, ana
was fitting acknowledgment of the religious ana
moral sentiment Of the people Ii WAS recommended
that the resolutions be forwarded TO the Commission
ers of the Centennial
The resolutions were received VIII prolonged ap-
plsnse Dr. Musgrave of Philadelphia moved that
they be at once adopted. DR.. W. Pmaner o1 sing
Sing thought that the emphatic vote of the Commits
sioners-of 27 u . in favor of closing tho gates
opcbt to be commended. DR.. johnson moved that
ndelegation Of the Assembly Of the Presbyterian
Church in PHILADELPHIA, should present the rosou-
tions TO the Commissioners l; was tTCo, he sad
that the vote was u 20 o, but in moral weight "
WAS al least 500 to This sentiment was
heartily appiauded. Dr. Jonathan Edwards OF
Peoria ILL., suggested thai the size OF the body
should be emphasized. He also wished the
uuotation, "The nation that honoieh Ne
will honor" should be made more accurately.
DIR. Diclcy OF Philadelphia, who is one Of tie most
pleasing and effective speakers on the floor OF the
Assembly. said that the value of the resolutions was
il, their gpoitaneogs character. They should be
adoptcd by rising vcte, and any corrections c0uld
be made afterwaTd. pT. Musgrayc was cheered as
he said he would take the responsibility that the
Bible taught that q nation which honorca sod lie
would honor Numerous csils for the question were
made and the resolutions were adopted unani-
mously by rising vote.
The question of committee TO wait upon the
Commission having aT1sen DIR. DgcSey SAD there
were objections to the action Of the Commissioners
on the ground that the Protestants were clrey"en
he Thought the committee should be composed Of
laymen. Dr. Beadle remarked that he was not
ashamed that the Assembly should send some oi
the old-fashioned. bluc-stockng' Presbyterian
ministers to Philadelphia TO defend the LoTds DAY
Dr. W. L. Breckenridge, who was invited by The
Moderator TO offer prayer, asked that tins move
rnent might be blessing 10 this nation, and to the
other nations which took part IN the Exhibition
He prayed Also that the faith aud courage OF the
Commissioners might rot fail them.
The Rev. DR. Samuel II. Cox then arose to make
some remarks. He Is the Oldest member of the As
semblv and OH his next birthday he will be 81. His
hair is long and white and at u distance his appear
ance is not unlike that of the portraits of William
Pam He held his hat in his hand while he spoke
of his love for Philadelphia His father was
Quaker. Dr. Cox was engaged in the study OF law
when he first folt the desire TO preach He attended
no Theological seminary, and began to preach IN
1915 His last pastorate was in brooklyn IN Tie
church Of which DIR. Norman SeayeT. member OF
the Assembly, is the present pastor.
The Rev. Josiah Wech Of Utah thought that APP
ulause WAS unbeeoming to the character OF the As
sembly and wished some action to be taken TO sup
press IT, One of the clerks read re from the Man
nal enjonng the members TO MAINTAIN proper sraV-
fly and dignity and during the remainder oil the day
there were no expressions OF approval. Inc readihg
of report by the Rev. Dr. Charles r. Knox
Of Newark on the relations of the Presbyterian
Church to the German population occupied con-
siderable time. He showed that the growth OF the
Church among the Germans slow, and his sng-
gestions gave rise TO debate in which the Rev H.
McCusten, DR.. Edwards, the Rev. Ambrose Dunn,
Drs C. L. and w. f. K<ox, DIR. S. G. Logan, DIR.
Musgraye aud others participated. DIR. Edwards
objected to providing permanent means for the ed-
cation of the Germans ia their tongue, although
he was glad of this a temporary expcdient- DR..
Logan said it was question in his mind whether it
was rendering service to Germans to preach to
them in the German Language.
Dr. William Adams wished to decline the position
which had been offered him OF Chairman of the
t.ariaa hooa hs