The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-25
A CHURCH CENTENNIAL.
TIE PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLIES
HOLD JOINT SERVICES.

Peterences to the Desirability of Or
oanic Union Greeted With Unmis-,
taxable Enthusiasm-The Southern
Contingent Treated with Princely
Hospitality and Warm-Heerted
Courtesy.
PHILADELPHIA, May 24-This was the
Centennial day of the Presbyterian church,
and the members of the two General Assem-
bles united In great mass meetings in
Academy Of Music and Horticultural Hall.
The ceremonies began in both buildings at
10 o'clock this morning, and the crowds in
attendance at both were enormous. The
immense Academy of Music, with its
seating capacity of over $500, was jammed
N sutfocation, and every inch of standing
room was occupied by struggling mass of
humanity anxious to have part in the first
ye-union of the two great bodies of the
Presbyterian Church in America since the
division, more than quarter OF a century
ago
AT THE ACADEMY.
In the Academy of Music, Rev. j. j. Bull
lock D. D. moderator of the Southern gen
eral assembly. presided, and seated with
him on the platform were Rev, William H.
Roberts D. D.. stated clerk Of the Northern
General assembly; Rev. Joseph r. Smith,
D, D.. OF Baltimore, ex-moderator of
the Northern assembly; Rev. James
McCosh. D. D., ex-President of Princeton
college, Rev. John Hall, d. D., Of New
York; Rev. Theodore L. Cuyler, D. D., of
New York; Rev J. D. Wells, of Brooklyn;
Rev. Charles H. Stoddard, editor of the
New York Observer; Rev. George Baker,
D. D.. of Philadelphia; Rev. r NJ. Patter-
son D. D., editor of the Presbyterian Jour
nal. Hon. William Strong, ex-Justice of
the Supreme Court; and many other prom
nent members of the Northern branch.
FULL OF ENTHUSIASM.
The great audience was apparently made
up in equal proportions from representa-
tives of the two assemblies, and when Rev
DR.. Bullock was introduced as the presiding
officer there were thunders of applause He
was presented by DIR. Smith, eX-moderator
of the Northern assembly, and when DR..
Smith said, in welcoming the Southern
quests, that the audience should remember
that the members of both of these
great assemblies were 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 were of the same ancestry, same
faith, same glorious history. Then 5000
people rose and sang Praise God, from
whom all blessings flow."
RECIPROCATES THE SENTIMENTS.
DR.. Bullock, as representative of the
Southern assembly, in 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 question 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 OBJ
stacle that he knew to fraternity and fell
lowship.
Then the congregation sang "All people
That on earth do dwell" and CAN hail the
power of Jesus name"
Rev. Dr. Cuyler, of Brooklyn, was the
first orator and spoke for an hour on "The
History of Presbyterianism.
THE Work of Presbyterianism for the
Future" was the subject of an address by
Rev. T. Dwight Witherspoon, Of Louis
vile, KY.
IN HORTICULTURAL HALL.
A great audience also crowded Horti-
cultural Hall, adjoining the Academy, and
here too there was the same cOmrningling of
the blue badges of the Northern assembly
anu uilO Dluo anu Nn1b0 VI btlc
tves of the Southern branch. The same
fratornal feeling was manifest among the
commissioners of both bodies. Rev. Dr.
Charles l.. Thompson, of Kansas City
moderator of the Northern assembly,
was IN the chair, and seated with him on
the platform were eminent divines repre-
senting both branches. The opening cere-
monies were brief, but fervent, and when
Moderator Thompson introduced Congress
man William c. Breckenridge, of Lexing-
ton, Ky, there was much enthusi-
Religious Liberty" and eloquently
Sketched the work of the church in ad-
vancing civilization and the great moral
truth. His references to church union
We're received with extreme warmth.
When he had finished there was whirl-
wind Of applau e.
Rev Howard Crosby, D. D., followed
with with an address on "Presbyterianism and
Biblical Scholarship"
JAMMED IN THE AFTERNOON.
The Academy and Horticultural Hall were
Doth jammed this afternoon, although rain
was falling heavily at 3 o'clock, the hour at
winch the ceremonies of the reunion cele-
oratlon were resumed Hon. William
strong, ex-Justice of the United States
supreme Court, was in the chair at the
academy, and around him were grouped
some OF the many distinguished Presby-
verlan dlvlnes and laymen Of both general
assemblies.
The first speaker was John Randolph Tuck
eI' OF Virginia, who spoke on THE Adapta-
uoh OF PreSbyterianism to the Masses. "
AVnelsm, he said, was negation of religion,
ana with this as text he argued that rea-
son and religion together required an ac-
GePHnce of the doctrine of God as a spirit
iilIlnlte In power, and faith in God
conservation of all the re-
nglous forces. The entire address
was theological analysis of the religious
system that shows that all things work to-
esther for good to them that love God, and
ddoPQdlated every phase Of skepticism, inf
ueIity and agnosticism.
PAUL THEIR GRANDFATHER.
calvin may be our father, but Paul was
Iur grandfather" was a sentiment that
OiV,ugnt out round of applause.
n AIter Mr.. Tucker, R-s,:. >. j. Mcpherson,
~ d., Of Chicago, spos2on "Presbyterian-
'sp. ts1I. ana Education" he began bis speech
Ia'ners ana brethren of these two-aa as
," r"oIout for this historic, and let us hopo
5ioPnetic, day-one reunited general as
Sen9iy" The big audience broke into
L1!tu -clapping at this alluSion TO the posi-
on,uy OF organic union.
Az The conclusion of DR.. McPherson's ad-
io iGieaS the great congregation sang Jesus,
'oVVer OF my soul.n
>. hrS. Cleveland, who had arrived during
p", Dc speaking aud occupied seat in the
4linCe OF Wales, box rosa and ioined i'm