St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-05-31
MINNEAPOLIS EVENTS.
Doings of the Presbyterian General As
sembly, and Criticism Of 1t by
Dr. Shutter.
Bacoalaureate Services at the University
Interesting Addresses by DR.. Ander-
son and President Northrop.
Preparations Completed for Observ-
ing Memorial Day--Outltne OF
the Days Events.
Happiness Restored in the Murphy
Club--Bil Nye, the Humor1st.
Coming to the City.
From n secular standpoint.

The general assembly of the Presbyterian
church that has been i'll session at West
minister church during the past week, this
morning concludes its session and says
final ''amen' TO Minneapolis. The assem-
bly, has not failed TO attract considerable at
tention, even from people whose thoughts
do not naturally turn to religious subjects.
fSOme 500 commissioners from all parts OF
1.-THE country, one-half of whom were min
listers, and the other half ruling elders.
Egathered for Il consultation which should
dictate the policy of church which has
GA, OPS communicates. and the weight OF
their influence was looked upon as IRE
sstable by the Presbyterians, and i'm
portant by the other denominations.
and perhaps as interesting by others. 1t is
not likely, however, that as one commits
eoner stated, the eyes of the world were
centered upon this great representative
body of PreSbyterianS, nor that shout
of Joy would go up from the 760, 600
} saloons in America" if the assembly did
not decide TO continue its committee on
temperance but at all events it is worth
the while TO take a glance at the work
transacted during the nine days session of
SO distinguished body OF gentlemen.
-
The absence of many of the more promi-
nent divines, or big guns, was noticeable.
There were probably not over half dozen
men in the assembly who can lay claim to
q reputation that extends outside of the
boundaries of their own state. There were,
however, many who could enter i'll the
twenty Glass; TO use a sporting phrase
which may be eXcuSable, as illustrating
what is meant. SO the assembly as whole
averaged well. Another notable feature
was the predominance of elderly men,
hold l.
to the assembly the appearance OF
a field of white clover. The as
sembly has also been generally spoken
of by the commissioners. As a good
working body" DR.. d. c. Marquis, the
moderator, while not proving to be much
of parliamentarian had the faculty of
compelling the assembly to do its work
promptly, so that each days task was gen.
orally performed according to the docket.
and procrastnation was not allowed to get
i'll its deadly work to any great extent,
-
The commissioners almost to a man in
dulged in the practice ''tatfying" each other
to an extent that at times was almost nau-
seating. One speaker would refer to his
Brother-SO-and-So as that THAT learned,
noble and devout man. ETC., and
when Brother So-and so spoke he of course
returned the compliment by eulogiZing the
other Another characteristic failing
seemed to be the disposition for each one to
dwell upon and probably eXaggerate the
sacrifices he had made tor the sake of the
cause. The returned missionary who evil
IDENTIFY regarded himself as something of a
hero, would relate, sometimes with an
almost painful attention to the details, the
privations he had suffered upon the frontier
or in some foreign lands. The correspond
IN aHV tn
death-lke devotion to the duties of their
offices, and very many of the pastors took
pains to let it be known that their life had
been one of hardship and denial.
Outside of these little peculiarites there
was much that was apt to strike casual
observer as exceedingly pleasant about the
personality of the commissioners, and to
awaken III him feeling of at least respect,
if not OF awe. That is. if the observer was
a woman-In woman the terms pleas
ant and respect would not adequately
describe the emotions which the words of
eloquence of the clerical orators
would awake within her. 1t was easy
to see from the expression on the
faces of the dear creaturs, and from the
eager manner in which they[leaned for
ward to catch every precious word that
they almost worshiped the commissioners.
There is little doubt that the assembly was
Intellectually the equal, and morally the
superior of any body of its size that ever
assembled in Minneapolis. The appear
ance of the commissioners was that of
cultivated gentlemen, and their determine
ton to follow out the teachings of the
golden rule was more than apparent.
-
There was considerable fun, too, in these
ministers and elders. While they were
not inclined to laugh at any
cheap little witicism, as many con-
ventiOnS and similar gatherings of
men Invariably are, still they laughed heart
lily, and one burst of merriment was likely
to be followed by others, ending with rip
pies Of mirth which seemed to pass through
the floor to the galleries in waves.
-
AS to the work performed-there have
been no changes in the polity of the church
that could be called radical-at the same
time there have been some deviations from
the beaten paths and time-honored Presby-
terrain methods There seemed prevail
ing sentiment to let down the bars that
have heretofore kept many men who have
not had the time to spend seven years pre-
pairing for the ministry to engage in pastO-
raj work and it is likely that the require
ments in this respect will hereafter be less
rigid. The assembly would undoubtedly
liked to have discharged the committee APP
pointed to look after temperance, but
finally only dismissed the secretary. who
had evidently made himself somewhat I'M
popular personally. The proposed consol-
daton of the three church papers into one
magazine is another change that is recog-
niZed as meaning much.
MEMORIAL DAY DAwNS.
al operations Completed and a
Big Turnout Expected.