The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-04-20
Oyertures the General Assembly to
Divide the State Into Three
Divisions.
Action Taken at Great Falls Sug-
gested by tho Celebrated
Case Of DR.. Briggs.
The Presbytery Decides in tho A Affirmative
Respecting the Institution of the
Office OF Deaconess.

Presbyterian church, has returned from
Great Falls. whore he attended a very busy
md interesting session of the Montana
presbvterv. He says the action taken OF
most interest to Montanians, in view OF the
growth Of Presbyterianism in Montana.
was the overture of the general assembly to
divide the state into three presbyteties--
the presbytery Of Helena, embracing the
eastern part of the state: the presbytery OF
Butte, embracing the western part OF the
state, md the presbytery of Great rails,
embra icing the northern part OF the state;
and out of these to erect the synod OF
Montana. The presbytery of Montana Is
Mt present connected with the synod of
Utah. Other overtutes discussed ana
acted on as follows were: Tho rresbJteTy
pronounce in favor of the overture asking
the general assembly to amend Its laws so
as to prohibits a prosecuting
making charges against n member OF the
piesbytery from appealing from the de-
cision of the synod. This overture was
anocested by the celebrated Briggs case.
An overture from the general assembly
asking for opinion Of the preshvtery on
the wisdom of lnstituting the Office OF dea-
coneSs in the IreSoyterlau cnuion' ""o Nv
Sided in the affirmative.
An overture from the presbytery was sent
60 the general assembly asking for the
a%prointment of a field secretary at head
quarters. whose duties it should be to look
nttpr vacant chufches. 1t was stated that
20 per cent of the Presbyterian pull
pits in the country we're vacant, while
20 per cent of the Gle gy were without a
cha Qe.
An overture from the general assembly
asking tue the opinion OF the presbytery as
to the institution of an order of local evan
gelists to wotk within limits prescribed by
presbyteries, was answered III the ah1rma-
tive.
An overture was sent to the general as
sembly asking that the home missionary
board should pay its missionaries monthly
instead of quarterly.
at Kalispell and extended the license of
Mr.. Francis Poole. of the Central church OF
Helena. for another year.
Rev. John Reid was elected commits
sioner to the general assembly which meets
a. Washington, D. c., May IL. with Rev.
George Edwards as alternate, and Elder
Peter Koch was made lay delegate, with W..
Wtngg IA alternate.
The presbyterv passed resolutions COM
mending the labors of Rev. j. Reid and
wife and Rev. A. G.. Mcmillan of Granite,
who are about to sever their connection
with this presbytery. They also passed
resolutions Of thanks to the citizens OF
Great Falls for hospitsble treatment and
the Great Fal 8 Street railway for courte-
sizes extended.
Other business transacted was as follows:
Rev. A. G. Mcmillan asked to be relieved
from She charge Of the church at Granite in
order to accept a call at Canon City, Col,
and his request WAS granted. notwithstand-
ing q protest from his church at Granite,
who desired to retain him.
Rev. John Reid, Jr., returned his call
from Great Falls to the presbytery. having
decided to leave for other fields on account
OF his health.
The college OF Montana at Deer Lodge,
formerly under the care of the synod Of
Utah, was taken under charge of the pres
bytery.
The church recently organized at Pony
was enrolled.
A large number Of people assembled at
the Presbyterian church on Sunday to listen
to the sermon of Rev. M. Clyde, and wit
messed the simplicity of a Presbyterian
communion service. The church was
crowded and the sermon was delivered with
power and characterized as being Sound"
In the evening Rev. MIR. Donaldson preached
an eloquent sermon on Gath and Music"
showing the intimate bearing and connec.
tion of the one with the other in divine
worship. The evening service, however,
was mainly devoted to a musical pro-
pramme. and Notwithstanding the fact that
several singers were detained by sickness,
it was much enjoyed by the audience
which fairly packed the church to the door.
A pleasant social event and e surprise
WAS q presentation to Mrs. John
Reid, Jr.. one evening. who had
been officiating at the organ. She
was about to take her seat when che was
arrested by her husband in the name of the
II a--1r1t-I x-,t lad
form, where Miss Maud Houston in a pleas
ant little speech, presented her with an ole
CANT silver soup tureen and ladie. On the
hnndle of the latter was engraved the
legend: 'presented NJ g. JOIN Reid, Jr.,
From the Westminster Guild Of the FRS,
Presbyterian Chui oh, Great Fails. Mont
Mrs. Reid was greatly surprised, but ac-
knowledged the gift in III appropriate man.
ner. The meeting then resolved itself into
Il social session snd cake and other ref esh-
ments we o handed around bv the Ladies'
Aid ~soclety. 1t was after 10 O'Clock before
the RECEPTION broke up, and many compli-
mentaFy e3pressions were heard from the
visitors to the presbytety relating to the
hospltable treatment received at the hands
of the church and citizens of Great Fails.
The presbytery then adjourned to NEE
at Boulder a week from next sunday fol
the installation of T. Flynn, and again u
BoZeman in the fall.
A Leader.
Since Its first int roduction, Electric Bit
tiers has gained rapidly in popular favor