River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-05-31
a hUNpRED YEARS OLD.

Celebration of the Centennial of Presby-
terianism-A Reunion of the Northern
and Southern Assemblies at PhiladeI-
phia.
PHILADELPHIA, May 25.-Yesterday was
the centennial day Of the Presbyterian
church, and the members Of the two gen
eral assemblies united in great mass
meetings in the Academy of Music,
and Horticultural Hall. The cere-
at 10 o'clock in the morning,
and1 the crowds in attendance at both
We're enormous. The immense Academy
of Music, with its seating capacity
Of over $500, was jammed to suffooa-
ton, and every inch Of standing room was
occupied by a struggling mass of human
ity anxious TO have part in the first
reunion of the two great bodies Of the
Presbyterian church in America since the
division more than a quarter Of a century
ago. In the Academy Of Music Rev.
J. J. Bullock, D. D., moderator OF the South
ern general assembly presided BE was
presented by DR. Smith, moderator Of
the Northern assembly. and when DR.. Smith
said in welcoming the Southern guests that
the audience would remember that the
members Of both these great assemblies
were Presbyterian above all things, and
that the brethren from the South had
crossed Mason and Dixon's lin, almost
without knowing where the division was,
there was another round uf enthusiastic
applause. They were Of the same ancestry,
the same faith, the same glorious history.
Then the 500 people rose and sang Praise
God from Whom all Blessings Flow
DR.. Bullock, as the representative of the
Southern assembly, made a brief but
eloquent address, cordially rccipr0cated
the fraternal sentiments Of the brethren
Il. J -, he
might be the final disposition Of the Ques-
tion Of organic union, there was no feeling
of alienation or prejudice or want Of faith
in the doctrines Of their sister assembly.
There was no obstacle that he knew 10 fra
ternity and fellowship.
After the congregation had sung Gan
People that on Earth do Dwell4'' and All
Hail the Power of Jesus Name, Rev, DIR.
Cuyler, of Brooklyn, the first orator, spoke
for an hour on the = History of Presby-
tclianismr The Work Of Presbyterian
Ism for the Future" was the subject Of an
address by Rev. Benz. IL Palmer, ID. D., Of
New Orleans
a great audience also crowded Horticult-
ural Hall, adjoining the Academy, and
here too, there was the sams commingling
Of the blue badges of the Northern assem-;
bly, and the blue and white Of the rep
resentatives upon the Southern branches.
The same fraternal feeling was
manifested among the commissioners Of
both bodies. Rev. DR.. Charles l. Thomp-
son. of Kansas City, the moderator on the
Northern assembly, was in the chair, and
seated with him on the platform were
eminent divines representing both branch
IS. The opening ceremonies were brief
but fervent, and when Moderator Thomp-
son introduced Congressman William c.
p. Breckenridge, of Lexington Col
lege there was much enthusiasm.
He spoke on Calvinism and religion lib
erty. and eloqueutly sketched the work of
the church in advancing civilization and
great moral truth. His references to
chul h union were received with extreme ,
warmth. When he had finished there was
a whiriwind Of applause, Rev. Howard
Crosby. D. D, followed with an address on.
Presbyterianism and Biblical Scholar
ships" He defended the verbal inspira-
tion Of the Bible.
The Academy and Horticultural Hall
were bOsE crowded again in the afternoon,
although rain was falling heavily. Hon.
William Strong. ex-Justice Of the United
States Supreme Court. was III thu
chair q, the Academy meeting, and
around him were grouped some OF the many
distinguished Presbyterian divines and
laymen Of both general assemblies. The
g
Tucker. Of Virginia who spoke on the
Adaptation Of Presbyterianism TO tho
Masses Other addresses followed by
Rev. 5. J. Mcpherson, Of Chicago; Con
gresham Cathran. Of South Carolina, and
ex-senator Mcmillan. of Minnesota. The
benediction was pronounced by Dr. Fran
els L. Patton, president-elect of Princeton
College. Mrs. Cleveland occupied a box,
and at the close Of DR.. NcPberson's ad-
/ dress arose and joined the audience in
/ singing Jesus. Lover of Ny Soul -
! The afternoon meeting at Horticultural
/ Hall was presided over by Hon. John l.
/ Marye, of Virginia. the speakers Were;
4 Rev DR. Hall. Of New York; Rev. DR.
/ Moses ID. Hodge of Richmond, Va; Rev.
DR.. Samuel J. Nichols. Of St. Louis,
and Hon. Bennett II. Young, Of Louisville,
Ky.
/ The celebration closed with missionary
+ mass meetings IN both halls lost night.
/ Governor Scales. of North Carolina, pre-
sided at the academy, and Governor
I Beaver. of Pennsylvania, at Hurticult-
T tUral Hall. At the conclusion of tho
+ two meetings the members of both assem-
/ blies exchanged fraternaI greetings and the
spirit Of fellowship was marked. The
members of the Southern Assembly will
return TO Baltimore this morning The
Southern Assembly viii resume its bust
ness sitting and the regular order Of the
day viii be the question Of organic union
THE assembly was founded on the third
Thursday OF May, 15S9-oue year after the cree
ton Of the States into federal union--in the
Second Church Of this city. The Pres
byterian church OF the United States
in that day consisted altogether
OF 900 churches. 600 ministers, I6 presbytoTies
and : syuods-1, New York anu New Jersey, on
the north; =, Philadelphia. in the center; 3
Virginia. and !, the CaTCllnas, on the south.
The assembly was constituted OF comm ssiOn-
ers or delegates sent by the urcsbyteries. DR.
Joha Rodgers. pastor OF the First Church. New
York, was the moderator. ana DIR. John Wiiher-
s oon, president Of Princeton College aud one
/ OF the sieners Of the Declaration Of Indcpend-
ence preached the opening sermon ia 1sl2
the assembly founded the first seminary at
Princeton. In less the assembly split into
'the new school and " the old school" In
( 1870 the two bodies reunited. in 3
several Southern presbyteries withdrew
+ from 1.-THE new school =" because Of It's
radical position on the subject Of
slavery. and Ia 1861 there was similar seces-
sion from the '0ld school The Southern
I presbytcries then organized She Presbyterian
+ General Assembly OF the Confederate States,
now styled the General Assembly q the Pres
I byterian Church South Since iSS3 there have
been attempts made 70 reuuite the Northern
and Southern bodies.