The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-05-17
Ghe GmteLL1qealer.
PFe,byleTian General Assembly,,

The Presbyterian General Assembly
will meet OF Madison, Wis, Thursday
May 20, DR.. James Eels will preach III,
opening sermon, and DR.. John Hall, o
New York, Is mentioned for moderator
During the assembly session the woman'l
Home Missionary society holds an annual
meeting. On the Goth, also, the Southern
Presbyterian Assembly will meet Al
Charleston, S. g., and greetings from one
assembly to the other will follow. There
is no very exciting question at present
agitating any branch Of the church North
or South. Perhaps the most important be.
fore the local churchesin Presbyterianism,
as in Methodism, Is the power OF the chic
Judiciary. The presbyteries, like the an
nual conferences, are very sensitive about
power passing from them to the general
body. The law.making power OF Pres.
byterianism resides in the presbyterles
and in Methodism in the general confer
encs. And in this respect the two forms
Of church government differ very mate
rally. The New York Herald, in review
OF the work OF theyear which will come up.
says: "The Talmage trouble with the
Brooklyn presbytery will come up on an
appeal and be referred TO q judiciary COM
miitee, which will probably do with 1t as
the synod Of Long Island did-sit on it.
The church and the country have had
enough OF it. The assembly having deci-
ded the woman preaching question al
ready, and under its decision churches
and sparsely.settled districts in Texas and
the southwest are enjoying the ministra
lions Of godly women, this matter will not
come up at the ensuing session for adjudi.
cation. The Alcott case, which at one
time seemed likely to become famous,
reached its vanishing stage at the begin
ming OF the winter, and the more recent
action Of the presbyterY Of Wooster is fair
and full enough to satisfy those who have
been troubled by its previous utterances.
And the synod OF Columbus, Ohio, has not
felt itself impelled to review the case since
Mr.. Alcott has left the Presbyterian COM
munion. Mr.. Alcott held views on the
atonement in contrayention OF the stan
dards OF the Presbyterian church, and
tho ne did not teach them he asked the
presbytery's opinion whether he could
consistently hold them and remain in the
Presbyterian church. The presbytery de-
clared he could not, and he thereupon re.
signed, and became q Congregational min
lister. Bufthe decision OF the Wooster pres.
bytery affected so many other ministers in
the Presbyterian church, they kept up
such an agitation Of the questions involved,
that il was believed few months ago the
general assembly would be called on for q
deliveranee on them. Mr.. Alcott holds
that the human will is the determining
factor in salvation, and therein he was ad-
Judged by old school divines as belittling
the work Of Christ and the Holy Spirit
upon the hearts and consciences OF men.
There is still greater demand than sup
DIV OF ministers, there are All more
churches than ministers. The increase in
churches last year was l46 and in minis
tiers SO, and the number OF candidates Tor
the ministry was % less than in 1873 and
1853 less than in 1874, and q total OF 936
churches without pastors. And some oil
them have been vacant for long time.
Now 1t is claimed by the opponents oil
eIeemosynary education that it encour-
ages inefficient and unworthy young men
to enter the ministry, and that alter few
years they preach themselves out and the
result is idle ministers and pastorless
churches In New York city, the Pres
byterian church is little better of than 1t
was thirty years ago. The receipts oil the
board of education, with which 1t aids
over 400 young men, 224 OF them in thee.
logy, is less than $40, 100 year. Last year
it was SIS, 454. There is an actual decrease
in membership in the churches also, grow:
ing, probably, out Of this inetticiency Of
ministers or the lack Of pastoral oversight
of the churches. The actual net increase
OF members in lsTS.79 ilast year, was g.
6sl ina total OF more then half million.
The additions, on examination, during the
year now ending, number 3d. 1888. During
the nine years Intervening since the old
and new schools united, the roll OF com:
municants has been increased l2I ,925, and
the Sunday school members 1887. The
benevolent interests OF the church are in
an encouraging condition, tho there is
falling of In missionary receipts.