The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-05-17
MODERATOR CHOSEN.
DIR. Robert Russell Booth Elected ON
the First ballot.

the First ballot.
The first business session of the Cen
eral Assembly opened al 3 O'Clock this
afternoon with the committee commits
sioners' report of the roll Following this
was the call for nominations for modera-
tor Gen. James y. Beaver, Ex-Governor
of Pennsylvania, took the floor to nominate
Robert Russell Booth. of New York. He
referred eloquently TO the historical inter-
ests that attached TO the Third church
and the part in the cementing of the
church that DR.. Booth had taken twenty
five years ago. Said he: I'VE want a man
for moderator who believes that the Scrip
lures teach what man should believe. We
want man who believes in the govern
ment of the Presbyterian Church and be-
lieves that it should govern. He then
named DR.. Booth for the Office, and the
nomination was greeted with cheers. Rev.
Andrew G. Zenos. ID. d., of Chicago, sec
onded the nomination on behalf of the
Western contingent.
The Western commissioners were deter
go without fight. and DR.. Samuel S:
Cryor, of Albert Lea, Mimi, nominated
Gen Ro6eTt n Adams Of MinnsaRolis
military record, and to his thirty years
work in the. church as home missionary.
He was followed by DR.. Clarence ".
nomination DIR. William y. Page, of Leav-
enworth, Kan. DR.. Backus entered plea
for the West in the choosing of a noder-
ator. and based his claim on this ground.
DIR. George <. Pollock, of Litchfeld Mimi,
and Hon. +. L. White. LII. d., of Colum-
bus. o.. spoke in behalf Of DIR. Page, and
claims of DIR. Booth.
Nominations were then closed, and Isaac
ID. Frye, of Cincinnati, and II. I. Nash.
of ST. Louis. were appointed tellers. The
first ballot resulted as follows: Rootn. 800;
Page. 165: Adams. So; total. jiS. on motion
the election of Dr. Booth made unan-
imous. and the new moderator was called
to the platform and made a pleasing ad-
new moderator with a HANDSOME gavel
made from olive wood in Jerusalem and
sent to the assembly by the i;ev. Edwin
=. Wallace, Presbyterian minister and
United States consul 10 Jerusalem.
The following assistant clerks were then
appointed, after which the assembly adj
journed until tomorrow morning: Rev.
VIM. Greenough, Philadelphia: Rev. John
a. Ewalt, Columbus; Rev. w. =. Craig Los
Angeles; Rev. Chas. j. Deacon, Cedar Rap
morrow will be the presentation of the re-
port of the assembly committee on confer
ence with theological seminaries This
is of the most important questions to
come before the assembly. and the report
is awaited with interest. The report of the
committee on Sabbath observance will also
be presented tomorrow. This evening the
Lords supper was celebrated at the Third
Church.
Commissioners from the West are rails
ing an issue of exciting Importance. They
say the trouble is the home and foreign
boards are "honeycombed with Briggsism'
and. therefore, the people will not contrib
ute. Some are in war paint. and are even
cunning for secretaries. and mav demand
a reconstruction OF the boards Should
such an issue be reached the seminary
control question will be put IN the Lack
ground. The subject may come in connec-
ton with the reports of the standing COM
mittees the home and foreign boards
A M no
General Assembly of the two leading
branches Of the Presbyterian Church is
that both bodies will discuss the question
of control of theological seminaries con-
Quoted under their auspices. and that the
trustees of the respective seminaries are
reluctant to surrender control, as desired
by the supreme bodies. The United Pres
seminaries. They are located at Ale
gheny Pa, and at Xenia, o. The Allie
gheny seminary directory has declined to
surrender the property of the institution
TO the great assembly The directory of
the Xena institution has not been hea rd
from definitely, but IL was stated last
night that il was divided on the question.
important matter before the United Pres
byterian Assembly which convenes here
on the ed inst. II is the sentiment of the
church at large. 1t Is said. that the con-
troll of it's educational schools should be
Immediately under the direction of the
General Assembly in the matter of teach
ing and the disposal of property interests
members of the church and receive sup
port from the United Presbyterian body
through appropriations from the General
Assembly.