The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-05-20
CRAIG NOW MODERATOR
He Is a Cousin of Vice Presi-
dent Stevenson.
DoINGs OF THE PREsBYTER1ANs.
The Large Attendance Includes Mrs.
Cleveland-Dr. briggs VIII Conduct His

ever been held With very few exceptions
the commissioners chosen were in attend
ance. Long before the hour for opening
the place of meeting was besieged by peo-
pie other than members, and when the pre-.
liminaries incident to opening a conven-
ton began the church was packed to tho
doors. n large proportion of the audience
was made up of ladies, among them being
Mrs Cleveland.
Inc event OF the opening session was the
sermon by the moderator, DR.. William G..
Young, who preached on the "Glories of
the Christian church." What was unusual
In the delivery of a sermon in a sacred edi-
lice, this sermon was applauded. The
speaker made illusions to the great ques-
lions before the assembly, and uttered sem
timents respecting the inerrancy of the
Bible which met with such approval ap-
parently from Il large majority of those
present that the applause was spontaneous
Some of the members of the assembly
are rather inclined to criticise DR.. Young
because, as they think, he took the side of
the conservatives in the issues that are
likely to come before the assembly On
the other hand, those who hold what are
known as conservative views expressed
themselves rs being much gratified with
the decided tone of the discourse
Tho Afternoon Session.
AT the afternoon session, after disro
Ing of routine business, the assembly pr
ceeded to the election of successor to
Moderator Young The candidates were
Rev. DIR. George A. Baker of Philadelphia,
and Rev. Willis G. Craig of the McCor-
mick university, Chicago, who is the COM
missioner from the Iowa presbytery The
result of the ballot was: Craig, 33i: Baker.
1913; total, 522
DIR. Harsha and Mr.. McDougall were ap.
pointed by the moderator to escort Mr..
Craig into the room, and his entrance was
the signal for vigorous handcapping He
was introduced to the retiring moderator
by DIR. Harsha, who received and presented
him to the general assembly. DIR. Young
spoke of the unusual pleasure it gave him
to welcome DIR. Craig, born In the same
town as himself and fellow graduates of
the same seminary. Dr. Craig responded
in Il few words.
Sketch of the New Moderator.
Rev. Willis Greene Craig, ID. D., LII. d.,
Is man about 60 years of age. He was
born i'll Danville, Ky, educated at Center
College, that state, and after travelling
abroad entered the theological seminary at
Danville, graduating in 1860. He accepted
the call to the Westminster PRESBYTERIAN
church at Keokuk, Ia, where he remained
for ~ years He was called in 1881 to the
chair of church history in the Mccormick
Theological seminary, Chicago, hut the
church raised such n vigorous protest
against DR.. Craig's removal that the pres
Dytery refused to disseyer the relations
The call was repeated in 1882 with the re-
suit that he entered upon his duties i'm the
new field of labor. Dr. Craig occupied the
chair of church history for nine wears and
i'll 1891 was transferred to the chair of
didactic and polemic theology in the same
institution. He still retains his member
ship i'll the Iowa presbytery and was sent
to the general assembly us n commissioner
therefrOm
DR.. Craig married Kentucky lady and
has son in the ministry now locnted in
California. He is cousin of Vice Prcsi-
dent Stevenson, but has never taken any
active part in political matters
Bids Fair to Become Historic.
The great Presbyterian gathering bids
fair to become historic. Its deliberations
are being watched with much interest by
people in all countries, for questions of
VITAL Importance are to come up, be dis
cussed and settled. OF course the uues-
ton that overshadows all others is the
case of Dr. Briggs. Some maintain that
the teachings of DR.. Briggs if unrebukcd
by the general assembly mean II new
theology, and that the old and the new
S"iihou SNiSb together Ill the same church,
One or the other must go. On the other
hand there are eminent tivnes, even
among those who do not indorse DIR.
Briggs views, who believe that they can
consistently tolerate DR.. Briggs views and
give scope within the church for freedom
| OF Thought and utterance. 1t was partly
such sentiment that led to the acquittal
OF DIR. Briggs by the New York presbytery,
from which the case comes to this body on
appeal.
AS has been the rule in all past trials,
Professor Briggs will conduct his own
case. There will be no one To speak for
him except himself until possibly the time
| comes for the members of the New Yori;
presbytery and of the assembly to take
part iii the discussion, and then no doubt
the voice Of his friends will he heard DIR.
Briggs, however, does not stand alone I'm
his defense from any necessity, but from
choice. lie prefers to be his own spokes-
man, and those who have heard him i'm the
previous trials of this now famous case do
not have any doubt of his ability to take
ample care of his cause in the face of all
opponents.
Southern Presbyterian General Assembly.
MACON, May 10.-The Southern Presby-
terrain general assembly met here. About
100 commissioners were in attendance.
The convention was called to order i'm the
Presbyterian church by DR.. w. Il. King of
Tocas, the moderator elected ut the last
session. Short devotional exercises pre
coded the work of the assembly and were
followed by an eloquent sermon by Moder-
ator King. Judge T.apsley was elected
moderator, the election being made unani-
nous. Judge James W. Lapsey of Annis.
ton, Ala, is distinguished lawyer and is
rsltfnI Of q l,.. ..tt
brother, missionary III China, was killed
two wears ago