Los Angeles herald., 1891-05-27
THE PRESBYTERIANS
Proceedings of the General
Assembly.
Numerous Committees Submit
Their sskeports.
Money Needed for Missionary Work
at Home and Abroad.
The Publication Board Saving Money by
Following the Fighting Elders
Advice.
Associated Press Dispatches.

Associated Press Dispatches.
DETROIT, May 26.-At the morning
session Of the Presbyterian general as
sembly, the salary of the secretary o
correspondence was fixed at $500 {
year.
The standing committee on board o.
home missions reported through DIR
Raymond, Of Albany. He thought tn;
churches need great missionary awak
ening. The speaker gave glance at the
northwest, New ENGLAND and othel
divisions, especially emphasizing the
needs of foreign population.
The report shows that the total re
ceipts for the year were over $958,000
1856 churches were built during the yea
at cost of $425, 900, and church debts
were paid to the amount of $144 1000
The membership in churches increased
until there is a total of 10000. The
total in Sunday schools is 5000. The
year closed with debt of $98 1000, which
was caused by great falling off in lega
cies.
Great progress in the work o.
CNdhSSllL6tlOh 10 ICPOlt tCu dll
over the country. and the need
OF more workers is evident, es.
pecially in the newly settled portions
of the west. In the new mining and stock
raising state OF Montana and Idaho
there are great inducements for good
workers, and in the swiftly-growine
towns of Washington there is impera-
tive need for more men. In Utah,
Wyoming and Colorado there has been
good progress. In New Mexico there is
an opportunity to reap large harvests
In all but four southern states-South
Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi and
Louisiana-the board has missionaries
Considerable progress has been made
among the Mexicans, Indians and Nor
mons. ~
Recommendation were made in con-
nection with the overture asking that
each presbytery be invited to send dele
gates to the fall meeting of the mission
ary conference, and that such delegates
shailconstitute special committee on
home mission within the bounds Of each
presbytery; also urging that the board
push Sabbath school work among for
eign population.
The moderator announced the instan-
taneous death of Prof. Van Dyke, of
Brooklyn, who had just resigned his
pastorate to take the chair OF systematic
theology in the Union Theological SEM
mary. A telegram OF coincidence to his
widow was voted.
DIR. Mcmillan, the new secretary OF
the board of home missions, spoke at
some length of the work of the board
in the west. He gave vivid picture of
the difficulties of getting a hearing for
the gospel in some of the new towns
during their booming period, when Sun
day is far the most busy day in the
week. In the west, nowadays there is
almost nothing of the old time rivalry
between denominations. He said the
Indian is very accessible to the gospel,
and the work among them is very hope
full. Had we spent ten per cent what
it cost to kill them, in evangelizing them,
there would have been no ghost dances"
He told of the great progress
made in New Mexico among the Span
ish-Americans. and in Utah. He con-
cluded by saying this should not be let
go by default for lack of money.
Elder Van Rensselaer, said in regard
to the recommendation to raise one mil
lion dollars: "What is the use of pledg-
ing ourselves to raise this money if we
don't do it. 1t is a mockery unless we
can reach the non-contributingc churches.
Let us be in dead earnest. The min
listers read the notice in tremendous
voice, but don't preach and inform the
people about it,"
Rev. Thomas Boyd of Oregon told
how they raised money there. He said
1852 home mission churches there have
paid their share of the great debt.
Nf T11sxnsc A1ra
of the aspects of the work in the central
part of the country. He thought the
amount voted not an absolute pledge,
but mark to be arrived at.
The recommendations of the report
were then taken up seriatim. Rev.
Adolphus Krebs of St. Louis urged a
better provision for the two German
.seminaries. The Germans were tired of
resolutions not acted upon.
AT the afternoon session, Col. Elliott
#. Shepherd, of New York, read the re-
port of the committee on the observance
of the Sabbath.
The standing committee of the board
of aid to colleges, responded through
Rev. DIR. Hays, of California, 1t aids
three colleges and five academies organ
lied before 1888, the year when the
board was established, as we'll as
twelve colleges and sixteen academies
founded since. The aided institutions
have $1,l73,27S worth of net property.
The amount received during the year
was 100000.
The special committee on the board of
publication, through Judge Hand Of
Scranton, Pa, stated reasons for approx
ing the report made earlier in the
session. Judge Hand addressed the
assembly at great length on the subject
of the management of the board, defend
ing it warmly.
II. E. Simmons, "the fighting elder,''
is chairman of the special committee
that was appointed in 89 by the Assem-
bly,, in response to demands made by
various bodies and the synod of Ohio in
particular, oecasioned by statements as
to high prices paid by the board of pub
lication for work and material. In Sim.
mons's address he disavowed all inten
ton to insinuate or charge crookedness
or dishonesty against the board, its
business committee or any of its em-
ployees. His report was directed agains
their trying to manage business in