Bridgeton pioneer., 1885-06-04
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

The Presbyterian General Assembly
has been in session at Cincinnati, Ohio,
for several days past. 1t is largely at,
tended, and is the most important
gathering the Church has had for
many years.
The debate on Catholic Baptism
which occurred in the Assembly a few
days since, has attracted wide atten-
tion. A resolution was offered that a
person baptised in the Catholic faith
was not orthodoxically baptised, hence
not entitled to admission to the Pres
byterian Church unless rebaptised ac-
cording to Protestant forms. The
debate was an able one, but the reso-
luton was finally laid ON the table,
and the subject left with the session of
the churches each to decide the CUES
ton for itself as is the rule at present.
AT Thursdays session much import
ant business was transacted. DR.. r.
H. Allen, Secretary of the Freedmen's
Aid Society, said:
Twenty years ago, at the close of the
war, there were in the Southern States,
1,947, 900 colored people, and now there
are more than 100000. Then there
were in Mississippi 22O, 900 negroes; now
650,0O0. Then there were in South
Carolina 100000; now more than 6OO,-
900. Five hundred colored babies are
born in the United States every day.
The colored population of the United
States doubles every twenty years; the
white population only once in thirty
five years. Eight years will not have
passed before the negroes will be in a
numerical majority in some of the
Southern States. At the present rate
of increase, in 1885, there will be SO, ,OOO,-
900 white people in the United States
and 100000 900 colored people. The
day is not far distant when it will be
a physical impossibility to continue the
present practical Acknowledgement of
the colored man of the Southern States.
In South Carolina he has bought and
paid for 270, 900 acres of land which he
cultivates. In the South he pays taxes
on $91, ,0OO 900 0ofproperty. Heis editing,
printing and publishing 1O6 newspa-
pers, and yet of the 100000 colored
people of this country more than G, ,OOO,-
900 cannot read or write.n
Strong resolutions were passed upon
the subject of divorce, affirming that
the only sufficient causes for divorce
are adultery and willful desertion, and
urging ministers to use great care in
performing the service for those who
have been divorced
Resolutions deprecating the desecra
tion of the Sabbath by the railroads.
in the various departments of the Gov
ernment and by the publication of
Sunday newspapers were passed.
The Committee on Theological Semi
naries reported that the number of
students in these institutions under the
care of the Assembly has increased
from 512 last year to 6O4 this year, and
that the same proportion of increase is
manifest in the colleges and prepara-
tory schools. The total number of
volumes in the libraries is 200,G5S. an
increase in the year of 14,644. The
endowment to be applied in scholar
ships have increased in the same time
from $3.50, $40 to $56O,55S
The Committee on Systematic Be-
nevolence reported that the amount
received by all the boards in the last
year is $1,746, 105, of which 81, ,457, ,966
was contributed by churches and indi-
viduals, a falling off in the total of
$7S,257. The decrease is owing to the
fact that an unusually large bequest of
100000 was received in 1884. In 1879,
when this committee was appointed,
the total income of the boards was
1924, 299, showing an advance up to
the present time of 70 per cent. while
the membership has increased only 10
per cent.
The Standing Committee on Tenn
perance referred to the progress of the
temperance sentiment in the country
and the growing interest taken in the
subject in the church. In connection
with this subject, the feasibility of
abolishing the Committee on Temper
ance was discussed. 1t was held that
a standing committee appointed at
each meeting of the Assembly would
answer the purpose, and there was
danger that the permanent committee
would finally become board with all
the expenses and necessity of officers
connected with a separate department.
of church work.
United States Senator Sewell left
Camden on Friday, with his wife and
two children, for trip to Europe. At