The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-05-20
From Sundays Second Edition
Presbyterian Assembly.

PITTSBCRG, May B.-Assembly control
OF the seminaries has possession of the
Presbyterian General Assembly even if the
assembly has not the possession of the
seminaries, which it desires. AT the close or
the morning session adjournment was taken
till Monday morning and at that time the
debate of the proposed plan of gathering in
the seminaries into close and guarded
far attained has been TO divide the assembly
into two clearly marked parties, and IL
is judged that the line of cleavage is near
the numerical center of the body. Ii seems
probable that the vote of to 1. that was
recorded last year, will be wiped out i'm
large part and the disproportion greatly
reduced The committee which is urgIns the
adoption of the plan providing for closer
relations between the assembly. and the
seminaries saw itself compelled by the
strength OF the opposition which has de-
veloped. to import Thomas MacDougal of
Cincinnati, a member of the committee,
TO present the legal side of the case. This
he did IN speech or an hour and
quarter, but he labored under a heavy
handicap on account of pamphlet which
he recently published attacking the integ-
rity and faitnfuness of the board of home
and foreign missions in New York for using
funds given for missionary, purposes in the
avenue. The peroration of his speech was
devoted to removing prejudices created by
his pamphlet and the degree of his success
will only be shown by the final vote.
There Is a plan on foot to secure the
adoption of an alternative report replacing
hat OF the committee. 1t is proposed 10
recommend that in view of the answers
made by the directories OF the existing
seminaries. setting forth their unwilling
ness TO make any charter changes. these
semnaries be let alone and that the re-
strictions that have been devised by the
f tSa na De applied only to institutions
VIII have strong backing and will meet with
good support. Those who have had expert
ence of previous assemblies, however enter
tain some doubts OF its adoption. but il is
certain that the support which il will get
will astonish the conservative forces
The assembly has not yet learned the
afternoon session to-day, adjournment was
taken till Monday. 1t IS safe TO say that
the case will be different week hence.
The rush of business will startle those who
are unaccustomed 10 the closing scenes of
assemblies and legislatures.
In view of the resolutions adopted yester-
day concerning Sabbath observance, the
suggestion of Mr.. MacDougal that the COM
missioners spend their spare time on sun
day in reading and pondering the report of
his committee was quite unfortunate and
IL served TO prejudice his case still further
in the eyes of some of the commissioners
Union Seminary. in New York. is the bette
noir OF the conservative elements in this
assembly. This was shown in the morning
cause and occasion of all this disturbance
DR.. Briggs was scarcely mentioned, and the
odium which attached TO him has been
transferred to the seminary directors IN
New York. One OF the speakers declared
that when they repudiated their agree
ment with the assembly they took out val
erly to the church as such. One
of the strong objections to the
port OF the committee on seminary
control is that il involves recourse to the
civil court for the settlement of ecclesias-
teal differences. The answer TO this, made
by lawyer like Mr.. MacDougal. was re-
garded by some as a sort of special plead
ing and his references TO creatures OF
Caesar appealing TO Caesar failed 10 carry
conviction to all.
Thus far nothing has been heard of the
plans for deposing DIR. Briggs which were
said TO be under serious consideration. But
the assembly is young yet and those who
were active in the condemnation two years
ago are now absent from the scene. 1t
may be that these plans are now simply
i'm allegiance TO be sprung on the assem-
bly, at a latter date.
The arrangements for the celebration OF
| the quarter century anniversary of the
two branches OF the church are noted be-
low. They point 10 an occurrence of con-
siderable importance. but there not
wanting men who declare that that reunion
was mistake. Nevertheless the occasion
| promises to be one OF no small brilliancy
and interest.