Evening journal., 1893-05-18

Assembly OF the fresDytefian Ohurch
Convened To-day where Presidents
Have worshipped-DeIaw Delegates.
WASHINGTON, May IS Washington
to-day, the second time in its history
and the first time in forty-one years, is
entertaining the general assembly Of the
Presbyterian Church in the United
States.
The body that convened in 105th
annual session was strikingly different
one from that which met in the Fourth
Presbyterian. Church in 1852, as widely
different as the conditions of to day are
from those of that date. That was
about midway of the period during which
the church was divided into old and new
school factions and the assembly of 1852
was of the new. school only.
All the churches in this city, with one
exception, then belonged to the new
school branch. That was the organiza
tion out of which grew New York
Avenue Church, the host Of 1898.
DR.. Albert Barnes, who has been
called the forerunner Of Professor Briggs,
being considered as unorthodox in his
day upon the question of the atonement,
as is the latter upon the question
of the inerrancy and inspiration
Of the scriptures, was the moderator of
the former assembly. he preached a
sermon entitled "Our Position, contain
ing references to slavery which gave
great offense to the Southern delegates.
But there were no burning issues before
the assembly and its sessions passed of
peaceably and quietly.
An Tnsnfrfnp Gca,a To-dar
The scene in historic New York Avenue
Church this morning was inspiring.
Every nook and Granny was filled and
had the capacity Of the church been
twice as great it would not have accom-
modated all who desired to be present
The general assembly of the Presbyter-
ian Church is a notable gathering at any
time and in any place and in this great
city of conventions its personnel attracts
attention Doubtless the most promi
nent in the gathering of to-day were
those connected with the famous Briggs
case in it's trial before the New York
Presbytery an appeal from whose jndg-
ment has been taken to the general
assembly.
Briggs Was There Himself
First and foremost of these, of course.
was Professor Brigg, himself, aggressive
aud confident as when, on.the day Of his
Inauguration in 1890 as professor of the
chair of Biblical Theology in Union
Seminary, he startled the church with
an expression Of his views concernin Z
the integrity of the Bible, the authority
of reason and the church, the superiority
of the Christianity of Newman and
Marttineau over that of Spurgeon and
progression or probation in the future
state.
Convicted DIR. Smith Present.
Almost equally prominent with Pro
fessor Charles Briggs was the Rev. Dr.
Henry Preserved Smith, of Lane
Theological Seminary, Cincinnati. He
has recently been tried on charges simi.
lar to those made against Professor
Briggs but unlike him convicted in the
presbytery An appeal has been taken
to the Ohio synod where it will be heard
in October.
Colored Presbyterians were sprinkled
about over the church.
Admiring the Historic EdiRoe.
While the commissioners were gather
ing the galleries and corridors were filled
to overfowing long before the hour fixed
for the opening of the assembly, they
found much to engage their interest in
the church itself New York Avenue is
eminent among places of worship in the
union as having had among its pew
holders several Presidents of the United
States, as well as for the ability and higl
character of its pastors
II came into existence in 1859, from
the union of the Second and +. stree
churches It's first pastor was tn,
Rev. Phineas D. Gurley, D. D, WHIT
remained with it until his death in 1868
He has been succeeded by DR. S. s. Nit
chell, DR. John X Paxton and DR.. vii
liam Alvin Bartlett.
Mr.. Gurley was President Lincoln
pastor and preached the funeral sermon
of the martyred president.
President Lincoln's Dark Pew.
Almost the first object ~ the churcl
to strike the eye upon entering is a blael
walnut pew on the north side of tn
centre aisle, the only one of that colo
in the room, all the others being of oak
1t is the pew which President Lincol
occupied when in attendance and was re
placed in anticipation of this meeting o
the assembly.
The action was taken at the annua
meeting of the church in March last a
waich time DR. Bartlett said "There i
no greater religious relic in the world
and no greater relic anywhere, than thi
pew where Abraham Lincoln sat to wor
ship his God Were it made of dirt or o
mud l would rather sit in it than an
other of pure gold. 1t will be Niece
for Presbyterisns and an education il
patriotism for our children and ou
children's children
The pew is of "old-fashioned" uncom
Portable shape. Unlike the pew ono
occupied by George Washington, it has
low leaning back The end of the sea
at the aisle is low and has no good sur
port for the arm The inner end touche
the partition separating pews of the aisl
opposite. Owing to its construction
President Lincoln seemed to be alway
i'll at ease, finding much apparent diff
Guilty in accommodating his tall fran
TO its meagre proportions
He generally managed to it himself
it, however, before the sermon cor
menced upon which he was ever an Al