St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-05-29
DEEPLY INTERESTING.
The Brethren of the Presbyterian General
Assembly at Minneapolis Oonsid-
siderably Stirred Up.
The Temperance Question Produces a Dr.
Vision---A Question of Method.
Not Principle.
Constitutional Prohibition Endorsed
and ssJoy in HI, Averted.-
No Backward Steps.
The Chinese Question Viewed From
a Highly Moral and Not
Practical Standpoint.
The PresbYterfans.

| The PreSbYterians.
Yesterday was certainly the liveliest and
most interesting of the session of the gen.
eral Presbyterian assembly. The labor
question came up in the guise Ct a resolu-
ton to reprenend the acts of violence of the
people of the Pacific slope in seeking to rid
the country of the Chinese. The discussion
was not allowed to take any other form
than that of protest against lawless
barbarity, and when one commissioner
offered resolution expressing SYM
pathy for those who have suffered
by. reason of competition with
Chinese cheap labor he was promptly in
formed that 1.-THE American workingman
can take care of himself" In the after
noon the pregnant question of temperance
created more fun and excitement than has
before been witnessed among the gay and
reverend pastors and ministers. The COM
nissionerS were evidently of but one mind
| concerning temperance, and the word pro-
hibition was applauded every time it was
mentioned. Several amusing incidents
crept into the proceedings. Just as a
| scrimnlage between two members Of the
standing committee on temperance
was being INDUCED in the moderator read a
telegram from the National Baptist conven-
ton in session at Ashbury Park New Jer-
sey which incorporated in its greeting to
expression may peace dwell within your
walls" The application was so pertinent
that the assembly was convulsed with
laughter which lasted for several minutes.
| Considerable Relation was also furnished
| by the efforts to head off one of the old
| time Temperance harangueS from brother
who did not appear to know where to stop
when he had once mounted his favorite
hobby.
THE CHINESE QUESTION.
After the usual devotional services lead
| by DR.. F. A. Horton of San Francisco, had
been held DR.. Craven, chairman of the
committee on bills and overtures, read over
lures from the Presbyteries of Cincinnati
and Washington. the former embodying a
memorial from the missionaries of Canton,
| China, asking for an expression from the
general assembly in reference to the barbar-
Gus treatment of the Chinese emgrants in
many sections of our country. The COM
mittee recommended the passage of the
following resolution:
Whereas, There has come before the gen.
eral assembly memorial from our mission
aries in Canton, China, Endorsed and urged in
| overtures from the Presbyteries of CiIcin-
natl and Washington respecting the inhuman
| and unchristian treatment of various ports
| of the land, which treatment most plainly is
| violation of the first principles of justice
| and morality as well as repugnat to the
| gospel of Christ and is also calculated to en-
danger the property and lives of missionaries
| and other Americans in China, and to retard
| the growth of Christ's blessed church there.
Therefore, Resolved, First-That this gen.
| eral assembly in accordance, we are glad to
be assured with the general sentiment of
ministers, elders and members of our churches
| on the Pacific slope views with utter reproba-
| ton all such acts of lawless violence against
! helpless foreigners in cur land; and we recog-
n1ze the fact that our government is bound
| not only by ordinary laws of humanity and by
| plain treaty obligations, but also by con-
| sideration of what is due to our citizens resi-
| dent in China, to protect the Chinese who are
among US, and to redress the great wrongs
| which mob violence has inflicted upon them.
| Resolved, Second-The assembly warmly
commends the action of brethren on the Pa
| cific coast, who, even when exposed to sore
obloquy and threatened danger, remembering
the demands of justice and humanity and
| the golden rule Of our Lord, have stood up
| nobly in the defense Of the rights of the OPP
pressed.
| Resolved third, That we urge our ministers
| and people to do eli within their power to
| create such state of public sentiment upon
| the subject as shall discourage all future out
| RACES against law-abiding strangers in our
midst, and shall secure to all men without
distinction of race, all that is fair and right
according to the laws of the land ane the law
of God.
DR.. Horton of Oakland. Cal, seconded
the motion to adopt the resolution by rising
vote. He thought the Chinese question had
been misrepresented by the Eastern press.
While there were many disagreeabie things
about the Chinese there was no excuse for
the outrages perpetrated upon them. DR..
Darlington, of San Francisco hoped the
resolutions would be unanimously adopted.
THE DISCUSSION.
DR.. Wherry of China, said that the
Chinese government naturally holds the
United States responsible. not so much for
the outrages that have been committed as
for omissions of the punishment of the MUIR
derers of the Chinese in this country
DR.. Parsons, once missionary to
China said that the resolution should be
translated into the Chinese language
DIR. Reed of Port Townsend, Washing
ton territory. introduced an additional res
olution, expressing sympathy with those
who have suffered from the competition of
Chinese cheap labor, saying that the work
lngmen of the Pacific slope have undoubt-
eddy been injured In this respect. Men
who are now earning sufficient wages to
insure comfortable living were starving
to death before the Chinese were driven
cut.
Elder F. L. Shepherd of Baltimore said:
''The workingmen of America are abund-
antly able to take care of themselves"
which remark was vigorously applauded.
DR.. Hermann offered resolution to fix
the salary of the editor of the consolidated
magazine at 81, 600.
An effort was here made to again open
up the newspaper question in this connec-
ton, but was vigorously voted down.
The report of the permanent committee
upon systematic benifcence was next taken
up. In the report the overture already
adopted by the church, with regard to
weekly worship offerings, was strongly pre-
sented and it's general observance urged.
The church gives an average of S4.31 per
member annually for the boards, general
assembly and miscellaneous benevolence
Ten cents each Sunday per member, it is
computed, would bring to the same causes
$3,4S2, 900. Churches are asked to in
than 10 per cent.
CHURCH FAIRS.
DR.. T. A. Horton made the report of the
standing committee, recommending that
churches exercises in holdin. entertain
ments for church benefits. 1t was not in
tended to condemn generally all sorts of
entertainments; 1t was question. however,
whether all fairs and dramatic shows were
legitimate. 1t was difficult matter to
collect the benevolences of a church. be.
cause many individuals gave privately, to
which the church can lay no rightful claim.
The committee recommended that S75O. 600
be appropriated to this work this year.
There has been gain of 664 contributions
over last year. 1t was also recommended
that the second Thursday of each general
assembly be set apart for popular meet
ing on benevolence. DR.. Charles S. POM
eroy and Elder Thomas Kane also spoke
upon the report, which was adopted.
The report on theological seminaries was
next made, which showed that the number
of students in the twelve seminaries under
care of the assembly increased last wear
from 604 to $50. There have been 5.541
volumes added to the various libraries.
Princeton, Union and Western, have largely
increased during the year. It was recon-
1aar,aad tha& tho -