St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-05-19
HAS A KNOTTY CASE.
General Assembly Of the Pres
byterians Opens in Wash
ington.
Famous Case of Prof. Briggs
Will Come Up for Set
Element.
The Accused, Aggressive and
Confident, Is a Promi-
nent Figure.
Prof. Craig, Of Chicago, Elect
ed Moderator on the
First Ballot.

WASHINGTON, May 18-This city to-
day, the second time in its history, and
for the first time in forty-one years, is
entertaining the general assembly of
the Presbyterian church in the United
States. The body that convened in
105th annual session was striklngly
different one from that which met in
the Fourth Presbyterian church in 1852
as widely different as the conditions
of today are from that date. The scene
in historic New York Avenue church
this morning was inspiring. Every
nook and corner was filled, and had the
capacity of the church been twice as
great, it would not have accom- modated
all who desired to be present.
On the main floor were seated the
commissioners and others having bus
mess in connection with the assembly.
On the platform were the officers. The
general assembly Of the Presbyterian
church is notable gathering at any
time, and in any place, and in this great
city of conventions its personnel attracts
attention. Doubtless the most prom
inent in the gathering today were those
connected with the famous Briggs case,
in its trial before the New York pres
bytery, an appeal from whose Judgment
has been taken to the general assembly.
First and foremost of these, Of course,
was Prof. Briggs himself,
Aggressive and Confident
as when OIL the day Of his Inauguration
in 1890 as presiding professor of the
chair OF Biblical theology in Union
seminary, he startled the church with
an expression of his views concerning
the integrity of the Bible, the authority
of reason and the church, the superb
GRITTY of the Christianity of Newman
and Martineau over that of SpurgeOn
and progression or probation in the
future state. Almost equally prominent
with Prof. Briggs was the Rev. DR..
Henry Preserved Smith, of Lane Theo-
loIical seminary, Cincinnati. He has
recently been tried on charges similar
to those against Prof. Briggs, but UNI
like him, convicted in the presbytery.
An appeal has been taken to the Ohio
synol, where it will be tried in October.
The literary lights of the church shone
in full measure upon the assembly.
While the commissioners were gath
ering, the galleries and corridors were
filled to overlooking long before the
hour fixed for the opening of the assem-
bly,. They found much to engage their
interest in the church itself. New York
avenue is eminent among places of WOr-
ship in the Union, as having had among
its pew holders several presidents OF
the United States, as well as 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 one of that color
i'll the room, all the others being OF GA k.
1t is the pew which
President Lincoln Occupied
when in attendance, and was replaced
in anticipation of this meeting of this
assembly. The action was taken at the
annual meeting of the church in March.
Promptly at II o'clock Rev. DR.. w. G.
Young, moderator of the assembly, ap-
peared on the pulpit platform and took
his seat, accompanied by Revs. II. W.
Roberts, of Cincinnati, the stated clerk;
w. E. Moore, of Columbus, permanent
clerk: John T. Smith, of Baltimore,
moderator of the centennial assembly;
Charles l.. Thompson, Of New York; w.
Z. Roberts, secretary of the board of
home missions. and Herrick Johnson, of
Chicago; eX-Justice William Strong, eX-
Gov. Beaver, OF fennsy lvania; Revs.
DR.. William Allen Bartlett, pastor of
New York Avenue church, and Teunls
S. Hamlam, Byron Sunderland and S:V.
Holmes, of the local Presbyterian
al Sartlntf annnnnOnH
the hour of the beginning of
chorus from the messiah" was followed
by the DoXol0gy, Rev. W. II. Roberts,
stated clerk, concluding with the Lords
prayer, recited in unison. William
Kethes' hymn, "All People That on
Earth Do Dwell" was sung by the en-
tire congregation. Rev. Herrick john
son read a part of the sixth chapter Of
Isaiah, also part of st. Matthew. Rev.
Joseph T. Smith led the assemblage in
prayer. The anthem from the oratoriO
of "Elijah' was rendered by the choir.
The Annual Sermon
was then delivered by DR.. Young, the
moderator, who took for his text these
passages Of Scripture:
"And the days of these kings shall the
God OF heaven set up Kingdom which
shall never be destroyed; and the king
dom shall not be left to other people, but
it shall break in pieces and consume all
these Kingdoms, and it shall stand for
ever. "-Daniel H., a.
"And | say also unto thee, that thou
art Peter, and upon this rock | will
build my church; and the gates of hell
shall not prevail against it."
At the close of the sermon DR.. Young
stated that the assembly would be in
stituted with prayer, which he offered
| DR.. Bartlett, chairman of the committee
of arrangements, announced the hours
| of meeting and other matters of detail
in relation thereto. After agreeing to 6
recess until 5 D. M, Rev. Charles l.
| Thompson led i'll prayer and pronounced
the benediction and the congregation
| dispersed.
| At the afternoon session came the
event of the day, the election of mod
| orator. The nominations we're as fol
| lows: Rev, George A. Baker, of Phila
delpha; Rev. WillissG. Craig, of the
Mccormick university. of Chicago. TIT
ballot resulted: Craig. 1924; Baker. 1893
| total, 522. The announcement was re
ceiycd with slight applause, and ther
! the
| Election Was Made Unanimous.
Drs. Harsha and McDougall were APP
/ nOintnd Inv tho mO0pratnr tO escort Dr