The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-25

CINCINNATI, May 23.-The General As
sembly of the Presbyterian Church
met in the First Church of Cincin-
rsti on Thursday. The sermon of DR.. Hays
was eminently characteristic of the man. 1t
was written out in full. and yet so thoroughly
was it studied that he scarcely referred to
the manuscript at all. 1t was indeed lacking
in literary finish, but il was full of force. Il
contained great many Western words and
phrases, which may have offended the ex.
tremely fastidious: but the applause which
1t elected so frequently during its delivery
shows that it reached the hearts Of his
hearers. IT was principally an appeal from
the great West to the East for aid In planting
churches in the new States and Territories.
After the sermon, which was one hour and
q quarter long, recess was taken until 3
O'clock in he afternoon. Upon ssse nbling
the Assembly proceeded to tbs election Of
Moderator. And here occurred one OF the
most remarkable struggles ever witnessed In
one OF our church courts. There has been
growing tendency CT late years for people to
geek for positions for labor in the Assembly.
Last year there was more eiectioneering than
had ever been witnessed before; and for the
last two months some OF our church papers
have Detu presenting TIE CiaILlS Ol tUt5 OF
that man, while other papers have been Just
as basy showing that these very persons
were wholly unfit for such positions The
great body of the church has become utterly
disgusted with such efforts. a determine
ton to break all such rings had
bronsht an unusually large number aa, &c, Of
The candidate whose claims had been so
earnestly presented by certain papers had
bis forces well in hand. A number of men
made speeches advocating bis election. One
man, however, uncovered the plot. and the
assembly promptly proceeded to elect an
other man. Alter the new Moderator had
dressed the assembly, charging that he had
been wronged by the insinuations which
had been thrown out against him, not only
on the floor here, but through some of the
papers. 1t is safe TO say now thatt there Will
be no more electioneering for the modera-
torship, st least until this Lesson and reproot
have been forgotten. Rev. Il. A. Edison,
Rev. J. r. Mitchell and Rev. James Mcleod
are ali here as interested spectators. 1t is
safe to Infer, however, from The frequent
conferences they had with the members
that they contributed not little to the
result of the election. 1t really seemsd as
though they were not only acquainted with
nearly every body, but aiso that they were
quite intimats with large number Of the
most Influential members. This arses prob
ably from TIE fact that these brethren visit
the Assembly nearly every year. Andas each
Assembly is composed OF different people
they have thus learned to know most OF the
prominent men of the church.
On Friday the Beard OF Publication came
up for its yearly airing. A committee wss
appointed by the last Assembly 10 employ
an expert to 90 through their accounts. and
then TO examine their way OF doing business.
Rev w a. Bartlett aud Rev. James William
son. Of the Preebytery of indianapolis, both
made telling speeches demanding an entire
change in the management of that board.
The Assembly OF 1882 directed the board 10
prepere and submit TO the next Assembly o
balance sheet showing all the dealings dur
ing the year. And wnen this was not done
this committee was appointed. And now
| the hOard says that this balance sheet was
| prepa1 ed, but for some unknown reason it
failed to reach the Assembly. But this syi.
| IDENTIFY did not suit the people. An elder
| from New York City sssailed the board for
| putting their depository in that great me-
tropolis in charge OF Baptist brother
who is not in sympathy with our
! theory, and whose place of Business was
| in a part of the city where ladies would not
| go without protector. It is quite possible
| that the men who have charge of this GARD
may be able to shut Off any further investi-
| cation; but it IS quite evident that if they
| succeed in this. that the churches will
largely cease their contributions. It is
| quite likely that this discussion will
occupy the larger part of two days.
! Judge Drake, of the Supreme Court of Wash
| ington City, made q strong speech assailing
| the views of DR.. Patten, of Princeton The.
| illogical Seminary, in regard to the validity
of Roman Catholic baptism. 1t seems lit.
tie strange to hear the orthodoxy Of
such person questioned. And yet
| it ia generally found that those who
are excessively strict in one direction are
correspondingly loose in some other direc-
| ton. And it is confirmation of this that
since the union of the Old and New School
branches OF the church, the latter has not
/ furnished single case of heresy, while the
| former has given Us several. And yet at
| the reunion the Old School were afraid OF
| the orthodoxy of the New School. While
| the latter has never been excessive in press
| ing their views in one way, they have never
| wandered off in another way.