The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-05-19
PR[ESBYTERIANS.
The One Hundred and Fifth General
Assembly Opens at Wash
ingt0n.
DR.. Charles Briggs, Whose Case Is to
Settled ut This Session, Is On
Hand.
Rev. Henry Preserved Smith Also a
Prominent Fignre--S sermon by the
Moderator.


for the second time in its history and
the first time in Al years, is entertain-
ing the General Assembly of the Pres
byterian church in the United States.
The body that convened in 105th annual
session was a strikingly different one
from that which was in the Fourth
Presbyterian church in 1S52--as widely
different as the conditions of the period
during which the church was divided
into old and new school factions, and
the assembly of 1852 was of the new
school only. The churches of this
city, with one exception. then be-
longed to the new school branch. That
was the organization ont of which grew
New York Avenue church. the host of
1893 DR.. Albert Barnes, who has been
called the forerunner of Professor
Briggs, being considered as unorthodox
in views upon the question of the atone
ment as is the latter upon the question
of inerrancy and inspiration of the
scriptures was the moderator of the
former assembly. He preached SER
mon entitled "Our Position" containing
references to slavery which gave great
offense in the Southern delegations.
But there were
No Burning Issues
before assembly and it's sessions passed
off peaceably and quietly. The scene in
historic New York Avenue church was
inspiriting. Every nook and crany was
filled and had the capacity of the church
been greater it would not have accom-
modated all who desired to be present.
On the main floor We're seated the CON-
missioners and others having business
in connection with the assembly.
On the platform were the officers
Moderator, Rev. William G. Young, of
the Danville, KY, seminary; Rev. DIR.
William H. Roberts, of Cincinnati. O..
who for nine years has exercised his
remarkable executive abilities in ex
pediting the business of the general
assembly as its stated clerk; Rev. DIR.
William Alvin Bartlett, the alert, able
and eloquent pastor of the church and
chairman of the executive committee
in charge of ali arrangements for the
gathering.
A Notable Gathering.
The general assembly of the Presby.
terian church 10 notable gathering at
any time and in any place. and in this
great city of conventions its personnel
attracts attention. Doubtless the most
prominent in the gathering 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 Professor Briggs himself, aggres
sive and confident as when on the day
Of his Inauguration in 1890, as professor
of the chair Of biblical theology il
Union Seminary, he
Startled the Church
with an expression OF his views con
| cerning the integrity of the Bible, tn,
authority OF reason and the church, tn,
superiority of the Christianity of New
man and Marineau over that of Spur
geon and progression or probation il
the future state. OF his supporter
there We're Reverends Francis E, Brown
George d. Alexander. George L. Spin
ming and Charles l.. Thompson, al
/ commissioners from New York.
Dividing with this combination, al
though not commissioners to the as
sembly, the attention of the spectators
were members of the committee VIII
prosecuted Professor Briggs before tn
presby terry. 1t included Reverends g
| w. f. f. Birch, Joseph J. Lampe an
r. #. Seniple, Professor j. j. Steven
son of New York university, and S. J
McCook. Almost equally prominen
with Professor Charles Briggs was tn
Rev. Dir. Henry Preserved Smith Q
Lane Theological, seminary, Cincinnati
| Opening Exercises.
| Promptly at IL o'clock Rev. DR.. w
/ G. Young, moderator OF the assembly
| appeared on the pulpit platform.
i DR.. Bartlett announced that the hon
for the beginning of the service had al
rived. The chorus from the Messia
was followed by the doxology an
prayer by Rev. w. FL. Roberts, state
clerk. William Keth's hymn, "A
People That on Earth Do Dwell" wa
then sung by the entire congregation
This was followed by scripture readin
and prayer.
| The annual sermon was delivered
DR.. Young, the moderator. He said i
part:
This time, place and circumstances I
our meeting here appeal strongly to on
patriotism as we'll as to our piety, an
give to our thoughts and feelings scarcel
less civic than q religious character.
Il From every part of this continent, frol
every quarter Of the globe, as we sit her
| counslsss'multitudes are pouring In ceas
less streams to our Western metropolis
the Minerva city, which, though born g