The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-22
PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
The Assembly Organizes by Electing DR.. y.
r. Cravens, of New Jersey, Moderator.

CINCINNATI, MAY 2l.-The General Assembly
Of the Presbyterian Church began it's session
this morning in the First Presbyterian Church.
The Rey. Geo. p Hays, d. D., of Denver, Col,
the retiring moderator, preached the opening
sermon, after which the General Assembly was
formally constituted by prayer, and adjourned
until afternoon.
At the afternoon session nominations for
moderator were made They were: James L
Brownson, D. D., of Washington, Pa; Dr.
Charles S. Pomeroy, of Cleveland, O.; Dr. A. p
Hopper, Canton, China; Dr. e. R. Cravens,
Newark, N. j.. Rev. Charles A. Drake, of Phila-
delphia; Dr. Dickey and DR.. E. c. Monfort
Rev. Nichols, in seconding the nomination
of DIR. Cravens made reference to former manip-
ulations and letter writing in connection with
this office. Moderator DIR. Hays said it was i'm
possible to manipulate this assembly. This
brought numb6f OF men TO their feet, all OF
whom deprecated any recognition of the refer
ences to wire pulling, newspaper influence or ma
nipulation of any kind. Drs Brownson, Monfort
and Pomeroys names were withdrawn, and the
election resulted: DR.. Hopper 10; DR.. Dickey
202; DR.. Cravens, 80. DR.. Cravens was declared
elected. Revs. Vim. Noble. Frederick q. Shear
err John j. Bearom and Ralph E. Prime were
elected temporary clerks.
Communion service was administered to night
IN the presence of a large congregation
The Church Where the Assembly Meets.
Commercial Gazette yesterday.
The church in which the assembly convenes is
the mother of Presbyterian churches in all this
region. Our city was laid out by Presbyterians,
who set apart a plat of ground. including the
present lot, for the use of the First Church.
This was done in the winter of 1889, at which
time the ground was covered with heavy
growth of beech, maple and walnut trees, under
the shade of which the pioneers were ac-
customed to worship during the city's first
summer.
In the autumn Of 1850 the people were visited
by Rev. David Rice, of Transylvania Presbytery,
who agreed to send them Rev James Kemper, a
icentiate studying, after the old fashion,
under his tuition. Mr.. Kemper had charge
of the church seven years, and was the
first pastor north and west of the Ohio The
church was subsequently supplied for brief
periods by various ministers, including Rev.
Matthew g. Wallace, until 1903, when Rev.
his @ n bv
his son, Rev. S. r. Wilson, ID. D., who remained
until 1861, when the shock of civil war played a
part in the severance of the pastoral relation.
He was followed by Dr. VIM. G. Anderson. Rev.
and Rev. George Beecher. Rev. Frank c. Mon
fort, d. D., was engaged as supply in 1879, and
two years afterward was called as pastor.
The church was formally organized October
IT, 1870, and constructed it's first sanctuary in
1892. 1t was plain frame building, 30x40 feet,
without a floor, and was seated with boat
planks laid on blocks The pulpit was I'M
planned cherry plank. The early worshipers
brought with them, as the law directed, their
rifles, and posted pickets to watch for Indians.
This was the first church edifice northwest of
the Ohio, and in 1t was held the first meeting Of
presbytery west of the Ohio, Oct 81, 1892. A
second house of worship was erected in 1914,
with two towers, and it was known as the ''Two
Horn Church" The present stately edifce was
built in 1923. The interior is a fine specimen
of pure Gothic architecture The tower is 2S5
feet high, and is believed to be the highest
church steeple on the continent, being ten feet
higher than Trinity, in New York. Every eff
fort has been made to arrange for the comfort
and convenience of the assembly. It's sessions
are open to the public.