The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-22
MATTERS OF FAITH.
Annual Meeting of the Presby.
terrain Assembly at Detroit.
MUST DEAL WITH Or. BRIGGS.
A Baptist Clergyman Admits That He
Gsmbled with Mission Funds, hut
He Says He IL Sorry.

DErnorT, May 1.-THE 103d annual
meeting Of the Presbyterian general as
sembiy convened here this morning. Rev.
DR.. Radcliffe, of Detroit. invoked divine
blessing. After singing, Rev. DR.. Harton.
president of Princeton college, read the
sixteenth chapter of Isaiah. Rev. Dr.
Moore, of Cincinnati, moderator of the
assembly, delivered the opening assembly
sermon, from John xvii, "For God sent not
His SON into the world to condemn the
world, but that the world through Him
might be saved" Dr. Moore said:
God gives eternal life to the individual be-
lieving here and now, but the salvation OF the
world is accomplished through the personal
salvation OF husbands wives, parents, children,
master, servants, rulers, subjects. The unpro-
tected are hideously oppressed, and therefore
dangerous. The servile classes are elevated to
the position of brethren in tho church. Before
Christ came enjoyment and self-indulgence
were the objects of human aspiration. For this
the early church substituted helpfulness The
Presbyterian church has in the main been in
helpful touch with the needs of this world.
Agitation. upheaval, is not necessarily ruin:
like the heaving OF the sea, 1t may purify Com
pulsory legislation will not work reform unless
there is the active leaven that purifies indi-
never so good now, although there is too
much OF it, but we're Il perfect as to quantity
and quality IL is useless, or worse, unless
rightly interpreted, administered and enforced
and for this there must be such work as only
religion can effect. The family, the state and
the church are the three great factors for ailc-
waiting social, political and economical evils.
All three are OF divine institution, and can
never do their best work except as the life of
Christ pervades them.
After prayer by DIR. Moore the organiza-
ton OF the assembly was perfected. The
committee on arrangements reported.
At the afternoon session, nominations
for moderator being in order, Rev. DR..
Dickey, of Philadelphia, nominated Rev.
Professor w. III. Green. of Princetown
Theological seminary. Rev. George D.
Baker seconded the nomination, and DIR.
Green was elected by reclamation. The
newly elected moderator was then escorted
to the platform, where the retiring mod
orator welcomed him in brief speech.
Moderator Green replied, thanking
the assembly for the distinguished
token of confidence. He accepted
with deep sense of unftness. but feeling
that the task of presiding over such an
assembly as this must be comparatively
| light where all the members are animated
by one spirit, seeking one great end, and
have as their supreme desire the promo
ton of the glory of God and the advance
ment Of the Kingdom of our Blessed
Savior.
DR.. Wallace Radcliffe, pastor of Detroit
Fort street church, welcomed the assem-
bly, on behalf of the reception committee,
and he presented the moderator with
Michigan gavel made of wood from the
Pontiac oak that witnessed the MASSAGE of
1857, and from the old fort.
The committee on concensus of the
creed reported it had held meetings and
sent circulars to reformed churches hold
ing the Presbyterian system throughout
the world. The death of Rev. Howard
Crosby was spoken of as a great loss to the
committee, and DR.. Dickey was recon-
mended as a suitable man to take his
place. DR.. Macintosh reportedas to the
missionary magazine, the Church at Home
and abroad. that it is winning favor.
Other denominations are coming to
appreciate it greatly. There is
great neglect, however, to heed the recon-
mendation of the assembly that Presbyter-
ian families should take it. 1t could be
made quarter or half cheaper if 5000
who could well afford it would subscribe
for it. DR.. Lowrie, chairman of the COM
mittee of proof texts, stated that last year
the committee reported to the assembly
that it had finished revision on the proof
texts of the confession of faith, and since
then the same has been done for the larger
catechism. Adjourned till tomorrow.
The case of DIR. Briggs may involve
serious dilemma. Either the ASSEMBLY,
must prejudice the impending trial of
Professor Briggs before the presbytery by
vote on his transfer to the chair of bibli-
cal theology. or it must endanger the val
idity of its veto next year, should such an
action then seem desirable, by postponing
the decision. Another course is open assent
of the assembly to his transfer, or the new
appointment may be withheld on the
ground of his generally admitted dis
courtesy towards opponents and indiscre-
ton in the method and time of promul-
eating beliefs that upon their face are in
conflict with the standard. It is rumored
that Briggs has announced determine
ton to contest every point, carrying thsrE
into the civil courts and up to tn hieteH
courts on points involving civik rlG
and thus keeping up the conflict, iefe&
be for years.
PHILADELPHIA, May 21.-The
eighth general synod of the ref
Presbyterian church of North Al
opened here today. Rev. W. II. Ga
this city, was elected moderator, RI
B. Crawford, of New York, havin
clined Reports were received from
mittees this afternoon.