Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-05-28
The Subject of Earnest Dis
cussion by Presbyterians
NOW IN SESSION AT DETROIT.
Encouraging Reports Of Progress Made in
Various Foreign Lands-urgent Needs.
Sixty-second synod of the Reformed Pres
byterian Church of North America
in Session at Pittsburg-The
..Oid SCHOOL, Branch.
Northern PreSbyteria MS.

! terrain assembly WIS apparent by the large
! display of maps, showing the various mis-
| sion fields of the church. In the hour be-
| fore meeting the absorbing theme of con-
verSation was reports OF committees that
| had Investigated the affairs OF the board Of
| publication, and there seemed 4 demand
! that, as the subject had taken the serious
| phase OF open charges OF SANDER and fraud
no embarrassing report be adopted. The
| friends Of the board wanted the matter re-
ferred to committee for harmonys sake
but the members Of the board wanted au
investigation, saying their accounts were
al straight and they could prove it, to the
confusion of their enemies.
When the session opened it was decided
to change the order OF things so as TO defer
the report of the publication board till to-
morrow
Rev. Herrick Johnson of Chicago, for the
committee on an exhibit at the World 5 fair
| reported in favor of such display. 1t was
| possible 10 make Il splendid display, and
other denominations would Join with the
PreSbyterians The move required money
and work. A committee of nine would be
required. Board funds must not be
touched. for wealthy gentleman had as
sured the board that if the burden We're
laid on him he would supply all moneys. 1t
is surmised that Cyrus Mccormick of Chi
cago is the philanthropc individual who
will provide FUNDS.
The report was accepted and adopted.
An amendment TO rules for admission of
ministers from other denominations so that
they would have to pass some ,examina-
ton as new candidates for ministry was
offered Its constitutionality was doubted
on the ground that it infringed on the
rights of presbyteries and was referred to
the committee on church policy
Dr. Arthur Mitchell of New York, secre
tary OF the board of foreign missions. was
~. l.
China
DR.. Lane of San Paulo, Brazil, and DR..
Eddy of Beyrout, Syria, spoke on the prog
ress of missions at their respective homes.
The assembly adopted the report setting
aside $1,000, 900 to foreign missions and re-
elected the retiring members OF the foreign
missions board.
Recess was then taken.
AT THE AFTERNOON SESSION
number of bills and overtures were re-
ferred to appropriate COMMITTEES, and the
committee on religious exhibits at the Col
umbian exposition was appointed.
The chairman of the committee on cor
respondence recommended certain appoint
ments. and that the moderator telegraph
our greetings to assemblies of the Cum
berland, Southern, United and Reformed
Presbyte rian church, now in session"
Rev. James II. Dubbs, representative of
church in the United States George w.
Cham berlain, D. D., representing the
Presbyterian church of Brazil; and Joseph
Gallagher D. D.. were introduced and adj
dressed the assembly.
The moderator returned these greet
ings.
The standing committee on church cree
ton, through its chairman, William A.
Bartlett. D. D.. of Washington. d. c.. pre-
scented its report. The report said:
We are not allowed to incur
debt, but we have been enabled to meet
all appropriations pledged. The steady
advance of church requires all advance III
has been 1926, 6422 IS A careful estimate Of
the total value of the churches owned by
our assembly in the United States gives
s6SS, 0ls o.
DR.. Bartlett yielded the floor to Dr.
Patton, who asked leave to read SO much of
the report on theological seminaries as bears
on the case of DR.. Briggs, in order that it
may be printed and distributed to the as
sembly when it comes up for action to-
morrow.
Sixty-three presbyteries, whose names
he read have overturned the assembly as
to the utterance of Dr. Briggs. Some ask
special action, but the majority
leave to the assembly what it shall
be. The committee reply to so much
of the report on Union theological
seminary as bears on DR.. Briggs appoint
ment or transfer 10 the chair of Biblical
theology Our duty is a delicate one,
especially Us the presbytery Of New
York is trying him on a charge OF heresy,
as we must not prejudice 4 case which at
sometime must come before US on appeal.
The question before US is not that of his
doctrinal soundness, but that of the ap-
proval of his election by the assembly We
have examined the constitutional require
ments as to the duty and power of the as
sembly in forbidding such appointment or
transfer
DR. Patton quoted from the records as
well as from the appointments of professors
that have convinced his committee that the
assembly has the power to forbid the
transfer.
eve should have been willing to recon-
mend the reference of the subject to a COM
mfttee to report to the next assem-
bly,. but the control of the as
ssembly over the matter ceases with
the present session, and so we must act
now if at all We admit that in one view
the trustees may have ground for their de-
nial Of the right of the assembly to veto the
transfer of a professor from one chair to
another Besides, the assembly is one
party to compact with the Union theolog
tious in acting on it: The trus-
tees of the seminary consider that
its original appointment gives the status,
and that this assembly has a right to for
bid, Dut the transfer simply assigns duty,
and with that the assembly has no right to
interfere. Now, while we think the as
sembly has control of both, yet in view of
the cordial relations always existing be-
tween it and the trustees of this seminary,
it would be proper to appoint a committee
of conference with them to report to the
next assembly.
In accordance with these views the COM
mittee recommended that the assembly
disapprove of the appointment of DR..
Charles Briggs to the Edward Robinson
chair of Biblical theology of the Un ion
theological seminary, and that the commit
tee of conference, with the trustees of that
institution, be appointed by the assembly
to report to the next assembly,"
DR.. Proudfit of Baltimore, moved the &C
ceptance of the reports.
The motion was carried, and the report
accepted and the clerk was directed TO have
the report printed for circulation for to-
morrow morning.
Adjourned.