The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-05-31

A HUNDRED YEARS OLD.


celebration of the Centennial Of Presby-
terianism-A Reunion Of the Northern
aud Southern Assemblies mt PhiIadcI-
phia.
PnILA sr1PnIA, May 25-Ycstcrday was
she centennial day of the Presbyterian
church, and the members of the two gen
,ral assemblies united in great mass
meetings in the Academy OF Music
md Horticultural Hall. IT, cerc-
monies began in both buildings
1t 10 o'clock i'm the morning,
ind1 the crowds in attendance at both
were enormous. The immense Academy
of Music, with its seating capacity
of over $50, was jammcd to sIffoca-
lion, and every inch Of standing room was
occupied by struggling mass of human
ity 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 q century
ago. In the Academy of Music Rev.
]. ]. Bullock, D. d., moderator Of the South
srn general assembly presided. He was
presented by DIR. Smith, cx moderator of
the Northern assembly. and when DR. Smith
said in welcoming the Southern guests that
the audience would remember that the
members of both these great assemblies
we're 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,
,here 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
Sod from Whom all Blessings Flow
DR.. Bullock. as the representative Of the
Southern assembly, made a 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
lion 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 "All
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-
tcrianism.'' s'Thc Work of Presbyterian
ism for the Future was the subject of an
address by Rev. Benz. NJ. Palmer, d. d., Of
New O, leans.
A great audience also crowded Horticult-
nral Hall, adjoining the Academy, and
| HGTt, tOO, lHCIC Was tHC Sdilic 1OulItlHSllHE
Of the blue badges Of the Northern assem-
resentatiycs upon the Southern branches.
The same fratcrnal feeling was
manifested among the commissioners Of
both bodies. Rev. DR.. Charles L. Thomp-
son, Of Kansas City, the moderator on the
Northern assembly, was in the chair. and
seated with him on the platform were
eminent diyincs representing both branch
es. The opening ceremonies were brief
but fervent, and when Moderator Thomp-
| son introduced Congressman William e.
p. breckenridge. Of Lexington Col
lege, there was much enthusiasm.
He spoke on Calyinism and religion lib
crty, and eloquently skctched 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
a whirlwind of applause, Rev. Howard
Crosby, ID. d., followed with an address on
"Presbyterianism and Biblical Scholar
ships" He defended the verbal inspira-
tion of the Bible.
The Academy and horticultural Hall
were both crowded again in the afternoon,
although rain was falling heavily. Hon.
William Strong, ex-Justice of the United
States 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 Presbytcrianism to the
Masses Other addresses followed by
Rev. s. j. Mcpherson, Of Chicago; Con.
grcssman cathran. Of South Carolina, and
| ex-senator Mcmillan, of Minnesota. The
bcncdiction was pronounced by DIR. Fran
| els l.. Patton, prcs;dcnt-clcct Of Princeton
College. Mrs. Cleveland occupied box,
and at the close of DIR. 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 were
Rev. DIR. Hall, of New York; Rev. DIR.
Moses ID. Hodge, of Richmond, Va: Rev.
Dr. Samuel J. Nichols, of st. Louis,
and Hon. Bennett H. Young, Of Louisville,
Ky.
The celebration closed with missionary
| Governor Scales, of North Carolina, pre-
sided at the academy, and Governor
Beaver. of Pennsylvania, at Horticult-
| 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 bust
| ness sitting and the regular order of the
day will be the question of organic union.
The assembly was founded on the third
| Thursday of May, lss9-one year after the cree
/ tion of the States into 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, 16 presbyteries
/ and synods-l. New York and New Jersey, or
| the north; 2, Philadelphia, in the center; 3
| Virginia, and 4, the Carolinas on the south
/ The assembly was constituted Of mmssion
ers or delegates sent by the presbyteries. DIR
John Il odgers pastor OF the First Church. New
| York, was the moderator, and DR. John Wither
sroon president OF Princeton College and on,
| OF the s.gners of the Declaration of Independ
ence, preached the opening sermon. In Isl
/ the assembly founded the first seminary u
| Princeton. In ls3s-S the assembly split int
sthc new school" and 1.-The old school," l,
| ls.1 tho two bodies reunited. In 1sJ
several Southern prcsbyteries Withdrew
| from 1.-The new school because OF it
| radical position on the subject o
| slavery, and in 1861 there was u similar seces
! sion from the ..Old school," The Southern
| presbyteries then organized the Presbyterian
General Assembly OF the Confederate States
| now styled the General Assembly Of the Pres
byteran Church South. Since 1882 there hav
| been attempts made to reunte the Northern
| and Southern bodies.
/ -
Explosion In a Fire. Works Factory.
| PARIS, May pa terrible explosion
took place yesterday in Merlot's cartridge
and fire. work factory, between Pantin an.
Bre st. Gervais, by which seven building
were destroyed. Eleven dead bodies hav,
been taken from the ruins ana twenty-on,
persons-all more or less injurcd-hav,
been rescued. The search for victims il
proceeding.
Gold Export from New York.
New York, May %. The local gol,
shipped and withdrawn for export SO ia
this month amounts to 56OO, 900. The assa,
Office has $S5,0OO,0OO in gold bars on han,
and $ll ,aOO, 900 in double eagles deposited /
its credit in the sub treasury.
Fearful Fire In China.
| Say Ep.NfYcTn Nav Naxvc F,ou