Birmingham age-herald., 1895-05-17
THE BRIGGS MEN ROUTED
IN THE ELECTION OF DR. R. B. BOOTH
As Moderator of the Northern Assemby-A Mastery Campaign-How It
 Will Affect the Boards.

Pittsburg. Pa, May 16.-Notwith- standing the well laid plans of the Presbyterian league of liberals and mild conservatives, the out-and-out anti Briggs men swere successful today in eecting their candidate for moderator for the forth general assembly. Rev. Dr. Robert Russell Booth O. the Rutgers church, New York city.
 This campaign for Dr. Booth began a week ago. It was carried on from New York city by master hands in a man. her that would have brought them credit in a contest with experienced politicians. AS it was understood that Dr. Booth was to be the candidate of the conservatives, the friends of Dr. Briggs and Union seminary took alarm. They engaged the energies of the Pres byterian league, an organization pledged to the reversal of the acts of preceding assemblies in the Briggs case. The Presbyterian league, through its mill lionaire members in Wall street, domi- mates the boards for home and foreign missions in the Presbyterian church, which have their headquarters in Fifth avenue.
 A majority of each board and many of the secretaries and clerks openly sym pathize with the object of the league.
 
 board. He has always been prominent in it's councils. Years ago he lifted an enormous debt of nearly $500, 900 that had rested for years upon the boards treas uries. A few years ago his influence turned the vote in the foreign board in favor of a change in the charter, bring ing the board under the direct control of the general assembly. Every man connected with the board understood that Dr. Booth was inimical to the Briggs influence there. Understanding this, the missionary strength was en- listed in a measure in this fight. h. 'structions were sent out to each delegate known Ito be in sympathy with the Briggs side the word being anything to beat Booth"
 Understanding the issues clearly and the forces that were worked against him, pr. Booths missionary committee, which he will announce tomorrow, may be ex pected to put the screws upon the home and foreign boards. The situation with respect to these boards is most distress ing at this juncture, as the western com mssioners are convinced that the boards are wasting their funds and violating their pledges to donors in the erection of the twenty-story marble palace in Fifth avenue, at cost of $2,000, ,000- Both boards came to the assembly with enor- nous debts, the one $175,0 and the other $360.000, although but two years ago the accounts showed surplus. m
 The idea in the west is that sweeping changes are imperative in the offices of the board of missions It is clearly the intention to raise these points in the ass sembly missionary committees this year. Should this issue reach the floor of the assembly a violent and determined oppori sition would be aroused that would make the assembly memorable. q
 On the call of the roll the vote stood as follows: Booth, 300; Fade, 165; Ad- ans, S3. r
 The election having been made unani7 nous. Dr. Booth was escorted to the platform by Lieutenant- Governor Bea- yer and Prof. Zeonas and formally well comed to the chair by the retiring mod erator