Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-05-19
WILL TRY DR.. BRIGGS
Annual Meeting Of the Presby-
terian Assembly.
FAMOUS MEN ARE PRESENT


AsHlNttON. NAY IT, MS city tp-
day, for the second time in its history
ana the firs. time ia forty one years. is
entertaining the general assembly 81 the
presbyterian church in the United
States. The body that convened today
in cne hundred and fifth annual session
was strikingly different one FROM that
which net in the Fourth presbyterian
church in lsJ2 IA widely different IA
the conditions 81 today are from those
of that date. That year was about mid
way II the period during which the
church was divided into old and new
school factions. and the assembly ~
le52 was of the new school only. and all
the presbyterian churches in this city.
with one exception. then belonged tn the
new school branch. That one exception
WAS the organization out o! which grew
New York avenue church. the body
which cntcrtains the assembly of 1856.
Prof Briggs Confident.
The scene in New York 4 venue church
this morning was inspiring. Every
nook and corner was flied. and had the
capacity Of the church bocn twice as
great. il would not have accommodated
all wLo desired Ia be present. On the
main floor were seated the commission
crs and others having business in con
nection with the asscmby. On the
platform were the officers moderator.
the Rev. Dr.. William &. Young of Dan
vile. Kentucky. seminary; the Rev. DIR.
William II. Roberts Of Cincinnati. Ohio,
who for nine years has served the Gen
era! assembly AS its stated clerk: the
Rev DIR. William Alvin Bartlett. the
local pastor and chairman OF the execu
tive committee in charge Of all arrange
ments for the gathering.
Doubtless the most prominent III the
gathering of today are those connected
with the famous Briggs Case III its trial
before the New York presbytery. al
appeal from whose judgment mas been
taken Ia the general assenbly. 'iIst
and foremost. Of course. WAS Prof.
Briggs himself. aggressive and conf
dent.
The Services Bcgia.
Colored presbyterians were sprinkled
about over the church. "A leading com
missioner of that race being the Rev.
John a. Savage from Cape Fear pres
hytery. North Carolina. tie is grad
uate of Lincoln college and now stated
clerk Of his presbytcry.
Promptly at III o'clock the Rev. DR.. ".
c. Young. moderator of the assembly.
appeared on the pulpit platform and
took his seat. accompanied by the Ecvs.
". III. Roberts of Cincinnati. the stated
clerk: w. f.. Moore q Corm-
bus. Ohio. permanent clerk; JOS
eph L. Smith Of Baltimore. mod
orator OF the centennial assembly:
Charles l.. Thompson ~ New York: ".
c. Roberts. secretary II the board of
home missions. and iIcrrick johnson ,s
Chicago; cx Justice William Strong. *
Governor Beaver of Pennsylvania: tI,,
Kcvs DIR. William Alvin Bartlett pastor
of New York Avenue church. and
Tcunice s. Hamlin. Byron Sunderland
and =. \. V Holmes Of the local presby
tcrian clergy.
DIR. Bartlett announced that tho hour
Of the beginning ct the sery;cc had ar
rived.
Br. ioung's Sermon.
The annual sermon was then delivered
10y DR. Young. the moderator. who took
for his text the passage II Scripture:
And in the days OF these kIn4-s shall
-
which shall never lie destroyed: al i the
kingdom shall not he left 10 other peo-
pie. bu; IL shall break in pieces and con
sumo all these Kingdoms and II shall
stand forever. Daniel H.. 81.
And ! say also Ia YOU that thou at
Peter; and upon this rock ! viii build
my church; and the gates of hell shall
not prevail against it.
DIR. Bartlett chairman IL the commit
tee Of arrangements. announced III"
hours II meeting and other matters 81
detail in relation thereto. The Rev.
Charles l.. Thompson led in prayer and
pronounced the bencdic;lon and the con
grcgation dispersed.
At the afternoon scssion after the roll
call the following nominations for medi
atoT were made: Dr. Charles \. Dickey
Of Philadelphia. The RcvsL George \.
Baker of Philadelphia. William C.Craig
of the Mccormick university 81 Chi
cago anu Calvin Stewart of Washington.
Drs. Dicl1cy and Stew art withdrew ani
vote was taken AZ follows: Craig. III.
Baker l9S. The election was then made