The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-22
PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY
One Hundred and Third Annual
Meeting Of That Body
at Detroit
Doctrinal Matters of Importance
to the Church to Be
Discussed.
Prof. Green, of Princeton, elected Moder.
ator-Case of DIR. J:rigs-Other
Religious Bodies.

1'EIhOIT, MAY Zl.-Iue hunQfed ana
third annual meeting of tho PRESBYTERIAN
general assembly convened here this MORN
ing. After singing Rev. DR.. Patton, presi-
dent of Princeton college, read the six
teenth chapter of Isiah; Rev. DR.. Moore, of
Cincinnati, moderator of the assembly, de-
liversd the opening assembly sermon.
| For God sent not His Son into the world
to condemn the world, but that the world
through Him might be saved" DIR. Moore
| said: God gives eternal life to the indi
! vldual believing here and now, but the sal
vatlon of the world must be accomplished
through the personal salvation of hus-
bands, wives, parents, children, mas
ters, servants. rulers, subjects. Be-
fore Christ came enjoyment and self
| indulgence were the objects of human
! aspiration. For this the early church sub
stituted helpfulness. The Presbyterian
church has in the main been in helpful
touch with the needs of this world. Agita-
ton, upheaval is not necessary ruin. Like
the heaving of the sea it may purify. Com
pulsorv legislation will not do this unless
there is the active leaven of the purified in
dlvldual ditfused through society. Law
never WAS 80 good as now, although there is
too much of it, but were it perfect as to
quantity and quality it is useless or worse
unless rightly interpreted, administered
and enforced, and for this there must be
such work as only religion can effect. There
is what l may call Cody dissatisfaction
with our efficiency in leavening society.
The family, state aud church are the three
great factors for alleviatinR social political
and economical evils. All there are of di-
work except as the life of Christ pervades
Them After prayer by DR.. Moore the or
ganization of the assembly Was perfected.
The committee on arrangements reported
and the assembly took recess.
DR.. Green, of Princeton, was elected
| moderator by acclamatlon at the opening
OF the afternoon session.
The newly elected moderator was then
escorted to the platform, where the retiring
| moderator welcomed him in brief speech.
Moderator Green replied, thanking the as
sembly for the distinguished token of con-
fdence. He accepted with a deep sense of
unti tness, but feeling that the task of pre-
siding over such an assembly as this must
be comparatively light, where all the men,
! bers are animated by ono spirit seeking
one grent end and have.ss their supreme
desir. the promotion of the glory of God
and advancement of the kingdom of our
blessed Savior.
DR.. Wallace Radcliffe, of the Detroit
Port Street church. welcomed the assembly
on behalf of the reception committee and
he presented the moderator n Michigan
gavel, made of wood from Pontiac oak that
witnessed the massacre of 1857, and from
the old fort. The committee on concensus
of creed reported it had held meetings and
sent circulars to reformed churches holding
the Presbyterian system throughout the
world, The death of DR.. Howard Ctosby
WAS spoken of as great loss to the commit
tee, and DIR. Dickey was recommended as
suitable sui e1oa1;1. man .ost to % take his place.
the missionary magazine of the church at
home and abroad, 1t is winning fav or and
other denominations are coming to appye-
ciate it greatly. There is great neglect,
however, to heed the recommendatien of
the assembly that Presbyterian families
quarter cheaper if 75,O00 who could we'll
afford 1t, would subscribe for it.
DIR. Lowrie. chairman of the committee
of proof texts. stated that last year the
committee reported to the assembly it had
finished revision on the proof texts of the
confession of faith. Since then the same
had been done for the larger oatechism.
Adjourned till morrow.
The case of DR.. Briggs may involve a
curious dilemma. Either the assembly must
prejudice the impending trial of Prof.
Briggs before the Presbytery by vote of his
transfer to the chair of Biblical theology.
or it must endanger the validity of its veto
next year should such action then seem de-
sirable. by postponing a decision. Another
course is open assent of the assembly to his
transfer, or new appointment may be with
held on the ground of his generally ad
mitted discourtesy towards opponents and
indiscretion in the method and time of
promulgatng beliefs that, upon their face.
are in conflict with the standards. 1t is
rumored that Briggs has announced his
determination to contest every point carry
ing them into the civil courts and up TO
the highest courts as points involving civil
rights, and thus keeping up the conflict, it
may be for years.