, 1890-05-17
THE PRESBYTERIANS
Session of the General Assem-
bly, at Saratoga.
John G.. Carlisle Will Succeed
Senator Beck.
Latest From the Wilkesbarre
Mine Disaster.

SARATOGA, N. Y. May l6.-At the
session of the Presbyterian general as
sembly this morning the standing com
mittee appointed as a committee on the
liquor traffic in the Congo states, reporter
that they had tried TO get congress TO use
its influence against the traffic, but as the
United States was not a party 10
to the Berlin treaty, action could not Dc
secured at present. The committee on
publications made two reporte. The ma
iority favor the establishment OF Presby-
terrain publishing houses as an economical
meas ure. Referred. The committee on
increasing the supply of efficient minis
tiers reported that for every three churches
organized one had died. This was mostly
for lack of efficient men and means to
nav. The total number of these dissolu'
tons we're 1899 since 1871. They recon-
mend that schools for bible readers and
other lay workers be organized and hit
laymen be licensed to preach, and theo'
logical semiuaIies be ADVISED to consider
the expediency of providing special
courses for promising men who had not
had classical training. This was made
the special order foi Sunday. The follow
ing committee on clnvassing votes on
Presbytries' on revision was appointed:
President Potter OF Princeton College,
DIR. Il. NJ. McCracken. OF New York.
Rev. d. Edwards and Elders Bradley and
Thornton.
The voted action by the Presbytries on
the question of revision will be referred
TO a special committee. One hundred
and thirty two ~presbytries had favored the
proposed revision sixty-six opposed it,
seven declined to vote and eight not re
ported.
The committee on method of effecting
changes in the conversion of faith and
constitution of the church reported unani-
mously, substantially as follows: The
church speaking officially through presby
tenes can alone determine with authority
the question at issue, therefore the com
mittee recommends that questions be
transmitted 10 presbyteries whether they
shall be added,to the forms of govern
ment, chapter XIII of amendments
providing; For proposal by the general
assembly to the presoyteries of amend
lments or alterations in the form OF gov
,ernment, book, discipline and directory Tor
worship, but that these shall not be obi
;gatory unless a majority OF all presbYter-
les approve in writing that alterations in
doctrlnal standards shall not be proposed
to presbyteries unless they hav been
under consideration TOR one year by the
committee, not less than fifteen ministers
or ruling elders, not more than two of
whom shall be from any one synod. No
alteration shall be made in the provisions
of this chapter for changes in doctrinaf
standards unless an overture from the
general ASSEMBLY submitting the proposed
alteration be transmitted 10 all presby
teries. to be approved by two thirds Of
them. The general assembly must trans
NIT to presbyterles any overture submitted
to it by one-third of all presbyteries. Any
amendment SO. submitted and approved
shall 20 into effect Immediately after the
general assembly shall have certified the
fact" The committee also recon-
mends hat presbyteries be directed
to answer oyerturcs as a whole
by simple yea or nay, to be reported TO
the clerk In time to be presented to the
next general assemblY.
President Patton of Princeton theo-
logical seminary in opening the great de-
bate on the report, said he objected to two
features. First. it denies to the assembly
its legislative right. What are we here
for if not to legislate? Second, this
takes away from the assembly not only
the right to legislate but also that of de
liberating. Suppose one-third of the
presbyteries overture the assembly for any
given change IN doctrinal standards. This
report gives the assembly no option. 1t
must send down an overture to the Pres
byterians if two-thirds adopt or approve
it the assembly has no choice but to de.
clare q change no matter how radical or
revolutionary. Adopted.
In Moores digsstO OF Presby terrain
law was the following declaration of as
sembly orders: That the Westminster
confession is TO continue our law unless
two-thirds of the Presby ~terians propo,e
the change desired, and in that case the
assembly is to enact that that change be
made. 1t does not declare it only, but
enacts it, and you can not make a change
in any way that invalidates the adopting
act. In conclusion Dr.. Patton said: Il
implore the assembly to move slowly in
these critical times, when a single false
step may lead us We know not where and
involve us in difficulties we dare not an
ticipate."
Rev. DR.. Henry Van Dyke
was delighted with the report
and did not accord with the views
of DIR. Patton He denied the leg'sla-
tive right OF the assembly in saying there
Is no line in digesto that confers that
power on the PreSbytery that existed be-
fore the general assembly aud never gave
1t legislative power. There can be no ac-
ton to change standards except by mu-
tual co operate on between the assembly
and the Presbyteries. The report seemed
to him Ivan Dyke a peace measure pre-
scribing a pure and practicable method
of coming to an understanding.
judge Junkin of Philadelphia spoke
against revision and the matter went over