The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-24


Briggs. ana is looking improved IN health
by his journey. He is CHARTERED al the
Hotel Portland. aud Is prepared Tor any
duty which may be required Of him IN con-
nectOn with questions to come before the
General Assembly touching himself
Morning Session.
This morning the devotional exercises Of
the assembly were led by Mr. Buchanan Of
New York.
After reading the minutes the reports Of
special committees were taken uD.
Dr. Bartlett of Washington presented
report on the Indian schools. II was rec
commended that henceioTth all public moneys
for Indian schools should he expended by
Government officials, and that 6pprOprla-
tons for sectaTan schools should absolutely
cease. The constitutional amendment now
pending looking to this end was heartily APP
proved DR.. Bartlett addressed the assem-
bly, In support Of the Recommendation.
The order Of the day having arrived the re-
port Of the standing committee on missions
to freedmen was presented by DIR. Sutner-
land, chairman. Alter the reading Of he
report the assembly was addressed by DR..
Allen, secretary Of the committee. The re-
port of the Board Of Missions To the Freed
men showed that 81 missionaries have been
sent out during the year, that 800 churches
and missions have been aided aud 50 paT0
ehiRl and "A boarding schools maintained,
with a total OF 9229 pupils. The receipts
amounted to over SlG2,0O0, with eXpend-
lures about equal The board has also
under its charge 30 Sunday-scho0ls, win
1921 scholars. Two new school buildings
has been erected at a cost OF $50 900.
Property for church and school purposes
have also been purchased at Richmond,
Asheyille aud Little Rock Ten new
churches have been organized during the
year. For the coming year $3.50 600 IS asked.
Special orders were fixed follows:
RepCrg Of committee on conference with
the Uni Il Theological Seminary to-day at
2 o'clock.
Cooperation with other churches Tues
day at ] p. NJ
Correspondence with other ecclesiastical
bodies Thursday at II A. II.
Con fession of Faith.
The committee on bill and oyeTtures re
ported that it did not consider 1t wise, IN
view Of the present agitati0ns in the
church. TO proceed Immediately with the
preparation of a shorter creed. This shelves
the matter for another year.
The NAL report Of the committee on the
revision of the confession OF faith was pre-
scented. None Of The changes proposed i'm
pair the integrity of the CalVinistc system
Of confession. The action proposed by the
committee consists Of % OYertuTeS, each
one covering a change proposed 10 the con-
fesslOn. The report says: 1T was found
impossible 10 meet the individual prefer
euces Of every 'preSbytery without setting
aside what were known to be the views Of q
large majority Of the church. There was
no effort made 10 seek harmony at any sac
TIfce. The report is the best the committee
has been able 10 prepare after weeks Of
labor. 4 division into % sections VIII en-
able the church to approve single alterations
without endangeTug the whole revision.
The report is Internationally signed by y
members OF the committee ana with eXcep
tons Gy y. OF the . changes in the con-
fessi0n, Is are excepted to. The points COW
cred are DTeierItiOn, creation. covenant new
chapter on Holy spirit, mans fal, new
chapter on gospel pTedestinatl0n, effeetual
call, infant salvation, n0n-electOn and the
Lords supper
The expiration of the hour caused the con-
sideration OF the report 10 20 over as unfin-
ished business, which may come up at any
time
Standing of DR.. Briggs.
EThe special order for O'Clock was the
presentation Of th5 reports on conference
of the assemDly's committee with the
directors Of the Union Seminary by the vice
chairman Of the committee, DR.. William Z
Moore and By Mr.. Kingsley, secretary Of
the Unions directory, who had been sent
as special messenger by that body.
In each case there was double report.
The report prepared by DR.. Patton, the
chairman of the committee, gave a brief
account Of the proceeding al the conference
with the formal papers which passed at
that time. Ii ended with the single recon-
incubation that the status quo" be TecOg-
nized in the hope that some action may be
taken which may lead to an harmonious
adjustment OF all the matters at issue
The six members Of the conference COM
mitee at present in Portland have consulted
together, and they made q supplemental re-
port, IN which, after a statement Of the
status Of the question as understood by
them, the recommendation was made that
without surrendering its supervision and
control the questions at issue should be
submitted by the assembly to arbitration.
The seminary directors report on the con-
ference was then presented. 1t dwelt upon
the conference committees acknowledge
ment OF the parity Of the parties to the
agreement by which the veto power over
seminary appointments was granted to the
assembly ia 1870; and 1t was also shown
that the transfer of DR.. Briggs TO the chair
Of Biblical theology was not an election ac-
cOrdipg to the legal requirements in cleo
tons.
Small Prospect Of Settlement.
The directors add: The board respect
fully reports TO the assembly that il can but
regard itself as solemnly bound by It's in
depreciation OF the agreement, and must
discharge its duties accordingly. In 1870
this board conceded one thing, and
only one, 10 the General Assembly. That
one thing was the right to disapprove Of
the election or appOintme ut Of a professor.
II DR.. Briggs had been appointed to the
chair OF Biblical theology the dsaDprOYal
Of the assembly would have been decisive
with us. But professor can be elected in
this Institution only IN accordance with our
laws, and according 10 those laws Dr. Briggs
was not elected.
a memorial from the seminary was also
presented. IN which il was claimed that the
assembly at Detroit last year transcribed
lis power ndeT the agreement in such a
way as 10 inlet serious wrong upon the
seminary. TIE veto Of DR.. Briggs appoint
ment was the first test applied TO the ''agree-
ment," and il has proved disturbing to 1.-THE
peace and harmony Of the church" which
it was intended to promote.
The opinions Of DR.. Musgrave Professor
Archibald Hodge and Professor Henry B.
Smith were quoted to show the historical
sense OF the agreement.
The memorial proceeded to show that there
are more serious objections TO the assem-
bly's power Of veto than TO the right 10 elect
professors.
Directors Want Freedom.
The efficacy Of veto to protect the church
from heretical teaching was eEphatieally
denied. and the proper course WAS indicated.
professor to the disadvantage Of the latter
was Tepr0bated.
The directors say that they are charged
with a trust that must be kept lnylolate,
adding '0ur loyalty alike to the church and
TO the Union Seminary cODstrains us to be-
Ieye that il would be better for both the
church and seminary that the relations
which existed so tremendously between the
two for more than third of century De
fore 1870 should now be restored. ms
can be done without altering the Presbyte-
rian character OF the institution. for 1t was
PRESBYTERIAN before the veto was granted,
and all its history is thoroughly PresDyte-
raD."
,1off