Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-05-29
CHURCH WORK.
The Reformed Presbyterian Synod
Asking its Members
TO ABSTAIN FROM USING TosAcco
The General Assembly Of the U. P. Church
Discussing Music - The Clergy
at Saratoga M What Con-
stitutes HeSesy.


PITTSBURGH, May 2S.-The Presbyterian
General Assembly convened this morning,
at nine o'clock, Moderator McMullen in
the chair. The case of DR.. A. H. Blake,
of Boston, asking an increased allowance
from the church funds for extra duties
during the term of his labors in Boston,
occupied the larger portion of the morn
ing. A resolution, continuing his previ
Gus allowance of $500 year. was adopted.
The plan of the consolidation Of the
Board of Publication and the Permanent
Committee Of Sabbath Schools was under
discussion when an adjournment was had.
Majority and minority reports on the
music question will be submitted this
afternoon. 49,
In the afternoon the Committee on Judi
ciary reported as follows:
That the appeal of Rev. J. w. Black, of
the Kansas, Hiawaths, Presbytery be re-
turned to him without reading or debate;
that a committee be appointed by the AS.
sembly TO investigate the appeal of Rev.
Evans, of the Iowa Presbytery.
Rev. ]. G.. Carson presented a report OF
the Committee on Bills and Overtures,
which consisted Of one subject,
The Use Of Instrumental Music
in divine worship. The committee being
unable to agree submitted two reports.
Dr.. Kerr read the majority report which
wSs quite yoluminOus. Ii says: In re-
gard to the ordinance OF praise no intelli-
gent christian looks for the appointment
OF particular tunes to be sung, or particu
lar means by which the key note may be
lo1,,
in singing, or employment of trained sing
ers to lead in praise service. Such are
among the things confessed TO be left to
christian prudence Now the question
is which of these classes does
Instrumental Accompaniment
belougto the essential or non-essentials
Of worship? That is the very core of the
question decided in the repeal OF our pro-
hibitOry law. That law was what may be
said to have been our statutory application
of principle cited from the confession. To
repeal that law as has been done was to
declare q misappliCation OF princi-
pie. In other words, that there was
nothing in the ordinance of praise or
any other bible authority to Justify such
prohibition. That is the recorded iudg
ment Of the church, and while that judg-
ment stsnds, how can We consistently de-
clare, as asked in this memorial, that un-
der the principle cited this prohibitory
law is in effect and still operative. 1t may
advise a couse of conduct deemed eXpe-
dient in circumstances or required in the
interest of
Peace and Harmony,
but not on an assumption against which
the judgment of the church has been
formally given.
Reformed Presbyterians.
PrTTSBURGH, Pa, May 2S.-The fifth
DAYS session Of the Reformed Presbyterian
Synod was taken up almost entirely with
the trial Of David Torrens wealthy boot
and shoe merchant OF New York City.
When the session opened, however, the
Committee on Temperance reported the
following resolutions. which were unanim-
ously adopted:
First, ali officers Of the church are ad-
vised 10 leave OFF the evil habit of using
tobacco, as their bad example renders II
difficult and discouraging to preserve
youth from its use.
Second, all members are admsnished to
abstain on the ground thai it detiles the
body, is a useless waste OF money and
often renders a man offensive to his
neiChbOrs.
Third, the manufacture and sale is also
prohibited.
The case OF David Tsrrens was then
taken up.
was in partnership with Thomas Gleason
in the wholesale boot and shoe business,
and both were members OF the Second Re-
formed Church. They became involved in
some business difficulty, and the matter
was submitted TO q committee OF abstrac-
tion appointed by the church. Mr.. Tor
renS failed to apDear at the meeting OF the
commission. and the latter refused to give
up the firms books. For this contempt he
was suspended from the church. He APP
pealed to the PreSbytery, who sustained
The church, and he then appealed to the
Synod. Sir. TOrrens appeared in his own
defense. and spoke until the close of the
morning session. He will finish this after
noon. Revs. J. c. K. Milligan and ID. Nc.
Allster of New York, have been appointed
to speak at the conclusion OF Torrens' adj
dress.
The first business taken up at the alter
noon session was the report OF the Finance
Committee, which was referred for full de-
tails.
Reports were read concerning the use Of
tobacco, one OF which from Rev. DR.. Sloan,
said that the use of tobacco was not OF ii.
vine authority, nor was its use an integral
part OF the service, but so long as the peo'
pie preferred. 10 use lnS WeSu WIN Nhe
understanding that they were but part OF
the GOOD order OF the church, there was
No Real Harm
in its use, and should De confined until
there was some unsninlity as TO the dis
continuance Of its use.
The course of David TOrreHs was again
taken up, and Mr.. Torrens resumed his
speech in his own defense. lie gave atu!!
outline of the case and presented copies OF
the Presbytery record which susPen led
him from membership. Reys. Ni!iiSan
and McAllister, who were appointed TO
represent and defend the action OF the
Presbytery, spoke at considerable length,
end at the conclusion of the argument the
SYNOD voted to sustain the action OF the
Presbytery in suspending Torrens from the
church.
At Saratoga.
SARATOGA, \. Y, May 2S.-The General
Assembly this morning was opened by
Rev. DR.. George Baker, OF Detroit. Chap
tiers 1--WE. six, seven and eight OF the pro-
posed amendments 10 the book OF diSci-
pliue were adopted. 1t relates to the trials
OF ministers. elders, descOnS and commun-
icsnts. II therein provides that ministers
depossd for immoral conduct shall not be