The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-05-06
LIVELY SESSIONS Ahead
One Hundred and Seventh General
Assembly Of rrcbyterian Church.
DIR. BRIGGS CASE WILL COME UP
Clash Is Expected Between Conscrvn-
tivcs and Liberals s-The Weather OF
Yesterday VIII BE Nothing Com.
pared to tho Meeting.

America, which will convene on May
16. Unusual preparations are being
made for this event for the reason that
this assembly marks the twenty-iifth
anniversary of the reunion of the old
school and new school churches, which
took place with Such ceremony in the
year 1870 President Francis l.. Patton
of Princeton, is down on the programme
for an address on the subject of the re-
union and there will be other speakers
of national reputation to follow him.
But the greatest interest Is in the
probable business of the general as
sembly, the deliberations of which will
continue through three weeks. The In
terminabe Briggs case is one of the
subjects to be passed upon. Then there
is the relationship of the theological
seminaries to the general assembly,
which is business question. But more
important still is the future attitude of
the Presbyterian church to the gradu-
ates of Union Theological seminary. in
volving the question of the fitness of
men who have come under the influence
of DR.. Briggs and his coterie to receive
ordination to the Presbyterian ministry.
PittSburg Is conservative center and
on all these questions the crowds which
always fill the galleries during sessions
of the general assembly will be in SYM
pathy with the anti-Briggs faction.
Liberals Arc ncrcnsing.
This year the proportion of liberals
is greater than it has been for years.
There are many more young and un-
known commissioners than have been
chosen in recent years and it is believed
that these men have liberal affiliations.
They will have a candidate of their
own for moderator. The plan is to ad-
vance Dr. Beecher, of Auburn, N. Y,
but it is possible that DR.. Beecher will
not attend. In that event the liberals
will muster around DR.. George Alex
ander, of the University Place church,
New York. Dr. Alexander has been
the head of the Briggs party in New
York for five years. Through his
leadership he has earned q national
reputation in the church, and so ranks
in the class of available candidates for
moderator. Although DR.. Alexander is
a Princeton man, he is firm friend Of
Union seminary. 4,
DR.. Robert Russell Booth. of New York
city, as their candidate for moderator.
He has been foremost among the anti
Briggs fighters ever since the subject
was raised some years ago. He is pas
tor of the ancient Rutgers church, and
he is a man of deep study and ready
eloquence. With these two candidates
the division between liberals and con-
servatives will be sharp and decisive.
To Humiliatc Dr. Briggs.
There is movement manifest among
the extreme conservatives to bring up
the question of Dr. Briggs deposition
from the ministry That will depend
on the results of the contest for moder-
ator DR.. Briggs is now under suspen-
sion, and the year for which this SEN
tence runs expires shortly after the adj
journment of the last general assem-
bly,. During that year DIR. Briggs con-
tinued to occupy aposition in the Union
seminary which can be held only by
regularly ordained Presbyterian minis
ter and he has repeatedly appeared in
pulpits as a lecturer. Moreover the
conservatives are of opinion that DIR.
Briggs intend to turn his back on the
Presbyterian church, and it is their in
tention to make his humiliation COM
plete before this event takes place. DR..
Briggs has been taking communion at
Protestant Episcopal church. and, ac-
cording to the Office of that church, no
one not a member should accept COM
munion there unless it is his intention
to conform to the church. All of DR..
ID ,,;, fa t1xr al
raised in the Presbyterian faith. have
conformed to the Episcopal church.
ScmiAarics Arc Obstinate.
The theological seminary question,
which has been before the church for
three years, will probably be continued
in it's present condition undisturbed.
This question was raised by an effort
to acquire for the general assembly q
closer supervision over the several in
dependent corporations known as Pres
byterian Theological seminaries. But
this effort has been met by such deter
mined opposition from the seminary
corporations, who were unwilling to
surrender their autonomy, that the
conservatives are in no mind to press
the question to vote. A committee has
been in negotiation with the seminaries
with a view to obtaining their consent
to a change of management. and this
committee can be continued If the con-
servatives have the moderator without
raising the troublesome question. The
negotiations as they have. progressed
amount at present to nil. None of the
seminaries, except the inconsderable
infant institution in Omaha, has ac-
cepted the terms of assembly control
over their funds and their instruction
Allegheny, Auburn, Mccormack and
Union are against it. Princeton takes
action this week, and it is understood
here that Princeton will come to the as
sembly with a resolution placing itself
absolutely In the assembly hands. But
even that uncertain action may not
lead the conservatives to carry their
propositions concerning the seminaries
to vote.
Rcbcliious Attitude of Lane.
The rebellious attitude of Lane semin-
ary, which called for the appointment
of q committee of visitation last year,
continues in aggravated form, while
the new president is openly hostile to
any ASSEMBLY ihtefiereHce Will tHe III
stitution. This may result in trouble
on the floor of the assembly.
Union seminary students and their
relation to the Presbyteries will come
UP for discussion undera memorial from
the New York presbytery. Although
Union seminary is under a formal ban
Of the church. the Presbyteries have no
rule to guide them when the question