The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-20
Appeal of New York Presbylery Against the Ac-
quittalof the" Hereto" Placed in the Hands
ofDr. Baker and Other Conservatives"
Several Important Reports Considered
by the Assembly Yesterday.
The Commissioners introduced TO Mr.. and Mrs.
Cleveland-Speech by Moderator Craig
and q Reply from the President.
NORTHERN PREssyrERIANs.

General Assembly Committees NAmed-Anti-
Briggs Commissioners Favored.
WAsHISGTox. May 12.-The Presby terian
General Assembly lost little time in pre-
liminsries to-day, but got down TO work as
soon as the opening exercises had been con-
cluded. The standing committees were an
nounced early in the session and the re-
mainder of the day was spent IN listening
TO reports, the most interesting OF which
was the one on theological seminaries.
The assembly adjourned early TO enable
the commissioners to pay their respects TO
President aud Mrs. Cleveland. OF the pro-
ceedings to-day perhaps the greatest inter-
est clustered about the names of the men,
beers of tie Judiciary committee. for this 10
the committee what will pass upon she APP
peal on the case of DR.. Briggs ana will
report to the assembly upon the question
of the proprIety OF that body entertaining
the appeal Rev. DIR. George ID. Baker was
the man selected to act as the chairman,
and soon as his name was called ont there
was an instant putting OF heads together
20 discuss the meaning of the appointment.
DIR. Baker Is classed among the conserva-
tives The committee Is also for the most
part made up of men who are known to be
conservative.
A few moments after the announcement
of the committee was made DIR. Baker was
met by . reporter IN the lecture room of
the church, and In the course OF the con-
versation that followed be was asked what
he thought of the committee OF which he
was the head.
Il really do not know" he said. 81
simply heard the list read off rs You did,
but / should think from the reading that 1t
was conservative committee by a large
majority
"Do You mean that il is anti-Briggs7"
Il mean Conservative. You can inter-
pref the wore suits You In this partlcu-
lar case. / I'M usually ranked among the
conservatives myself"
In the general acceptance of the phrase
the committee would be regarded as anti
Briggs. would it not"
Possibly
DIR. Baker did not dare to discuss the
merits OF the Briggs case. nor the possible
action the con mi ttee might take IN the
premises. lie iic say, however. that he
thought it was highly probable that the
committee would be able to report to the
assembly by next Tuesday.
THE STANDING COMMITTEES.
After the opening exercises this morning
Rev. Dr. Bartlett, chairman OF the conn.,
mittee on arrangements, presented to
Moderator Craig the gavel prepared for
this assembly. the gift of Dir. and Mrs. w.
Il. GurIey and described in a previous dis
patch. DIR. Craig responded in few we'll
chosen words.
The moderator announced the standing
committees. He had been unable. he said.
as yer TO complete the committee on
synodical reports. The following are the
chsirmen of the several committees: Bills
of oyertures. William T.. Young; judiciary,
George ID. Baker; polity. w. w. Harsbs
home missions. Loyal l.. Graham
foreign missions. Herrick johnson;
education. Thomas ID. Ewing; pubii-
cation and sunday school work.
James II. Brooke; church erection.
CALVIN w. Stewart: theological seminaries.
John Dixon; ministerial relief. David
Gregg; freedmen, George l.. Spinning; aid
for colleges Charles A. Dickey; CORE
spondence, NJ. l.. II. Hill; benevolence.
George II. Fullerton; narration, =. Nj. Da-
Wis: temperance, James Matthew leave of
absencr. John Reed. jr.; mileage Franklin
l. Shepard; finance. w. A. HarroD.
The special committee on the Chinese ex-
clusion act was announced to consist of =.
nj. Cutchings OF Detroit; NJ. Ii. StrAtton.
OF Salem. y. j., and Cyrus l.. Pershing of
Pottsyille, Pa. Rev. William Henry Rob-
erts was announced TO be- vice moderator.
After some routine business OF no inter-
est had been disposed OF ex-hOderator
Dung projected into the proceedings The
first of the important questions before the
Assem- blythe report of the committee
upon The relation of the assembly ana the
theological Summaries. The committee
says. IN part
At the time of the formation OF the frat theo-
logical seminary of the Presbyterian Church it
was tho purpose OF the church TO maintain direct
and complete control, by it's General Assembly,
OF the teachings and property OF its theological
Summaries. AS the church grew in numbers
with the growth OF the country other seminaries
and schools were formed some or them ON sub
stantiaily the same plan as that of Princeton
The seminaries organized substantially under
this plan were Princeton, Western, Mccormick.
organized under different plans. have
.csO.Iie connected with the church. Union and
Lane are typical OF TWO classes; Auburn and san
Francisco OF other classes. While Union and
Lane have been regarded as in connection with
the Presbyteri Church, the church has
troll OF any kind over the teaching or the prom
erty OF these Summaries. and can afford the do
nOrs of funds TO them no protection in the mat
ter of applying their gifts To the purposes for
which they are made. Auburn Is controlled by
certain presbyteries and san Francisco by GER
tain syn0ds. The greater portion or the prop
erty held by these corporations, which amounts
10 nearly $4,000. 900. Is not held In trust for the
General Assembly or the Presbyterian Church
nor is it given the direct control. management
or disposition OF the same by the terms of their
charters.
The committee say il has come to no con-
elasion to what methods should he
adopted by the church. After short de-
bale on the report the assembly took re-
CESS
INVITATION TO THE PRESIDENT.
AT the afternoon session resolution was
offered and adopted authorizing a commit
tee to invite President Cleveland to visit
the assembly at his convenience.
Rev. Charles 4. Dickey, chairman of the
special committee on judicial commissions,
reported in favor of sending an overture
down TO the presby teries for q change in
Chapter l2 Section u.s. 40 as 10 provide
that the General Assem- bly,. each sy nod and
each presoytery shall have power TO ap-
point judicial commissions from their re-
sDective bodies. consisting of MINIS
tiers and elders IN numbers not
less than eighteen from the General
Assembly. IL from any synod. and from
any presby terry. All judicial cases are to
be submitted TO such commissions and
their decisions shall be sabjees Co reversal
only By the superior judicatory. except in
matters of law. which shall be referred to
the appointing judicatory for adjudication:
and also all matters of constitution and
doctrine may be reviewed IN the appoint
ing body and by the superior judicatory.
The assembly adopted the report ana or
dered the overtures sent down, accompa-
nIed by an additional overture reported by
the committee intended To conform with
she book of discipline az proposed to be
changed under this proposition.
Rev. DIR. smith. chairman OF the commit
See on church unity. reported thas the CON-
mittee had held tour meetings in the past
year. and that rs result of them it had
been deemed best TO drop for the present ali
discussion of the differences tetween tha