The herald., 1893-05-19
Faith in the Scriptures Once
More Affirmed.
The Presbyterians Will Stick to
Their Tenets.
Meeting of the General Assembly at
Washington, D. G.
The Retiring Moderator Aims q Blow al
Heretlcs of tho Briggs-smith
School In His Annual
Sermon.
By the Associated Pfess. !

BY the Associated Pfessl
WAsHTNeToN. May 18.-The Presby-
terian general assembly met in its 105th
annual session in the New York-avenue
church this morning. The church was
unable to contain the throng which
wished to witness the proceedings.
Among the notable figures in the assem-
bly, were Rev. DR.. Briggs OF the Union
theological seminary, whose hearing on
questions touching his orthodoxy will
again come up at this session, and Rev.
Henry Preserved Smith OF Lane theo-
logical seminary, recently convicted of
heresy by the Cincinnati presbytery and
whose case has gone on appeal to the
synod of Ohio.
AT IL o'clock Rev. DR.. W. @. Young,
the moderat or, took seat on the platI
form. accompanied by the secretaries
and clerks. After singing, reading scrip
lures and prayer, DR.. Young delivered
the annual sermon.
The most notable portion OF his dis
course was that relating to the inerrancy
OF the scriptures, and upon this subject
the doctor said:
"Our own beloved church has again
and again expressed the firm and settled
conviction that no discrimination as to
their truthfulnesa can be made between
the different parts of the Bible; that
from beginning to end, from the OPEN
ing sentence in Genesis to the last verse
in Revelations, the Bible is the very
word OF God; OF the same purpose, and
this, as should be the conclusion, is the
clear positive testimony of Christ.
From end to end He placed the seal OF
his royal assent upon the book. Upon
no other theory, it seems to me. can it
be claimed to be divine, infallible, per-
feet constitution for the church. No
apprehension should be felt as to the
safety of the Biole. No possible harm
can befall it. Here to doubt is disloy-
atty to God; to fear is to
sin. 1t courts the most searching
investigation; 1t welcomes the sharpest
criticism. From the flaming ordeal
which 1t is now passing, it will come
forth as it has from all other FREY tests.
in its full integrity without so much as
the smell Of fire about it. And when
the very names OF those radical, foreign
ratlonalistic critics. who are seeking to
destroy its historical truthfulness, its
perfect lnfalhbiiity, with their widely
neraided productions, shall have been
buried in common oblivin, the Bible,
the whole Bible, history, biography,
prophecy and doctrine, shall, by increas-
ing millions OF believers continue to be
received, read and priced above all
earthly possessions, as the very word of
Almighty God"
At the afternoon session came the
election OF moderator. The nomina-
tions were as follows: Rev. DR.. Charles
A. Dickey of Philadsphia; Rev, George
A. Baker Of Philadelphia Rev. Willis
q. Craig of Mccormick university OF
Chicago.
Rev. Alexander Adair of Walla WalIa
presented the name of Rev Calvin w.
Stewart, d D., of Washington, presi-
dent OF Whitworth college, first as a
home missionary; second, as pastor and
president of college combined, and
third, as entirely free from any entanQle-
ment arising out of the controversies
respecting eastern educational institu-
tionB.
During the nominations DIR. Dickev
endeavored to get the floor. Later he
was recognized and said: ''Mr. Moder-
ator-l will make what contribution
can to the harmony of this body bv
but if the Lord spares
me through the assembly will try to be
Considerable objection was made to
granting the request but finally the,
1octor was permitted to have his way.
DIR. Stewart then withdrew his name
and the assembly proceeded to vote for
moderator, with Drs. Baker and Craig
me only candidates. The result of the
ballot was announced as follows:
Jrslg, 324; Baker, 1873; total, 522. The
announcement was received with slight
applause, and then the election was
nsde unanimous.
Moderator Craig's appearance was the
ignal for vigorous hand clapping, ~
vas introduced to the retiring modar-
tor, and presented by the latter to tka
eneral assembly,
Dr. Young spoke of the unusual
Measure it gave him to welcome DIR.
)ralg, and invoked Gods blessing upon
he labors of his successor and COM
nended him to the good graces and
indy forbearance of the assembly.
DIR. Craig responded in few words,
Expressing thanks for the confidence re-
osed in him.
DIR. Bartlett, pastor of the church,
AS introduced and made the address
/ welcome.
j. I. Foster of Newark, N. J., pre-
snted a resolution, which was unani~
lousiy adopted, protesting against the
pening OF the exposition at Chicago on
le Lords day, and appealing to the
ational commissioners to prevent such
oenlng OF the exposition, and invoking
10 cooperation of the national execu-
We in enforcing all laws designed or
'lcnlated to secure that end. The as
mbly then adjourned until tomorrow.
This evening the ordinance of the
ord's supper was administered to the
mmlssloners and the accompanying
ngregation, which again taxed the ca
leitv ne the nh,,~oh