The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-29
THEIR WORK ENDED
CLOSE OF NORTHERN AND SOUTH
ERN PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLIES.
lection of Prof. Smiths Appeal the
Main Results at Saratoga.

SARATOGA, n. Y, May 2s.-The Presby-
terrain General Assembly adjourned this
evening. The most important work Of the
Assembly during it's session was the adop-
ton of a plan for supervision of theological
seminaries and the rejection of Professor
Smiths appeal from the Ohio Synod, which
declared him guilty Of heresy.
This morning, upon recommendation of a
committee on bills and overtures, provision
was made for an inexpensive missionary
periodical to be called 1.-The Assembly Her
aid" 1t was also resolved that, according
to Presbyterian law, the various presby-
teries have the right to prohibit the at
tendance of students under their care upon
theological seminaries ~disapproyed by the
General Assembly. a supplementary re-
port OF home missions called forth the first
controversy of the day. A proposal was
made to abolish the Office of pastor at
large" in the weaker presbyteries, and also
of the synodical missionary, but IL was lost
by a large vote. A report was made by
DR.. McCook, from the committee appointed
TO confer with Professor Smith. that they
visited him, were courteously received and
had a full and fraterna1 conference. The
repor says Professor Smith expressed his
cordial appreciation of the kindly motive
that prompte the appointment Of a COM
mittee Of conference, but he Is not pre-
pared to communicate anything which
would justify further action Of the Assem-
bly,. He leaves his future relations to the
Presbyterian Church and it's ministry with
the Presbytery of Cincinnati.
The committee TO confer with theological
seminaries upon the subject of closer rela-
tons and completer control was appointed.
1t consists of Doctors Young, Mutchmore,
Haley, A. G.. Wilson, Bartlett, Baker, Dix
on and 7. Ralston Smith, r. 5. Holmes,
with Elders MacDougall, Bonner, McCook
Wills, Shields, Geddes and Heebner. The
committee of conference with Lane Semi
nary consists of Drs. E. Z. Taylor. d. w.
Cunningham, George w. F.. Birch and FL
ders Ste-ry and Perkins. To answer. the
protest of DR.. Hills and forty others con-
corning the action Of the assembly, adopt
ing the new method of control of semi
naries, a committee was appointed con-
sisting OF DR.. Birch, of New York, AMI Ell
der MacDougall, Of Cincinnati.
The committee on church polity reported
ed against any change in the constitution
OF the church in the portions which pro-
vide Tor the committees Of prosecution in
the hereSy cases.
The report was adopted by a small vote.
The report on systematic benefcience was
! then read. The N on temperance
reported recommending among other things
that the assembly indorse the view thal
no party which maintains or favors the
license system or which does not place
specific ~disapproval of the saloon upon its
platform should receive the suffrages
of Christian men. After much confusion
and many motions for amendment, and
points of order, the recommendation was
adopted.
The committee on proof texts at last
got a hearing and its recommendation was
adopted, making the last edition of the
Bible printed by the American society. the
standard for the citation of texts i'm the
Confession OF Faith.
The report of the committee on finance
showed a balance in the treasury of the
I assembly amounting to SIS, 800. Tie salary
of the stated clerk was fixed at 5000 in
View of the increased duties OF his office.
When the clerk appeared again upon the
he stated that he would continue to per-
form his labors as heretofore. with ridel-
ity and entire impartiality.
/ DR.. Fox. of Brooklyn. for himself and
about forty others, entered a protest
against the resolutions adopted in the
morning with regard to temperance and
political parties which cannot fail to be
Z regarded by many of our people as burden
: ing the free and conscientious discharge of
. their duties as voters
The last echo of the Briggs case was
heard in the dismissal of the complaint or
/ John D.. McCook and others aga nst the
Synod Of New York for entertaining the
appeal OF ia members of the Presbytery
of New York against certain action taken
during the trial of DR.. Briggs.
! Another attempt was made to expunge
from the minutes the reflections upon
Prof. Morris, of Lane Seminary, con-
tanned in the report Of the seminaries COM
mittee adopted Saturday night, but IL
\ failed. A motion placed the matter on the
table in short order.
In regard to appropriations for sectarian
schools il was resolved that 1.-The General
Assembly enters an earnest protest against
the bestowal of appropriations from the
treasury of the United States for the uses
of religious denominations, OF whatever
name or under whatsoever pretext they
may be sought
The consensus creed committee was con-
tinued and the committee appointed to
answer the protest OF Dr. Hills, of Evans
ton, and fifty others. against the action of
the assembly concerning seminary control
made report.
on motion of Rev. Mr.. Stevens, of
Charleston. the following resolution was
adopted: THAT, while the assembly ac-
cepts the action of the southern General
Assembly. of which il has been notified, as
sufficiently Indicating the wisdom of sus-
pending for the present everything like
overtures looking to a union with that
body, 1t desires to put on record its express
sion of regret for such suspension"
Invitations were received from the First
Presbyterian Church, of Seattle. and the
ThinI Church, of Pittsburg. for the assem-
bly, to meet with them next year. On ac-
count of the expense that would be in
volved by a trip to Seattle, the former invi-
tation was declined. The invitation to Pitts
burg was accepted. After some further
routine business the assembly was de-
clared adjourned sine die.