Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-02
TWO PRETTY FIGHTS.
An Acrimonious Debate Oyer Christian En-
deavor Societies and Board of Publica-
ton Matters in the General Assembly,
Ministers Free Their Minds on Them.

DETROIT, June l-Ine uFe1eSt discussion
of the morning in the General Assembly
deavor Society 1t came up on the over
lures from the Cincinnati and various other
Presbyteries. The Committee on Bills and
Overtures commended young peoples socie-
ties in general and sought to eyade raising
controversy. It advocated the formation
of q committee of seven to report to the
next Assembly. DR.. Proudft fired the first
shot, saying he was one of the original En-
deavorers, and was opposed an the time to
any denominational organization as antag-
onistic to the spirit of the age.
The Rev. B. D. Sinclair said there was no
such a thing as union without unity and
sailed into the opposition vigorously. In
New England he wanted denominational-
ism, and the danger there was in just such
first resolution was adopted, which gives
general Endorsement to the young peoples
societies and advises the presbyteries to ap-
4 point permanent committee to manage the
movement. The proposition to appoint q
committee of seven to report to the next As
sembly and favor the Westminster League,
| called so men to their feet in opposition.
George Junkins, of Philadelphia, advocated
4 young peoples societies in general and had
| no difficulty with the Young Peoples Chris
but tbere WAS rrest @ danger LII that I" the orpan
| ization might become independent and run
away with the church. He was bitterly OPP
posed to special committees, as we had too
many of them now and it was wrong to give
| SO many men junketing trips at the expense
| of the people.
Pointing Out the Danger.
Soon the chairman of the committee win
| think they are running the General Assem-
bly, The churches and presbyteries should
| exercise their episcopal functions and regu-
late the business themselves. A motion
was made to strike out the resolution ap-
pointing committee. The Rev. John Hol--
| liday advocate the Free Trinity League.l HE
| wanted conformity and uniformity among
Presbvterians, like the Methodist Church,
| in its Epworth League. There is danger to
Presbyterians in the Christian Endeavor So
| ciety, with its national and State organiza-
| ton. DR.. Hays would heartily favor the
committee if he could be chairman and get
| a trip to Portland, and as a rule he was op-
posed to SO many special committees. He
| wanted the whole business left to church
| sessions and by the presbyteries.
At this point speeches were limited to five
minutes and the Assembly was very i'm
patient. DR.. Francis said II presbyteries
wanted the committee to consider the whole
subject. Already there are many West
Societies are full of peril. Elder Shepard, Of
Philadelphia, urged the Assembly to go slow
on account of the remarkable character of
this movement, which LED him to regard 1T II
safe to allow the work to be untnterfered
with another year. DR.. Mckibbin took the
floor in the face Of vociferous calls for the
question and a motion of DIR. Hays to lay the
resolution on the table. He assured the AS
sembly they would eventually be on his side
He held the Christian Endeavor Society was
fatal to Christian unity, and the commits
sioners cried a chorus of noes. He held ITS
condition of membership, consecrating meet
ings and the like were as exclusive as the
Baptist doctrine of immersion. Practically
they repudiated regular church membership
rooms. The Christian Endeavor year book
for 1888 enrolled Universalist and Unitarian
societies as in good and regular standing,
and the united society declared it had no
authority to oust them.
The Debate Gets Exciting.
At this point there was a great sensation
and cries of "No, it is not true" DR.. Nc
Kibbin reiterated his statement that excite
ment and the reputation of a doctrinal
basis will destroy the church. We dare not
put our young people in fellowship with
those who deny the divinity of Jesus Christ,
anxiety for sound doctrine The Rev. A. A.
Fulton, a missionary from China, said he
was getting much money from Christian
missions, and he wanted the General As
sembly to let the subject alone. He has
$4,000 pledged from these societies to sup
port native missionaries. There is not a
single Unitarian or Universalist society rec
ognized. He expected to carry 10000 SO.
cieties for the cause OF foreign missions II
the woSa S
resolution to appoint committee was
stricken out by an overwhelming vote. A
commissioner called on DR.. McKibbin to
prepare protest. The publication matter
was then taken up, and HI. e. Simmonss
Chairman of the special committee, spoke |
in defense of the committees report. He
went over the controversy between his COM |
mittee and Judge Hands committee.
Judge Hand dealt with report of year |
after that examined by the business mems |
committee, and showed $4,000 more profit |
+y,ay ~, "a
year just closed, in spite of an increase of |
So 900 in salaries, the profits had increased |
things showed at least the benefits of the !
thorough sitting of his committee. The COM |
mittee found loss of $4,000, owing to bad |
business methods each year. The prices |
have been obtained in the open market. |
Thousands of dollars had each year been |
wasted. Since the Assembly had last year |
$I2, 900 had been saved in that item alone.
Salaries were too high. The church should |
not pay higher wages than others in like
business.
Too much money had been paid and rad
ical methods were needed to relieve the AS
sembly from the annual appearance Of this
scandal at its sessions.
Some Big Leaks Stopped,
The only change suggested by his commit
tee has been: to put three additional men,
bers on the board who should be from differ
ent Synods, and experts in the business of
the new members to have su-
peryision of the actual business of the |
board. The committee was glad that some
of the leaks it had discovered had been
stopped, and about 1000 year saved to
the Church, whether their report was
adopted or not.
Elder f. L. Shepard, of Philadelphia, men,
Der of the Business Committee of the Board
of Publication, denied any such state
of affairs existing as charged in the report
of the committee of which Mr.. Simmons had
charge, and went over the whole ground
again, giving the figures as they appeared
on the books of the board.
A. D. f. Randolph, a member of the Hand
Committee of Investigation and we'll
known New York publisher, was the next
speaker. 1t had been said that the report of
the Hand committee was a withdrawing
one; well the Simmons committee had gone
to work and painted everything red, and it
now remained for the Assembly to make
things true Presbyterian blue. The business
had been well conducted. If anything
which had purchased literature from the
board to the extent of just 10 cents per capita
for the 100000 communicates of the church.
The Rev. George p. Hays moved that the
reports of both committees be referred to
the Board of Publication, with instructions
as they deemed practicable and report spe-
officially on each recommendation to the
next General Assembly, but afterward with
drew his motion, and the report of Judge
Hands committee, known as the "white-
washing report was adopted.
Elder George Junkins moved that thanks |
be given to both the committees. Elder H. |
E. Simmons said: "Mr. Moderator, object. !
The committee of five have made report, |
which has never been accepted or rejected.
We have done an unpleasant duty, and if
YOU ever catch us in place like this again it
1~a 1dar INV t1,ar ff,-d |