The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-19
Prof. Briggs aud His Prosecutors Con.
spicuoas Figures in the Gathering.
Sermon of Rev. DR.. fOung. the Retiring Mod.
erator-Rrsolution Protesting Against OPEN
ing the Columbian Exposition on Sundays.
THE NEW MODERATOR.


Rev. Wills Greene Craig, of Mccormick
Seminary, Succeeds DR.. Young
WASHINGTON. May 1S-The General As
sembiy Of the Presbyterian Church of the
United States. began its one-hcndred- ands
fifth annual session here to-day. In the
afternoon Rev. Willis Greene Craig. ID. d.,
IL. d.. was elected moderator. Mr.. Craig
is man about sixty years OF age. He wac
born in Danville. Ky. educated at Centre
College. that State. ana after travelling
abroad. entered the theological Seminary
at Danville, graduating ia 1860. He &C.
cepted the call 20 the Westminster Presby.
terian Church at Keokuk. Ia. where. as
pastor. he renamed for period of twenty.
two years He was called In 1851 to the
chair of church history in the Mccormick
Theological Seminary. Chicago. but the
church entered such vigorous protest
against DR.. CraiG's removal that the pres
bytery refused to sever the relations. The
call to Mccormick Seminary was repeated
In 1882, with the result that the presby ytery.
being urgently pressed. sanctioned the
change and he entered upon his duties. DIR.
Craig married a Kentucky lady and has q.
son in the ministry. lie is q cousin Of
Vice. president Stevenson.
This is the second time the assembly has
met in the capital of the Nation. but the
one that convened here to-day is q strik.
ingly different one from that which met
here in the Fourth Presby yterian Church In
1852, as widely different as the conditions
of to-day are from those of that date. That
was about midway of the period during
which the church was divided into the old
and new school factions. and the assembly
of 1852 was of the new school only. All
the churches in this city. with one excep-
tion. then belonged TO the now school
branch. That was the organization out of
which grew the host of 1888.
The scene In historic New York-avepue
Church this morning was inspiring. Every
nook and Granny was filled. and had the
capacity of the church been twice as great
1T would not have accommodated all who
desired 10 be present. On the main floor
were seated the commissioners and Others
having business In connection with She as
sembly. On the platform were the offcers
Rev. DR.. William Alvin Bertlett. the clerk,
able and eloquent pastor OF the church and
chairman of the executive COMMITTEES in
charge of all arrangements for the gather
ing.
BRIGGS AND HIS OPPONENTS.
Doubtless the most prominert IN the
| gathering of to-day were those connected
| with the famous Briggs case in its trial be.
| fore the New York Presby terry, an appeal
from whose judgments has been taken to
| the General Assembly. First and foremost
| OF these. Of course. was Professor Briggs
| himself, aggressive and confident as when.
on the day of his Inauguration, in $780, as
professor of biblical theology in Union
| Seminary. be startled the church with an
| expression of his views concerning tho in
! tegrity of the Bible. OF his supporters
there were Revs. Francis Brown, also Of
| Union Seminary, who supports him 10 the
fullest extent; George ID. Alexander. Geo.
l.. Spinning and Charles l.. Thompson. all
commissioners OF the New York Presby-
terry.
Dividing with this com binatioD, although
not commissioners to the assembly. the At
tention of the spectators. were mem bers Of
| the committee which prosecuted Professor
Briggs before the presby terry. 1t included
Rev. q. w. 4. Birch, Joseph j. Lampe. II.
L. sample. Prot. j. J. Stevenson of New
| York University. and Elder j. J. McCook.
| The latter Is one of the famous family of
| fighting McCooks" which sent nine broth.
ers into the war of the rebellion. two OF
| whom survived. He is q cousin OF Gen. An
son q. McCook. Secretary of the Senate.
| and . DISTINGUISHED lawyer of New York.
lie is an elder In DR.. John Halls church.
Revs. Birch and Lampe and Elder McCook
| are the talking members of the CO coIlmittee,
anu will again be pitted against Professor
Briggs when his oase comes up for consid-
| GRAFTON. There was another Professor
| X,
from the western end of the State-BuffaIo.
AS far as the East 10 from the West. 30 far
| is Prof. Horace Briggs from Prof. Charles
| Briggs in his theological views. being
strictly orthodox, and at the same time one
| OF the kindlieet men In the assembly.
Almost equally prominent with Prof.
| Charles Briggs was the Rev. DIR. Henry
Preserved Smith, of Lane Theological Semi
nary. Cincinnati. He has recently been
| tried on charges similar to those made
against Prof. Briggs. but. unlike him. con-
| victed In the presbytery. An appeal has
i been taken TO the Ohio Synod. whore il
will be heard in October. Young and old
were represented Dy Rev. Luther II. Angler.
| of Boston. the oldest living graduate of
| Union Theological Seminary with one ex-
| cepsion the sole survivor of the class Of
1886. and Rev. w. III. COrnant. who repre-
| sected the extreme OF Location as well a.
| age. being commissioner from Spokane
| Fails. Wash. In personal appearance DR..
Angler resembles the English Premier. and
ls locally known as the Gladstone of ths
| Boston Presby terians.
THE MARTYRED LINCoLN's PEW.
| While the commissioners were gathering.
the galleries and corridors were filed to
overlooking long before the hour fixed for
the opening of the assembly. They found
much to engage their interest in the church
itself. New York-avenue is eminent
among places OF worship in the Union as
| having had among it's pewh olders several
| Presidents of the United States, as well az
for the ability and high character of Its
| pastors Almost the first object in the
church to strike the eye upon entering is @
| black walnut pew on the north side of the
| center aisle, the only of that colcr IN
tho room. all tho others being of oak. It 10
the pew which President Lincoln occu pied
| when in attendance. and was replaced IN
anticipation OF this meeting OF the assem-.
| bly,. The action was taken at the ann al
| meeting of the church in March last, az
which time Dr. Bartlett said: There is
| no greater religious relic in the world aud
no greater relic anywhere than this pew.
where Abraham Lincoln sat 90 worship his
| God. Were IL made of DIRT mud 1 would
| rathor SIT IN it than another of pure gold.
It will be Mecca for Presby terians, and
an education IN patriotism for our children
and our children's children"
Promptly at IL o'clock Rev. DIR. w. G.
Young. moderator of the assembly. ap-
peared upon the pulpit platform and tool
his seat. accompanied by Revs. w. ii.
Roberts, OF Cincinnati. the stated clerk;
w. Z. Moore. OF Columbus. permanent
clerk: Joseph 4. Smith. of Baltimore
moderator of the centennial assem- bly,,
Charles l.. Thompson. of New York; w. &.
Roberts. secretary of the board of homs
mission. and Herrick johnson. of Chicago,
ex-Jnstice Strong; Ex-Governor Beaver. of
nsylvania; Revs. Dr. Wm. Alvin Bart
lett. pastor of New lork-ayenue Church,
and Tennis S. Hamlin. Byron Sunderland
and b " V. Holmes DR. Bartlett m.