New-York tribune., 1879-05-27
PRESBYTERIAN GEYER1L ASSEMBLY,

4 LARGE NUMBER or RLPOkIS-AIlENDANCt AT
THEATREs-THE READING or SECULAR PAPERS
ON sUNDAY-CATHOLIC BAPTISM.
SARATOGA, n. Y, May 26.-In the General
Assembly this morning, the Rev Dr. Prime, from the
Committee on Theological semnaries. made a report,
showing the number OF semiDares TO be l3 the whole
rumber OF students last year. 534 the number OF pro
lessors, 50 the number Of graduated students. lGl
and the amount OF property held, P4,4lj,l1I
The Committee on Poity Of the Church reported sew
eral oyertures sent up from Presbyteres generally Of
local interest," and the suggestions Of the committee
were generally adopted without debate.
The Committee Corresponding Bodies announced
the reception reports from Rev A. Gevin delegate
10 the General Assembly Of the Presbyterian Church Of
Canada john D. Jones' delegate 10 the General Assem-
by of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church William
Irving delegate 20 the General synod o. the Reformed
Church. and Layaly BraytOn, delegate to the
General Assembly OF scotland. The committee
dsapproved OF seudug delegates other bodies and
recommended that the Rev. Dr. ". p Breed. the Rev.
Dr. c. A. Dickey the Rev. Dr. = T. Prime, DR.. 8 j. Mich
OILS ana Elders George Junbin, ". Tenoroeck. W. Z.
Dodge and ChauAceY " Olds be a committee 10 select
tbirty-tO others be reported 20 the next General As
senby 10 he delegates with to the next session Of
the General Alliance, to meet IN Philadelphia
september 21. 1850 aud the following to be dele
gafes 10 The corresponding bodies The Rev Dr. Syl-
vester T. seove TO the General synod OF the Lutheran
Church: DR. JoDu Jones the General Conference or
the Methodist Episcopal Church Dr. Peter Siryker, 70
the General Association Of CongTegaonalists; and Dr.
William T. Hall. 10 the General Convention OF the Re-
formed Episcopal Church.
TIE overture reduced representation 5ont down by
the last Assembly was reported lost
4 memorial offered by Air. William E. Dodge asking
Congress 10 investigate the tracn intoxicating liquors
and the Ell cts thereof, was adopted.
The committee appointed to select the next place Of
meeting asked the Assembly to select either Madison,
WisconsOn. Saratoga.
The State House in Madison. Wis. selected
motion. and the Rev. J. E Wright the Rev. j. W. ster
Ing and tnc Rev. II. Winters were appointed Com
N tee on Arraa gencDts. The Rev. DR.. Henry Darling
renorted on missionary Presbytcries and SYnOds.
The Committee on Narratives from PresDyterles re-
rorted thnt The wear mas not been or general
val yet tie Church has size duF1ns the past
year general Increase IN attendance on meetings 4as
hecr noticed sprual conditions than last
year the churches have been paying old debts, and
uer churches built wlCl nave been paid fOr
To devise means for work among the sOlders DR..
Jo~eph 4. smith DIR. H. Byron sunderland DR.; Richard
H. Alien. Elders g. d. Drake ana Jonn r. Amid0wh
ro ae I'M consideration overture, from the Presbyte
ries Of Sew-York ana Lehgh. looking toward reor-
ganzauon OF the syr0ds: reduction M nnmDer ana on
iargenlrnt ot powers. Dr. Henry Darling, Dr. T. n
wnite DR.. r. v Patterson, Dr. W G. Crais Elders John
HI, Jacob :. FarraId ana Samuel ,. thompson. ,.
After q qiite u contest a mileage and entertainment
tax y0Jed as heretofore. ,.,
res ana operac performances, tie following was Of
EssoIred That in view Of the increased attendance OF
church members theatres and operas. the Assembly
hear
ice "a inconsistent with Christian duty, since II n0
only gives ana support 10 an INSTITUTION
Justly described by a former Assembly as school OF
but Is in itself spiritually hurIful and tends
t0 0nlltcraVs the line which snouid always be plainly
visible between the followers OF thflsb anu 'he "Ot
II adopted.
The suhect reading secular papers on sunday was
reported on panied by the following resoutiOn
wn ch was adopted; ,.--.---. Al.
Pes9ired That tho General Assembly. believing mat
the praclce on the part church members or readlGg
secular uauers on tic sabbath day aiarlDngy on TIE
Iucre4se aud believing also that 10 IA grieYOus INJURY
10 the personal prfy OF the readers and serious or
gtacle % the OF Christ IN every c0mmUnlty "uud
dcprecste the practice, and would urEe on al VINO love
the Lord desire the spread of HF Kingdom ia thls
world 10 DO all their power 20 d'scuUhi"eaLoe u
Regarding the overture against recognizing Roman
Catholic baptsn the COMMITTEES reaifrin the Hctiou or
the General Assembly OF 1870, leaving u with the pa-
tor and he convert decide whether nreDaptism snail
he made. The report attacked Dy Elder &. -
Drake aud Rev. Dr. Prime and defended bY the rev
DR. pattDn, chairman oi the committee MI william H.
Dgdye opposed any recognition OF tlo Roman Cath0lc
az a lsttan Church. The Rev. Dr. Prime moved the
overture OF 835 That it the deliberate and de-
eded Judgment OF this Assembly that the Ro.
man Catholic Church hos essentially apOstaIzed
fIom the religion OF our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ and, therefore, cannot be recognized az q
Cbflstian Church" The Rev. Mr. LOWS opposed tue
overtire moved by Dr. Prime, and upheld the Catholic
appeas had been made against the Catholics a. being
autLChrfstiAns Auabaptists raised this cry OF old
but John Knox and Othsr fathers Of'the church and
martyrs only had Catholic baptism and Catholic 0rdina-
tgn After further debate, at lO:3O D. H. the Assembly
adfouruea until morning.