Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-05-22
PRESBYTER|ANS..
Opening Of the 10Sd General
Assembly
AT DETROIT, MICH, YESTERDAY.
Sermon of the Retiring Moderator, Rev.
DR.. Moore.
THE CASE OF REV. DIR. BRIGGS.
1t Must Be Considered, or the Cause of that
Gentleman Gains More Adherents--Rev.
Professor Green is Chosen Moder-
atOr on Rev. DR.. Dickey'S
MOtiOn---SynOpSis Of
Annual Reports.

DETROIT, MICH. May 21. - What
promises to be the most important
meeting in the history of the Presby
terian Church opened here to-day.
At IL o'clock this morning the one
hundred and third General Assembly Of
the Presbyterian Church met in the Fort
Street Church.
The last Of the delegations arrived
shortly before the opening and were
received by the local committees and
assigned accommodations. The New
York delegation had been here since
yesterday, but the Philadelphia and
New Jersey delegations missed railroad
connections at Cleveland and did not
arrive until this morning.
There were 600 Commissioners pres
ent when the Assembly opened. OF
this large number it was impossible TO
get any complete expression on the case
of DR.. Briggs. The New York delega-
tion, which was poled, stands about
three to one against DR.. Briggs. The
business of the day was opened prompt
ly at II o'clock by the call to order Of
the Moderator, Rev. w. r. Moore, ID.
D., OF Columbus, o. DR.. Moore deliv-
cred the opening sermon. After some
general declarations about the duty OF
the church, he proceeded as follows:
"It was not the least of the glories OF
the Presbyterian Church throughout
Il Al eho had in oil
tory stood in the forefront in securing
civil liberty. She had not only pleaded
for rights, but stood for them equally
fitm in the battle and at the stake. The
world was d better world to-day than
ever before, imperfect as it still was.
Preceding any great onward movement
of the Church there had always been a
widespread feeling of unrest. In our
land to-day there is deep sense in the
minds of the masses of men of the
pressure Of evils which grow out
of their surroundings, which are
not Providential and necessary,
but as they apprehend it, the
result of ill-adjusted relations of
men to each other in society. Chiefly
the burden of their grievance is the in
equality of condition in respect Of prop
erty, or of the compensation OF labor.
1t was not necessary TO go into the
causes. whether of those beyond human
remedy or those growing out OF ineifi-
cheney or of vices. 1t was enough that
it existed, and it was the duty Of society
to right it.
eve should not be alarmed at agita
ton. The restlesSness OF men under
inequality did not of necessity mean the
dissolution of society. 1t might be a
sign of revolution Men were no longer
content with the bare supply of food,
shelter and ralment; why should they
be? They needed and wanted not only
the necessities but the comforts OF life
independence for themselves and theirs,
as against pauperism and public charity.
They were sure there was a remedy for
the present condition, and they
were right. Society recognized the
fact that men would not all do right,
and prescribed law; tried TO compel men
TO do right or suffer the penalty. This
was an age OF legislation especially on
subjects relating to the morals, usages
and morals Of society. It's aim was TO
shield the weak, to restrain the strong,
to protect the labOrer, TO restrict the
employer, TO guard the weak against
the wiles of the seducer, OF the gambler,
of the liquor seller. We might sympa-
thize with the aim, but must weep over
the impotence of the means employed.
If law could have saved the world it
would never have been lost. The world
never had better laws than now. Every
recognized evil was forbidden by law.
They failed because they were human
laws.
Just now, cropping for remedy,
capital and labor were seeking to COM
bine and array one interest against
another Might is to decide, and the
weak are to yield. Yet it was hope
full sign that many of the most infuen-
tial of the leaders of the labor move
ment see that the true remedy lies in
right doing. There was also unrest in
the church. The demand for the revi-
sion OF her venerable standards did not
spring from dissatisfaction with the
foundation rock of the confession, Gods
eternal purposes, but chiefly from the
desire of fuller expression of the love
of God for the world. The gravest
questions which would demand the at
tention of the Assembly were those
which pertained to the standard, both
the subordinate and the supreme. He
prayed them TO approach these moment
Gus questions in the spirit OF unwaver-
ing loyalty TO the truth. "
Following is n synopsis of what the
annual reports TO the General Assembly
will show: The report OF the Home
Mission Board will show that the fiscal
year closed with debt of 100000