Los Angeles herald., 1891-05-28
CHRISTIAN WORKERS
The Presbyterian General
Assembly.
Interesting Statistics on Church
Property.
The Report of the Committee on the
Briggs Case Read.
Old School Presbyterians Quibblins
About the Suffrage-The Luth-
erAn Synod. Etc.
Associated Press Dispatches.

Associated Press Dispatches.
DETROIT, May 27.--After devotional
exercises at the Presbyterian general
assembly, this morning, DR.. johnson re-
ported favorably on religious exhibit
at the worlds fair.
DR.. Nichols read report from the
committee on increase of the ministry,
with particular reference to the recep-
tion of ministers from other denomina-
tions. Referred to the committee on
church policy.
The standing committee on foreign
missions reported. The report notes
'a the resignation of John G. Lowrie, ID.
d., senior secretary, and the appoint
ment OF David Gregg, D. D., to be q
member OF the board; also of Field Sec
retary, Rev. Thomas Marshall. M
The treasurer's report for the year
ending April 30th, shows: Expendi-
lures, $973, 900, which, with the short
age from last year, leaves deficit OF
$4,000.
An unusually large number OF candi-
dates applied for foreign work last year,
and seventy-three were found QUALIFIED
and sent out. The aggregate addition to
mission churches is 2S75. An increase
in pupils !, in. schools is shown, as
is also growth in favor OF medical mis-
sions. The work was Kindred greatly
by the war between Guatemala and San
Salvador, and by the present strife in
Chile, but encouraging reports are re-
ceived from elsewhere.
xofn ~f bo <<.f
proper committees, the recommends
tions OF the committee on the report OF
the foreign board, were adopted.
Aminute OF regret on the death Mon
day night of ex-Moderator Van Dyke, of
Brooklyn, was adopted.
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 email working bal
ance heretofore carried from year
to year. The, steady advance of the
church requires an advance in church
erection. Tho amount OF aid asked the
last five years has been 81 per cent.
more than for the five. years before that.
More than half of the 1894 churches
give nothing to this board.
The income for the year was $126, ,642.
The aggregate value OF church and
manse property secured by aided
churches in the year was about $400, 600,
for which the board holds mortgages.
A careful estimate of the total value
Of the churches and manses owned
by the churches of the assembly in
the United States, is $75, 600, 900; about
two-thirds of this belongs to the
churches in the synods of New York,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Balti-
more. The board wants Sl60,000 this
year, and the formation of large loan
fund is recommended.
DIR. Bartlett yielded the floor to DIR.
Patton, who asked leave to read SO much
of the report on theological seminaries
as bears on the case of DIR. Briggs, in
order that it may be printed and dis
tributed to the assembly when it comes
up for action tomorrow.
The committee reply to SO much of
the report of the Union Theological
seminary as bears ON DR.. Briggs APP
pointment or transfer 10 the chair oil |
Biblical theology. "Our duty is a deli |
cate one,' says the report; especially |
as the Presbytery Of New York is trying |
him on the charge of heresy, and we
must not PREJUDICE the case which at
some future time must come before us
on appeal. The question before us is |
not that of his doctrinal scundness, but
that of approval by the assembly. We
admit that in one view the trustees may
have ground for their denial of the right
of the assembly to 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
right to forbid but the transfer simply |
assigns q duty, and with that the as
sembly has no right to interfere. Now,
while we think the assembly has con-
troll of both, yet in view of
the cordial relations always
existing between the trustees
of the seminary, it 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 disapprove of
the appointment of DIR. Briggs
to the Robinson chair of Biblical theol-
ogy of the Union theological seminary,
and that the committee of conference
with the trustees of that institution be
appointed by the assembly, to report to
the next assembly.
DIR. Bartlett resumed the report on
church erection, and made stirring ad-
dress, advocating the duty of helping
the Presbyterian cause as first and fore
most, and this through the board, in
stead of through private channels.
Adjourned.
There is great deal OF talk tonight
over Patton's report on Briggs. Briggs /
has quite a few friends, who speak for
q ~ |
will have two-thirds majority.
The general opinion expressed by
groups in conversation, seems to be that
the right Of veto must be exercised now,
or not at all