The morning call., 1891-05-28
THE CHURCHES.
Closing Session Of the Presbyterian As
sembly American Bible Society.

DETROIT, May 27.-After the devotional
exercises at the Presbyterian General As
semby this morning DR.. Johnston reported
favorably on a religious exhibit at the
Worlds Fair.
DR.. Nichols read a report from the Com
mttee on the Increase of the Ministry, with
particular reference to the reception of min
listers from other denominations. Referred
to the Committee on Church Policy.
The Standing Committee on Foreign Mis-
sions reported The report notes the resig-
nation of John. G. Lowrle, DID,, Senior
Secretary, and the appointment Of David
Gregg, ID, to be member of the board;
also of Field Secretary, Rev. Thomas Mar
shall.
The Treasurer's report for the year end
Ing April S0Ih shows expenditures S375,000
which with the shortage from last year
leaves deficit of $4,000.
An unusually large number of candidates
applied for foreign work last year, and sew
enty-tree were found qualified and sent
out. An increase i'll pupils Ill the schools
was shown, as is also the growth
in favor of medical missions. The work
was hndered greatly by the war between
Guatemala and San Salvador and by the
present strife in Chile, but encouraging re-
ports were received from elsewhere.
After a reference OF overtureS to the
proper committee the recommendations of
the committee Oh the report of the Foreign
Board were adopted.
A minute OF regret on the death Monday
night of eX- Moderator Vandyke of Brooklyn
was adopted, and the assembly adjourned.
At the afternoon session the Standing
Committee on Church Erection reported:
The work OF the year has called for caution,
owing to the exhaustion of the special fund
provided by L. r. Stuart and of the small
working balance heretofore carried from
m hn SfA To aAU nf
church required an advance in church erec-
tons. The amount of aid asked the last
five years has been 81 per cent more than
for the i've years before that. More than
half OF our 1894 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 $4,000
for which the board holds mortgages to hold
the property if the church abandons
it or it dissolves. A careful estimate of the
total value of the churches and manses
own I'd by the churches of the assembly in
the United States is $50, ,000, COO. A bout two
thirds Of this belongs to the synods of New
York, New Jersey. Pennsylvania and Balti-
more. The board wants $780, 600 this year,
and the formation of q large loan fund is
recommended.
DIR. Bartlett yielded the floor to DIR. Pat
ton, who asked leave to read so much of a
report on the theological seminaries as bears
on the case of DR.. Briggs, in order that
it might be printed and distributed
up for action Tomorrow. The commit
tee reply TO so much Of the report
of the Union Theological Seminary as bears
on DR.. Briggs appointment or transfer to
the char Of Biblical Theology: "Our duty
is a delicate one. especially as the PIesby-
terry of New York is trying him on charge
of neresy as we must not prejudge the case.
which at some time must come before Us on
an appeal. The question before us is not
that Of his dOctrinal soundneSS, but that of
the approval by the assembly. We admit
that in one view the Trustees may have
ground for their denial of the right of the
assembly 10 veto the transfer of professor
from one chair to another. The Trustees of
the seminary consider that the original
appointment gives the status and
that the assembly has no right 10
forbid, but the transfer simply assigns
duty, and with that the assembly has no
right to interfere. Now. while we think the
assembly has control of both, yet in view
of the cordial relations always existing be-
tween IL and the Trustees Of the seminary,
ii would be proper to appoint Committee
of Conference with them TO report at the
next assembly. In accordance with these
views the committee recommend that The
assembly diSapproye of the appointment oJ
DIR. Briggs to the Robinson Chuir of Biblical
Theology of the Union Theological Semi
nary, and that Committee of Conference
with the Trustees of that institution be APP
pointed by the assembly to report TO the
next SSembly.'
Dr. Bartlett resumed the report on church
erection, and made stirring address. advo-
eating the duty OF helping the Presbyterian
cause first and foremost, and this through
its boards instead Of private channels.
Adjourned.
Patton's report on DR.. Briggs. Briggs has
quite few friends who speak for him, but
il is thought the report will have a two
thirds majority. The general feeling ex-
pressed by groups In conversation is TO the
effect that the right of veto must be exer-
cised now or not at all.
REFORMED PREsBYTERIANs.
PITTsBURG, May 27.-The sixty-seeond
Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church
of North America began this morning with
200 delegates present The entire session
was devoted to prayer. This synod is a
branch of the Reformed Presbyterian
Church known as tbs old school, and the
same question will come before it that
caused split in 1S33-right Of suffrage.
After the session one of nine ministers sus-
pended for exercising The right Of suffrage
said: g Ii the synod sustains the suspension
and puts us out of the church, at least
twenty-five ministers will follow us"
AMERICAN BIRLE SOCIETY.
CINCINNATI. May 27.-The officers and
Society held its fifth annual meeting here to-
day.
LUTHERAN CHURCH WORK.
LEBANON PENN, May 27.-The General
Synod OF the Evangelical Lutheran Church,
at this mornings session, took up the Board
of Education business. The special purpose
of this board is to establish new colleges
and other schools for the church and to aid
new schools until they are amply endowed.
Ten thousand dollars is appropriated for
this board.
An offer was made to the General Synod
to-day through the Board of Education of
$4,000 to found Lutheran Seminary in
Omaha, Nebr., provided the church will
raise S150,000 in one year from July next.
REFORMED EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
CLEVELAND (0hiol May 27.-The thir-
teenh general council of the Reformed
Episcopal Church of America began here
to-day with delegates present from all parts
of the United States and Canada. Bishop
Falows of Chicago presided. To-day was
dau0tad fo hu