Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-05-25
PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY
One nundredth and Seventh Gen-
eral Assembly Meets.
pittsburg Full Of Distinguished DIZZINESS
Election OF n Moderator This After
noon - Fight between Lib
erals and Conservatives

Pittsburg, Pa, May -16.-It was a dis
tinguished body OF divines and laymen
that assembled this morning within the
walls OF the Third Presbyterian church.
From every nook and corner OF the
United States. from far off China and
Siam, from India and Africa n South
America, and from u sister republic
across the Texas border, the represen-
natives Of the great Presbyterian de-
nomination had come together to tell
what had been accomplished In their
respective districts during the past year
for the cause of their master, and to de-
liberate and ~legislate for the future
needs Of the church.
There were many well known faces
among the early arrivals, while not a
few OF those who were conspicuous in
the meetings in Omaha, Detroit, Sara
toga. and other gatherings OF previous
years were missed by their friends and
religious compatrlots, their absence tell
ing the story that the grim reaper has
been at work amongst the members OF
the faith.
There were many young men among
the delegates, while the colored contin-
gent from the south was larger than In
previous years. Rev. DR.. John Hall OF
New York, the shining oratorical light
of Presbyterianism. was early on the
scene. and he was shortly Joined by that
famous foe OF heresy and heretics. DIR.
Herrlck Johnson Of Chicago. Lawyer
George Junkin Of Philadelphia. admit
tedly the greatest parHamentarian of
the denomination, and whose presence
on the floor Is dreaded by the advocates
- - ,,a. al.A.. H. -.a1, alxA
to oppose, doomed up amongst the laity.
DIR. j. G. McClintock Of Iowa. who has
seen conventions without number. was
heartily greeted and cordial recognition
was given to the venerable DR.. Samuel
A. Muchmore Of Philadelphia, the rctir-
ing moderator; DR.. Roberts OF Michigan.
Revs. Turner of Milwaukee, Sexton and
Wilson OF Detroit. Covert Of ST. Paul.
Morey OF Springfield, Smith Of Santa
Fe, Eakim OF San Jose. Mathes Of Pc
oria, Hawley of Oklahama. Polk OF
north Texas, Harsha and Evans OF
Minneapolis. Todd OF Lake Superior.
Hill and Sproule OF Kansas City. Rob-
ertson and Gilkerson of Des Moines.
Mofette OF Arizona, Lippincott and
Johnson OF Chicago, Parks. Montfort
and Walter of Cincinnati. or the laity
John Sloane of New York, Alexander s.
Mailman of Chicago, Erastus Birnham
Of Cincinnati and Henry A. Breed Of
Pfttsburg, were generously welcomed.
Promptly at IL o'clock the retiring
moderator, Rev. Samuel A. Muchmore,
D.. d., LII. d., of Philadelphia, accom-
panied by the presidents OF the various
boards of the church, appeared upon
the platform, and a light tap of a gavel
upon the mahogany table made formal
announcement that 107th general as
sembly of the Presbyterian church in
the United States of America-to quote
the official title OF the ~body--had be-
come an accomplished fact. There was
no need for the appointment OF a COM
nittee on credentials, for Rev. DIR. Rob.
erts of Philadelphia. the stated clerk,
and Rev. DR.. Ewes Moore OF Columbus.
o., the permanent clerk, had been IN
session since Z o'clock receiving the ere.
ientials of commissioners. and issuing
to them the necessary authority to take
part in the deliberations OF the general
assembly. The proceedings were opened
with the singing Of a hymn and the of.
fering OF prayer, and the annual sermon
was then delivered by Rev. DIR. Much.
more. 1t was a scholarly discourse and
was listened TO with profound attention
At the conclusion OF the religious exer.
cises "a recess was taken. On reas.
sembling the body Will at once proceed
TO the election of a moderator. The
candidate Of the conservatives is DIR.
Russell Booth of New York city, the
famous anti-Briggs fighter. The liber.
ais, on the other hand, will cluster
around DR.. George Alexander, also OF
New York, and who has been at the
head of the Briggs party for the last
five years. While the proportion OF lib.
erals in this assembly Is greater than
in any previous one the conservatives
appear to have the upper hand, and the
selection OF DR.. Booth therefore seems
a certainty. AT the same time the body
is leavened with young and unknown
commissioners and so many OF these
are reputed to possess liberal affiliations
that the contest may be too close for
the liking Of the conservatives, espe.
cially as the vexed question of seminary
control n to be fought over again.
The present gathering is particularly
interesting from the fact tina it marks
the twenty-ffth anniversary OF tho
union Of the old and new Presbyterians.
which was effected In 1870 In this city,
The union of the two schools at that
time will ever be memorable in the his
tory Of the church because the declara-
ton of principles adopted by the united
churches was the same tina Lyman
Beecher. the father of Henry Ward
Beecher. had framed, and for which he
was tried on the charge Of heresy
twenty-five years before.