Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1888-05-25
THE PREsBYrERIAN ASSEMBLY,.

President Cleveland Makes an Interesting
and Eloquent Address.
PHILADELPHIA, May 2S.-The most in
teresting episode of the Presbyterian as
sembly thus far occurred this afternoon
when the reception rendered jointly to the
commissioners of the general assemblies
(northern and southern) by Mr.. and Mrs.
Wister Morris waslheld at their residence
at Overlook near this city. President and
Mrs. Cleveland were guests Of honor and
this fact caused every member of the as
sembly to brave the disagreeable weather.
When DR.. Thompson, moderator OF the
northern assembly, and DR.. j. j. Bullock,
venerable moderator of the southern as
sembly. greeted each other there was a
chorus of cheers, which were renewed
when the visitors entered the grounds
where President and Mrs. Cleveland, the
host and hostess and the commissioners of
the northern assembly were waiting to re-
ceive them. AS President and Mrs. Cleve-
land emerged from the house to the portico
there was burst of cheering from the big
assemblage on the lawn. The rain had
ceased and the people stood with barred
heads. Mrs. Cleveland wore black tulle
with a black lace hat and gold trimming.
Mr.. Morris introduced the President and
Mrs. Cleveland IN a brief address and the
president in his reply said;
THE PREsINENTS ADDRESS.
Surely man never should lose his inter-
est in the welfare of the church in which
he was reared; and yet will not find fault
with any of you who deem it sad confess
sion made when / ackowlede that must
recall days now long past to find my close
relations to the grand and noble denomi-
nation which you represent. / say this be-
cause those Of US who inherit fealty to our
church begin early to learn those things
which make us Presbyterians all the
days Of our lives. Speaking Of these
things and in the presence OF those here as
sembled, most tender thoughts crowd upon
my mind-all connected with Presbyterian
ism and its teachings. There are at present
memories of kind and affectiOnate father
consecrated to the cOuse,. and called to his
rest and his reward in the midday of his
prayers and pious love of a sainted mother
and a family circle hallOwed and sancti-
fled by the spirit of Presbyterianism. l
1 certainly cannot but express the wish
and hope that the Presbyterian church
will
ALWAYS BE AT THE FRONT
in every movement which promises the
temporal as we'll as the spiritual advance
ment Of mankind. am inclined to believe
that the church which is most tolerant and
conservative without the loss of spiritual
strength will soonest find the way to the
hearts and affections of the people. While
we may be pardoned for insisting that our
denomination is the best, we can, think,
safely concede much that is good to all
other churches to make men better. I am
here to greet the delegates of two general
assemblies of the Presbyterian church.
One is called :'north'' and the other asouth."
The subject is too deep and intricate for
me, but cannot help wondering why this
should be. These words denote separation,
and separation should be obsolete. In the
councils of the nation and in the business
of the country they no longer mean re-
prOach and antagOniSm. Even the soldiers
who fought for the north and for the south
are restored to fraternity and unity. This
fraternity and unity is taught and enj0ined
by our church. When shall she herself
be united with all the added strength and
usefulness that harmony aud union en-
sure 2" The president spoke with much
earnestness and in q clear ringing voice
that was heard all over the lawn and he
was frequently applauded. g