Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-29
BUNKOED AN ELDER.
One of Gotham's Smart Swindlers
Gets the Best of a Curchman.
HIS HAUL is ONLY $40, THOUGH.
DR.. Crosby is Well Pleased That the
Commissioner Was Layman.
THE PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY QUITS
,sprorA1, rrnnenAn 10 rHr ptsrArcl

NEW YORK, May 28.-It is necessary In
the interests of truth to record the fact that
an eldei in the Presbyterian church, in at
tendance as commissioner in the General
Assembly of the church in the United
States, in DIR. Crosby's Fourth Avenue
Presbyterian Church, met the accomplished
bunko steerer of New York City the other
day, and was induced to part with $40 In
good cash. This came out on the last day
of the thirteenth session Of the General
Assembly, in the course of debate.
The Rev. DR.. Worrell, of the Thirteenth
Street Presbyterian Church, had reported
that the centenary fund for the benefit OF
disabled and aged ministers wonld be on
Saturday next, June /, between $615, 600
and $616,0OO. Elder Henry Day, of this
city, prominent ecclesiastical lawyer, made
an address in which he declared that he was
connected with many wealthy trust corpora
tions, and the officers met three times
week and were at their wits end to invest
money so that it would be secure from loss.
"In fact, brethren" said Elder Day, II
think special committee should be ap-
pointed, mostly of elders, to see to the proper
Investment of this money. Ministers, you
know, are liable to be mistaken in money
matters"
THE JOKE ON LAYMEN.
eyes, and laymen are sometimes mistaken,
too," cried the Rev. DR.. McCook. As
Elder Day descended from the platform the
Rev. DR.. Crosby, who sat near the steps,
arose and, laughing, put hand on either
eh &Io a. 6xuh m
ear, in way that made him heard by half
the commissioners: "And yet it was lay
man that was taken in by q bunko steerer. !"
The Rev. DR.. Crosby said afterward, In
conversation, that the elder lost $40, but be-
yond that he was not at liberty to throw
light on the unfortunate elders experience.
1t is needless to say that DR.. Crosby did
not sit down patiently under his defeat OF
the night before on the temperance qnes-
tion. The night before the Assembly,
against his protest, pronounced for Drohlbi-
ton. This morning,Dr. Crosby offered this:
Resolved, That the deliverances of this Gem
eral Assembly on the subject Of prohibition
are not to be considered as the advocacy OF any
particular political party.
The Rev. DR.. Thompson, who had given
DR.. Crosby the black eye on Monday night,
seconded the motion and it was passed unan-
imOusly.
MORE MINISTERS FTIEDED.
After considerable debate a special COM
mittee, consisting of the standing committee
and the special committee, was appointed to
consider and report at the next General As
sembly whether it is advisable to adopt
practical method to increase the supply of
ministers. The Rev. DR.. M. Woolsey
Stryker, of Chicago, proposed resolution
that all churches which receive aid should
contribute to every board in the Church. 1t
was adopted.
The Rev. DR.. Devene read long resolu-
ton which he said the General Assembly
would probably pass without debate. The
resolution asked the General Assembly to
approve bill in Congress designed to set
apart money accruing from the sale oflands
belonging to the Greek and Seminole
Indians for their education. The Rev.
William j. II. Wenn, Of the Indian Terri
tory, said that many of the Creeks among
whom he labored were not in favor
of selling their land. There was question
among the Creeks whether the sale had been
fairly conducted, and one of the Commits
sioners from the Indian Territory had been
telegraphed for to return and investigate
the subject. Ii the proposed resolution
should seem to approve selling the lands.
the brethren had better vote it down. The
brethren Immediately and unanimously
voted down the resolution.
GETTING RATHER HOMOGENEOUS.
The complaint of Rev. DR.. BENJAMIN
West, of St. Paul, against the Synod of
Minnesota, is getting to be chestnut in the
General Assembly. DR.. West was called
by the congregation of the First Presby-
terian Church in st. Paul to become its pas
tor. He had been preaching for the church.
Before he was installed the trustees of the
church refused to receive him, and for
three years DR.. West has been before
the session, the Presbytery, the Synod
and finally the General Assembly.
All he could get from this General As
sembly was request to the Synod of Mime
sofa to send full statement to next years
assembly, and mild censure of the Synod
for not being more prompt in presenting its
side of the case.
Itwas nearly midnight when the assembly
adjourned to meet the third Thursday Of
May, $780, at Saratoga Springs. The even
ing session was consumed with routine
business,