Morning journal and courier., 1893-05-19
pnEssYrEnIAN ASSEMBLY.

i Opening of the One hundred and Flfth
session I'm Warrington.
WASHINGTON, May 1s.-Wsshington to
day, for the second time in Its history ani
the FIRST time In forty one years, Is enter
tanning the general assembly of the Pres
| bytsrian church of the United States. The
body that convened for its one hundred
| and fifth annual session this morning WA
. strkingly different one from that which
met in the Fourth Presbyterian church In
1859. That was about midway In the
period during which the church was divided
into old and new school factions, and the
assembly of 1859 was of the new school
| only. 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 liner
rancy and inspiration of the Scriptures,
was the moderator of that assembly. He
preached sermon entitled "our Position, !"
containing references to slavery, which
gave great offence to the southern delegates.
But there were no burning issues before
the assembly and its sessions passed off
peaceably and quietly.
The historic New York avenue church
this morning was filed to OVERCOMING, and
had the capacity of the church been twice
as great 1t would not have accommodated
all who desired to be present. On the
main floor were seated the commissioners
and others having business in connection
with the assembly; on the platform were
the ofioers-the moderator, the Rev. DIR.
William n of tho anvt11a %
seminary; the Rev. DR.. William b. Roberts
of Cincinnati, who for nine years has been
the assembly's stated clerk and the
Rev. DR.. William Alvin Bartlett pas
tor of the New York avenue church
and chairman of the executive COM
mittee In charge of arrangements for
the meeting. Among the notable persons
present were those first connected with the
famous Briggs case in the trial before the
New York presbytefy, an appeal from
whose judgment has been taken to the as
sembly. beginning with Prof. Briggs him
self, still aggressive and confident. OF his
supporters there were present the Revs.
Francis Brown Of Union seminary, George
D. Alexander, George L. Spinning and
Charles Thompson, all commissioners from
the New York presbytery. Present, but
not commissioners to the general assembly,
were members of the committee who pros
ecuted Prof. Briggs before the presbytery,
including the Revs. G.. W. F. Birch,
Joseph ]. Lampe, and R. F. Sam
pie, Prof. ]. J. Stevenson of New York
University, and Elder ]. j. McCook.
Almost equally prominent with Professor
Charles Briggs was the Rev Dr. Henry
Preserved Smith of Lane Theological sem
mary, Cincinnati, who was recently tried
on charges similar to those made against
Professor Briggs, but, unlike him, con-
victed in the presbytery, and in whose
case an appeal has been taken to the Ohio
synod, where it will be heard Ia October.
Among the literary lights of the church
present were Professor J. D. Randall of
the Latin department, Lincoln university;
the Rev. DR.. ]. Aspin wall Hodge CT Hart
ford, Conn; r. II. Patterson, editor of the
Presbyterian Journal of Philadelphia; e.
P. Whallen, editor of the Herald and Pres
byter, Cincinnati; DIR. Herrick johnson of
Mccormick Theological seminary, head of
the delegation from the Chicago presby-
terry, and DR.. Mcclure, one of DR.. John
sons colleagues, acting president of Lake
Forest university.
The Rev. DR.. Young, moderator, took
his seat at II O'Clock, and the Rev. DR..
Bartlett announced that the hour for be-
ginning the religious services had arrived.
by the Doxology and prayer by the Rev.W.
b. Roberts, stated clerk, concluding with
the Lords Prayer, recited In unison. The
hymn 'tAll People That On Earth Do
DwelP' was then sung by the congregation.
The Rev. Herrick johnson read a part of
the sixtieth chapter of Isiah, beginning
with the eighth verse, also part of st.
Matthew, sixteenth chapter from the
twelfth verse. The Rev. Joseph T. Smith
then led the assembly in prayer, asking
that the spirit of wisdom, grace and love
might rule over all the meetings of the as
sembly. The anthem from the oratorio of
Elijah was rendered by the choir.
The annual sermon was then delivered
by DR.. Young, the moderator, who took
for his text Daniel 2nd A, and Matthew is,
IL At the close of the sermon DR.. Young
stated that the assembly would be in
stituted with prayer, which he offered.
DR.. Bartlett, chairman of the committee
of arrangements, announced the hours of
meeting and other matters of detail in re-
lation thereto. After agreeing to q recess
sembly will begin Rev. Charles L Thorn
son led in prayer and pronounced the bene-
diction, and the congregation dispersed.
The greater part of the afternoon session
was taken with the nomination of candi-
dates for moderator. Those nominated
were Revs. DR.. Dlckey of Philadelphia,
George A. Baker of Philadelphia. and Cal
vim W. Stewart of Washington. DIR. Will
lis g Craig of Chicago, who was later
nominated, was elected moderator.
The announcement was received with
slight applause, and then the election of
DR.. Craig was made unanimous. DR.. Craig
was escorted into the room and was vigor-
ously applsuded. DR.. Young spoke of the
pleasure 1t gave to welcome DR.. Craig. He
invoked Gods blessing upon the labors of
good graces and kindly forbearanee of the
assembly. DR.. Craig responded in few
words. In behalf of the assembly he ex-
tended thanks to DR. Young for the manner
in which he had acted as moderator.
To the assembly, DR.. Craig returned
thanks for the confidence reposed in him.
DR.. Bartlett, pastor of the church, made
the address of welcome. j. T. Foster of
Newark, N. J., presented the following
resolution, which was unanimously adopt
ed by rising vote with q subsequent un-
Outstanding that it should be amended or
made more comprehensive to morrow:
Res ,lved, That this assembly protests in
behalf of the Christian and law-abiding
sentiment of the nation against the open
ing of the Columbian exposition at Chi
cage on the Lords day. We appeal to the
| national commissioners to assert their
rightful authority to prevent the local
| directory from opening the exposition
on that day and we respectfully invoke the
| 90 operation of the national executive In
| the enforcement of all laws designed OF
| calculated to secure that end.
THE PLAN SETTLED.
The Authorized Capital OF the North.