St. Paul daily globe., 1890-05-20
EXPECT A HOT time.
Presbyterians Delay a Vote
on the Question Of Re-
vision.
The Committees Report on
Methods for the Change
Is Reeommitted.
Two New Bishops Elected by
Southern MethodistS at
st. Louis.
Southern Presbyterians Wig
orously Oppose the Louis
lana Lottery.

SARATOGA, N. Y, May 19.-At the
opening of the Presbyterian general as
sembly this morning the order of the
day-the report of the committee on
methods of effecting changes in the con-
stitution and confession was taken up.
DIR. Kemshall, of New Jersey, offered
the following resolution:
Resolved, That the report of the committee
be, and is hereby referred back 10 the com
m1ttee with instructions to reconsider aud
report back to The assembly; also, that seven
new members, TO be appointed by the moder
ator. be added to the committee.
Resolved, That all amendments to said re-
port be referred to the committee.
DR.. KempShall explained that the OBJ
ject Of the resolution was to save tn
valuable time of the assembly, and no
to shut off the voices of those who
wished to speak on the pending Ques-
ton. He added, however, that in pro-
longed debate it was just possible that
little personalities might crop out and
disturb the peace and harmony of the
assembly. After prolonged discus
sion of the resolution, it was
adopted by an almost unani-
nous vote, and the report of the
committee on methods of changing
the constitution and confession was re-
committed. The seventy-first annual
report of the board of education was
read by r. M. Patterson, d. D., of Phila-
delphia. Nine hundred and thirteen
students, 332 of them new cases, were
recommended to the board by preSby-
terles. Forty-seyen of them were de-
clined for various causes, preference
RI
in college or theological seminaries.
The contributions have not in
creased as fast as the number of appli-
cantS, 3,511 churches having giving
nothing. The fault for this failure is
largely with presbyteries. We have to
pay the students, even though the
money be borrowed, and we should
have closed the year with deficiency
of sS.700, but for the generous gift of
$1,000 at the last moment making the
present deficiency $500. There were
last year 1,14S churches vacant, nearly
One-third of them important enough to
have the entire
Services ola Minister.
The average increase in the number
of churches is $50; last year, 1SS. We
have perhaps 800 favorable men among
our ministers without charge. We have
an annual average of 145 graduates,
with about so not fully educated. We
draw from other denominations 81
year; 90 die annually on the average;
thus it will be seen we are sure to have
a a growing lack of properly quail
fed pastors. Our large draft on
peril to the harmony and unity
of our church. The late John S. New
berry. of Detroit, gave $4,000, the in
come of which is to enable some stu
dent, selected by competitive eXamina-
ton, to secure thorough preparation.
Will not many other rich men initiate
this example? OF our candidates 357
are in the theological seminary, 406 in
college. and in preparatory schools 76.
OF these Sc are Germans, 115 negroes.
5 Scandinavians. Bohemians,
BuIgarianS, and of Spaniards,
Mexicans, Brazilians. Turks and
SyrianS. l each. In scholarship,
270 are marked high, 26S above medium,
235 medium, IA below medium and only
IL low. The Mccormick seminary
sends out this year 81; Princeton, 80;
Union, 16; Lane, II; Western. 6; Au-
burn. 4; Newark, 5; Lincoln, 8; Du-
buque, 2. The annual outlay is $685.
4
spoke earnestly of the condition under
which one-thrd of our ministers are
stated supplies. This, together with
the apathy Of more than half of the
churches, deters young men from seek
ing the ministry. He quoted from Baxter
and other eminent fathers in answering
the objection he frequently met, that
young men should not be helped to get
an education for the ministry any more
than for any other calling. We need a
system by which vacant churches and
ministers may he brought together. The
presbyterleS should make more of their
episcopacy, which means not overlook
ing, but oversight, a very different
thing. Elder Trumbull. of California,
said much larger percentage of minis
terS are successful than of those enter
ing mercantile business. He thought
that large number of churches could
raise from 81, ZOO to $1,000 as a perma-
nent fund, the interest to be applied to
the
Education of Young Men.
The report was adopted, and was fol-
lowed by s. j. Nichols, D. D., chairman
on a special committee on the increase
of ministers. Resolutions were passed
recognizing the lack of ministers and
the increase of pastorless churches, and
urging the presbyteries to be more dill
gent in either caring for or dissolving
them. and suggesting that they might !
be grouped together and supplied with |
service by ruling elders, etc.
DR.. Booth, of New York, said |
he thought the forty thousand |
elders of the church were source of |
supply for this need. He said: ''The
leading elders have, by our constitution.
the right to preach, and ought to claim
it and assist" DR.. Poor. of Philadei-
phia, told of successful experiment in |
cuSsed by Elder Peacock, of Philadel- |
phia, who thought presbyteries should
appoint as moderators of the sessions
of weak churches elders from strong |
churches. A resolution prOpOs-
ing an overture to presbyteries
urging greater care in receiving minis
tiers from other denominations was in |
troduced by DR.. NJ. Nichols, and, after |
considerable earnest discussion had not !
been passed when the hour for adjourn
ment arrived. Just after adjournment |
a telegram was received announcing |
the sudden death at Utica. n. Y, while
OH his way to the assembly, of one of
the commissioners, Rev. James Lamp,
late pastor at Gardillac, Mich. A member
of the same synod was appointed to
prepare an appropriate resolution. A
popular meeting was held in the even
ing in the interest of work among the
freedmen. Rev. Howard Crosby, ID. D..
presided, and addresses were made by
X. Ell. Allen, ID. d., secretary of the
board; Rev. w. A. Allen, Rev. F. C.
Potter, Rev. York Jones, Rev. j. III.
Bergen. blind preacher, and Rev. w.
Ii. Franklin. The last five named are
colored.