Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-05-25
THE CHURCHES DAY.
NOTABLE EVENTS IN THREE GREAT
CHURCH BODIES.
The Presbyterian Union Assembly at Philadelphia.
North and South Meet-New Methodist
BishOps-COrnsr Stone Of the Cath
ole University Laid.

PHILADELPHIA, May 24.-This is the
centennial day Of the Presbyterian Church
and the members of the two general assem-
blies united in great mass meetings in the
Academy Of Music and Horticultural Hall.
The ceremonies began in both buildings at
ten o'clock this morning, and the crowds
in attendance at both were enormous. The
immense Academy of Music, with its seat
ing capacity of over 3, 500, was jammed to
suffocation, and every inch of standing
room was occupied by struggling mass of
humanity snxious to have part in the
first reunion Of the two great bodies Of the
Presbyterian Church in America since the
division of more than quarter of q CEN
tury ago. In the Academy of Music, the
Rsv.J. J. Bullock, d. D., Moderator of the
Southern General Assembly, presided, and
seated with him on the platform were the
Rev. VIM. II. Roberts, D. D., stated clerk
of the Northern General Assembly; Rev.
Jos. T. Smith, ID. D., of Baltimore, ex-
Moderator Of the Northern Assembly; Rev.
Jas. McCosh, u. D., President of Prince
ton College; Rev. John Hall, ID. d, Of
New York; Rev. Chas. II. Stoddard, editor
of the New York Observer, and many
others.
The great audience was apparently made
up in equal proportion from representatives
OF the two assemblies, and when Rev. DIR.
Bullock was introduced as presiding officer
there were thunders Of applause. He was
presented by DR.. Smith, exModerator of
the Northern Assembly, and when DR..
Smith said in welcoming the Southern
guests that the audience should remember
that the members of these great Assemblies
were Presbyterisns 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 faith,
the same glorious history. Then the five
thousand people rose and sang praise
God, from whom sll blessings flow."
DR.. Bullock, as the representative Of the
Southern Assembly, made q brief but elo-
quent address He cordially reciprocated
the fraternal sentiments of the brethren
from the North, and said that whatever
might be the final disposition of the ques-
tion of organic union, there as no feeling
of alienation or prejudice for want of faith
in the doctrines of their church. Then the
congregation sang "All People that on
Earth do Dwell" and "All Hail the Power
of Jesus Name" Rev. Dr.. Cuyler, Of
Brooklyn, was the first orator, and spoke
for an hour on the History OF Presbyte-
rianism."
Mrs. Cleveland occupied seat in the
upper right hand box. She was with the
family of Rev. Chas. Wood, of German
town, whose guest she is during her stay
here, and bore tho battery of opera glasses
aimed at her with composure, and was
evidently deeply interested listener and
spectator.
A great audience also crowded horticul-
tural hall, adjoining the academy, and
here, too, there was the same cOmmingling
of the blue badges OF the Northern Assem-
bly,, and blue and white from the repre-
sentatives from the Southern branch. The
same traternal feeling was manifest among
the commissioners of both bodies. Rev.
Dr.. Charles l., Thompson, OF Kansas City,
the moderator of the Northern As
ssmbly, was in the chair and seated
with him on the platform were eminent
divines, representing both branches. The
opening ceremonies were brief but feryent,
and when Moderator Thompson introduced
Congressman VIM. c. 7. Breckenridg, of
Lexington College, there was much en-
thusissm. He spoke on "Calvinism and
Religious Liberty, and elOquently sketch
ed the work of the church in advancing
civilization and great moral truth. His
reference to church union were received
with extreme warmth. When he had 6u-
ished there was q whirlSind of applause.
Rev. Howard Crosby, ID D., followed with
an address on "Presbyterianism and
Biblical Scholarship" He defended the
verbal inspiration OF the Bible.