Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1890-1895, 1895-05-20
HOISTED BY THEIR PETARD.
Some Light on the Campaign
Against DR.. Booth.
AND IT CAME LIKE A FLASH.
Several of the Secret Circulars of the Presby-
erian League Fall Into the Hands
Of The Enemy.

Pittsburg, May 19.-The commissioners
to the 10th Presbyterian general assem-
bly, distributed themselves today over
the city, taking in the sermons of the
church's greatest preachers. Moderator
Booth attracted the largest number. His
congregation was an audience of gray
headed ministers, many of them worthy
to be called fathers of the church. 1t
was an audience such as a Presbyterian
preacher may hope to face but once in
his existence, as it can be gathered only
by the honored name of moderator. DIR.
Booth departed from the rule of modera-
tors and preached gospel sermon. Pre-
vious moderators. led by the burning
interest in the theological disputes, be-
fore the assemblies which they have been
called to moderate, have chosen to de-
fine 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 theo-
logical controversy and doctrinal strife.
His subject was Christ Lifted UP TO
Draw the World Unto Him..
Quietly circulated among the leaders
here today were several copies of type
written circular containing the secret
instructions which were sent out from
New York to commissioners-electi In an
ticipation of the meeting of this assem-
bly, These circulars bear the marks of
the Presbyterian league, an institution
founded upon the lines of the old peace
and-work combine three years ago.
which tried to save DR.. Briggs from his
prosecutors when the famous hereSy
trial was on in New York. The league
was organized to undo the work of the
Portland and Washington assemblies,
whose deliverance upon the truthfulness
of the Bible created such panic among
the liberals, and to secure reversal of
the assembly's finding in the case of I'm
ion and Lane semnaries. Some copies
of these circulars fell into unworthy
hands, and they are now in the posses
sion of the conservative leaders. They
came from the Cedar street banking office
of w S, Gilman & Son. concern allied
through the marriage of it's principal
to the Wall street house of Brown Bros,
over which presides John Crosby Brown,
the head of the Presbyterian league and
chief benefactor of Union seminary.
The circular referred to bears date of
May H. 1t contains full instructions as
to the management of the general as
sembly in the matter of it's organization.
1t gives reasons why DR.. John Hall and
DIR. 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,
at this juncture, as 1t would be impossi-
BILE to elect an eastern man. A western
man would do much better and DR.. Will
liam N. Page of Kansas is proposed as
an eligible candidate, calculated to in
spire confidence in the peace-loving COM
mssioners. The circular contains in
formation as to DR.. Booths candidacy
and warns the western delegates of the
dangers that would result if he were
chosen. 1t describes DR.. Booth as dicta-
torial and severe, and urges all peace
loving, fair minded commissioners to
fnr ard tn hn RI Of n ora aud
defeat Booth Further advice is given
as to DR.. e. e. Whites leadership in
the movement against DR.. Booth.
Delegates are referred also to the forth
coming issue of the Evangelist, the organ
of the liberals, which was to contain
the great pastoral home missionary work
of Dr. Page in the west. In the circular
were some enclosures. one. being clip
ping from a newspaper giving a list of
commissioners-elect. This list was care
fully decorated with ink-marks indi-
Gated by different colors of ink the theo-
logical views of each delegate, whether
he was an ultra-conservative or a liberal,
or only a mildly conservative man,
upon whom peace arguments could be
used to advantage.
One of the circulars shown today con-
tanned postscript in Mr.. Gillman's
handwriting. giving further instructions
and quoting at length from letter re-
ceived from DR.. e. e. White of Columbus,
o., giving his views on the situation.
These circulars are being diligently en-
ployed by the leading conservatives to
strengthen their cause in the assembly,.
They say that 1t is the promoters of
the Presbyterian league who have ruined
the missionary boards of the church.
The leaders of the league are the controll-
ing directors of the home and foreign
mission boards and it is because of the
church's distrust of these men that the
contributions to the boards have fallen
off so heavily. 1T is because the
boards are honey-combed with Briggsism
that their treasurer is obliged to come
before the assembly with enormous de-
ficits. Is it not bad enough" they argue.
for these men to ruin the great mis-
sionary activity of the church? Must
manipulate the church's general assem-
bly?"
John Crosby Browns term as director
of the home board expired this year, and
he has been recommended by the secre-
taries for reelection Thomas Hastings,
president of the Union seminary. is also
on the secretaries list for reelection.
Shaw, directors of Union seminary. are
reported by the secretaries of the foreign
board for reelection. These men are all
ponounced Briggs men. Their names
will, 1t is said, be quietly dropped in the
committee rooms. The Gilman circular is
DR.. Charles L. Thompson is also on the
out going list of home missionary direc-
tors, but his name will not be scratched
this year. Although his Briggsism is of
the most pronounced type, the line is
to be drawn at Union seminary, and he
has no connection with that institution.
Ua ORC haadu,1arters fo1,