Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1878-12-12
ALLEGHENY PRISBYTERY.
Discussing the Overture on Re
duced Representation - The
Overture Finally Adopted.

Discussing the Overture on Re
duced Representation - The
Overture Finally Adopted.
The Prcsbytery Of Allegheny assem-
bled Yesterday morning in the church OF
Emsworth, ON the Pittsburgh, Fort
WAYNE and Chicago Railroad, about 4
miles below the city. Despite the in
rleiuency of the weather, more than the
usual number al ministers and elders
came together, many of them attrarlgd
to this meeting by the expected discus
sion on the absorbing question in Pres
bytrrian circles, Reduced Representa-
ton. The Prcsbytcry was called 10 or.
der by the Moderator, Rev. W. W. Rails
ton, oi Bridgeport. Rev. hlilligan acted
in the capacity of Clerk, position
which he has filed with acceptance Tor
Gy, years Rcvs. ). +. Findlcy and r..
X. Dnnchoo were invited Ia sit " cor
responding members. The only item oi
turr on Reduced Representation. Rev.
Aaron Williams, ID. D., moved that the
overture be answered in the Affirmative;
the motion was at once seconded. l'r.
Williams proceeded To- state his reasons
iOr advocating this measure. lie said
the overture was II ust one from the
iart that il gives equality to the minis
try and cldership. It's influence will bc
to develop the lay element in the church
courts. There are many elders oi dis
tinguishcd talents whose voices are 81
lent and influence unfrlt in our ccclcsl-
astical assemblies. This overture will
have tendency Ia make the cldcrship
u practical, working force In the General
Assembly.
Rev. Thomas Johnson said II would
be- graceful thing To- unite the lay and
clerical force. lie WAS in favor OF ths
overture, rs it would reduce the Assem-
bly,. The Assembly M ut present con-
stitutcd was too large, and its support u
very great burden on the churches,
Dr. James Allison, Of the Presbyterian
Banner, said that personally he felt but
little interest in this matter. II the
church must have change ut all In Its
mode OF selecting delegates Ia the As
scmhly, and II WE must reduce the size
Of the Assembly, il shonld be made On
q larger scale. The Asscmbly's com
mitler to whom the question Of reduced
representation Was refereed, In intro
,luCing this overture, felt that il was
only temporary expcdi,nt, and that
some new Arrangement must be made
in a very short time. We should keep
to the old principles and he very eau
tious about departing from them. lie
cited the British House Of Parliament, u
body composed oi over eco members
which rat for weeks together without
any embarrassment experienced on ac-
count of its large proportions Tho
Scottish Assembly was alsna body much
larger than our Assembly. The same
was true III the Irish Assembly, and yet
neither of these bodies experienced
any difficulty in entertainment, or
in the transaction of business, II was
apparent that the heart III the Church
does not wish any change IN the size III
the Assembly. There arr great advan-
tagcs in the assembling oi large bodies
iur the purpose of delibcration. An IN.
stance in point il that al the American
Board of Foreign Missions, whose meet
Jugs are always regarded lay all with the
deepest interest, No difficulty il found
in entertaining il. DO not touch the
present plan. The decision oi three
hundred men is not AT all equal 10 that
ol five hundred men III lts popular effect
The influence going out from a large
body and from small one is very dill
irrent. Ii Is notdiiiiculi, as some assert,
Tor any ordinary man Ia get the floor,
have attended many Assemblies, and
know that any man who wants la can
get the floor When the Assembly Was
much smaller than il il at present, such
men ~ Or Thornwall or DR., Plumer
kept the floor for an entire day. Large
bodies obviatc prolonged discussion.
let us make the Synods the representa-
tive bodies,
Mr. Scott spoke against the overture.
He said the Assembly was not too large,
rs its present size produce good. The
overture is not Presbyterian, but IL is
false in principle,
nr r. Bittingcr said he was in favor
ot small Assemblies No parallel exist
ell between the General Assembly and
the british Parliament The Irish AZ
scmhlv is gathered from territory not
much LANCER than ihe State vi Pennsyl.
yania, while our Assembly Was gathered
from every corner oi the land The A..
scmhly is a hHiy run by ring, who sit
around the Moderator, and generally he
can see no further than this small circle.
The plan under consideration provides
for the reduction So earnestly desired
The general idea ~; our PRESBYTERIAN
system L. that the minister is the spirit
81 the church body. We have men who
represent no church no constituency
in our Assemblies Ther werc NOR.
than fifty such men in our las, Assem-.
hly de- No, believe that men who are
nothing but ghosts should manage our
affairs
Rev |, =. Hays said: I, is great
idllscy to say that there Is only one way
II dniug a thing Some are saving un-
lcss our plan IL adopted the thing will
fail The chuc'h has empha,ically pro
nouno,4t for reduction. There il not a
single element II un .Presbyterianism ia
ihlS overture There Is no democracy
in IT, The people do not vote-they |
pnly constitute the basis This plan Is !
10 combine the working power Of the
'hurch 81 as to eQusliRe il, II my life |
Mas AT stake would rather have Twelve !
men to deciie the matter than five hun
ined. There Is not new element in
reduced into this overture, and II does
iis object.