The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-20
THE PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THE PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
This high court of large and influential
body of American Christians meets to-day at
noon in the Westminster Church, Minneapolis,
Mimi, and will have most cordial welcome
in city whose rapid growth is one of the phe-
nomena in our recent history. Owing to a
change in the basis of representation, the AS
sembly will be slightly reduced in numbers,
but will still show upon its roll the names Of
about five hundred commissioners. The clergy
and laity have equal numbers. The delegates
come from every part of the United States
and from the missionary presbyteries abroad.
The session will be opened with sermon
by the Rev. Elijah r. Craven, d. d., retir-
ing moderator, of Newark, N. J. 1t is i'm
possible to say beforehand what exciting dis
cussions may arise, the delegates having con-
siderable latitude in the matter Of ''resolu-
tons" Last year, at Cincinnati, layman
aroused remarkable debate by the introduce
ton of paper on the validity of Romish bar-
tism. It seems likely that this year the
Chinese question will have prominence, as the
important Presbyterian missions in China,
upon which vast sums Of money have been
expended are likely to be imperiled, together
with the lucrative China trade with this coun-
try, unless the treaty rights of the Chinese
immigrants can be secured to them.
Doubtless the Assembly will find its great
est tasks, however, in the review of those
widespread schemes of benefcence by which
the Presbyterians, in cordial rivalry with
other Christians, are seeking to do their part
in the evangelization of the whole world.
While reports Of receipts and expenditures
are not yet fully made, enough is known
to justify an assurance that the past year has
been one of great success. The Board of
Home Missions has obtained, during the
year ending May /, 1868, $50, the largest sum
ever furnished to that agency by the churches
in any one year. 1t is, however, to be re-
GREETED that only two-thirds of the in
debtedness reported by the board to
the last Assembly has been Cancelled. The
Foreign missions of the church also exhibit
encouraging advances. The Presbyterians
have been wisely led in establishing their
missions in important centers and among the
great heather and Mohammedau races. They
have ntrenched themselves in India, China,
Japan, Persia, Turkey and Africa not to the
neglect of nearer neighbors-the Mexicans
and the North American Indians. While the
figures are not yet complete, it seems certain
that the foreign board will be able to report,
at Minneapolis, the receipt of $3.50, 900 for the
work of the year. This, likewise, is notable
advance The smaller schemes Of evangelical
ton, including the education of young men
for the ministry, the relief fund for widows
and orphans, publication, freedmen and aid
for colleges, will all show progress.
But such vast schemes and establishments
attain their ripe results only as they reach the
springs of character. In America we must
not despise institutional Christianity, but
what we want the most is living force which
makes men truer, more just, more kind and
more reverent. In these respects, also, the
Presbyterians are to be congratulated at the
close of successful year. We shall hope to
keep our readers informed as to the discus
sions at Minneapolis during the next ten days,
and should rejoice if in the near future we
might be permitted to welcome to our own
city this influential body of Christians.