The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-31
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Some Personal Notes and Sketches of Lead
ers in the Late Church Council.

Special Correspondence of the indianapolis Journal
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N. Y, May PA good
many of your readers would doubtless like TO
look in on the assembly now in session here If
you can look through another mans eyes you
may do So Rev. Dr. Hays, the moderator, is a
tall slender man of dark complexion. He was
once president of railroad, and then of col
lege and he is a minister of the gospel AS
presiding officer he is self-possessed, clear
headed and perfectly master of the situation; as
a preacher he is fluent impressive and original.
Rev W. H. Roberts, the stated clerk, is short,
heavy Welshman, with heavy, jet black whis-
kers and a clear, ringing voice. He was once
statistician in the Treasury in Washington, and
then Firstassistant Librarian in the United
States Congress. He then became minister,
and after short service he was elected librarian
in Princeton College. Rev. W. E. Mare, the
permanent clerk. is a large man, Of ford com
plexion and somewhat beyond middle life, He
is the author rather the compiler of the "Di-
gest of Presbyterian Law and Usage" The edito
rial fraternity is quite largely represented in thu
assembly. One row of seats clear across TIN
front of the church just at the feet of the mod
orator is occupied by reporters Elder K. IL.
Monfort, of the Herald and Presbyter of Gin
cinnati, is one of the temporary clerks. Rev ,
| L. Spear, of the Independent is one of the most
| independent thinkers and vigorous speakers Ill
the house Rev. S. L. Prime, of the Observer,
is always listened to with attention and favor.
His round face wears genial expression which
| betokens a kindly soul within. Rev. s. A.
Mutchman, of the Presbyterian is one of the
| largest men III the assembly. He is very dark
compleXioned. with large, full face, cleanly
shaver, and with a strangely solemn expression.
And yet he is by far the most humorous speaker
hR ha at n
quet he kept the whole house in a roar of laugh
ter from the beginning to the end of his speech,
and yet neither he nor his wife smiled for one
instant The Doctor looked sad as if he had
not friend on earth. The only man that can
compare with him in humor is the moderator
Time would fail to tell of all the lawyers and
| judges in the assembly. Hon. C. L. Pershing
was the Democratic candidate for Governor
few years ago. Hon. II. c. Van Varst is judge
of the Supreme Court of New York. He is
clear thinker and strong speaker and one OF
the most useful members. He has the conf
| dence of the assembly in a remarkable degree
| In more than one case he has changed nne-
| tenths of the votes from one side to the other
He is of slender stature, but little beyond the
/ prime of life, and yet quite gray Hon. }. L,
Nixon is judge of the Supreme Court Of New
Jersey. He. too, has white hair and is some
what advanced in years; but it is evident from the
way he enters into the debates that he never
| once thought of retiring from active life. He,
! too, has swayed the assembly in way that
| to do their thinking for them Hon H. w. Will
liams is judge of the Supreme Court of Penn
| sylvania; George S. Graham is a young man,
but he is a rising lawyer, And there are nearly
| n dozen more legal gentlemen in the assembly of
| perhaps equal ability and celebrity. 1t is well
| to have such men in a body which is both leg
| islature and court for the church. They
have been especially useful in the discussion
of the Revised Book of Discipline, which
has just been adopted and which has
now become the law of our church.
Thenumber of military gentlemen in the assem-
| bly, shows that the Presby terrain Church is
| fighting church Elder r. H. Milroy was
brigader general in the army of the Potomac,
and known as the Gray Eagle" Rev,
r. n Adams held the same high position during
the war Rev. Z. r. Geary major general
at the same time; he is a brother Of the late
Governor GeaTy, of Pennsylvania. In addition
to them, there are quite number who served IN
the ranks during the late unpleasantness
Rev q. s. Robinson. ID. D., the most successful
hymn book maker this country has ever pro
duced member from New York. Rev.
Alfred Nevin, D. D., L. l.. D.. the author of an
immense work entitled THE Presbyterian En-
| cycopedia." as well as of numerous other books,
represented the Presbytery of Philadelphia. The
| polished K. 7. Ketcham, ID. d., Of New Jersey,
is useful member. Rev. Albert Erdman d. d.,
was there from the same State. but he took no
part in the proceedings more than to listen well
| Probably the smallest man in stature in the as
sembly was Rev. II. j. Van Dyke, jr., pastor of
one of the largest churches Ill New
! York city Two or three colored ministers
| from the South among the most popular
! speakers that addressed the assembly. Four
sons of the late Rev. Henry Little, D. D.. of
Madison, Ind, were in attendance Rev. John
| +. Herdy. formerly of Viucennes Ind. was the
! tallest man ON the floor. Rev. l.. D. Harper, D.
| D.. who was once pastor of the First Church, of
! indianapolis, preached the last sermon that was
delivered in Saratoga during this assembly. DIR.
| Edison was put on the first committee that was
appointed. Dr. Hay was associated with DR..
| Prime on the committee on ministerial relief.
| Rev. NJ. E. McKllup of Charleston, Ind, was
on the committee on benevolcnce, and Rev. II.
p. Wallen, of Nincennes, Ind. was put on the
committee on systematic benehcence." Rev.
Robert Beer. of Valparaiso Ind, was chairman
of the committee elections and one of the
most active workers in the assembly Louis
Chaplin, of Rochester, n. Y, the chairman of
! the committee on milaGe, has been to the assem-
! bly, oftener than any other elder in the Presby-
terrain Church The doctors who were i'll at
tendance were not idle. They were often called
! in to treat those who had taken too much of the
many good laugh on one another One of
them thought that Saratoga must be a very
exemplary place, as the street lamps are put out
| at IL o'clock One man against two trees
on going from banquet to his boarding house,
and several could not keep on the side
walk. The Drs Strong are both members of the
Methodist Church; but their house was decided
favorite with the Presbyterian There they
had all the benefits of large hote,, together
private family Rev DR.. Harper and wife, of
Philadelphia. were called home by the serious
sickness of their daughter. Nellie Johns.
Moral Influence of the CocOanut.
PonuIar science Monthly