The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-20
PITTsBURG's PREsBYTERIANs
Many Ministers Gather to Hear the
sermon of the Moderator.

Many Ministers Gather to Hear the
sermon of the Moderator.
Pittsburg Pa. May 19.-The commits
sioners to the lO7th Presbyterian general
assembly distributed themselves to-day
over the city, taking in the sermons of the
churches and greatest preachers. Mod
orator Booth attracted the largest number.
His congregation was an audience of
gray-headed ministers many of them
worthy 10 be called fathers Of the church.
il was an audience such as a Pres yterian
preacher may hope TO face but once in his
existence as 1t can be gathered only by the
honored name OF moderator. DR. Booth
departed from the rule of mOderators and
preached a gospel sermon. Previous mod
orators, led by the burning interests in
the theological disputes before the assem-
blies which they have been called to
moderate, have chosen to define the faith
Of the church in the Bible
and standards. But DR. Booth
picked out a theme that might
suit any pastor in any pulpit far removed
from the theological controversy and doc
trlnal strife. His subject was: Christ
lifted up to dray the world unto him."
quietly circulated among the leaders
mere to-day were several copies of a type
written circular containing the secret in
StruCtiOns which We're sent out from New
York TO commissioners-elect in anticipa-
ton of the meeting of this assembly.
1nese circulars bear the marks
OF the Presbyterian League, an
institution founded upon the lines of the
Peaee-and-work combine three years ago,
MAleh tried to save DR.. Briggs from his
Prosecutors when the famous heresy
uldl was on in New York The league
tn no of ba
Iofuand and Washington assemblies,
whose debverance upon the truthfulness
OF the Bible created such a panic among
she liberals, and to secure a reversal of
me assembly finding in the case OF Union
tHa Lane seminaries. Some copies of
.hese circulars fell into unworthy hands
ana they are now in the possession of the
conservative leaders. They come from
tne Cedar street banking Office of w. S.
NIIinan Il Son, a concern allied through
marriage of its principal to the Wall
street house of Brown Bros, over which
p[esides John Crosby Brown, the head
Oh the Presbyterian league, and chief
penefactor Of Union Seminary.
The circular referred to bears date of
May Il. 1t contains fun instructions as
10 the management of the general assem-
Oily IN the matter of its object. 1t gives
reasons why DR.. John Hall and DR..
George Alexander will not come to the
assembly to stand as candidates for the
moderatorship. The candidacy of either
would be unwise, the letter says, al this
Juneture, as it would be impossible to
NIect an eastern man. A western man
would do much better and DR. William
~. rage of Kansas is proposed as an
eAslble candidate calculated to inspire
confidence in the peace-loving commits
Sloners. The circular contains informa-
uon as to Dr. Booths candidacy and
warns the western delegates of the dam
gers that would result if he We're chosen.
II describes DIR. Booth as dictatorial ana
severe, and urges all peace-Ioving, fair
minded commissioners to come forward
10 the support of DIR. Page and defeat
Dr. Booth
Further advice is given as to DR.. E. f.
mites leadership of the movement
against Dr. Booth. Delegates are re-
lerred also to the forthcoming issue of
me Evangelist, the organ of the liberals,
which was to contain a statement of the
great pastoral home missionary work of.
Ut. Page in the west.
In the circular were some enclosures,
one being a clipping from newspaper
giving a list of commissioners-elec This
list was carefully decorated with ink
marks, indicating by different colors Of ink
the theological views of each delegate
whether he was an ultra-conservative or
liberal, or only a mildly conservative
man, upon whom peace arguments could
be used to advantage one of the circu-
lars shown to-day contained postscript
IN Mr. Gilman's handwriting, giving fur
Their instructions and quoting at length
from letter received from Dr. L. E.
White of Columbus, o., giving his views
on the situation
lhese circulars are being diligently en-.
pioyed by the leading conservatives to
strengthen their cause in the assembly
4 hey say that it is the promoters of the
trresoyterian League who have ruined
me missionary boards of the church