Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-05-28
A DAY
In the Presbyterian General AS
a sembIy at Saratoga.
THE Vatican One Thing--The Rom
ish Church Another"
Final Adjournment.

SARATOGA, May 27.-At the open.
ing Ofthe Presbyterian assembly this
forenoon Rev. DIR. Patton, after a few
remarks relating to the resolution
offered by the committee on bills and
overtures last evening, reafirming the
deliverance Of the assembly of 1873,
giving the pastor aud convert the
privilege to decide as to the validity
o fthe Catholic baptism in each case,
gave way to Rev. DIR. Erskine N.
White to offer a compromise resolu-
ton, which DR., Patton said he was
willing to accept as a substitute for
the report of the committee. The
resolution, as subsequently amended,
reads:
Resolved, That this assembly is in
full accordance with the words of our
confession of faith respecting the
Church of Rome and its so.called
spiritual head, and do now reafirm the
deliverance upon this subject of the
assembly of 1885 as applying to the
Romish hierarchy headed by the pope,
falsely claiming to be the church which
is opposed absolutely and i~rreconcila-
bly, to the doctrine of holy scripture,
is cOrrupting and degrading a large
part of Christ's church, over which it
has usurped supreme control.
Rev. DR.. Miller, of New Jersey.
spoke in favor Of Rev, DR.. Patton's
original resolution. He claimed that
the reputation of the Roman church
entirely would in a measure invalidate
succession Of the ministry. a..iI
Elder c. D. Dake believed, like DR..
White, that many good Christians are
in the Roman church and that HER
archy is corrupt.
Permission was given Rev. DR..
Prime to accept the amendment of
Rev. DR.. White as to his substitute
offered last evening, affirming the de-
liverance of 1886.
Rev. DR.. Patton closed the debate
as chairman of the committee on bills
and oyertures, saying while he was
willing to accept the substitute of DR..
White. he wished il TO be understood
that the real question was not relat-
ing to the corruption Of the Roman
hierarchy but was as to whether the
individual members held the funda-
mental and essential doctrines Of
Presbyterian reading from the form Of
government the part stating what shall
constitute the belief Of church menu
bcrs.
He said that the fallacy of Judge
Drake was in taking Vaticanism as
the Romish church. Vaticanism is
one thing and the Roman church
something else. Where we argue that
there are elect and regeneratc chill
dren in the Roman church VIC don't
contend that the Catholic church is
a society Of r%egenerate people. lie
would hesitate to assert the same of
the Presbyterian church. The Pres
byteriau church is only a branch Of the
true church, not the only church.
Rev. DR., Prime said that he had
accepted the substitute Of Rev, Dr..
White with the expectation that it
would stop all discussion. He rp.
GREETED very much that he had read
tho paper at the close Of his address,
as it was ten times as Objectionable as
the original report and resolution
offered by the committee on bills and
oyertures. The substitute Of DR..
White was adopted.
Prof Alexander offered a resolution
to uncompromisingly oppose the efforts
Of the Roman Church to attain pos.
session Of the public schools, aai q
Rev. DR.. Jessup, calling Dr. Oar