The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-05-30
THE PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Another Letter from DIR. Lindsay.

Another Letter from DIR. Lindsay.
PHILADELPHIA, May %, 1888.
Editor Press and Banner:
have seen SO much, and thought so much.
and felt SO much, and eaten SO much since
wrote my last letter that 1t seems as If one Of
the geological ages must have intervened.
don't know where stopped, and OF course
| will not be able to hitch on this letter by
any link Of connection with the previous
The Southern General Assembly left Balti-
more at one o'clock to-day under charge OF
rived safely in this city this evening. We
stopped at Overlook, suburb OF Philadel-
phia, and after walking about mile we en-
tered the premises OF Mr.. Wistar Morris, q
man Of wealth and, as I was informed, u
Quaker; and there we met the Northern AS.
sembly in full force and President Cleveland
and Mrs. Cleveland. The President and his
wife stood In the front piazza and he made u
short address that was very pleasing to the
Presbyterians, and our Moderator prayed and
the whole crowd sang the long meter doxol-
ogy, and some went to shaking hands with
| the Presidential party, and others adjourn ed
to n tent near by in the spacious grounds
where a most sumptuous repast was spread,
and to which hungry men did ample Justice.
eight or nine hundred men fed with the rich
est viands in most profuse abundance by one
| person is not O common occurrence. This
man. our host, amassed large fortune, Is
and his wife preaching at their meetings.
Their daughter married a Mr.. Woods, Pres
byterlan minister, and this accounts for their
warm side toward Presby yterians.
Mr.. and Mrs. Cleveland went through the
ordeal of shaking hands with the two AS.
semblies. One Of our Assembly ladies, q
Farmersville. Va, formerly Miss Annie Lati-
mer,) stood by Mrs. Cleveland through the
long and tedious service. stood near by and
looked closely for a good while at the couple.
| of,1 Rnl
fatigued and overworked as one who had
wrested with great problems But she was
cheerful and joyous as q wife should be-. l
was surprised at her ability to keep up. with
tenance. The smile never went away from
her face through the whole performance. /
found Mr.. woods and gave him my name
and asked him TO introduce me 10 Mr.. and
Mrs. Morris, They wore the plain hopiely
Quaker garb They were very much pleased
with the Interview and I regretted that the
other members neglected TO pay their respects
TO our host and hostess.
| Walking back to the station about SIX
o'clock we were soon brought into the city
and distributed to the several hotels. About
the hotel where am lodged. Our railroad
| fare hotel bills, and all our expenses since
leaving Baltimore, are paid blythe Philadel-
pn RsIRs and sy dseass hospey
|. Tonight at the Academy OF Fine Arts we
were treated to reception. Thousands Of
people gathered In the various rooms, viewed
the paintings aud sculpture, listened to 2
speak ers, and looked upon and shook hands
with Mr.. and Mrs. Cleveland whose arms, I
know must yet ache at what they have
The weather has not been propitious today,
a cold east rain has been the featnre, but for.
tunately while we were at the homestead or
though they hung.overu US murkily and threat
ening all through the afternoon. the rain at
night didn't keep away the crowd from the
Academy Of Fine Arts. This reception was
members OF the two assemblies and there
were said to be over r. 900 people present, all
OF whom seemed 10 enjoy themselves very
greatly. The President Is to 60 back TO Wash
| ington tomorrow morning, while Mrs. Cleve-
land will remain through the centennial Gel.
ebration.
MAY 24-The east rain is still on hand this
morning and 1t is not likely that the sun will
this day "The General AssemblyRof the Pres.
byterian Church Of the United States OF
America as the northern branch OF the
church is called, and ''rhe General Assembly
States" by which the Southern wing Is desig-
mated, are 10 meet In omlneInoration OF the
centennial of American Presbyterianism
this city on the Mthlof May, l7SS. At that
time the whole Presbyterian church In the
United States consisted OF 400 churches, 200
|
There were In the first Assembly % ministers
and II elders. DR.. Rodgers, Of New York
City, was the first Moderator, and Dr. Wither.
spoon, President OF Princeton College and
pendence, preached the opening sermon:
| While this was the first Assembly, there had
been Presbyterians in this country more than
hundred years earlier. The first Presby.
Long Island In 1862. There had been a schism
OF long standing in the Presbyterian church,
accompanied with the usual bitter feeling,
izaton In "of Of t the first Assembly. FOOLISH dI.
visions have ever been q characteristic OF
Presbyterians About the only apology can
offer for 1t Is that they have more TO fight
about than other denominations. A Butch
ers' Convention is to open here to-day. They
operate on the dumb animals, but Presby-
terians work on each other, this makes the
difference between them. These divisions
are incident to people who think for them
selves and do not take their Ideas at the die
tation OF Pope or priest. A dull uniformity
Is found among those who do not exercise the
at a fearful cost. like o fair fight; 1t stirs
up things and makes them lively.
There are now in the United States about
1000 ministers and over L, 900 churches, about
20 theological seminaries and colleges, , with Wit
gether or in part. II Is one OF our boasts that
we will not give up that we have contributed
more than any other denomination, or may
even pul ~, HI Juliet ueuoni ninaeiouo, ~ siS
cause OF education, and especially the higher
education. But all these and kindred mat
ters will be ventilated to-day with great full.
ness.
The city is crowded with visitors. the hotels
are full, and many have difficulty In getting
accommodations.
The services are to be held In two different
halls. 1t seems that this great city has no
hall that will hold more than 5000 people.
The several members of the two Assem- blies
have tickets; the other seats have been sold
In some instances for over $40 q seat.
j. o. l..