The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-03-26
TNR GLNRRAL ASSRMRLY.
MOstIaG of t.s PrpAbyterlans' Highest Ju.
dietary,

The members OF the Presbyterian
denomination are looking forward with
considerable interest to the approaching
session of the general assembly, Thisis
the highest iudicatory ofthe churOA, and
will meet in the Fourth avenue Presby-
teriah church. New York, OF which Rev.
DR.. Howard Crosby Is pastor, on May 10.
The assembly will continue in session
some two weeks.
Rev, DR.. @. l.. Thompson, formerly OF
tho Third church, this city, who is the
retiring moderator, will preach tho open
ing seamon. He Is now pastor OF the
Madison Avenue Presbyterian church in
New York. After the sermon a new
moderator will be elected. After the
reunion Of the old aud new school
branches In this city, in 1870, the pre-
siding officers were generally selected
alternately from the former adherents Of
the two branches. Later geographical
considerations came into the Choice-the
Office going one year to the East and the
next year TO the West. This has also
been found to be q useless expedient.
Tho "wire.pulling' which existed for a
year or two was quickly dropped when
the church awoke to the political meth
dds employed, and so quiet was the can
vass last year that the successful Candi-
date did no: know till u few hours be-
fore the choice was made TINT his name
was to be presented.
There are n number Of committees at
work on subjects assigned to them by
the assembly in Philadelphia last May.
One Of the most important is the con-
ference committee that is discussing the
quCstion Of cooperation between the
northern and southern assemblies. The
question Of organic union is iondly
dreamed OF by the northern church and
by the younger men in the southern
church, but the leaders In the Presby-
terrain church south have set their faces
as a flint against uniting with the north
ern church. The southern assembly
decided lust May at Its meeting in Balti-
more that tive are unable to discover
that the obstacles TO organic union here
tolore existing between the northern
and southern general assemblies have to
any considerable extent been removed"
They therefore appointed their commit
tee "to confer with a similar committee
appointed by the northern church in
reference to modes OF fraternal co.opera-
ton in Christian work, both at home
and abroad"
On the other hand, the northern as
sembly resolved that: "This assembly
expresses It's convictions that tho most
effective form Of cooperation can be Sc
cured only by the organic union Of the
two churches" but, "for the moro effect
ual performance OF Christian work." a
new committee was appointed to confer
with the southern committee "in devils.
ing such methods Of conducting u
common work, both at home and abroad,
as shall open the door to the fullest and
heartiest cooperation" The conference
committee met in New York in DeCem-
Der, and will meet again in April in At
lanta. Then they will formulate the re-
suit OF their discussion for presentation
to the respective assemblies.
Another committee Is at work on the
Confession OF Faith, going carefully over
the proof texts OF the Longer and Shorter
CateChisms. 1t Is expected that many
changes will be made, the Scripture
LeAlb DtluB bebbGu Wy bAV Woot aANuAtSN
scholarship OF the day. II Is not proba-
bic that any startling changes will be
submitted by this committee, but there
was an overture laid over last year that
may cause much discussion and no little
feeling, as 1t suggests a revision OF the
third chapter Of the book itself.
The Sabbath question, tho education
OF the ministry, the church magazine,
The investment Of $4,000 raised for the
relief OF aged ministers, and the present
method OF raising money for the mission
boards will DO among the topics discuss.
cd. Twenty years ago, when the old
school assembly met in the brick church
and the new school assembly in the
church OF the Covenant, both on Murray
Hill, New York, tho reunion Of the as.
sem6lies was the principal theme Of dis.
cussion in both bodies. Before theyad-
journOd the reunion was perfected 80 far
as it could be by commissioners, and on
November 10 1860, In this city, tho GER
LtifCate OF reunion was signed by the
officers OF tho two bodies, and "old
SCHOOL, and NEW school," were history.
The formal ceremonies incidental to re.
union took place hero the following May.