Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-05-24
PRESBYTERIANS IN SESSION
Work of the General AS
sembly at Saratoga.
THE SANGTlTY OF THE SABBATH
Plans for Federate Union and
Cooperation.
Correspondence on Church Unity Sus-
penhed'- Majority and Minority iIepprts
on the Control of the Srminaries--
Report on sabbath Observance.

SARATOGA, \. Y, May lS.-Ope ming
devotional services Of the Presbyterian
| General Assembly was led by Elder
William X. WorrAll OF New York.
As usual on the morning after the cleo
| ton OF a new moderator. the main interes.
was felt IN the committees tina. were 70 be
! appointed 70 attend 10 the details Of tie
assembly's work.
The Craftsmanship OF the committee on
oills aud oyerturcs goes by custom to the
retiring moderator, DR.. Willis G. Craig.
The committee second in order is that on
| Judicial business, and the leading unsue-
| cessiul candidate for the moderaiOrship is
always named for this post. !; came Us q
surprise that DR.. Arthur j. BEHwn was
passed by, and .Dr. Gardner named for
this important and difficult position.
DR., Marq,hs OF Chicago was placed in
charge of the committee On church p0lity.
Dr.. Holmes of Pittsburg presides over the
interests Of education and DR.. Fox Of
| Brooklyn will present the subject of min.
isterial relief. Elder Franklin l.. Shep-
pard will have again for the third time,
charge OF mileage, and Elder James Nere-
ance Of New York, of finance.
The other chairman and committees are
to be named later, according to new rule
Of the body.
SARATOGA, n. Y, May 1s.-The
Presbyterian General Assembly recon
yened this morning in,thc First Presby-
lerian Church, the Rev. S. A. Mulch
more, d. H., moderator. Standing
committees were announced, with the
following persons as chairmen Bills
and Overtures, the Rev. Willis q. Craig,
". D., of Chicago; Judicial Committee,
the Rev. James Gardiner, d. D., of
Gloversville, N. Y, Church Poiity, the
Rev. d. C. Marquis, ID. D., Of Chicago;
Education Committee, the Rev. Richari
L. Homes, d. D., Of Pittsburg; Minis
terial Relief, the Rev. Junn Fox Of
Brooklyn; Mileage Committee, Elder
Franklin L. Sheppard Of the Prcsbytery
of Philadelphia North; Finance Com
mittee, Elder James Yercance of the
PFesbytery of New York.
A PLAN FOR FEDERAL UNION.
The Rev. X. Thomas j. Smith, of
Baltimore, presented the report of the
Committee on Church Unity, which con-
tanned plea for the federation Of the
churches holding the Presbyterian
system, which has already been pub
lished in the Ledger. Itprovides for the
appointment of federate council, com
posed of four ministers and four elders
from each body. DR.. Smith said the
plan was proposed as the first fruit of
the coming arrest. Among the eight
bodies are found all types Of Calyanism.
II is not mere cooperation of churches
or an absolute consolidation. 1t is
federal union. 1t is unity without uni
formity.
THE QUESTION OF COOPERATION.
The Rev. Charles L. Thompson, D.
D., of New York, presented the report
of the committee on church co.opera-
tons. He said that the object Of the
movement was TO save men and money
on common home mission ground, He
believed that n step towards organic
union between the two great bodies was
by friendly cooperation between the
churches North and South.
A REPORT on SABBATH OBSERVANCE.
At the afternoon session Mr.. William
r. Worrall presented the report OF the
committee on Sabbath observance. The
Rev. DIR. Minton Of San Francisco, said
he came from State where there is no
Sabbath law. The Mid-Winter Fair is
the sabbath is the most ungodly of them
ali. We are rapidly, said lie, approach
ing state Of things similar to what took
place in Chicago a year ago. wish it
TO be understood that the Christian SEN
timent OF California Is opposed to Sab
bath Dissertation.
The report Of the committee, which
was adopted, contained resolutions that
the General Assembly reafiirms its be-
lief in the Divine authority and uni
versal and perpetual obligation of the
Sabbath; that the assembly lay upon
the individual conscience the responsi-
bility of personal example in keeping
the Lords Day, avoiding whatever tends
to desecrate it, such as the buying, read
ing and supporting in any manner the
Sunday secular newspaper, unnecessary
Sunday travel, amusements foreign to
the spiritual purposes of the day, social
entertainments that dissipate serious
thought, and needless self-indulgence
during its sacred hougs; also indorsing
the American Sabbath Union.
CORRESPONDENCE ON CHURCH UNITY
SUSPENDED.
The committee on church unity re-
ported recommending a suspension of
all correspondence with the Protestant
Episcopal Church until definite answer
is received to the proposition for minis
terlal recognition and reciprocity.
The Rev. DR.. Young said the assem-
bly, was bound in common courtesy to
wait until the answer is received from
the Episcopal general convention. On
motion of DR.. Young the majority re-
port of the committee on church unity
with regard to the Episcopal church,
giving history of the transaction and
suspcnding correspondence for the pres
ent, was adopted.
SARATOGA, N. Y, May 21.-In the Pres
byteran General Assembly to-day, Just
before the time for the Theological Semi.
nary discussion, the judicial committee
took the platform and presented a report
in judicial case No. /, which IL designated
the smith case. The report was that the
appeal 10 in order, the papers having been
duly filed. and it was recommended that
the appeal be entertained, both parties
having agreed to waive their right to be
heard on this question.
II the Assembly votes to entertain the
appeal, three hours are to be given to
Professor Smith to present his case four
hours to the committee of prosecution an
additional hour to Professor Smith, 20
minutes TO the Synod of Ohio and two
hours to the Assembly.
AT the close of this time the vote is to be
taken up each allegation of error and
ground appeal separately. It was decided
to make the consideration of this case n
special order for Thursday next, sat i
O'Clock, to continue until finished, having
precedence over all other orders.
SARATOGA, NY, May 22.-The devotional
service ut the opening OF the General AS
seinbly tins morning, was devoted to the
subject of home missions. II was led by
Mr.. buchanan of New York.
The committee on bills and overturos
presented a martini rennrt An nrnrtnrn