The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-05-27
pREsBYrERIAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Judge BRAKES Resolution against the
Validity of Roman Catholic Sap
Iism Discussed.

CINCIEYATI, Msy 25.-At the Presbyterian
General Assembly this morning S. B. Bell,
D. D., of Missouri, offered resolutions against
Sunday newspapers, and committing the
church to the policy Of "whst is COM
monty known as prohibition" These reso-
lutions were referred to the Committee on
Temperance and Church Policy.
Bishop Foss, of the Methodist EDiscoo pal
Church, was invited to a seat on the plat
form and was received by the Moderator, the
Assembly standing.
The Standing COMMITTEES on freedmen re-
ported that the total receipts for the year
were S116.22O Under the care of this bos-d
are 19S churches, with II 572 communicates,
194 Sabbath-schOols and Is, ,439 scholars.
During the year Cos members have been
added to these churches
Rev. r. H. Allen, d. D, of Pittshurg, Sec
Ietsry Of the board, delivered s stirring sd
dress which was frequently applsudsd. he
was followed be II. n. Payne, OF Iowa, who
was Colonel OF col0red regiment during
the late war.
This afternoon Judge brakes Roman
Catholic resolution is the special order.
The assembly having previously adopted
unanimously the report OF the Judicial Com
mittee, to which was referred Mr.. Brad
York, Recommending that the appeal be
dismissed the ground that the previous
Geli7erancss Of the General Assembly have
left with the sessions the right to decide
upon the validity of Roman Catholic bap-
tsm in particular cases. This appeal was
based on the requirement. Of Princaton
Church that an applicant who bad beeu bap-
tized in the Catholic Church should be re-
baptized.
a. 3 pm, when judge Drake's resOlu'
ton against the validity of Roman
Catholic baptism was taken up,
he yielded the floor, asking that
some opponent open the debate, and that he
he allowed to close. DIR. Alexander, Profess
sor in the theological seminary OF San Fran
cisco spoke in opposition to the resolution.
He said il was useless, as ii would not be a
deliversnce bat simply an expression OF
opinion for those voting. II was mischievous,
since by passing it, We would make our.
selves the laughing stock OF the world. 1t
is more pspal than all the P0pes com.
bined. 1t involves a Misrepresentation
of the standards, according to which the
'visible church is composed OF all those
who profess the true religion. This rssolu-
tiOn denies the validity of the baptism ad-
ministered to millions of persons who have
come into The Protestant Church from the
Roman Catholic Church, and never received
anv other baptism.
DR.. E II. Nevin followed a. some length,
showing In what the corTuptions ot ths Ro'
man Catholic Church consisted.
DE-. Schsh offered n substitute for the reso-
luton to the effect that the Roman Catholic
Church, though currupt and teaching many
unsctiptural errors yet, retaining tue
Holy Scriptures ancient creeds, with sil tina
fundamental truths OF Christianity, 10 stiIl
branch OF tie visible Church OF Christ
and. therefore, the sacrament OF baptism ad-
ministered by that church, with TIE rgat to
baptize, is true and valid Christian baptism,
which can not and ought not to be repeated.
DR.. Scbaf spoke in favor of the Substitute
by showing from the history Of the church
that baptism administered in the name OF
the Trinity with the proper intention, re-
gsr0lesS OF the character of The one admin
isteriDg it. had always been considered valid.
Further debate was postponed until to-
morrow afternoon.