Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-18
THE NORTHERN PReSBYI ERIANS.
Most Surprising Contest for Moderator In
the AssembIy's History.

SARATOGA. y. V, May 1.-THE lO6th
General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church was convened to-day by Modera-
tor W. O. Craige in the auditorium Of
the First Presbyterian church. The as
sembly is composed largely OF new men,
few OF whom have taken any part in the
struggle that has brought the Presbyte-
rian Church into prominence the past
few years. Estimates have been made as
to how these new men stood on the issue,
but to-day's contest for moderator upset
them all. Delegates all over the house
kept tab on the vote as 1t was In pro-
gress, and before the tellers had summed
up the result l. was learned that of the
four candidates the liberal man was far
In the Lead
The New Workers made no efforts to get
their votes changed by the moderator
and in a moment the assembly was in an
uproar. Loud calls of "Orier!' were
heard all over the church Dozens of
preachers were on their feet at once cry
ing out to the moderator. On a second
vote the Liberal was defeated by but
eleven votes. This announcement was
loudly questioned by the Liberals, but the
moderator ignored the clamorings, and
declared Dr. Samuel A. Mutchmore, Of
Philadelphia the moderator.
The other three candidates We're Rev.
Arthur j. Brown, Of Portland. Ore; Rev.
William r. Noble. Of California, and DR..
James Gardner. of Gloversville, N. Y.
The roll is arranged by synods In al
phabetical order beginning with the
southern cities, where the chuyches are
chiefly mission stations On the first
ballot il was seen that not only the
Briggs men. but all the young preachers
and elders from these sections were vot.
ing for DR. Brown. The commissioners
from the New York presbyteres. nearly
a hundred in number, were counted upon
TO vote almost solidly for Dr. Gardner.
but DR.. Brown received % OF their votes.
The New York City delegation was also
divided. DR.. Birch and Elder Worrail
voting for DR.. Mutchmore. The vote as
summarized showed DR.. Brown about
thirty votes In the lead. with DR. Gard
ner credited with about 100 votes. Colonel
McCook, from the New York delegation,
arose and requested the teilers TO change
his vote from DR.. Gardner to DR.. Mulch
more. Other New Workers followed with
the same request. and Immediately there
was an uprising OF Gardner men to get
themselves counted on the Mutchmore
side. The home missionaries rose against
this, and attempted to check the tide.
They made motions and raised points Of
order.
A motion was finally made to hear the
report of the tellers. This was carried
with a whirl. Here Is the vote as an
nounced:
Brown. 223; Mutchmore, 207: Gardner,
So: Dinsmore. "a
DIR. Dufiield then withdrew Dr. Gard
ner's name. DIR. Dinsmore was also with
drawn and the roll was called again for
mr. Ntrt. acI ~.
Browns names. 1t was after s o'clock
when the call was over and the result
announced. DR.. Mutchmore received PSI
votes and DR.. Brown 269. A committee
was dispatched for the successful candi-
date. and In pleasant exchange Of cour-
tesies. retiring Moderator Craige well
coined his successor to the platform and
passed over the gayel TO his hand. The
assembly then adjourned, after the most
surprising contest for moderator In ito
history.
The evening session was given up to the
regular service OF holy communion. In
which all the commissioners Joined.