Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-05-24
WHEELING W. VA SATURDAY MORNING, MAY "a, 1879.
THE CHURCHES.
Presbyterian General Assembly.

SARATOGA, May 23.-The report OF the
Board OF Church Erection came up as
the order of business. The gross re-
ceipts of last year were SS7 ,45O; bal
anCe from last year, Sl2,363; number OF
churches erected during the year by the
aid OF the Board, l75. To enable the
Board to DO its full work for the current
year, Sl50,0y0 will be required.
The report of the Board OF Church
Erection was adopted.
The standing Committee on Board OF
Education reported that they had ex-
amincd and approved the report OF the
Board. The total number OF students
aided were from los Presbyteries, and
were i'm - academies, ~ colleges and l6
theological seminaries. The debt had
been slightly reduced.
The first business OF the afternoon
session of the Assembly was the report
OF the Committee on Bills and Over
lures, approving some OF the papers re.
ferrcd 10 them. The most important
of which WAS this:
WHEREAS, by the recent decision OF
the Supreme Court of the United States
the sin OF polygamy has been declared
to be criminal otlense against the Con-
stitutiOn ard laws OF our country, and
under ii prosecution and conviction
have followed,
Rlsolrcd, That this Assembly hereby
records its grateful acknowledgement to
God that tie legal status Of this atfront
10 our Christian civilization, and this
menace TO social order has been finally
determined, and so determined as to de-
clare the laws and policy OF our country,
in respect TO this crime, to be in accord
with the conscientious convictions OF all
patriotic and Christian men.
ResOLysd, That this Assembly earnest
" invokes the continued and persistent
efforts Of all executive officials for the
maintainunce and execution OF this law;
and hereby also appeals to patriotic
Christian men and women to use their
influence i'm the support OF that public
sentiment now formulated into the legal
enactment, which has been the exposed
pretense OF this mOnstrOus practice TO be
areligious observance. and which justly
holds it to be in cOmpanionship with
other vices which are in the contempt
and adherence of mankind.
RgSOlred, That these resolutions be
ordered % be sent TO the General AS
semblics at Louisville and Memphis, re-
uuestiug action by them, and also To the
President, as an official expression from
this body.
This was adopted unanimously.
The deferred subject OF reduced rep
resentation was then taken up, dis
cusscd, and the overture lost; yeas 2O3,
nays 24l.
The report of the special committee
on the invested funds OF the Presby-
terian Church, made to the General As
semhlv by ITS chairman, Hon. John
Hill presented the gratifying fact that
the finances OF the church are in sound
condition. The report says that not
withstanding the great depreciation IN
the value of real estate and other prop
erty during the last six years the invest
ments are i'm a satisfactory condition,
amounting to S9il 900. Special thanks
were given.
The evening session was devoted to
the subject Ol freedmen.
Presbyterian Church Sonth.
LOUISVILLE. KY, May 23.-Late last
night. the case of J. w. Garfield, who
appealed from the decision OF the Synod,
which refused to look into charges pre-
sented by Mr.. Garfield against Rev.
Stuart Robinson, was decided by the
Assembly dismissing the complaint.
To-day, the Assembly was occupied in
another case, that of T.. f. Baker, who
appeals from the decision OF the Synod
oi Missouri. Baker was suspended for
giving q reporter Of the st. Joseph Herald
some items Of a meeting The case was
taken to the Presbyterv and reversed;
carried to the Synod, which reversed the
decision Of the Presbytery, and Baker
now appeals to the General Assembly.