The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1892-06-01
THE PRHsBYrER1AN GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
Now in Session At Por,isnd Oregon

amendment is as fOllOWS;
sRes,ins any ny, es,seshent sds s q religion or pro
or authorize either tO be used. for the purpose Of
snes g, S
church religious denomination. religious society,
is wholly or in part under sectsrian ecclesiastical
control.
The report Of the standing Committee on
Home Missions was read by DIR. Mcpherson,
Of Chicago. The board began the year with
a debt OF nearly 100000 One million dol
lars were asked for last year, and contribu-
tions reached within $4,000 Of that amount,
If which over tsiS, 900 were available. The
present debt is $4,000.
WKpNEsDAY.-The Assembly considered
foreign missions to-day. The report was
presented by Dr. Allison. Of Philadelphia.
The years work was reviewed and appro-
PIRATE resolutions were introduced looking
toward futheranCe of the boards efforts.
The principal facts are rs follows: The
Board of Foreign Missions last year asked
for Sl00OOO0 and made is appropriation on
the basis of 81 100000. The receipts amount
ed TO over s9300O0. The board maintains 2l0
ordained American missionaries; lG5 or
dained and 255 licensed active workers, sus-
tanning 3Si churches with 30, i87 communi-
Cants. Additions TO the mission churches
have aggregated 3,430 lay workers number
l,49l. Schools are also supported containing
10000 pupils. with l61 candidates for the
ministry. The contributions from native
churches have amounted to nearly s40OO
The missions Of the board are located in Is
different countries.
Resolutions disappearing of the recent
Chinese legislation by the Government were
referred TO committee
The Committee on Theological Seminar
les reported through DIR. Mu,chmore That
portion referring to the Briggs case is as
follows
R.soircd, That according 70 the compact Of 1870
Semintry as Interpreted 10y the General Assembly,
Professor Erigss as not only failure TO comply with
She expressed action Of the Assembly Of isiI. but
compact and in those OF this General Assembly The
chair Of Biellca Theology In Union Seminary 6 still
vacant. The committee recommended that this A..
sem6ly regard: ihe maintenance ot the existing
Of the Instructions OF theological scminaries as
ya to ihe Interest s o. acs aud welfare q he
end this Assembly reaiiirins In harmony with the
action Of former assemblies that we regard the
veto over all a p9lntments OF professors or trans
fers from one eheir to another necessary in order
vision over the theological seminaries OF the de
nomination.
Dr. Taylor submitted q minority report,
as follows:
WHERE'S, The directors OF Union Seminary have
expressed In the hearing OF this Assembly the de.
1900 and whereas the last General issembiy's com.
Es 81 and lee dreetors OF Union
recognition each Of the others honesty and right Of
oi Isi0 yet admitted an rrtconciiS6e direrenee oi
opinion and reached no conclusion To the future
That oIa unn ThtoosSS hS,Gr Seminary he
hereby. and is allowed to houora6ly withdraw from
responsible, therefore.
Assembly 10 confer With ali theolosIcai .eminates
unler its supervision touching their views OF the
compact of ls;O and a new compact devised.
The report relating 10 Union seminary
~ of N 40 mi her
with all the overtures relating TO the same,
the report of the special committee of con-
currence, the memorial Of the directors of
the seminary and all other papers relating
10 the same.
The remainder of the session was devoted
10 the reading of the report of the prosecu-
ton committee in the Briggs case.
TnrEsDAY-The trial of Prof. Briggs Of
New York, was continued DR.. Young, the
moderator, announced that each side should
occupy an hour and half, discussing mere
J.. the c0nstitutional questions, without re-
ferring at all 10 the merits Of the question.
Dr. Birch, OF the Prosecuting Committee,
read his argument. He claimed that the
appearance of the Prosecuting Committee at
the Assembly was strictly constitutional, al
though il was general To go directly from the
Presbytery 10 the Synod. DIR. Birch argued
that the case was Of intense interest 10 all
Chrlstendom, and that no other question in
the history of the Christian church had
been more important or touched a more
vital doctrine, viz The authority of the
scriptures While DR.. Birch was reading
there was funeral stiffness all over the
house, not rustic was heard till he had
finished. DIR, Briggs also read his argument
and Colonel ]. McCook his reply 10 DIR.
by vote of SIS to "aIs8 is8
laid on the table the minority report of
the Judicial Committee, recommending that
kaa Hnal ha nnf A,at.. tafY nd 81
be referred to the New York Synod. By
large vote the appeal was entertained and
the trial was begun. When the report of the
New York Presbytery was presented, DIR.
Briggs raised the point of its inaccuracy as
compared with minutes taken by the Union
sem, ,nary's stenographer. II was thereupon
decided 10 receive both, and the Assembly
then adjourned until tomorrow.
FRIpAY.-The DR.. Briggs case occupied the
attention of the Assembly for the entire day.
SATuRpAY-The assembly adopted the re-
port Of the revision commmiitee, and the
sent TO the presbyteries for their action. The
Assembly practically finished consideration
of the Briggs case to-day. The action OF the
New York Presbytery IN dismissing the case
against Dr., Briggs was susteiped by vote
ot 4e9 10 81, and the case will be sent back
to the New YorS Presbytery for trial,
A resolution ordering the New York
Presbytery to proceed with the trial, was re-
ferred TO committee The Assembly de-
cided every feature of the disput. with the
Union Theological Seminary against that
institution, and declared that the chair of
Biblical Theology, now occupied by DR..
Briggs, is de jure vacant. A resolution was
also adopted that the Seminary is living in
defiance of the veto Of the transfer of DR..
Briggs, and insisting upon the maintenance
OF the contract as interpreted by the GEN
eral Assembly,
MoNpAY.-The General Assembly to-day
listened TO report of the special committee
appointed to prepare paper disposing of
the Briggs case, following up the decision of
Saturday, which was adopted, remanding
The case back 10 New York for a new trial us
soon as possible. The report of the Com
mittes ON sabbath Observance pledging the
members of the Assembly TO endepvor 10
secure the closing of the Worlds Fair on
sunday, and that II il was not done to alb
sent themselves from the Fair, was adopted
Consideration of the Briggs case will be re-
sumed tomorrow.