The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-28
The Presbyterian Assembly Dis
cusses Foreign Missions and
Rev. Dr. Briggs.
Nearly Three Thousand Were
Added to the Fold in
Foreign Lands
Conservative Action on DIR. Briggs Case-
Total Value of Church Property
Loan Fund Urged.

DETROIT, May 2.-After devotional exer-
cises at the Presbyterian general assembly,
DIR. johnson reported favorably on re-
licious exhibit at tho Worlds fair. DIR.
Nicols read the report from the committee
on increase of ministry, with particular
refcronce to the reception of ministers from
other denominations. The stand committee
on foreign missions reported noting
the resignation of John G. Lowrie, DID,,
senior secretary, and the appointment of
David GreRR, DID,, to be a member of the
board; also of field secretary, Rev. Thomas
Marshall. The secretary's report for the
year ending April 80 shows expenditures of
$973,000, which, with the shortage from last
year, leaves deficit of $4,000. An unusu-
ally large number of candidates applied for
foreign work last year, and seventy three
were found qualified and sent out. The
aggregate addition to mission churches is
1876. An increase of pupils in schools is
shown, as ia also growth in favor of .medi-
cal missions. Work has been hindered
greatly by the war between Guatemala and
San Salvador, and by the present strife in
Chill, but encouraging reports are received
from elsewhere.
At tho afternoon session the standing
committee on church erection reported
Part of the year called for caution, owing
to the exhaustion of the special fund pro-
vided by l.. Il. Stuart ana of the small
working balance heretofore carried from
year to year. The steady advance of the
church requires advance in church erection,
The amount of aid asked the last five years
has been 81 per cent. more than for the five
years before that. More than half of our
1884 churches give nothing to this board.
Our income for the year has been S126,642.
The aggregate value of church and manse
property secured by aided churches
in the year was almost $500, 1000.
A careful estimate of the total
value of churches and manses owned by
churches of the assembly in the United
States is $4,000, 900. About two thirds Of
this belongs to churches in the synods of
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and
Baltimore. Tho board want $150,O00 this
year and the formation OF large loan fund
is recommended.
DR.. Bartlett yielded the floor to DR.. Pat
ton, who asked to read so much of the re-
port on theological seminaries as bears on the
case of DR.. Biggs. in order that it may be
printed and distributed to the assembly
when it comes up for action to- morrow.
The committee reply to SO much of the re-
port OF the Union Theological seminary as
bears on DR.. Briggs appointment or trans
fer to the chair of biblical theology reads:
"Our duty is delicate ono, es-
pecially as the presbytery of New
York is trying him on the
charge of heresy, as we must
not PREJUDICE case which at some time
must come before US on appeal. The ques-
ton before US is not that of his doctrinal
soundness. but that of approval of his elec-
tion by the assembly. We admit that in
one view the trustees may have ground for
their denial of the right of the assembly to
veto the transfer OF a professor from one
chair to another. The trustees of the semi
nary consider that original appointment
gives status, and that the assembly has no
right to forbid; but transfer simply
assigns duty, and with that the assembly
has no right to interfere. Now, while we
yet. in view of the cordial relations ALWAYS
existing between it and the trustees of the
seminary, it would be proper to appoint
committee of conference with them to report
to the next assembly," In accordance with
these views the committee recommend that
the assembly approve of the appointment
of DR.. Briggs to the Robinson chair of Bib
lioal theology of Union Theological semi
nary, and that committee of conference
with the trustees of that institution be ap-
pointed by the assembly to report to the
next assembly.
There is great deal of talk to- night over
Patton's report on Briggs. Briggs has
quite few friends who speak for him, but
it is thought the report will have two
thirds majority. The general opinion OK
pressed by groups in the convention seemed
to be that the right of veto must be exer-
cised now or not at all.