St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-05-22
PRESBYTERIANS MEET
One Hundred and Third Cen
eral Assembly In Session
at Detroit.
Rev. William H. Green, of
Princeton, Is Named AS
Moderator.
The Case Of Prof. Briggs May
Put the Assembly In a
Dilemma.
Revision Will Be Upon Fri
day--Reports Of Various
Boards.

DETROIT, May 21.-Ihe work OF the
general assembly of the Presbyterian
church is proceeding very expeditiously
and in harmony, so that either the SEES
sion will be shorter than was antici-
pated, or else there will be more time
for debate on burning questions. The
case of DIR. Briggs may involve curl
Gus dilemma-either the assembly must
prejudice the impending trial of Prof.
Briggs before his presbytery by veto
OF his transfer to the chair of Biblical
theology, or it must endanger the va
hdlty of its veto next year-should
such action then seem desirable, by post
poning its decision. Another course Is
open, and may possibly be taken if the
friends of Prof. Briggs are unyielding-
the assent of the assembly to his trans
fer; or new appointment may be with
held OH the ground OF his generally adj
mltted discourtesy toward opponents,
and of his indiscretion in the method
and time of promulgating beliefs that
upon their face are in conflict with the
standards. 1t is rumOred that Prof.
termination to contest every
point. carrying into the civil
courts and up to the highest courts any
points involving civil rights, and thus
keeping up conflict, it NAV be, for
years. Among the announcements for
evening excursions this afternoon it was
noticed that banquet Thursday even
ing of next week was to be followed by
an "arouSement" on temperance the
next night One thoughtful person
whispered that the committee had taken
care to have the banquet first-either that
the temperance meeting might serve as a
tonic to the cOnsciences violated by the
indulgence of banquet, or in order
that none might forego the banquet
from premature awakening of their
Scruples.
DIR. Green for Moderator.
The assembly convened in the First
Presbyterian church of this city. Rev.
DR.. William E. Moore, of Cincinnati.
moderator of the last assembly. deliv-
cred the opening sermon. When NOM
nations for moderator were declared in
order, Rev. DR.. Dickey, of PHILADELPHIA.
addressed the association. He said that
his own convictions and those of MANY
friends moved him to nominate brother
beloved, Rev. Prof. William n. Green,
of Princeton Theological seminary. Rev.
George ID. Baker. now of Philadelphia,
formerly pastor of the First Presbyterian
church, Detroit, seconded the nomina-
ton, urging that DR.. Green be elected
by reclamation. On motion it was voted
TO suspend nominations and decide the
matter by rising vote. which resulted
i'll the unanimous choice of DR.. Green.
who was then escorted to the platform.
where he was welcomed by the retiring
moderator. Rev. William IL. Green is
sixty-six years old, an alumnus of
Princeton, and for the past forty wears
has been occupant of the chair of ORR
entail and old testimony literature at
Princeton. He has written a Hebrew
grammar and other text books, and was
one OF the translatOrs of Langes' COM
mentary. He is considered one of the
safest and most learned men in the
church.
Dr. .. /. Lowry, chairman of commit
tee of revision of proof texts, reported
that the committee had finished its re-
vision on the proof texts of the confess
siOu of faith. Since then the same has
been done for the larger catechism. 1t
was recommended that the report be
printed in the minutes, and the report
on revision of the confession was made
the business for Friday at 10 a. m. The
committee on consensus of creed re-
ported that it had held meetings and
sent circular to the reformed churches
holding the Presbyterian system
throughout the world. The death OF
DR.. Howard Crosby was spoken of as a
great loss to the committee, and DR..
Dickey was named as a suitable person
TO take his place.
Board Reports,
The report of the home mission board
shows that the fiscal year closed with
debt of about 100000 hanging over the
work. The causes OF the debt have
been the unexpected falling off of lega-
cies. which were 100000 less last year
than for the year previous. During the
year. the board of education total re-
ceiptS were $S0,606.6l, an increase of
S5,67O.27 over the previous year;
still there is deficiency, and
the board at the close of the fiscal
year, April ID, was $4,000 in debt.
The report of the treasurer of the board
OF missions for freedmen shows lust
enough money on hand to pay all liabil-
tiles. The board of aid reports 2, l73
contributing churches, against 2.O3O
last year. The entire volume Of coIlec-
lions is 500. 17S.30, as against $50, 1878
last year. Total of receipts, property
included, S89,30326. Grand total from
all sources, SAG, 3S7. Is; last year, S94.-
659.3l. The board OF foreign missions
is still in debt, though the women of
the church have sent to the mission
house during the year $4,000. The
board Of church erection received $685.
726.7S, which, with unexpended bal
ances, gave it total working capital or
S126,642.2S. The total membership of
the Presbyterian church, including the
Dutch and German Reformed churches,
in the world in 1890, was 20, 265. 500, of
which 1,562,S99 were in tue United