The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-05-19
4CHURCH UNITY MOVE.
Presbyterians Favor an Amalgamation of
Their Branches.

SARATOGA. y. Y. May lS.-The open
ing devotional exercises Of the Presby-
terian General Assembly wde led by
Elder VIM X. Worrall, of New York.
AS usual. on the morning after the cleo
ton Of the new Moderator, the main
interest Is felt in the committees 10 be
appointed TO attend TO the details or the
assembly's work. The chairmanship OF
the Committee on Bills and OVertures
goes by custom 10 the retiring Moderator
DR.. Willis @. Craig. The committee sec
ond I'm order is that on Judicial Business
and the leading unsuccessful candidate
for moderatorship is always named ior
this post. 1t came as n surprise that Dr.
Arthur j. Brown was passed by ana
Or. Gardner named for this important
and difficult post.
DR.. Marquis, OF Chicago, was placed IN
charge OF the Committee on Church
Politics. DR.. Holmes Of Pitlsburg, pre-
sides over the interests Of education ana
Dr Fox. of Brooklyn, will present the
subject Of Ministerial Relief. Elder Frank
lin l.. Sheppard will again, for the thlrd
time have charge Of mileage, and Elder
lanes Yereance, OF New York, or flnance.
other chalrmen and committees are TO be
named later, according to new rule OF
the body.
The first report read was that on de-
nominatlonal periodical Church. at home
and abroad. Dr. Mcintosh, Of Philadel-
phia, speaking
REPORT on CHURCH UNITY.
DIR. Joseph T. Smith read the report OF
the special committee on Church unity
This is the committee which has been
conducting negotiations with the Eplsco-
nalian Church and other denominations
looking TO a reciprocity arrangement be-
tween all churches. Last year the House
Of Bishops sent a committee headed Dy
Bishop Cleveland Coke, OF Western New
York. 1t was received, and proposed an
amendment TO the canon law or the Epls-
copalian Church whereby all PresDyte-
rian ministers could be recognized by the
Episcopal bishops as standing on
the same basis Of apostolic sue
cesston with themselves. Nothing
has been heard OK this proposal
since. and Dr. Smiths committee conhned
his recommendations TO confederation
of all the churches in the United States
having a Presbyterian form or govern
ment. These include the United Prespy-
terian Church. the Dutch KeIorhleu
Church and others, eight In all. The com
mittee recommended large ecclesldstical
assembly made up OF representatives, OF
all these churches and exercising ad-
visorv powers over the field, but not
interfering with the organic integrity OF
each DIR. Samuel J. Nichols, Of st. Louis,
read a dissent TO the proposed ecclesias-
+icaI assembly or council. DR.. Charles l..
Thompson. OF New York, spoke In support
of the federation plan proposed.
THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY REPORT.
The special Committee on Theological
Seminaries made It's report to-day. The
committee has been at work two years
irving 10 devise some means OF effecting
such a change in the differing charters OF
the thirteen theological seminaries under
it's control as shan prevent the alienation
OF their endowments.
IL was found that many OF the theologi-
cal seminaries known as Presbyterian
were actually Independent OF the church
IN which they owed their support. The
control over them then being exercised
by the Presbyterian Church through the
General Assembly, was nominal only and
did not In any degree affect the funhS OF
nroperty. IL was found that nothing can
he done I'm the direction desired without
tho consent OF the seminaries themselves
A plan for bringing this about was pre-
sented.
The Southern Presbytsrfsns.
NAsHyILLE. TENN. May B.-The
General Assembly Of The Southern 1fss-