Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1891-05-30
THE PRESBYTERIANS.
The 1O3d General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church
In Session at Detroit, Mich.-Rev. William
ii. Green Chosen Moderator-Action
on Revision of the Creed-Syn-
opsis of the Annual Reports.

opsis of the Annual Reports.
DETROIT, May 21.-The six hundred
delegates to the 103d general assembly
of the Presbyterian church and hun
dreds of spectators assembled in the
Fort street church between 10 and II a
m. to-day, and many were the greet
ings and handshakings between old ac
quaintances and friends who for years
have made these annual gatherings q
time of reunion.
Shortly after IL a. m Moderator Viii
liam E. Moore, of Columbus, O., as
cended the platform and called the dis,
tinguished convention to order. After
the customary devotional exercises he
proceeded to deliver his sermon. His
theme was the reasons that led God tc
send His son to earth 1t was a master.
full discourse, eloquently delivered
The general assembly reassembled at
o'clock and after prayer by the mod
orator. the stated clerk called the roll
and nominations for moderator being in
order, Rev. DR.. Diclsey, of Philadelphia,
In brief speech nominated Rev. Prof.
William II. Green, of Princeton theolog-
ical seminary. Rev. George d. Baker,
of Philadelphia, formerly of Detroit,
seconded the nomination and urged that
DIR. Green be elected by acclamation.
On motion it was voted to suspend NOM
nations and decide the matter by ris-
ing vote, which resulted in the unani-
nous choice of DR.. Green.
The new moderator was conducted to
the chair and duly installed In brief
address he expressed his gratitude for
the confidence the assembly reposed in
him; asked their assistance in perform
ing the duties of his Office, and closed as
follows:
In regard to any question that shall be exct,
ing arising, it shall be well tor us If the admon.
ition 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 principle and
there is an earnest seeking of that which is
conscentiously felt to be right and to be true,
nevertheless there will be nothing said and
nothing done that shall wound feelings or that
shall create any needless irritations or that
Shall do any injury that cannot be easily cor,
rected
Brethren and fathers, the eyes of many are
directed toward this assembly and many
prayers have been offered to God for this as.
sembly. May the God OF all wisdom and Of all
grace so replensh every member OF this body
with His holy spirit and so guide in all our de.
liberations and so direct all our conclusions
all Fgu, 81
word of truth, for the purity and the peace and
the prosperity OF our beloved church and for the
glory of His own great name.
At the conclusion of Moderator Green's
address the assembly adjourned until
tomorrow.
SYNOPSIS OF ANNUAL REPORTS.
Following is synopsis of what the
annual reports will show:
The report of the home mission board will
show that the fiscal year closed with debt OF
about sl0OOO0 hanging over the work. The
causes of the debt have been the unexpected
falling off of legaces, which were SlO00OJ less
last year than for the year previous During
the year the board Of education has had under
its care S69 candidates an increase OF 20 over
last year. The total receipts were $50, COS g. an
increase Of S. $40 81 over the previous year; still
there is deficiency, and, with S. 100 debt hang
ing over from previous years the board at the
close OF the fiscal year, April 10, was $4,000 in
debt.
The report of the treasurer Of the board OF
missions for freedmen shows Just enough money
on hand to pay all liabilities. The total receipts
for the year were sl55,01S 10, which shows a fall
ing OF as compared with previous year which
is accounted for by the fact that during the
year 1880 the board received s3i go in the shape
OF two legacies. 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 the board The churches and
pupils during the year contributed $4,000 to.
ward self support
The Sabbath school missionaries during the
year have established 1909 schools with 1873
teachers and 40,52S scholars They have given
away 5 692 Bibles, 81, 2gi library books 4GUli i79
tracts, and 1906 Bibles for reciting the shorter
catechism.
The board of mid reports 2l73 contributing
churches, against 2,030 last year. OF these AZ
are encouraged by the board under promise
10 contribute 10 their ncighboriny schools.
This has the effect OF decreasing the amount
actually coming into the treasury, so that his
year il only amounts to $50 ~! 49, but the entire
volume OF collections is s3l71S50 Cs against
SIS, 49, 10 last year. Total of receipts, property
included, sSq, q,3032 2G. Grand total from all
sources Slid, SS7 II: last year, S)i,65a.il.
The board OF foreign missions is still in debt
The occidental board (Pacifc coast received
q
York wOmens board OF foreign missions ~
03a7 74; wOmens board OF the northwest, $50
Pl4 II; womens foreign missionary society Of
Philadelphia, sl2ioO0. The women OF the
church have sent TO the mission house during
the year $4,000, The board OF church erection
received sos i26 1S which with une pended
balances, gave it total working capital Of
Sl21,Gr22S
The total membership OF the Presbyterian
church, including the Dutch and German Re-
l4l.s. al. tt Tho.
2GiI0J, OF which l,562,s99 Were in the United
States
DETROIT, May 22.-The Presbyterian
General Assembly met at a m. this
morning. After season of prayer and
conference, led by Rev. DR.. S. c. Logan,
of Scranton, Pa, the minutes were read
and the standing committees were an
nounccd. Following are the chairmen
of the most important committees:
Bills and overtures, Rev W L. Moore: Judi.
cial Rev. Charles A. Dickey; church polity,
Rev. George d. Baker; home missions Rev.
ii. G. Haydn; education, Rev. John Eaton; pub
Butler; church erection, Rev. w l.. Bartlett;
theological seminares, Rev. +. l.. Patton;
ministerial relief Rev. J. L. Smith: freedman,
Rev. L. Erskine; aid for colleges, Rev. G p.
nays, CuEEtspuuutuCt, NOV, "a II. luuHuTs
benovolence Rev. S. G. Logan charity, Rev A.
w. Raymond temperance, Rev. James S Ram
say; leave OF absence, Rev. John Goodon, mile
age, Rev. f. shepherd; finance, Charles 7.
Thompson.
The clerk announced that the over
lures of the presbyteries on the sub
ject of the revision that had been re-
ceived during the year showed a total
of l2l in favor and six against revision
The following is an abstract of the
changes recommended by the commit
tee on revision:
In chapter l., ''of the holy scripture"
section 5, are inserted the words land
the truthfulness of the history, the faith
ful witness of prophecy and miracle"
are inserted as among the arguments
for the inspiration of the scripture.
Chapter ill.,, "of God eternal Decree"
has sections and unchanged, sec
tons 3 and stricken out
The doctrines of justification, of saw
ing faith, of good work and of religious
worship, received only verbal changes.
In the pronouncement upon the law
full oaths, 'popish monastic vows" are
described as simply ''monastic vows"
changes with regard to the term
''papist" are made in the chapter on
and divorce, and the pope of
Rome ceases, in the revision, to be de.
scribed as anti-Christ The sacrifice of
the mass is also referred to as a Roman
Catholic doctrine, rather rthan"Popish,'
ht,t poptinuas to ha docippatad N o bop,-