Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-05-20
TRIED TO DOWN BOOTH
A Sensation In Presbyterian As
 sembly Politics.
A BRIGGS SCHEME THAT FAILED.

The New Moderator Occupies e Pittsburg
 Pulpit and Breaches to a Big Audience
 Debate orthe Control of Seminaries Prom ises to Come to an End This Afternoon.
 PITTsBCRG. May 20.-An assembly sen- sation has just been exposed. Winthrop S Gilman of Gilman, sons X Go of New York is said to have been in correspond enCe with leading ministers or the Preshy- terian church setting up liberals against Rev. Dr. R. R, Booth for moderator
 Gilman is wealthy New York import CT and gave many donations to the church. It is said he issued circular from New York attacking Booth. stating he was not the man for the place being arbitrary, and that his election would be a blUndor
 Gilman is a leading Briggs man. The story came out too late to hurt Rev. Booth, but creates n sensation.
 Pittsburg Preshytcrans boast especially of their orthodox PrrSbytCrianism and claim that tho smoky atmosphere has had no effect in obScuring the clearncSs of their Calvinistic vision. But it is many a day since tho place has lC cen taken possession of so completely by the forces of the blue denomination. Churches of all sorts and varieties opened their doors and pulpitS on Sunday, and it took a long column of small type to set forth all of the appoint ments made and accepted by tho divincs of the Presbyterian general assembly.
 The greatest interest, however, was felt in tho sermon of the moderator, Dr. R. lt. Booth of Now York, who preached. as is customary, in tho church where tho as sembiy sits He was greeted by a largo au- dicnCc which contained n large propor- tion of assembly commissioners. Dr Booth was attended in the pulpit hy Dr. Will liam McEwVn, tho pastor of the church, and by Dr. W. r.. Morgan, permanent clork Uf the assembly. His text was taken from tho gospel ut John xii. 8: And l, if be lifted mp from tho earth, will draw all men unto mo,
 His suh CCt was the vitarioUs and atom ing death of Christ, and the sermon was clear and powerful, If any of the audience hoped for any uttvrautcs on questions in hot debate they woro disappointed, as the only thing that could be tortured into such an interpretation was tho emphatic statement that as against intidolity, or | thodoxy now has its innings
 Tho Control of tho Seminarie,.
 Parts of two days Lavs now been de voted by tho Presbyterian general asssm l bly, to the discussion of ths subject of as sSmbly control of ths theological semi | nariss. Today the matter will bo resumoI with viGor. Thus far all attempts to limit 1 debate have boon voted down ovcrwhelm inGly. but word has Goae forth that de cision must be reached at o'clock thiI afternoon Many, however, doubt tn, ability of the leaders to put this pro | gramme through. The attitude of the lib erals favors postponemcnt In the cxpeota tion that If the report of the committee O | conference with tho sCminnriCS Is thor l nrl nirp1 ' will l.a NI m E0npl l VheronsrrNAtivcS, un the contrary. wan Il drc >ivn quick, shaTp and ovcrwhelm ing
 Already the time occupied is so long tkat commissioners are reminded of th cudleSs discussion ia the Briggs and Smitl cases The result premises to le that th caucus ut tie missionary boards If tn church will ho luShcd "siGo and that ox tcrnal questions w.u usurp q plalo Whicl does not bllon. iu thlm
 The pariHc coast :S here again with pressing invitation Ia t!r assembly { l meet 'u ''>"H in Su2tt!c = c,u Wears az tlr u".l 7 I!n-c was Portland. Orc, and ,st '.., tiH.c tlte Briggs ,aso was ny l Its .i'r l5 ulVn tLc church west of th Ko,i,y m uulAllS MGs hot all that ha been aul.,igatrd, Now, with tile burnin | questions out uf the way, a more favOyabl impression is hoped for. Dr, .Aloxandr Allison and }.ldcr W. lG Ba. 'ard from th First chuivh uf S,1tIlr, ale engaged i canNGssin: opinlrn and in forming sent mcut in favor Ct their city,
 Tie question is likely tu hC ono uf CN pcnsc. and II may be n-ccssary for th hackers ol Seattle to rajsv u guaranty fun to make il possible t0 tRES 600 cOmmi, sionsrS 50 far and kssP them SO long Tn only othsr 9lacS mentioned is SaratoGc where the assembly met last y.ar An where tEe commissioners can To cntcI ta:nod at less expense than anywhere els in the country.
 The large amount uf time already COT sumci hy tho seminary discussion soCnl likely to result as q consequence that OthC matters. such as tLs treatment of the stJ dents of | nion seminary in Now York au of the new mission house on Fifth avsnu in New York, will bs considered only i the brief interval between the regular o ders Of the dny. In some respects it is fo tunAts for the assembly that 1t has . moo orator of sp,h great executive ability :
 Dz. Booth, Thus far h. las won snldc giniouS from many who voted again: him.