The Progress. [volume] (White Earth, Minn.) 1886-1889, 1888-06-23
A HUNDRED YEARS OLD.

A HUNDRED YEARS OLD.
Celebration of the Centennial OF Presby-
terianikm-A Reunion of the Northern
and Southern Assemblies ut Philadel-
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-
| monies began in both buildings
at ~ O'Clock in the morning,
ando the crowds in attendance at both
| were enormous. The immense Academy
of Music, with its seating capacity
OF over $500, was damned to suffoca-
ton, and every inch Of standing room was
occupied by a struggling mass of human
1ty anxious to have part in the first
reunion OF the two great bodies of the
Presbyterian church in America since the
division more than quarter of century
ago. In the Academy of Music Rev.
ID. Bullock, D. D., moderator of the South
ern general assembly presided He was
presented by DIR. Smith, ex-moderator of
the Northern assembly, and when DIR. 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 line almost
without knowing where the division was.
there was another round of enthusiastic
applause. They were of the same ancestry,
the same faith, the same glorious history.
Then the 5000 people rose and sang praise
God from Whom all Blessings Flow,
DR.. Bullock, as the representative of the
Southern assembly, made brief but
eloquent address, cordially reciprocated
the fraternal sentiments of the brethren
from the North, and said that whatever
might be the final disposition of the ques-
ton 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 to fra
ternity and fellowship.
After the congregation had sung GAIL
People that on Earth do DWELL 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
terianism." "The Work of Presbyterian
ism for the Future was the subject of an
address by Rev. Benz. NJ. Palmer, D. D., of
New Orleans.
A great audience also crowded Horticult-
ural Hall, adjoining the Academy, and
here, too, there was the same 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 fraterna1 feeling was
manifested among the commissioners of
both bodies. Rev. DR.. Charles L. Thomp-
son, OF Kansas City, the moderator on the
n1Bfh nr II
seated with him on the platform were
eminent divines representing both branch
es The opening ceremonies were brief
but fervent, and when Moderator Thomp-
son introduced Congressman William c.
2 Breckenridge, of Lexington Col
1ege, there was much enthusiasm.
de spoke on Calvinish and religion lib
erty, and eloquently sketched the work of
the church in advancing civilization and
great moral truth. His references to
church union were received with extreme
warmth. When he had finished there was
whirlwind Of applause, Rev. Howard
Crosby d. D., followed with an address on
"Presbyterianism and Biblical Scholar
ships" He defended the verbal inspira-
ton of the Bible.
The Academy and Horticultural Hall
were both crowded again in the afternoon,
although rain was falling heavily. Hon.
y w lliam Str9ne exJ Justice of the United
5Saoes supreme Court, was in the
chair at the Academy meeting, and
around him were grouped some of the many
distinguished Presbyterian divines and
laymen Of both general assemblies. The
first speaker was Hon. John Randolph
Tucker, OF Virginia, who spoke on the
" Adaptation of Presbyterianism to the
Masses" Other addresses followed by
Rev. :. }. 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 box.
and at the close Of DR.. McPherson's ad-
dress arose and joined the audience in
singing Jesus, Lover. of My Soul
The afternoon meeting at Horticultural
Hall was presided over by Hon. John l..
Marye. of Virginia. The speakers We're.
Rev. DIR. Hall, Of New York. Rev. DR..
Moses D. 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-
olueu dt tne academy, and Governor
Beaver, of Pennsylvania, at Hortieult-
tural Hall. At the conclusion of the
two meetings the members Of both assem-
blies exchanged fraternal greetings and the
spirit of fellowship was marked The
members of the Southern Assembly will
return to Baltimore this morning. The
Southern Assembly will resume its busi-
ness sitting and the regular order of the
day will be the question of organic union
1.-THE assembly was founded on the third
Thursday OF May, 17S9-one year after the erec-
ton of the States into a federal union-in the
Second Church of this city. The Pres
byterian church OF the United States
in that day consisted altogether
of 400 churches, 200 ministers, l6 presbyteries
and synods-1. New York and New Jersey en-
the north; 9, Philadelphia, in the center; 8,
Virginia. and 4, the Carolinas, on the south.
The assembly was constituted of commissions