Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1884-06-07
General Assembly Letter.
To the Standard

To the Standard:
The Assembly met on the 18th inst,
and was opened with usual services.
Rev. DIR, McGlumphey, Prof. of Lin.
coin University, delivered the intro
ductory discourse, which was a resets
ting of old truths on the Divine exis>
tence. 1t was well done.
Judge John Frizzell, of Nashville,
was elected Moderator by a decided
majority over DIR. Sprowls, of Nash
vile. 1t was singular to see a preach.
er and an elder, both Of the same city,
though of different congregations, put
forward, and, when other names had
been withdrawn, voted for against each
other in our General Assembly. 1t
was an innovation upon custom to elect
an elder Moderator, but the conviction
has been growing that on the floor of
all our Indications, the members must
be held perfectly equal in rights Be-
sides in this instance, the man himself
has so long held the confidence of the
church, that it would have been hard
for any preacher to beat him. He
acquitted himself we'll as the presiding
officer of our highest court.
There were one hundred and fifty
eight delegates in the Assembly, and
one good brother, who is still in my
house sick, was never able to take his
seat. He came three thousand miles
from Junction City, Oregon, to attend
the Assembly, and was overcome by
the fearful fatigue of solid weeks
travel over the North Pacific Railroad,
and other lines to this place. He is
better and hopes to get home again.
The representation by States is inter-
esting, Tennessee, SO, Missouri, %,
Illinois, 16, Kentucky, 10, Texas, IA,
Mississippi, 10, Alabama, 8, Pennsyl>
vania, 8, Arkansas, 6, Ohio, 4, Indi-
ana, 6, Nebraska, 2, Georgia, l, In
dian Territory, l, Iowa, /, Louisiana,
l, Oregon, l. The great distance
from the West and South made the
number smaller than would otherwise
have been. 1t is strange that not all
the Ohio Presbyteries were represented.
1t seems that Texas deserves special
mention for its number, owing to its
great distance, some of the brethren
having come about fifteen hundred
miles.
The quality of the Assembly may
be characterized by the term prudence.
1t was a very discreet body. Little
useless speaking was done, and the
business was steadily and thoughtfully
accomplished. A large proportion of
young men held seats in this meeting,
and not many very old or very distin-
guished men were present, but there
was solid substratum of good sense
throughout, that gave fine tone to the
proceedings, and compelled respect
from all on-lookers. In the Assembly
room, in the pulpit, in the families, and
on the streets, the impression made
upon the people here was favorable
and the result can but be good, | am
sure.
We were fortunate enough to enter
tain all delegates, and even some visi
tors free, with some room to spare,
Several families had seven each, anc
appeared'to be happy under the de-
mands of service.
The preaching in the various pulpit
was earnest and acceptable on the Sab
bath. In our church, Rev. Drs. SprOwl
and Bell gave us excellent food fol
thought, and our Sunday school ha(
the advantage of lesson-review BY
Moderator Frizzell. Assembly com
munion conducted by Dr. Brown ant
others was solemn, and largely attend
ed. The Assembly and the rest of u
were lifted high both morning ant
night on the music of the "Mulph,
Brothers" three christian brothers o
this place, whose delight it is to ute
the sweet songs of Zion to the prais
of our Lord. As they sang mt. Ia
ber," / felt as if must certainly g
off up the mountain myself and use
the King in his beauty" Especiall
was this so in the chorus.
no, D..