The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-05-22
BAD DAY FOR EXTREMISTS
OPPONENTS OF THE COSTLY NEW
YORK BUILDING IN THE MINORITY.
Reports of Various Mission Boards
Proceedings of the Southern and
Other Presbyterian Assemblies.

dt New York made itself felt in the at
mosphere in the Presbyterian General AS
sembly at Pittsburg again to-day. The
winds of debate had only just cleared the
ecciesiastical sky of the cloud OF assembly
control of seminaries when another cloud
from New York doomed up in sight. But
1t was only a passing thunder head. and
was dissipated with only three puffs of
wind, one of which was furnished by Elder
Sterry, himself acting as the mouthpiece
of members of the New York Presbytery's
delegation. The question to the fore was
the reelection of certain men who are
connected with Union Seminary TO the posi-
ton of members of the board of home mis-
sons. Apparently there was considerable
opposition, but it failed to develop enough
courage to stand up and be counted. The
responsibility and credit for the action of
the assembly in rejecting the proposal of
the New York delegate are generally given
to Dr. John Hall. who reached Pittsburg
this morning. His attention was called to
the report that Union men were to be
turned down and he set about negativing
such proposals. Another matter which
promised to bring out opposition was the
erection of a building for the use of the
mission boards in New York. at a cost of
one and three-quarter million dollars. But
even the opposition of Elder MacDougal, of
Cincinnati, failed to make itself effective.
In other words the assembly, while over
whelnlingly conservative, has refused to
make itself the tool of conservative ex-
tremists. Most of the sessions of the day
were devoted TO the missionary and benevo-
lent interests of the generation.
The assembly was opened this morning
by a devotional service led by Judge
I'd Of
cupied by Governor Beaver the vice mod
orator AT the close of the reading of the
minutes Mr.. John H. Dey. of Westchester
Presbytery, had permission to record his
vote in opposition to the recommends
tions adopted by the assembly yesterday
afternoon. The fifteen minutes before the
consideration of the report of the Board
of Home Missions were devoted to the re-
port of the committee on the UNCONVENTIONAL
monthly periodical called The Church at
Home and Abroad. The report showed
that the subscription list had been increas-
ing steadily since the beginning of the year.
Dr. Mcintosh of Philadelphia, presented
the report and spoke in its favor.
HOME MISSIONS.
Dr. George Norcross, of Carlisle, Pa,
presented the subject of home mission,
which was the first regular order to be
reached by the assembly on account of
the long delay caused by the seminary
question. The report showed that the first
quarter century since the reunion of the
two branches of the church the annual
receipts had grown from s2S2. 40 TO the sum
of S934, 500 and the missionaries from 1,232
to 1.73l. From the women's. boards the
churches, $257. 339: from requests, 1924. Ala,
and from Individual donors, $4l390. The
year closed at the end of March last with a
debt of 1864, $50. Over sixteen thousand dol
lars of this was charged to the interest ac-
count. and the aggregate was swelled by
$4,000 on account of the work of the mis-
sions and education among the Indians,
more than half of il being due to the fact
that the last General Assembly directed
refused. Among the interesting recon-
mendations was one continuing Dr. Thos.
y, of the faculty " and and
board of directors of Union Seminary, as
members of the Home Mission Board. In
New York. moved that nominations be re-
ferred back to the committee, that New
York Presbytery might be heard on the
subject. Temporarily the motion was laid
aside.
A motion to adopt the report was made.
and DR.. w. G. Roberts, secretary of the
board. addressed the assembly. He report
cd that the amount received by the treas
urer of the Home Mission Board had only
once been exceeded. and that was two years
ago. The debt which he compelled TO
report was great, even overwhelming and
the reason was that the needs of the coun-
try exceeded the generosity of the church.
The subject Of the new mission house,
at the corner of Fifth avenue and Twen-
tieth street in New York: made its first
appearance in the report of home missions
in supplementary paper. 1t was stated
that the total cost of land and building
was estimated at $1,000 and the esti
mated revenue from rents about $4,000.
The total cost of maintenance and admins
tration was estimated at about $4,000. leav-
ing a net income of So, 100 at least
DR.. Robertss address was listened TO
with interest, and after him DR.. John Hall,
of New York. the chairman of the Board
of Home Missions, addressed the assem-
bly, He remarked that he was TO preside
at popular meeting tonight, and that he
occasion which he would keep. In refer
ence to the plan to hold up the reelection
of some of the members of the board he
follow. In the board. he said. nothing of
a partisan character had ever been men
toned: and it would be disastrous if il
was a plea for peace and for the retention
of the directors of Union Seminary on the
Board of Home Missions. There was a
storm OF applause when DR.. Hall ceased.
ELDER STERRY'S PROTEST.
The recommendation of the reelection of
Dr. Hastings, DR.. Charles L. Thompson,
John Crosby Brown and others was then
read by DR.. Norcross. Its adoption was
moved but Mr.. Sterry. of New York. re-
newed his motion that the nominations be
recommitted for a hearing from members
of the Presbytery of New York. Mr..
Sterry stated that churches had refused to
contribute to the cause of home missions
on account Of the personnel OF the COM
mit:ee. The motion was opposed by DIR.
Norcross who remarked, however, that,
like Mr.. Lincoln, "he did not have much
influence with this administration" Mr..
Thomas G.. Ritch of Westchester Presby-
terry, also opposed the proposed recommit-
tai.
On motion of Rev. Joseph r. Burrell. OF
Brooklyn, n. Y, the motion to recommit
was laid on the table by large vote. and
the election of Dr. Hastings and John Crcs-
by Brown members or the Board of
Home Missions was carried by a standing
vote. with none in the negative. A fur
Their resolution was adopted which COM
mit;ed the church to contributions OF
million and quarter dollars next year.
The first Sunday i'm June was designated
as the day for the special purpose of rails
ing the debt OF the Home Mission Board.
The opening OF the assembiys afternoon
session was devoted to partial report or
Among the matters disposed of was one I'm
regard to the OF individual cups at COM
munion. BY a standing vote, with very
few in the negative, the churches were
urged not to make me change contemplated.
The regulation OF young peoples societies
Of Christian Endeavor was re.egated to
the sessions of the individual churches. An
attempt to effect a reduction OF the eX-
penses of the administration OF the mission
AIRY boards was dismissed with no answer
The work of the board OF relief for dis
abled ministers was presented by Dr.
Jesse f. Forbes of New York. The re-
ceipts of the board last year amounted to
lfa i'm,