The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-05-31
GREAT SCENE
First Meeting Since the War of
the Northern and Southern
Presbyterian Assemblies.
President and Mrs. Cleveland
Present-Cleveland Delivers
a Speech,


and members of the two general assem-
blies united in a great mass meeting in
the academy of music and horticultural
hall. The ceremonies began in the build
ing at 10 o'clock this morning and
the crowds in attendance we're enor-
nous. The immense academy of music
with its seating capacity of over 1900
was jammed to suffocation, and every
inch of standing room was occupied by a
struggling mass of humanity, anxious to
have part in the first reunion of the two
great bodies of the Presbyterian church
in America since their division more than
quarter of a century ago.
In the academy of music Rev. j. j. Bull
lock, DID,, moderator of the southern
general assembly, presided, and seated
with him on the platform were Rev. VIM.
s. Roberts, DID,, clerk of the Northern
general assembly, Rev. Joseph T. Smith,
D. D., of Baltimore, ex-moderator of the
northern assembly, Rev. James MoCosh,
D. D., president of Princeton college,
Rev. John Hall, D. D., of New York, Rev.
Charles Stoddard, editor of the New York
Observer, and many others.
The great audience was apparently
made up in large proportion from
representatives of. the two assemblies,
and when Reverend Doctor Bullock
was introduced; as presiding officer
there were thunders of applause. The
northern church was represented by Doc
tor Smith, ex-moderator of the northern
assembly, and when Doctor Smith said, in
welcoming the southern guests, that the
audience should remember that members
I4f
| Presbyterians 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 had the
same ancestry, the same faith and the
same glorious history. Then 5000 people
rose and sang: "Praise God from whom
all blessings fiow."
DR.. Bullock, as representative of the
southern assembly, made brief but elo-
quent address, cordially reciprocating the
fraternal sentiments of the brethren from
the north and said whatever might be the
final disposition of the question of organ
ization there was no feeling of alienation
Or prejudice or want of faith in the doc
trines of their sister assembly.
There was no obstacle, that he
knew of, to fraternity and fellowship,
The congregation sang, "All people that
on earth do DWELL" and "All hail the power
of Jesus, name."
Rev. DIR. Cuyler, of Brooklyn, was the
first orator and spoke for an hour on "The
History of Presby yterianism." "The Work
of Presbyterianism for the Future" was
| 4f oIA hu n
Wight Welterspoon, of Louisville, Ky.
| A great audience also crowded Horticul-
tural hall, adjoining the academy, and
here too there was some comingling of the
blue badges of the northern assembly
and the blue and White of Representatives
from the southern branch. Some frater
nal feeling was manifested among the
commissioners of both bodies.
Rev. DIR. Charles l.. Thompson, oi
Kansas City, moderator of the northern
assembly, was in the chair and seated with
him on the platform were eminent divines
representing both branches. The open
ing ceremonies were brief but fervent
and when Moderator Thompson intro
duced Congressman VIM. O. p. Breckin
ridge, of Lexington college, there was much
enthusiasm. He spoke ON Calvanistic anG
religious liberty, and eloquently
sketched the work of the church In ad
vanciug civilization and great mora
truth. His reference to church unioh was
received with extreme warmth. When he
had finished there was whirlwind of ap
plause.
Reverend Howard Crosby, D. D., fol
lowed with an address on presbyterian
ism and Bible Scholarship" He defended
the verbal inspiration of the Bible.
PRESIDENT cLEvELAND's SPEECH.
PHILADELPHIA, May 24.-The most in.
teresting episode of the general assembly
which has thus far occurred took place
yesterday afternoon with the reception a.
the Overlook homestead of Mr.. and Mrs
: Wistar Morris, where the president ant
Mrs. Cleveland were entertained, together
with the commissioners from the northern
and southern general assembly of thu
Presbyterian church. The president an(
Mrs. Cleveland reached Overbrool
about $3.50 o'clock p. m, where they wer'
met by Reverend and Mrs. Charles Wood
of Germantown, and were Immediately
. conducted to the residence where the re
ception was held.
They were followed shortly afterwards
by the commissioners of the southerl
! assembly, who also came on specia
train from Baltimore. The reception
: took place between 4 and 6 O'Clock. Th
: delegates were welcomed by short speecl
by Mr.. Morris. Rev. DR.. Bullock, moder
3 ator of the southern assembly, and ex
chaplain of the United States senat
offered prayer.
s President Cleveland then spoke as fol
c. lows: ~ am very much gratified by tn
opportunity here afforded to meet tn
:. representatives of the Presbyterian
: church. Surely man never should los
his interest in the welfare of the churcl
in which he was reared, and yet 1 will no
find fault with any of you who deem it
sad confession to be made, when &C
knowledge that must recall days lonI
3 passed to find my closest relation to tn
d grand and noble denomination which 20
9 represent. 1 say this because there ar
those of us who inherit fealty to on
q church, and, as did, begin early to lear
: those things which make US Presbyte
. rians. Thus it is the effect Of early teach
n ing, by which we are grounded in our last
: ing allegiance, are especially vivid an
= perhaps the best remembered. The at
tendance upon church service three time