The Washington times., 1894-05-18
PREsBYrERIANs IN SESSION.
DR.. Samuel A. Mutchmore Elected Moder.
ator b. the General Synod.

| DR.. Samuel A. Mutchmore Elected Moder.
ntor B., the General Synod.
SARATOGA. y. Y, May 1.-THE first days
session of ;se Presbyterian General Assembly
usually arouses particular interest, because on
| that day the sermon Of the retiring moderator
|, is delivered and presiding officer for the
ensuing year is elected. The former is Of in
terest to many because OF the opportunity Of
fered to the speaker to touch upon some Of
the burning question Of the hour, and the lat
ter because it sometimes indicates the compo-
sition and temper Of the body In the case Of
the sermon to-day, advantage was taken Of
the opportunities offered, and many OF those
in attendance at the assembly are openly criti-
cising the moderator In that he gave particu-
lar attention in his discourse to matter that
is to come before the body on an appeal in q
judicial case.
1t was declared Of each candidate that he
was ''sound in the faith." )" and In this was in
dicated the general temper OF the assembly.
The successful candidate, DR.. Samuel A.
Mutchmore, editor Of the Presbyterian, of
Philadelphia, was looked upon from the
first as the leading candidate. DIR.
Arthur j. Brown was the home missionary
candidate, but was probably hampered to some
of Prot. Smith, whose case Is to be considered
later. The candidacy Of DR.. Dinsmore, of
California, and of DIR. Gardner. Of New York,
was an outgrowth of local pride. There was
no ''liberal'' candidate nominated. and such
a one it is said, would have had no chance
OF election.
Preliminary to the election the session
was opened with prayer by DR.. Edward B.
Hodge. secretary of the board of education.
The call for nominations for the moderator
ship brought DR.. Minton, Of San Francisco, to
his feet. He nominated DIR. Arthur ]. Brown,
of Portland. Oregon, in whose church the
assembly met two years ago. The nomina-
tion was seconded by DIR. Wilson Phraner, Of
Sing Sing and by Rev. Thomas Haskell, Of
Denver.
Dr. Noble of California, placed in nomina-
ton DIR. John W. Dinsmore, of San Jose.
This was seconded by Dr. Lester. of western
Pennsylvania, and William D. Smith. of
Bloomington. DIR. Howard Duf!ield, OF New
York, placed before the assembly the name Of
DR.. James Gardner, OF Goversville,
n. y, urging him as country
York synod under trying experiences
and as representative OF the whole church,
rather than one of any local interest. DIR.
Breed, OF Chicago. seconded this nomination.
Ex-Moderator William c. Young presented
the name of DR.. Samuel A. Mutchmore. OF
hutiphia. Inc nomination was seconded
by DR.. Holmes, of Pittsburg.
The vote was taken by calling the roll The
announcement was as follows:
Total number Of votes, $50; necessary to
choice, 276; Brown. 223; Mutchmore. 207;
Gardner, Sc. and Dinsmore. "a. The names
of Gardner and Dinsmore were then with
drawn and n second vote was taken. The
result as accepted was Mutchmore. 2S1. and
Brown, 269. The former was then welcomed
to the nOderatOrs chair and nrpSenta1 vitl,
the gavel as badge OF Office.
After the induction OF the presiding
officer, few notices completed tine pro-
gramme of the afternoon, and the assembly
adjourned until tomorrow morning. In the
evening the sacrament was celebrated.