The record-union., 1892-05-25
Special to the REcoRp-uxroN.

the afternoon, the matters considered by
the General Assembly to-day have been
merely routine. The first matter of gen.
eral interest was the action taken recon-
mending the adoption of the proposed
sixteenth amendment to the Constitution.
Interiected into the afternoon session
was the preliminary report of the Judicial
Committee, upon which Briggs case is to
be introduced. The victory thus far ap-
pears to be with the anti-Briggs party by
a large majority. There were two re-
ports upon appeal from the action of the
New York Presbytery in dismissing the
case, as was prophesied some days ago;
but the forebodings of the conservative
were unfounded, since they are in de-
cided majority The decision in the
Assembly is awaited with interest, and
tomorrow at o'clock is the time liked
for hearing the case.
The first unpleasant episode of the ses-
sion occurred near the close, when DR..
Bartlett OF Washington referred in rather
sneerlng terms to the report OF the Com
mittee on Cooperation With Other
Churches.
After devotional exercises led by Dr.
Richmond of Louisville and the reading
of minutes the General Assembly heard
the report Of the Standing Committee on
Home Missions, read by DR.. Mcpherson
of Chicago. Attention was called to the
fact that the subject is one specially fitted
TO the place OF the meeting and the time
the four hundredth anniversary of Col
umbus' discovery. The report gave an
account of the work of the year as con-
Quoted by the Board of Home Missions
and of the support given by the church,
while the needs were set forth very
strongly. The board began the year with
q deDt Of nearly Si00,0U0 One million
dollars were asked for last year and the
contributions reached within $4,000 of
that amount, of which over SS43, 900 were
available. The present debt is S67. .0O0
Immense immigration has given this
board foreign work to do at home. The
report gives an account ofthe work in the
various States, conducted by I,479 mis-
sionaries in the churches, with member
ship of $50, 900 and school attendance of
l4l,OO0. During the year fifty-two
churches have become Self-sustaining.
The States having the most home mis-
sionaries are: New York, lao; Kansas,
ll2; Iowa, I02; Minnesota, 81: California,
81; Illinois, 81; Nebraska so; Michigan,
"A; the Dalotas, Il2; and the rest of the
States small number each.
An active discussion followed the re-
port, and the enthusiasm grew through
out the time devoted to the topic.
A popular meeting tonight will cap
the climax, for it will have before it this
subject and the object which in the main
brought the assembly to the Pacific
Coast.
The remainder of the morning session
was taken up with a discussion of the re-
port on home missions, and the discus
sion was only cut short by the arrival of
the noon hour. Sixteen recommends
tions looking toward the extension of
work were adopted.
The Committee on the Sixteenth
Amendment TO the Federal Constitution
reported indorsing the amendment now
pending in the House of Representatives,
which provides that no money raised by
taxation shall be appropriated for the
support OF any religious or sectarian pur
pose.
The Committee on Aid for Colleges and
Academies reported that total of SI45,-
coo had been received for that purpose
In fifteen colleges and twenty-one acade-
mies there are now l75 candidates for the
ministry.
The report of the Judicial Committee
on the appeal i'll the case of the trial of
DR.. Briggs for heresy was read and will
be acted upon tomorrow. The report
was read by Chairman Smith and begins:
presbyterian Church against Charles
y. Briggs, appeal from the Presbytery of
New \ Gork diSmissing the caSe-The re-
port finds that the Committee of Pros
NCuLlOii Hst4 lAIC LIZ " dppSol 1TOil the
final judgment of the Presbytery in dis
missing the case. An appeal had been
filed according TO sections 96and 81 of the
Book of Discipline, and it is in order
In the judgment of the committee the
appeal should be entertained and a time
set for hearing of the case.n
The minority report, signed by t. r.
Frazer, Thomas Gordon, Oswald p
Backus and George V. Ketchum, was
also read. 1t says: Whereas, the Book
of Discipline requires that appeals are
generally to be taken to the judiciary
immediately superior to that appealed
from and whereas, there are no sufficient
reasons for making an appeal against the
action of the Presbytery of New y orl in
dismissing the case against Or. Briggs
an exception TO this rule; therefore, we
recommend TO the General Assembly
that the appeal be not entertained; that
the papers in the case be returned 10 the
appellant, and that they be advised
TO bring their appeal or complaint before
the Synod of New York"
ARKANSAS PREsBYTERIANs.
HoT SPRINGS (Ark.), May 24.-The
Presbyterian General Assembly spent
much of the morning session debating
the question whether it is the duty of the
church to educate young men for the
ministry, and finally postponed action
on the subject.
The report of the special committee on
Sabbath was read this afternoon. 1t
strongly urges more strict observance OF
the Sabbath among the people, condemns
the attendance at places of amusements,
travel. reading worldly literature and all
secular pursuits upon the Lords day.
Earnest protests were entered against
opening the Worlds Fair on Sunday.
The report was adopted by large ma
jority.
THE METHoDIsTs.
OMAHA, May 24.-Bishop Hurst pre-
sided at the mornings session of the
Methodist Conference. The Committee
on Judiciary has reached the conclusion
that the word "laymen,'' in the disci-
pllne, where 1t provides for LAY repre-
sentation," does not include women.
After a sharp discussion this morning
the conference decided to allow the Ep-
worth League 10 have its own special Sec
retary. II was decided TO encourage
Young Peoples Societies of Christian
Endeayor and other such organizations
TO reorganiZe as branches of the Epwortb
League, in order To make the latter the
only young peoples society of the church.
This action, however, was someMh nat
modified later on the demand of friends
of the Young Peoples Society ofChristian
Endeavor who wanted the work of these
young followers OF the church recog-
nized.
The announcement was made that Rev,
G. A. Reeder of the East Ohio Conference
had given $4,000 10 assist in the erection
of Methodist headquarters IN the city OF
Rome, causing great enthusiasm.
After further action on the rules to gov
ern the Epworth League. Dr.. j. +. Berry
was chosen editor of the Epsg05th Herald
The report of the Committee on timer
ancy, recommending the abolishment oi