The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-05-20
ASSEMBLY OF PRESb,' ,''tF|AN'
An Unusually Interesting Matter Dis
CuSSed Yesterday.
RECEIVED BY lRE PRESIDENT
The Appeal in the Case of DIR. Briggs win
BE Heard by Committee of Conser-
vative Members.
Associated Press.

Associated Press.
Washington May 1g.-The secont
days session of the Presbyterian gen
eral assembly opened with devotiona
exercises. DR.. Harsh, of Nebraska
moved the appointment of a commit
tee to formulate an expression of opin,
ion on the Chinese exclusion act, as II
affects foreign missionary work
adopted.
After the routine business had been
disposed Of in the general assembly
ex-Moderator Young projected into the
proceedings the first of the important
questions before the assembly. The re-
port of the committee upon the rela-
tion of the assembly and theological
seminaries. The committee says it was
rendered at the time of the formation
of the first theological seminary of the
Presbyterian church, that it was the
purpose of the church to maintain di-
rect and complete control by its gener-
al assembly, of the teachings and prop
erty of the theological seminary. AS
the church grew in numbers with the
growth of the country, other semina-
ries and schools some Of them on sub
stantially the same plan as Princeton
The seminaries organized substantially
under this plan were Princeton, West
ern, Mccormick, Danville, and Omaha.
The other seminaries organized under
different plans had become connected
with the church. Union and Lane We're
typical of the two classes; Auburn and
San Francisco of the other classes.
While Union and Lane are regarded as
in connection with the Presbyterian
church, the church has no control of
any kind over the teachings or proper
ty Of these seminaries and can afford
the donors Of funds to thm no protec-
tion in the matter Of applying their
gifts to the purposes for which they
were made. Auburn was controlled by
certain presbyteries, and San Francis
co by certain synods. The says they
haev come to no conclusions as to what
method should be adopted by the
i've control OVER tthe property hnd
teachings of existing sominarles or by
securing control of the teachings and
property Of future seminarles. Elder
Thomas McDousall Of Cinenn Ii, who
largely drafted the report, said hc be-
lieved the time had come in the matter
of control of theological seminaries,
when the genius of the Presbyterian
church should be at least equal to the
executive ability displayed in ordinary
business, and If any teacher employed
for a specific purpose at specific sal
ary, should for any reason become un-
fit to discharge his duties, 1t might be
found well to dispense with his SER
vices without splitting up the church.
(Applause) The report was approved
The assembly then adjourned till 10
o'clock tomorrow morning and pro-
ceeded in o. body to call at the White
House. President and Mrs. Cleveland
received the visitors in the East Room.
DR.. Craig, moderator, was presented
to the president by DR.. Bartlett, chair
man of the committee of arrangements
and closing with an invitation to the
President Cleveland said in response:
II assure you it affords me much
personal qualification to meet on this
occasion representatives Of that great
religious denomination which did so
much to make our people better and
happier and which is associated with
10 many and pleasing incidents in my
experience. We profess to
,e a Christian people. This means that
public officers Of high or low degree
hould not be unmindful of the re-
traints of religious sentiment. 1t
means that the religious teaching of
ur people should lead them to exact
rom hotse who make and execute the
avs, recognition of those restraints,
'ou therefore, will, l hope, permit me
o say that though you do well to in
list on conscientious discharge Of
ficial obligation and though you
ught never to shrink from the expos
re of official shortcomings, the contri-
ution you owe towards good govern
nent will not be fullymade unless you
each the people by precept and ex-
mple that they will find safety and
Welfare by enforcing on the public SER
ants an observance Of the mandates
+ Christianity and morality"
The visitors were then presented by
lame to the president and Mrs. cleve-
and.
In the general assembly today, per-
laps the most interest clustered about
he members of the judiciary committee
or this is the committee that win pass
IN the appeal in the case Of DIR. Briggs
md will report to the assembly upon !