New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-12
rHE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
urunpEps OF PRESBYTERIANS TO MEET
IN THIS CITY.


nv THE ASSEMBLING THERE OF THE
rArHERs AND BRETHREN THIS WEEK
IMPORTANT TOPICS TO BE DIS.
oussED SOME OF THE
DELEGATES.
The future historian Of New-York will have
sscsson TO record for this year not only the sue
sessful celebration Of the Washington centennial,
Init also that $50 WAS memorable on account Oh
,hs great religious meetings held here The cor
aial hospitality extended 10 the members OF inc
Mehodist General Conference last year excited the
interest and admiration OF the PresbyterianS 'ae
ConRregationalists and the Episcopalians 10 such
an extent that the General Assembly, the +N"el-
san Board and the General Convention are 10
meet here this year. .,.
The General Assembly is the abbreviated u'1
of the highest body in that part OF the ISL ",
terrain church which, by the adoption OF ie'0-u-
ton offered by DR.. Gardiner Spring IN loOI' re
manned loyal to the Union The corPo'a" H"nlo
"a the General Assembly OF the fresOS 'or nc
Church in the United States OF America An0
Southern Assembly has the same ceffoF"Ue NAME ~
nth the omission of the last two woruS' po"h
...,hTss meet on the same day-Thursday OF this
,,-.s,--.tbe one at DR.. Howard Crosby's church IN
rorrtb.ays and the other at the First Presoy-
..ri.n Church in Chattanooga, Tenn. The Rev.
DR.. Charles L. Thompson, pastor OF the Madison
lvenne Church in this city, will preach the open
,,g sermon here and the Rev DIR. D. }. Bullock
a, washington, viii preach at Chattanooga. The
scrrnons at IL o. m are followed by luncheon, and
a. ,hs afternoon new moderators are elected TO
se ve one year
THE COMMITTEE OF ARRANGEMENTS
rr Crosby, one of the few pastors in this city
Sho have served one people for quarter OF 3 cen
nrv. is the chairman Of the committee that has
charge of the entertainment of the commissioners
during the ten or twelve DAYS that they will be
here This committee are also perfecting the de-
tails OF the Assembly, so far as they can be pre-
ra,ed in advance, that there shall DO no hitch
when once the Moderators gavel has given the
sgnal to start. With Dr. Crosby are associated
Drs. John Hall, Stealey B. Rossiter, George Alex
ander and William Ii. Roberts, the Stated Clerk Of
the Assembly, and the Rev. Henry T. McEwen,
Elders Warner Van Norden, Elliott F. Shepard,
Samuel Inslee w L. SIidmore and S. S. Clark.
On Thursday, besides the sermon, the roll-call
of the commissioners and the election of mod
orator, there will be a communion service 10 the
Fourth Avenue Church. Much interest centres in
the choice Of q presiding officer. Geosraphlcal
lines formerly were observed, the Office going one
year 10 the East and the next year 10 the west
but this sentiment has lattery given way to de-
sire 10 place the best man possible ID the cnalr
Dr. Thompson was the pastor OF church IN han-
sss City when he was elected nSt year put nus
admirable bearing under most trying clrcum-
stances his Just rulings on important qnes'lons, 10
gether with the rare scholarship and true eio-
ouence which were displayed on more than one
occasion, attracted the attention OF New-lork
church committee, and he was not allowed TO re-
main long in Missouri after the Assembly I'D
iourned.
ORGANIC UNION NOT POSSIBLE YET.
Only once did DR. Thompson lose control Of the
Centennial Assembly at Philadelphia, and then not
Ill he had broken his beautiful gavel, which Provec
UNEQUAL 20 bear the strain of the storm caused by
the heated discussion OF the Southern question.
This problem is to come before the Assembly again
this year, but a repetition OF the scene when ap-
plause and Kisses mingled in Historical Hall Is not
expected The idea Of organic union is laid aside
for the present and conference committee Is to
present q plan for cooperation between the two
assemblies Last year it was hoped by many that
the centennial love and fervor displayed would
consume oil memories of former days. But IN this
they were disappointed.
The Southern Assembly decided at its meeting in
Baltimore that We are unable TO discover that
the obstacles 10 organic union heretofore existing
between the Northern and Southern General AS
semblies have TO any considerable extent been re-
moved" They therefore appointed their commit.
tee to confer with a similar committee appointed
by the Northern Church in reference 10 modes OF
fraternal cooperation in Christian work, both az
home and abroad On the other hand, the North
ern Assembly resolved that. This Assembly ex-
presses it's conviction that the most effective form
Of cooperation can be secured only by an organic
DniOn of the two churches but, for the more
effectual performance OF Christian Work, a new
committee was appointed 10 confer with the South
ern committee in deviSing such methods or con-
Quoting our common work, both az home and
abroad, as shall oper the door TO the fullest and
heartieSt cooperation The committee met here
in December, and meet in Atlanta next month, and
the members win report to their respective assem-
bhes probably arly in the session.
BUSY SESSION PROMISED.
Besides the regular reports of the trustees Of
the church, the eight boards and their standing
committees, the special committees on Benefcence
and Temperance and the thirteen theological in
situations whose claims demand the attentions
Of the Assembly, there are no less than twenty
six special committees which are 10 present re-
ports. The work Of three OF the committees has
been to ascertain the duty Of the Northern AS
scmbly as a denomination TO the Presbyterian
churches OF continental Europe, and especially
the Church Of Bohemia and the American Church
which il is proposed TO establish in Berlin; with
these may be associated the interesting report ON
the formation Of the new Synod Of Brazil Two
relate TO the cooperation with the Southern
Church AID the BROADER question Of church
unity; four or five others to questions OF public
morality, such as Sabbath Observance, religious
instruction in the army and navy, Indian schools,
and the liquor traffic in Africa. Six have TO do
with matters OF poljty and administration and the
constitution Of the church two relate 70 the Cen
tenary Fund and the mode of its permanent in
vestment and use, and one 10 the serious matter
Of revising the proof-texts quoted IN the Con-
fession of Faith.
aThe Evangelist" thinks that the chief inter
est will centre the report respecting duty
as Church toward the various Immigrant popula-
TONS especially the Germans, Bohemians French
and Scandinavian report which trust will
prove TO be the Inauguration Of q larger policy
and much larger work among these needy classes /;
and on the two related reports respecting uncm-
ployed ministers and vacant churches, and the
broad question Of educatiOn for the ministry. the
hitter Involving the vast and urgent problem OF