Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-27
THE MEN SELECTED
Who Are to Have Charge of the Matter
of Revision of the Greed
In TIE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Bible in Schools and the Celored Mans
Case Considered.
AN EARLY ADJOURNMENT PROBABLE
nrrc1AI rrIreRAM 10 THE DrspArcH.,

SARATOGA, May 26.-The committee ap-
pointed to nominate to the assembly the 15
ministers and 10 elders who are to revise the
confession failing to report, the Presby-
terian Assembly devoted its morning session
to-day to business of the sort usually de-
nominated routine.
Its only action of public Importance was
the adoption Of resolutions In favor of the
continuance of the use Of the Bible in the
public schools. The subject came before
the assembly in the shape of report which
was made by the Committee on Bills and
Overtures and of which the following is the
concluding and pertinent part:
THE BIBLE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
"That as the Bible is the source of the
highest moral teaching, we regard its ex-
clusfon from our public schools as menace
to national welfare and we urge the men,
bers Of our church to so arouse public
thought on this subject from the pulpit, the
press and ecclesiastical assemblages, that
this book shall be restored to its true place
in our system of education" The report
was adopted unanimously. The next thing
done by the assembly was OF a character to
excite the surprise of one unaccustomed to
the apparently contradictory acts of an
ecclesiastical body. 1t was the passage of
resolutions continuing in office for three
years or more, the members of the Board of
Publication who have been hauled over the
Goals for mismanagement and whose modus
operandi is to be the subject ofinvestigation
for a long time to come, as it mas been for a
long time in the past.
The Rev. DR.. Crosby offered the resolu-
tions. The terms of office of the following
gentlemen expiring in June, 1890, they were
recommended to be elected TO the Board for
three years: Ministers, Rev. Benjamin L.
Agnew, D. D., Rev. 7. A. Hoyt, D. D.,
Rev. John Hemphill, D. D., Rev. James
Stuart Dickson; Elders Samuel c. Perkins,
l.. L. D.. Hon. Robert N. Wilson, Frank
lin L. Sheppard, Esq, and as the Hon.
John Scott declines reelection, Mr.. W. d.
Parsons, of New York, will be elected to
the Board for three years.
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE APPOINTED.
As IF to emphasize the seeming inconsist-
ency of continuing In Office tor three long
years persons who have been declared in
competent by one investigating committee,
the new committee which is to investigate
their mode of management was announced
as follows by the Moderator Immediately on
the passage of these resolutions: Alfred H.
Hand, Lackawanna; Elias Montford, Gin
cinnati; A. D. E. Randolph, New York;
Smith, Cleveland; w. c. Martin, New
York; W. A. Brodie, Rochester. The rest
of the morning session was occupied with
consideration of the perennial question of
unemployed ministers and vacant churches.
DR.. Herrick johnson read the report of
the Committee on Church Polity, contain
ing answers to overtures from many Presby-
teries as to points in Presbyterian polity.
Accepted and committee discharged.
The Committee on Organization of
Churches was presented by DR.. Hodge, of
Hartford. 1t defined the status of Pres
byterian Church that has no members quail
fed to act as elders. The question origin
ated In church organized wholly for
women. Reports adopted. to the effect that
such church cannot be enrolled until it
has an elder.
Relating to request from two colored
Presbyteries to be treated as independent
in their application for missionary aid, the
same as white Presbyteries, the report of
the Committee on the Freedmen favored
keeping them in subordination to the Freed
mems Board.
DR.. Booth, of New York, protested indig-
nautly against the recommendation of the
board. He said it tended to destroy the
self-respect of our colored brethren.
MUST HAVE THE ENDORSEMENT.
DR.. Morris, of Lane Seminary, said that
the Freedmen's Board is set to do for the
colored churches what is done through four
or five boards for white missionary churches.
The last assembly decided that application
from colored presbyteries for aid from any
other board, for example that of church
erection, must have the Endorsement of the
Freedman's Board. He had himself been
an abolitionist from his boyhood, but
thought the colored brethren need not only
to learn self-respect, but also lesson of
their Northern brethren who have been do
ing so much for them.
Rev. George T. billiard. colored, said: We
are thoroughly loyal to Presbyterianism and
expect to stay so. Why do not Northern
Presbyteries have to make their applications
in some such roundabout way? 1t will con-
fuse and perplex us if this answer goes down
to our Presbyteries. '@~+s
Dr. Patterson, of Philadelphia, said he
had a great admiration for the intelligence
and order of the colored Presbyteries He
thought that the action recommended by the
committee is slur upon their manhood.
Dr. Crosby thought that the logic of the
case is with the colored brethren. The
Freedmen's Board should be merely a bu-
reau in the Home Mission Board. If we
grant this proper and natural request, it |
is true we dissolve the Freedmen's Board. |
But has not the proper time come for such |
dissolution?
1t was voted after animated debate Of 17e |
to 125 to grant the request of the colored |
Presbytery.
The report of the Committee on Deacon
esses was presented by Prof. Warfield, of |
Princeton Seminary. 1t recognized as fact |
the claim that women served in the apos-
toIic church in an Office similar to that of |
deacons, and held that they may be elected
and set apart in similar way.
NOT LICENSED TO PREACH.
This is not step in the direction Of Civ |
ing them license to preach. On the ques- |
ton of amending form of government to |
correspond to this report, there was opposi- |
ton from DR.. Van Dyke, of Brooklyn, and
from DIR. Warren, OF San Jose, Cal, who |
moved an amendment to the effect that the |
Assembly add nothing to its previous de-
clsions that officers OF the church must be |
males.
Rev David Bonner, of Hudson, N. Y,
said that he thought the New Testament |
does not so much prohibit as exempt our |
sisters from bearing office.
DIR. Crosby said that in the Book of Tim
othv there is in the use of the Greek words |
proof that there was such an Office as deacon |
ness.
Dr. Van Dyke was surprised that so re-
yolutionary proposition should come from
Princeton. Don't let US overwhelm our
people with new suggestions.
DIR. sTEvENsoN's SATIRE.
DR.. Agnew thought it was not an oppor-
tune time to send down any overtures on the |
subject.
Dr.. Stevenson, of New Jersey, said that |