The record-union., 1894-05-25
snecial to the REcoRp-UNIoS.

Special to the REcoRD-UNIoS.
SARATOGA, May 24.-The only vacant
seats this morning at the opening of the
Presbyterian Assembly We're those re-
served for members of the family of Pro-
fessor Smith, whose appeal was set for to-
day.
The Judicial Committee changed the
rules SO as to allow each member 20 have
three minutes on roll-call to discuss the
case.
The assembly was then constituted
court. Alter the reading of the records
argument was begun by Dr.. Smith, VINO
stated that he proposed to argue only six
grounds ofappeal instead of Twelve.
His argument at the start concerned the
existence of preiuGices in members Of the
Presbytery which recently tried him.
Professor Smith sought to show that
the records of the original trial proved
prejudice, as members were allowed to
sit in the case who had published opin-
ions touching the guilt OF the accused. 1t
was further shown that the regular order
prescribed for judicial process by the
constitution OF the church has not been
complied with in the preliminary stages
before the beginning OF actual trial. The
third point argued was that the charges
were fatally defective, in that they did
not formulate the doctrine against which
the ofense was alleged. 1t was expressly
said that the doctrine Of inspiration
mentioned in the charges was the one
implied in the confession Of faith,
whereas the constitutional law demanded
of the church that the doctrine offended
against shall be fundamental" That
which is fundamental will never be left TO
inference.
The doctrine Of inspiration alleged
in the charges was cOntended to be one
not Taught III the scripture or in the con-
fession, and in fact TO be contrary to the
confession OF faith of the church. The
itineracy of the original autographs of
scriptures was declared to be entirely
outside OF the doctrine of inspiration and
independent Of it. 1t was further shown
that the doctrine of itineracy has a theo-
logical, not biblical origin, and that the
concern as 1t stands is no support to the
position Of the prosecution.
Professor Smith then argued that the
implication OF the charges contained
contradiction of true Presbyterian doc
trine. On this point the speaker said
'And now we have reached the point
where we may examine the utteranceS of
the last general assembly. | do not
mean, of course, that it is the duty of this
assembly to review or revise any partic-
ular decision of the assembly OF 1898.
with the idea of setting it aside. The
confession OF faith says that all synods
may err, or have erred, or that their de-
cisions must be examined"
Professor Smith then went on to show
that the Washington assembly evaded
the issue raised by the doctrine of the
confession in failing to declare that
the scriptures not only ''are the
words OF God" but are 'sinerrant."
hot n,.irri ii H.,
were inerrant makes it necessary to
say that the holy scriptures ''were'' the
word of God. But, on the contrary, the
doctrine set forth by the confession was
stated to be that the Bible, as contained
in 1.-The present. Hebrew and Greek
copies, lis the present arbiter of present
controversies"
The next objection had reference to the
identity of the two charges upon which
he was found guilty, and the lack of
defniteness to their allegations. At the
close of this section OF the defense the
assembly took recess.
a telegram from the General Assembly
of the Southern Presbyterian Church, de-
clining to reopen the question Of organic
reunion, was read.
THE SOUTHERN CHURCH.
NASHVILLE (Tenn.), May 22.-The AS
senbly Of the Southern Presbyterian
Church received a committee report saw
ing there seems to be steady growth in
the churches. Last year the average adj
dtion to each was something over seven
The average for the present year will ex-
ceed this. Taken together the report is a
very encouraging one. The vote on the
organization matter taken yesterday was
corrected and found to be: Nays 81, nays
81.
4 formal protest was offered by DR..
Etwang and others. against the action of
the assembly yesterday in refusing to
appoint Committee on Organic Union.
The protest will not be allowed to go on
the minutes. but will be answered by
committee TO be appointed for that pur-
pose. The conference adjourned until
p. NJ.
UNITED PRESBYTERIANs.
ALBANY (Or.), May 2i.-The business
meeting of the United Presbyterian GEN.
eral Assembly met at o'clock this morn
ing, being opened with prayer by Rev.
Il. y. King OF the Presbytery of STRAIT
ford, Canada. The roll OF representatives
was called by Stated Clerk Rev. w. J.
Reed.
Rev. j. a. Wilson, D. D., professor of
history in the Allegheny Theological
Seminary, was elected Moderator. He
addressed the assembly briefly.
Rev. DR.. s. G.. Irvine, the pioneer pastor
OF the Albany Church presented the new
Moderator with q silver mounted Cavel
made from the wood of an apple tree
planted by the pioneer minister in Oregon.
Reports of Committees on Ministerial
Relief, Foreign Mission. Women's Board,
and Board OF Education were read ard
distributed among the members of the
assembly. Reports of various other COM
mittees were read.
At the evening session q number of
memorials from various Presbyteries Tor
the appointment OF Field Secretary for
Foreign Missions were presented. A
memorial for the appropriation of S25, 600
for United Presbyterians colleges was
also presented. Reports of several boards
were then read and referred.
CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIANS.
EUGENE (Or.). May 24.-ln the Cum
berland General Assembly to-day the re-
port of the Committee on Temperance
was very strong, and spoke decidedly
against the use of tobacco as well as in
toSicants, and against the license law and
against the Government receiving tax
on any of these articles. The assembly
was divided upon the real meaning OF
nom Federal tax ON Intoxicating liquors,
some asserting that it meant free whisky
and others temperance. the report WIS
adopted.
Rev. Almer L. Thompson was APP
pointed Denominational Secretary for
Oregon and Washington.
The matter OF federation was again
brought up. \ vote was taken, and re-
suited against federation.
a resolution appointing committee OF
five to present the matter of federation to
the next General Assembly passed.
The minutes were then read and the
sixty-fourth General Assembly adjourned
sine die.