New-York tribune., 1895-05-25
TO RAISE A MILLION.
THE TASK SET FOR THE PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH.
DR. RoBERTSs FIGURES OF GREAT INTEREST TO
THE AssEMBLy-THE TEMPERANCE AND
OTHER IMPORTANT MATTERS con-
sIDERED IN PITTsBURG.
TpY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUHE.l

OTHER IMPORTANT MATTERS con-
sIDERED IN rITTsBURG.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUHE.l
Pittsburg. May 24-The hero Of the General AS
sembly to-day Is William II. Roberts. stated clerk
who delivered one of the memorial addresses at
the reunion meeting last evening on the growth
and future of the Presbyterian Church After
giving figures from the minutes which startled
those who considered themselves versed in the
history of the denomination. DR.. Roberts referred
TO a difficulty ia the way of progress. namely the
financial Indebtedness Of the boards Of the
Church. amounting to more than S6Oo.ovo. No pct
ter way ne said could be found to dispose Of this
liability than to gather an anniversary reunion
fund which shall bring at least $1,000 600 into the
treasures OF the church The PRESBYTERIAN
Church he added is the wealthiest Protestant
church in this country. The suggestion caught
the house. and the Million Dollar Fund Commit
tee, consisting of fifteen ministers and ten elders
Is to be appointed to raise this memorial onering
and DR. Roberts Is It's treasurer. The following
are the resolutions offered this morning by the
Rev. Dr. W. l.. McEwen. pastor of the Assembly
Church:
Roberts. d. D.. copy Of his admirable address
the growth OF resby eransm during M the same ,ass
be issued as supplement, of THE Assembly
Herald for general distribution throughout our
Second, That we heartily indorse the suggestion on
made In the address that an mmeuls,e e,o,r re'nnn
made TO raise SlO00,0D as an anniVe'sd'! 'e""io"
Third That ms our Church has contributed dur
ing these twenty-five years Si7.~ TO the mis-
sionary work of our Church. and that al the prs
Sns work 'e OF abont soc the rsi contributions ina,
are made this fund shall go to iiq'Ia'e 'n,a ha
boards Of our church according TO ,hcr indebted,
ness and that wnaisver w ,sna sn sons e various
boards according To the established system OF ap-
portionment: , .,.,.,,nc ~ of,.o,
ministers and ten elders. shall be appointed by the
Moderator TO carry out the provisions OF 'e "oo'c
Fifth. That w II. Roberts: D. D. be requested requested
TO employ such clerical help as may most eiicient.
y accomplish the desired pnrpose' and 1ma' m pnh ANY
sixth. That Acknowledgement of all contributions
made 10 this fund shall be made In inc columns OF
1.-THE Assembly Herald
Almost the entire day was given TO two ques-
tions During the morning the temperance ques-
ton was the burning one. and the brethren
waxed warm. The standing Committee on Tenn
perance reported through its chairman. the Rev.
f. B. Newcomb Of Indiana. The committee said
In part:
We note with pleasure the active and efficient
part taken by ministers and members OF our
Church especially in the great cities. toward over
turning the iniquitous rule OF corrupt municipal
rings whose chief strength lay and aons sHsT %usS x lie
the liquor trafc In the opinion Of Tie committee
Is or ms Gn TO unite in the work Of de
stroying cursed drink and rescuing Its victims
The temperance deli serances OF former AS
sembes which in unb-oken line for more than
eighty years In favor OF total abstinence for
the individual and the abolition Of the traffic in
intoxicants. were reaffrmed One resolution read
as follows:
Resolved. That in the Judgment Of this As.
9 ssou9 make ak " their nauence ,s. directly and With
power at the ballo,-box and that AL voters con-
against the granting OF licenses for the sale OF
intoxicating liquors.
Considerable discussion arose over this mo-
ton. but there was only small minority when
the vote was taken. Having gone so far the
Rev. DR.. Page OF Kansas. one OF the candidates
for the Moderatorshlp. offered resolution de-
ciaring that 1t is the duty of the Church Of
Christ to avoid ever the appearance Of evil. and
as there is a well-grounded belief that danger
lies in the use OF fermented wine at the com
munion table it is the sense Of this Assembly
that unfermented fruit Of the vine fufs every
condition in the celebration of the Sacrament
George F. Sterry, Of New-York. and others
opposed this resolution. but it was carl through
with an overwhelming vote. No question that
has come before the body since the session be-
gan has created so much excitement as this
DR.. Booth gave every man desiring to speak an
opportunity to be heard. and the hour FOR ad-
journment reached before a final vote could
be taken. The best of humor prevailed through
out the discussion and the friends Of temperance
feel that 1t has been a good day for their cause.
After deciding that the General Assembly
r. i,,a atz hcl lcGS re-
quently than it is. two hours were spent this
afternoon in listening to the fraternai delegates
from the United Presbyterian Church. meeting
at the East End in this city the Waldensian
Church of Italy. the General Synod Of the Re-
formed Church In the United States. the General
Synod Of the Reformed Episcopal Church and
the Alliance OF the Reformed Churches through
out the world holding Presbyterian system.
When the representative OF the Waldensians
was introduced. DR.. Booth greeted him in 1tal-
ian. and the visiting minister, quoting from
Dante. in the original. said that he was tempted
to ask the Moderator to translate the quotation.
but on consideration he would refrain from doing
so. The most striking address Of the half-dozen
or more was delivered by the Rev. Dr. W. T.
Sabine. OF New-York. representing the Reformed
Episcopal Church. organized in Philadelphia In
1873 as protest the speaker said. against
those sacerdota and sacramentarian tendencies
which for many years have been leavening and
unprotestantizIng the Church OF England and her
daughter. the Protestant Episcopal Church in
the United States"
Dr. Sabine said that to tell the story OF this de-
cline would require a travelling back to the Nj
Gene period and its corruptions for ritualism and
eacerdotalism take their appeal not TO the New
Testament and the pure and simple faith and
worship Of an Apostolic Christianity. but to the
following dark age Of externalisn frivolous su-
perstition and will worship. Growing warm with
his theme, he continued: Yes. and beyond that.
which calls us 10 analyze the human heart itself
and show how In its innate depravity 1t is ever
more prone 10 Substitute law Of works and
monial observances. fastings and penances and
prayers in place of the finished salvation Of the
Lord Jesus Christ"