The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-05-27

lance, and though il is with deep sense of un-
fitness. But | am treasured by the confident
belief that / shall be aided in all the duties
which are imposed upon me by this position
| by your general cooperation aud at your kind
| forebearance will condone and supplement my
deficiencies. Ii shall be my earnest endeayor
to the utmost of my ability to fulfill the office
which you have placed in my hands and hope
that my errors and my failures VII. be at
| trbuted 10 an adyertancs and inexperience,
and will lie either overlooked kindly or be
promptly corrected by your superior wisdom.
| From the very nature OF the case the task OF
presiding over such an assembly as this must
be comparatively light where, ali the members
animated by one spirit, ore seeking one great
end and have as their supreme desire the pro-
motion of the glory of God and the advance
ment OF the kingdom OF our blessed Savior. In
all the differences Of judgement that NAV arise
with regard to the questions that shall cone
before you for consideration, it may be ex-
! pected that brotherly love will prevail and
that each will recognize and regard the feelings
and the motives by which others are actuated.
Ia regard to any question that shall be excit-
ing arising. il shall be well for us if the ad-
monitiOn given by the apostle is borne IN mind
TO be swift TO hear. slow to speak and slow to
wrath"
We are sure that the most kindly spirit will
prevail. We are sure that where there is an
earnest adherence to principles, and there is
an earnest seeking of that which is conscien-
tiously felt to be right and to be true neverthe
less, there will be nothing said and nothing
| done that shall wound feelings or that shall
create any needless irritation. that shall do
any injury that cannot be easily correeted.
! Brethren and fathers, the eyes OF many are d.
| rected toward this assembly, and many prayers
| have been offered to God for this assembly.
| May the God of all wisdom and OF all grace SO
repienish every member of this body with HIS
| holy spirit and so guide in sll our delibera-
tions, and so direct all our conclusions, that ell
may issue for the furtherance OF His word OF
! truth, for the purity and the peace aud the
prosperity OF our beloved church, and for the
glory of His own great name. Applause.
Following is synopsis of what the an
nual reports to the general assembly will
show:
The report of the home mission board will
show that the fiscal year closed with a debt of
about 100000 hanging over the work. The
causes OF the debt have been the unexpected
falling off of legacies, which were 100000 less
last year than for the previous year. During
the year the board of education has had under
It's care 500 candidates. an increase of $50 iover
last year. The total receipts were SSO,6006l
an increase of s., 67027 over the previous year.
still there is deficiency. and, with SS,7C0 debt
hanging over from previous years, the board at
the close of the fiscal year, April II, was $40.
90 in debt.
The report of treasurer of the board of mis-
sions for freedmen shows just enough money
on hand to pay all liabilities. The total re-
shows falling off, as compared with the
previous year, which is accounted for by the
fact that during the year 1890 the board re-
ceived S34, 900 in the shape OF two legaces.
During the year 800 ministers and teachers
have been supported in the field, and $4,000
has been added to the real estate values owned
| by tho board. The churches and pupils dur
ing the year contributed $4,000 toward self
support from the Sabbath school. Mission
aries during the year have established 1,209
.xrftk A taa ova1 4 Al 0hr.la
They have given away 1902 bibles, 61,294
books, 14601, Az tracts, and 1895 bibles for re-
citing the shorter cateohism.
The board of aid reports 2.173 contributing
churches against 2,O30 lest year. OF these All
are encouraged by the board under promise
TO contribute to their neghboring schools.
This has the effect of decreasing the amount
| actually coming into the treasury so that this
year ii only amounts TO $50, 502.93 but the en-
tire volume of collections is S39,77S30 as
against S35, 1878 last year. Total receipts.
property included, SIS. 303.26. Grand total
from all sources $l46,3s7.15; last year,
| S94, 6J9.31.
The board Of foreign missions is still in debt.
The Occidental board Pacific coast received
| Sl0.S5l.3l; southwestern board, 81, 1870; New
York women's board of foreign missions, $67,-
! 09972; women's board of Northwest, $909l4l5;
women's foreign missionary society of Philadel-
phia SI24,0O The women of the church have
sent TO the mission house during the year $780,
i
sos, 726.7S which. with unexpended balances.
gave il total working capital O. Sl26,142. The
total membership Of the presbyterian church,
including the Dutch and German reformed
churches, in the world in Is. o 20. 265, 800,
Of which ,562. 500 were IN the United States.
DETROIT, May 22.-The presbyterian
general assembly met at 9 n. nv. this
morning. After session of prayer and
conference led by the Rev. DR.. ;. {. Logan
OF Scranton, Pa, the minutes were read
aud standing committees were announced.
| The stated clerk read the list of the pres
| byteries that have assented to the pro-
! posed change in the methods of amend
ment to standard. Ninty-one voted ave
seven. nay six refused to report and four
teen have not reported. committee of
three ministers and two elders were APP
pointed tn canvass these returns. The
stated 81 rk read a statement as 10 the
overture on deaconesses. A committee
was also appointed to canvass these re-
| turns. The report Of the committee on
the revision Of the confession of faith was
read by the chairman, the Rev. William
| G.. Roberts, ID. D., president of the Lake
Forest university lie said, in introduce
ton. that the copy from which he was
reading was the only correct one and that
he regretted that some of the daily
papers had by some means got hold Of and
| published one of the partially incorrect
copies which were distributed TO the as
sembly.
The following abstract contains every
thing of importance in this important and
eagerly expected report, which, it is be-
! lieved, will be the most engrossing subject
that will come before this session of the
assembly.
The following is an abstract Of the
changes recommended by the committee
on revision:
In chapter OF the holy scriptures. sec. 8,
are inserted the words "and the truthfulness of
the history, the faithful witness OF prophecy
and miracle" as among the arguments Tor the
aspiration Of the scriptures.
Chapter "of Gods eternal decree" has secs.
l and unchanged and secs. 3 and stricken
| out.
Sec. 8, which is the portion Of the present
confession relating to REORGANIZATION, becomes
sec. 3, and amended to read as follows: "GOd,
before the foundation of the world was laid,
according to His eternal and immutable pnr-
| pose and the secret counsel and good pleasure
| OF His will, hath predestined. ONE of mankind
to life, and hath particularly and unchangaebly
chosen them in Christ unto everlasting glory,
| out of His mere free grace aud love without
any foresight of faith. or good works or perse-
verance in either OF them or any other thing in
/ the creature as condition or causes moving
Him thereunto. and TO the praise of His glori-
Gus grace"
Sec. 6 remains unchanged and becomes seo 4.
| Sec. was amended and becomes sec. 3, and