Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-06-24


and the historian Froade declares that
one-haif the men who fought the British
al Bunker Hill were sons and grsndsons
Of Irish exiies. The matter is extreme
~ curious. and has been too much neg
leeted IN American school histories
When the British completed the con-
quest of ireland IN 1881. the adherents
OF the Established church IN that island
were buf oue-eleventh Of the total pop
ulation, while the Preshyterians and the
few Quakers and other Nonconfor,nists
were 3 third. all the rest being Catho-
lies. Nevertheless the government, with
. faulty that how seems hike insanity,
placed all the political power IL the
hands Of the smallest body. and in no
long time the Nonconformist ministers
were even forbidden to solemnize mar
riagss. Early In the Eighteenth century
religious liberty was fairly established
in America and the great exodus began
The Irish Quakers came almost in =
body. and within sixty or seventy years
over SOC. 600 Presbyterians followed. In
every section OF the colonies where they
were numerous they turned the scale
against England, and In upper North
Carolina, Is il then was. their religious
aud political leaders were the same.
There were seven Presbyterian dis
tricts in Mecklenburg county and all
chose delegates 70 the convention called
by Colonel Thomas Polk, great-uncle
to President Polk. In that convention
were one minister and nine ruling ell
ders, and % far - can now be ascer-
tanned every signer Of the declaration
was . member or attendant Of some
Presbyterian church. Elder Abraham
Alexander was chairman Of the conven-
ton. tho Rev. Hezekiah James Balch.
pastor Of the Poplar Tent congregation.
made the first address in favor Of indie
pendence, aud Adam Brevard. who made
the first draft Of it. has left his tsstimo-
ny that he took the Westminster stand
ards on the respective rights Of citizens
and subjects for his guide. The month
also contains another memorable ami
versary, that of the death Of Cslval,
who expired May "a, 1854.
Political and religious liberty arc no
longer in issue, but Professor Charles A.
Briggs and Union Theological seminary
are with Us, and the indications arc that
their case will be very effectually dis
posed Of at Portland. So far as the
presbyteries have overturned the general
assembly they are practically unani-
nous against the professors views. and
several call very emphstically for q Gen.
sure on the seminary. The presbytcry
ct Whitewater, Ark, unanimously re-
solved that it would recommend no man
for the ministry who should attend at
Union, and that Of Ebenezer, KY, de-
clared it's belief that the general assem-
bly, has the power and should exercise It
to remove any professor in any school
of the church whenever It believes that
the interests of the church demand it
These are but specimens Of the demands
sent up.
The veto of the Detroit general assem-
bly, on the appointments Sof DIR. Briggs
has been ignored by Union, and the
New York presbytery has dismissed his
JlSle as one not demanding trial at their
hands. So it would seem that the gen.
eral assembly viii have 10 deal with all
three, and very possibly with two or
three other professors and some minis
tiers who have indorsed the views of Dr.
Briggs. As the assembly will consist Of
the clearest headed men in the church
and be in the highest sense of the word
= deliberative body. it goes without say
} ing that its proceedings will be Of M
: tipual interest.
It was talented, industrious woman.
Mrs. Martha J. Coston. who perfected
the system of colored signal lights. as
now used on the ocean, in military
campo and along the seacoasts. Her
husband had the ideas. and had begun TO
work them out, when he died, leaving
her with the half completed plans ON
her hands. She patiently wrought ont
the system and has now the satisfac-
ton of seeing it used the world over.
Mrs. Coston lives in Washington.