Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-05-13

land, Or. on May ~, and it will he the
most important that la, been held for a
long time. Questions are to he brought
forward for decision which farseeing men
think involve the very stability of the
church.
This is the first time that the assembly
has visited the Pacific coast, and it will lie
the first time that the ma ority of the 400
odd commissioners have crossed The Rocky
mountains. At the meeting in Detroit
last year there was IA sharp rivalry be-
tween several of the western cities for the
honor, but Portland finally captured it,.
Its representatives promised to entertain
free 200 commissioners, and to contribute,
if necessary $4,000 for extraordinary eX-
penses The sessions will be held in the
First Presbyterian church. The edfice is
well adapted for convention purposes. The
Rev. Arthur J. Brown, ID. d., is the pas
tor and he has been busy for months ar
ranging for the event.
The Presbyterian church now has Il
membership of over 100000 and its organ
ization is one of the strongest among reli-
gious denominations. The most important
matters to come up at Portland have di-
rect bearing upon doctrinal points. The
committee on the revision of the West
ago has prepared it's final report. and the
general assembly must say wht her it is
to be accepted The revision has been ag-
tated for nearly Il decade, and last year
the committee brought in a report which
was sent down to the presbyteIics for their
consideration. Nearly all of them had sug-
gestions to offer, and the committee met
again and drew up the modified report,
based on the action of the prosbyteries,
which is to come up at this assembly. 1t
tones down many things, but still pre-.
serves the distinctive CGlvinistic features
This has not satisfied the advocates of rad
ical revision, and many of them are now
in favor of preserving the original confess
sion for its historical worth, and want a
short working creed prepared for general
use. There is certain to be a sharp discus
sion of the whole matter.
Another point Of most vital interest is
the question of the general a. semblN's con
troll over the theological scminaries When
the appointment of Professor Charles a
Briggs to the chair of Biblical theology in
Union seminary, New York. was vetoed at
Detroit last year, Il committee was appoint.
ed to confer with the directors of Union on
the status of the institution and report
this year. Union seminary has dofcd the
authority of the general assembly by re-
tanning Professor Briggs. This has caused
a great deal of adverse feeling, and several
of the presbyteries have refused to send
their ministerial candidates to Union in
consequence. One or two of the presby-
teries go so far as to ask the general as
sembly to cut the seminary of from the
church entirely. There is another party,
however, that is for holding on to Union at
all hazards, and disciplining its directors
if they refuse to recognize the authority of
the assembly. The majority of the SEM
mary directors claim that the institution
is independent of the assembly under its
charter, and that the compact of 1870 by
which the privilege of vetoing appoint
ments was given to the assembly, was
illegal.
The situation is complicated by the fact
that Lane Theological seminary at Cincin-
natl has two or three ministers in its
faculty who are close to DR.. Briggs in their
views and whom some of the Cincinnati
Presbyterians of the old school have been
trying to remove in consequence, but 50
far without success. Lane is one of the
oldest of Presbyterian seminaries, having
been started by the Rev. DR.. Lyman
Beecher in $50.
The fate of Professor Briggs himself Sc
! far as his position in the church is con
cerned, as well as that of the institution
which has been brought under fire be
cause of his views, will be practically de
cded at Port land. Professor Briggs and
| his opinions are considered by some as the
great disturbing element in the church
During the past year the question of his