The record-union., 1893-07-27
PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY FOR 1893.
Rev. R. NJ. Stevenson DisCourses on
the Event.
The Vacant Pew Where President
Lincoln Was Won't to Sit When
at Divine Service.

On SUNDAY IaSL fteV. IL. NJ. SteF6HSOii
pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian
Church, favored his congregation with
the following interesting review Of the
work of the recent General Assembly, to
which he was a delegate:
It was the one hundred and fifth meet
ing, said the reverend speaker, and was
held in the New York Avenue Presby
gerian Church, Washington, ID. G., place
Of fragrant memory, for just down before
the pulpit only a little way, along the
middle aisle, was one black walnut pew.
That was the only walnut pew III the
church. all the others being OF oak, and
that was the pew where our martyred
President Abraham Lincoln sat.
1t is not a large church, nor fine one,
indeed, it was too small for the occasion,
but probably almost any church in the
city would have been too small.
However, its pastor, DR.. Bartlett, and
those associated with him had made every
provision for the comfort and pleasure of
the assembly.
In the basement the United States pro-
vided postoffice, so that every delegate
could have his box and get his mail many
times a day, or purchase stamps, cards.
or, in short, to have all the advantages of
the ordinary postot1ice. Many of the
beautiful homes of Washington We're
thrown open for the entertainment of
hotels found large part Of their expenses
paid for them.
There seemed to be nothing left undone
that all might be most comfortable and
happy. Even the President and his most
admirable wife sacrificed themselves, that
900 people might have the exquisite
pleasure of shaking their hands and OF
wandering about those delightful rooms
in the White House.
When the hour arrived for the General
Assembly to convene every available seat
in the church was taken. The body of
the church was reserved for delegates.
The plainest delegate, from obscurest
quarter, even if his skin was copper
colored or black, had his place sacredly
reserved for him. Not the President
himself, nor even his beautiful wife,
could crowd that delegate out. Indeed,
our high Executive and 'our lady" of
the White House sat in the gallery.
Gathered about the Moderator were
those who had preceded him in that Of
tice, together with a few men prominent
IN the church.
At the opposite end in the gallery was a
great company of sweet singers, who, in
keeping with the occasion, rendered Sc
lecions from the Messiah and the grand
old hymns Of the church.
l confess to feelings of unusual pleas
ure when the Moderator rose to preach
the opening sermon. He had been my
pastor, his father had been my pastor,
and baptized me, and we were born in
the same beautiful little city, Danville,
kentucky.
And l may be pardoned if l also con-
less feeling of pride when from the
same little place the new Moderator was
chosen.
1t is significant as well as most graft
flying thing that one little town can create
such an atmosphere as to prepare her
sons for the most responsible places in the
nation.
DR.. Young took for his theme "The
Glory of the Christian Church." founded
upon two passages of Scripture, one at
Daniel H., II, and the other at Math.
xvi, IS.
The sermon had some very eloquent
passages in IL, and their eloquence is evil
dent in the reading, but it would not be
wise for me to quote at length.
Will simply say that the glory of the
Christian Church he found manifested ID
IN the person ofits Founder, ~ in the char
ter and constitution upon which it was
founded, and 81 in its conquests and its
destiny.
The election of Rev. Willis G. Craig as
Moderator was by most decided major
lty, he receiving 324 votes out of 522.
Dr. Craig made very successful and
interesting Moderator. He is exceed
lngiy quick, quite witty, OF very rapid
utIerance and master in parliamentary
usage. While he was decided partisan,
the fairness of his decisions was con-
ceded by those most opposite to him.
Under all circumstances. even at the
most exciting moments, he held the reius
with the skill of master, and several
times seemed to prevent storm of pas
sion by his ready wit.
The manner in which he held men to
their time and the way in which he some
times saved us from the would-be speech
makers was very refreshing.
one speaker started III to tell story to
illustrate the point he wished to make.
lie depicted surgical operation, and
just as he got to the point of putting the
ChlorOtOrm TO the patients nose the
Moderator cut him off with bang of the
gavel. To say the assembly found relief
IN laughter Is putting it very mildly.
Another speaker who was really very
anxious TO make speech, and yet started
by saying that he did not know as he had
much to say, was cut off at this point by
the Moderator's interiecting, LET those
who have nothing to say please say moth
ing; the clerk will call the next name,'
and the man found himself shut off.
But such pleasantries only made little
places for breath and rest. The fifteen
days were spent in very earnest work,
and in very serious business, taken as
whole.
The Presbyterian Church is engaged in
great work all across and up and down
this vast country of ours. But vast as
our country is. its bounds do not contine
the work of our church.
Her work of faith and labor of love is
carried on III many parts of the Old
World-in Japan, China and Corea. in
Syria, Persia and India, in Africa, Siam
and Laos, and IN many OF the islands of
the sea.
The General Assembly puts its hand on
all this work. examines what has been
done during The year just gone by, faces
the needs and plans to meet them.
Amid the outcry against foreign mis-
sions from not only without the church
but from within it. the PRESBYTERIAN
Church has gone on in company with the
other great Christian bodies seeking to be
true to the Savior's great commission.
And as we hear the reports from all parts
of the world; as Shantung reports an
1ngatherlnE of nearly 600 souls; as Laos
reports almost 300; as India after almost
three-score years of patient sowing, is
now yielding steadily increasing har-
vests; as you hear the reports from all
along the line in the foreign field and
learn that 8, 40 90 per cent. advancej
have been added to our churches among
heather people, and that we Presby-
teriaus in the United States brought
q, ,0l4, ,504 81 and devoted ii to this branch
OF the Masters work in one year, | saw
as we hear these things we are reminded
that Christ is fulfilling His promise-'Lo.
/ am with you Away, even unto the end
of the world"
May we not take some satisfaction in
the fact that our church is the first to pass
the million-dollar line, by its regular
contributions, for foreign missions.
But l am anxious that you all should
become familiar with the work being