The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-05-17
THE PRHSBYTBRIANS,
The Proceedings Of the Assem-.
bly, at Saratoga,
THE PUBLICATION BOARD.
Two Committee Reports Oh tho Sub.
Jcct-The Revision OF Faith Qucs.
tiOn Comes Up-Two Other
Church Conferences.

semD'y tnla morning, the standing com
mittces were appointed, and then th,
Committee on the Liquor Traffic in the
Congo Slate reported that they had tc
; get Congress TO use its influence agains,
tho traffic, but, as the United States
was not party to tho Berlin treaty, no
action could be secured at present. l,
was voted to accept the report and dis.
charge tho committee. 1t WAS also
voted that the action by the Presbyte.
ries on the question OF n revision, be
referred tot special committee. One
hundred and thirty.two Presbyteries
had favored the proposed revision, GG
had opposed it, had declined to act
and s had not reported. Judge Wilson,
a member OF the Committee on Reyis.
ion, but not OF the Assembly, was re-.
quested to explain the action Of the
committee.
The Committee on the Board OF Publ.
cation and Sabbath School work made
its report, recommending the purchase
Of plant for printing aud making books
and periodicals. The report Bays: "That
much OF the work now done for The
board costs twice as much as VIC could
do it for ourselves"
The members OF the business commit.
tee now in charge OF this work ARE not
Possessed OF tho technical knowledge
needed to conduct publishing enter.
prise. The appointment OF committee
Of elders, all OF whom should have
special acquaintance with the publish.
Ing and book business for the board was
recommended by the committee,
| The business committee OF the pub
fishing department (Which was by the
General Assembly Of 1889 ordered to
make a joint Investigation with the
special committed reported that there
had been no suitable and adequate con.
sultation between these two committees,
and that the special committee persisted
In treating as confidential the informa.
ton upon which it based its conclusions,
Withholding it from the business com.
mit.ee.
The business committee thought the
censurcs OF the special committee not
warranted by the facte.
Both reports were ordered to be print
ed and referred to the Committee on
Sunday Schools and Missionary Work,
Or. Howard Crosby, chairman.
lhe 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 to pay them, the total NUN.
her OF these dissolutions being 900 since
1871.
The following committee on canvass.
Ing the votes Of tho Presbvteries on re-
vision was appointed: President Pot
ter, Of Princeton College; DR.. 81. NJ.
McCracken, Of New York; Rey. DR.,
Edwards and Elders Bradley and Thorn.
ton.
Prof. Herrick Johnson, OF the AIcCor-
mick Theological Seminary, Chicago, re.
ported on the bringing together OF vacant
Churches aud ministers. The report
said that hundreds OF churches and
ministers that might be brought to.
gether arc not, except through cxpedi-
ents that are in every way mischievous.
The report was received and ordered
10 be printed. ~
The committee on methods OF effect.
ing changes in the Confession of Faith
and the constitution of the church re-
ported that differences o. opinion were
so widespread it was unwise to raise the
issue involved in the General Assembly,
and that changes in the doctrinal Stand
ards should be made under greater re-
strictlons than alteration in the form OF
government. The committee also re-
commended that the Questions be trans.
mitted to the Presbyteries and that no
alteration be made III the provisions or
changes unless approved by two.thirds
OF the Presbyteries.
President Patton, of Princeton Theo.
logical Seminary, opened the debate on
this subject. He objected to having
even two.thirds Of the Presbyteries Ge-
cure any change desired, cs their vote
would !e final and the Assembly could
not object, no matter how radical n
change might be proposed. lie i'm.
plored the Assembly to move slowly in
these critical lines.
The Rev. Henry Vandyke, 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 override
rules us to the majority, should change
be decided upon. The Presbyteries
meeting in quiet, were more able to act
on this great question than the Assem-.
Of the church.
Judge Robert Wilson, OF Philadelphia,
spoke as Il member OF the committee.
He sad: The report was not made pri-
marlly to favor revision or anti.rcyisiou.
This report does not interfere With the
Legislative power Of the Assembly il it
has any, but, on the other hand gives
it greater power OF conservation and
regulation. Practically any amendment
to the Standards must be formulated in
the Assembly because the Prcsbyteries
have not the needed facilities for consul,
'a.ion. They may propose. but the AS.
sembly must coordinate their proposi.
tions.
Judge George Junken, OF philadel.
phla, wanted to 20 according to law.
, Southern Presb, terians Against Revision
AsnEvlLLr, N. G., May lG.-The Gen
eral Assembly OF the Presbyterian
, Church, South, met again this morning
| and alter prayer, Moderator Park an
nounced the standing committees. Rev
: NJ. II. Houston submitted report OF
Foreign Miss ions, showing that durin,
! the past year fourteen missionaries have
been sent to the mission field. An i'm
portant mission Of great interest ha,
been Undertaken to the Congo Ere,
. State Of Africa. ~ -"
a During the response to "the faith ono,
i delivered to the saints" by Dir. G. Il
. Hsmphill, Of Louisville; at the ban9ue
g g last night, he urged in the most iorclbl,
!. manner steadfastness TO old Standards
!, and opposed the Revision Of the Con
i. feus;on Of Faith. lie sa:d he hoped Go,
q would direct his brethren OF tho North
4 ern Church, now in session, and keel
!. them true to the faith once delivered [.
q the saints. He was most enthusiastic
l. ally applauded. The Assembly is clearl,
a opposed to revision. 81
: southern Methodist Conference.
. er. LOUIS, May lo.-The General Con
ference Of the NJ. r Church South ms