Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-05-16
A CHANGE In FAITH.
PRBDRSTINATlON IN, DANGER AT THB
ASSEMBLY.
The Doctrine Questioned by Good Prssbytsrians-
OrOsbY's Visws-Ths Assembly Meets To-
Day-An Outline Of the Work
It Has in Hand.

NEW YORK, May 15.-To-morrow will
mark the beginning of the most important
events of the year in the history of the
Presbyterian Church. On that day at IL
"a. M, in the Fourth Avenue Presbyterian
Church, this city, will be held the opening
meeting of "the General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church in the United States
Of North America For the sake of
brevity and distinction it is usually styled
the Northern Assembly.
At Chattanooga, Tenn, on the same day
and hour, there will meet the Southern
Assembly, or, to give it in its full corpo-
rate name, The General Assembly of the
Presby terian Church in the United States. "
1t had been hoped that this centennial
year would have been made still more
memorable by the smalgamation of these
two bodies but the stormy scenes which
attended the discussion OF what is known
as the southern question" last year
showed that the times were not yet ripe
for organic union, and hope is still de-
ferTed.
At the opening meeting on Thursday the
retiring Moderator, the Rev. DR. Charles L.
Thomas, pastor Of the Madison Avenue
Church, will preach the sermon. The Mod
orator for the ensuing year will also be
elected, and the election is likely to prove
interesting. As with political bodies it has
been the custom at previous Assemblies TO
be guided by geographical considerations
in the selection of a presiding officer, but
it is said that this year the practice will be
abandoned and the fittest man will be
chosen.
RECEPTION AT THE OPERA HOUSE
On Friday evening there will be a re-
cepton at the Metropolitan Opera House,
rendered TO the General Assembly by the
Presbyterian Union of New York city. 1t
will be an affair of popular interest 1t is
expected that fully 5000 people will be
present. The exercises will include an
address of welcome by the President of the
Union, a speech from the new Moderator,
and short addresses from some of the.most
eminent among the Commissioners. Vocal
and instrumental music will be furnished
by the Berkeley Female Quartet and a
selected orchestra. At the conclusion OF
the "feast of reason and flow of soul" sup
per will be served in the assembly rooms.
Needless TO say, there will be no wine
served.
at the various n eetings many matters
of importance will be discussed. Prob
ably nothing will attract wider general in
terest than the debate upon propositions
for the revision Of the book of faith which
are likely to come before the Assembly.
Last year the Presbytery of New York
was appointed committee TO consider the
matter. OF this committee DR.. Howard
Crosby is Chairman, and he has openly
expressed himself in favor of revision OF
the chapters entitled Gods Eternal De
cress." Many prominent PresbyteIlans
agree with him in this opinion, and 1t Is
said that they will not allow the question
to be side-trscked in a committee-room.
THE QUESTION OF PREDESTINATI0N.
The clauses in this chapter which lib
eral Presbyterians regard as standing IN
especial need of revision and the third,
fourth, sixth and seventh, and they con
Germ the doctrine of prsdestination. The
third is as follows:
''Bv the decree of God, for the manifesto
ton of His glory, some men and angels are
predestinated unto everlasting life, and |
others foreordained to everlasting death. "
The other clauses present variations oi
the same ideas. and they are said to be
stumbling blocks in the way of many Pres
byterians in this nineteenth century.
The question of co operation with the |
Southern Church will also come up, but 1t |
ia not expected that it will assume heat |
ed phase, as the idea of organic union by |
common consent has been laid aside. |
Special committees will report on beneh- |
cepce and temperance. The latter may |
start a lively discussion. The Assembly |
has heretofore refused TO adopt any ex-
treme views on the liquor traffic, but 1t |
mas among members many ardent prohi- |
bitiouists who are eager to insist upon |
them.
The report of the committee on the duty |
of the Church toward immigrants has been |
anticipated with much interest The more
saquine spirits in the Church expect tnat
Il will mark the Inauguration OF policy
of much greater activity than heretofore
in this constantly enlarging field.
MATTERS TO BR DISCUSSED.
Among other questions to come before
the Assembly that will attract more or
less interest will be those relating to Sab
bsth observance, the liquor traffic in Airl-
ca. Indian schools, religious instruction IN
the army and navy, education for the mn
istry. unemployed ministers and vacant
churches, aid for the freedmen, &c. There
will he report on the centenary fund.-
which is at present $500, 1000. When II
reaches 81, 900 600 it will be invested as
permanent pension fund for retired and IN
digent ministers. Il
Nor will the women be idle. Many of
the Commissioners have brought with
them their wives and daughters. Ihey
will participate in the meetings oil the
Women's Foreign Missionary Society, the
Women's Executive Committee OF Home
Missions and other bodies that relate to the
neeuliar field of wOmen's work.
There has been plenty Of work cut out
for tine Assembly, and it will have Its
hands full all the time