New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-24
PRESBYTERIAN GREETINGS.
A WELCOME TO MR.. AND MRS CLEVELAND
AND THE SOUTHERN ASSEMBLY.
FRATERNAL GREETINGS IN TIE CITY OF
BRoTHERLY LovE-THE PREsI DENT TALKS
ABOUT HIS PRESBYTERIAN TRAINING
BRILLIANT RECEPTION ENDS


A BRILLIANT RECEPTION ENDS
A GLORIOUS DAY.
Philadelphia, May % tSpeciaD. The General
Assembly Of the Presbyterian Church is nearing
us centennial day. IL will not do to call to-mor
row the red-etter day of the session Every day
may Justly claim that title, one and another of
the great agencies of tie Church are brought be-
fore the Assembly, the difference consisting main
~ IN the shade Of the tint To-day will be
memorable in the history Of the denomination.
FROM It's first establishment the Presbyterian
Church has been foremost advocate OF liberty
aike IN things civil and religious At all times
IL has been loyal to the Government and men
prominent in the State and National Administra-
lions have been equally prominent in its coun-
CHS One OF the signers Of the Declaration Of In
dependence preached the opening sermon before
the hrst General Assembly To-day the President
OF the United States in brief speech before 600
members Of the Northern and Southern Assem-
blles, himself the son and brother Of Presbyterian
ministers, expressed his Indebtedness to the teach
ing IN the home and the church of sound Presby-
terrain doctrine. The indebtedness of the Nation
TO the Presbyterian clergy is q familiar theme for
enthusiastic followers of Calvin and Knox. But
history bears this record which may well be re-
called to-day, when President Cleveland aclnowl-
Subo' lis opIlgatonS TO this church.
Il do not know one Presbyterian minister
wrote Or. hglis, the Tory rector of Trinity
Church, New York, in October 1776 IL do not
know one Presbyterian minister, nor have been
ape, after strict inquiry, TO hear of any, who
uiu NOT by preaching and every effort in his power
promote all the measures OF the Colonial Con-
SreSS however extravaganza
Llttlc business has been transacted to-day The
reunion has begun. No one wants to work The
Ia'ernal delegates were received in the forenoon
gregational body, reported in behalf of his de-
nomination. Ills address was brilant-his adj
dresses always are; he was applauded to the echo
before his name was mentioned. When the
Moderator began to announce the sister Church
which he represented, the applause broke
out afresh. Again and again it was
repeated during his speech, and at its close Dr.
crosby and others fastened to the platform to
grasp his hand. DR. II. L. Terhune spoke for the
reformed Dutch Church. His reference to his
early life spent amid the surroundings of Pres
byteriansm and his plea for unity of purpose and
action OF the two bodies were well received. Dr.
Thompson, the moderator and editor as well as
clergy man, spoke in response to the delegates in
clear-cut, incsive sentences expressing to each
representative pleasant greeting, reference to
the peculiar history Of each denomination, adding
q lew personal words III behalf Of the General
Assembly DR.. Storrs spoke last and Dr. Thomp-
sons reply to him was only equalled by the address
to which he responded. The Assembly adjourned
at noon to meet again on Friday morning In the
afternoon the members went to reception given
TO both Assemblies and President and Mrs. Cleve-
lana and In the evening TO a similar reception
where they were accompanied by their wives and
thousands of friends.
The fraternal delegates in the morning were
introduced to the Moderator by the Rev. Robert
spondence Corresponding delegates from sister
religious bodies were present: These were the
Rev. William w. Barr, Of the United Presbyterian
Church; the Rev. james Crawford Of the Reformed
Church in the United States; the Rev. DR.: Richard
S. StOrrs of the Congregational Churches; and
the Rev. DR.. George W. Huntington, of the Re
were read from the General Synod of the Reformed
Churches Of France and from the Presbyterian
General Assembly of Canada. The Rev. James
Crawford the delegate from the Reformed Church
in the United States, then delivered an eloquent
address of salutation from that body. Inc AS
sembly broke into double round OF applause
and Presbyterian Churches might at some time
he one in fact as they were now one IN Cnrlstlan
spirit and fellowship DR.. StOrrs was in his most .s
eloquent vein in his ADDRESS oil greeting iron 'i'
In the afternoon a special train bore nearly all
the members Of the Assembly to OVERLOOK, I'VE
miles out Of the city the bcauttGi nome o. I hr
their hosts the commissioners chatted tof iliteeh
or twenty minutes when another special Train
this time from Baltimore, drew up at the station
face TO face with their Northern brethren NOT
in twcnty-seven years had the great Prespyt,rlan
Church been so nearly one: AS the ooHtneTh
representatives approached the house, the No,tn-
ern men formed in two files and those who i've
below the line now imaginary which was once
called Mason and Dixon's, passed between them them
President and Mrs Cleveland who had arrived
IN an earlier train and were in the house. now
came forward and were introduced to the mOuer,
ators of the two Assemblies. Prayer was oHereu
biz the Rev DR. Bullock, the Southern Moderator
Nv Cleveland then made the following address
which was applauded many times
am very much gratined by the opportunity here az
oried mo to meet the representatives OF the presbyterian
Church Surely man should lose his interest In
in while
I Will not find fault with any OF you who deem 1t SAD
confession made, when acknowledge that mus' reoan
the days long past to find my closeSt re''o" W '
grand and noble denomination which you represent
say this because OF who inherit realty 70 our
church as did, begin early to learn those things wncn
make us Presbyerans all the days OF our lives ana tnus
that the rigors of our early teaching oy wen we
grounded in lasting allegiance are espeeiNA' w
and perhaps best The attendance upon
church service three times each Sunday and upon SAD
during the intermisson may De irAsoe
enough TO boy Of ten or twelve years Oh use !" W
fixed in his memory; but have never known man VINO
regretted those things in the years OF his maturity LUG
shorter catechsm, though Thoroughly stucieu'an' ieai
was perhaps the time perfectly understood' anu
yet and duties OF after le thoso arc
apt be the citizens who were carry 'ausn
What is the chief end Of manP
Speaking OF things and In the presence vi snoao
here the most thoughts crowd upon my
mind-a connected with Presbyteriansm ana us tcac
lngs. There at present with me now memories OIL
kind and ahectonate father consccraVeu !" Sro 49,
and called his and his reward in the midday OF MS
usefulness sacred recollection Of the prayers ana pu
love OF salnted mother and family circle halloween anu
sanctned by the spirit of Presbyteranism
certainly but express the wish and nope 'ha'
the Presbyterian Church Will always be at the 'front.' III
every which promises the temporal as wen 40
the spiritual advancement OF mankind In the 'urn'n
and the hustle Of everyday life few men are iooiSh nO
to ignore practical value people and our couh
try Of the church organizations established among Us
the advantage Of Christian example and teachng ine
field is vast and the work sufficient TO engage 'ns e
OF every sect and denomination; but am incnneu 7"
believe that the Church which is tolerant ana con-
sentative without loss OF spiritual strength VIII SOONEST
ind the way hearts and affections OF inc peOpo
While We may be pardoned for insisting that our ue
nation is the best may, think, safely cohcele NUN
that good to all other churches seek to make men