The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-05-17
PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY
One Hundred and Seventh Anniversary
Excrcires at Pittsburg.
EX-GOV. BEAVER IS PRESENT
Eloquent Sermon by Rcv. Samuel Mutch.
moro. Retiring Chairman-Dr. Booth
Is Elected Modcrat tOr-Iiis Election
u Victory for Anti. Briggs Men.

Pittsburg. Pa, May l6--The one hun
dred and seventh general assembly of
| the Northern Presbyterian church
opened It's session here today In the
Third Presbyterian church with the
customary ceremonies. DIR. McEwan.
chairman of the local committee. the
clerks of the assembly. and many
prominent ministers. ex-moderators Of
the church were present. The opening
session was occupied entirely by the
| delivery of the sermon of the retiring
moderator. Rev. Samuel A. Mutch-
more. ID. D.. of Philadelphia. He took
for his text Mark. Kill. "a: For the
Son Of Man Is as a man taking Il far
journey. who left his house, and gave
authority to his servants and to every
man his work. and commanded the por-
ter to watch"
DR.. Mutchmore spoke on the Labor.
Sentinel and Signal Services of the
Church" Dr. Mutchmore's sermon was
u surprise to the commissioners In that
1t contained no keynote on the burning
question OF seminary control. Uusually
the moderator's sermon touches on the
great issues that are to come before the
assembly. DR.. Mutchmore's sermon Is
notably free from such illusions.
Ex-Governor Beaver. the one-legged
veteran and an unswerving conserva-
tive, nominated DIR. Booth for modera-
tor at the opening of the afternoon
session today. He extolled DR.. Booth
as great and successful pastor who
had five times declined fattering calls
70 a a laN N
want for moderator a man." said he,
who believes that the word of God
which Is contained in the Bible Is the
only rule of faith and practice. We
want a man who believes that the pol
icy of the Presbyterian church is apos-
tolic that its government ought to
govern"
Robert Adams Mentioned.
Professor Zenos, of Mccormack SEM
mary, seconded the nomination on be-
half Of the Chicago presbytery. Rev.
DIR. s. S. Croyer, Of Minnesota, placed
in nomination the name of Robert N.
Adams. the home missionary superin-
tendent in that state. He called for his
support in the name of peace and har-
mony Rev. Clarence w. Backus, of
Kansas, proposed Rev. DR.. William N.
Page, of Topeka, as q conservative who
was free from any connection with the
disturbing questions in the church. F..
T.. White, prominent liberal of Column
bus o. and a newly-elected president
of Lane seminary trustees, seconded
DR.. Pages nomination. He spoke in
in praise of DR.. Booth, but urged the
choice of man who was far from the
CT nf ha phurch Ona nIIf-
side the personal immediate conflicts;
one whose heart was not distressed and
whose feelings had not been hurt by
the disturbances in tn church He
asked the assembly to go into the Sc
rene atmosphere Of peace and repose,
and select as moderator pastor of
church, where wealth does not ring
itself constantly in his ears"
DIR. Lampe. of New York, urged the
election Of DR.. Booth. On the roll the
vote stood as follows: Booth, 800; Page,
1855; Adams. S3. DR.. Booth was escort
ed to the platform by Governor Beaver
and Professor Zenos, and formally well
coined to the chair by the retiring
moderator. DIR. Booth spoke pleasant
ly OF the unsolicited honor which had
come upon him. declaring that he had
found 1t a safe and sound rule In this
world to take what comes to us. He
declared that he had left the storm
center far behind. He recalled the re-
union of the two churches which had
taken place in that church twenty-five
years before, and referred to the un-
derstanding at that time that a revi-
sion Of the church creeds might be at
tempted. "Revlsion was attempted"
a ripple or murmur."
Victory for Anti. Briggs Men.
After adjournment DR.. Booth re-
ceived the congratulations of his
friends. The election Is u victory for
the out and out anti-Briggs men. To-
night the commissioners celebrated the
sacrament of the LORDS supper In the
assembly church.
DR.. Booth and his advisers worked
until late hour making up the MEM
bership of the assembly committees.
The important committees this year
will be on bills and overtures by which
the question of the treatment to Union
seminary students will be considered;
on theological semlnaries which will
take up the questions relating to these
institutions: on home and foreign mis-
sions which examines the minutes of
the two missionary boards of the
church.
DR.. Booth is pastor of the Rutgers
church, New York city.