Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-05-17
GENERALA
INTERESTING PROCEEDINGS IN THE GREAT
PRESBYTERIAN COUNCIL.
Reports Of Committees on Important Branches ol
Church Work - Southern Presbyteriaas
Against Reyison-Two New Meth
O3isi Bishops 70 be Chosen.

/ SARATOGA, y. Y. May lG.-At the
session Of the Presbyterian General As
Sembly this morning the standing COM
mittees were appointed, and then the
I Committee on the Liquor Traffic in the
Congo State reported that they had to
get Congress 10 use its influence against
the traffic, but, rs the United States
was not party 10 the Berlin treaty, no
action could be secured at present 1t
was voted to accept the report and dis
charge the committee. ItwaS also voted
that the action by the preSbyteries on
the question Of a revision be referred 10
a special committee. One hundred and
thirty two preSbyteries had favored the
proposed revision. SiXty-SiX had opposed
il, seven had declined TO act and eight
had not reported. Judge Wilson. mem
Der of the Committee on Revision, but
not of the Assembly, was requested 10
explain the action Of the committee.
ESTABLISH 4 PUBLISHING HOUSE.
The Committee on the Board of Pub
/ lication and Sabbath School Work made
its report. recommending the purchase
of "a plant for printing and making
books and periodicals. The report says:
That much Of the work now done for
the Board costs twice as much as we
could do it for ourselves" The mem
berS OF the Business Committee, now IN
charge OF this work. are not possessed
of the technical knowledge needed 10
conduct a publishing enterprise. The
appointment of a Committee of Elders,
I all OF whom shall have special acqualn-
tance with the publishing aud book
business aud should have full control for
term of years of this business for the
/ Board. was recommended by the Com
mittee.
NEED OF EFFICIENT MINISTERS.
The committee on increasing the sup
ply Of efficient ministers reported that
Since the reunion for every three
churches organized one had died, and
this mostly for the lack OF efficient men
/ and means 10 pay them, the total num-
/ Der OF these diSSolutiOnS being l.O99
since 1871. The following committee
/ ON canvaSsing the votes of the PreSby-
\ teries Oh revision was appointed:
/ President Potter. Of Princeton Col
/ lege: DR.. Ii. NJ McCraeken. OF New
/ York: Rev. DIR. Edwards and Elders
Bradley and Thornton.
Prof. Herrick Johnson, Of the Me
Cormick Theological Seminary, Of Chi
cago. reported on the bringing together
OF vacant churches and ministers. The
report said that hundreds OF churches
and ministers that might be brought to-
gether are not, except through eXpedi-
ents that are I'm every way mischievous.
/ The report was received and ordered To
be printed.
THE REVISION OF FAITH.
The Committee on Methods of Effect
ling Changes in the Confession of Faith
and the Constitution of the Church re-
ported that differences of opinion were
So widespread IL was unwiSe 10 raise the
issues involved in the General Assembly
land that changes in the doctrinal
standards should be made under great
or restrictions than alterations in the
form OF government. The committee
lalSo recommended that the questions be
transmitted 10 the PreSbyterieS, and
that no alterations be made in the pro-
visions or changes unless approved by
two-thirds OF the Presbyteries. Pres
ident Patton. of Princeton Theological
Seminary. opened the debate on this
subject. He objected TO having even
two-thirdS OF the PreSbyterieS secure
lanv change desired, as their vote would
lbe final and the assembly could not OBJ
ject. no matter how radical a change
might be- proposed. He implored the
ASSEMBLY to move slow i'm these critical
lines.
The Rev. Henry Nandykc, of New
York, said he was in favor of the rules
as they stand, and he denied the legiSla-
tive power OF the assembly to oyer ride
rules as 10 the majority. should change
be decided upon. The preshyterleS
meeting in quiet were more tlt 10 act on
this great question than the assembly.
as they are the supreme judiciaries OF
the church.
Judge Robert y. Wilson, of Philadel-
phia. spoke as member OF the commit
tee. He said: The report was not made
primarily to favor revision or anti-reyl-
sion. This report does not interfere
with the legislative power of the Assem-
lbly. if il has any, but on the other hand
gives il greater power Of conservation
land regulation. Practically any amend
lmentS to the standards must be formu-
lated in the Assembly, because the Pres
Ibvteries have not the needed facilities
for consultation. They may propose,
but the Assembly must coordinate their
PROPOSITIONS. The subject was contln-
ned until tomorrow.