Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-17
.ANTI-BRIGGS MEN.WIN
Prssbytelll lxssis u nbsials ind
Mid Conservatives DsiatM.
Campaign and Lsssyins Methods
That would Astonish Oid-Time
Members Of the Church-sad Con-
ditton Of Mission boards.

stannmg the wtil-laid plans OF the Pres
byterian League Of Liberals and mild Con-
servatives. the out-and-out anti. briggs
men were successful to-day in electing
their candidate for moderator OF the
one hundred and seventh General As
sembly-Rev. Dr. Russell Booth.
OF the Rutgers church. New York city.
The campaign for Dr. Booth began weeks
ago. IT was carried on from New York
city BY master-hands In manner that
would have brought them credit In q
contest with experienced politicians.
AS soon as 1t was understood that Dr.
Conservatives, the friends Of DR.. Briggs
and Union Seminary took alarm. They
engaged the energies of the Presbyterian
League, an organization pledged TO re-
versal OF the acts of preceding assemblies
In the Briggs case. The Presbyterian
League. through les millionaire members
In Wall street, dominates the boards for
home and foreign missions In the Prcsby~
terrain Church. which have their head
quarters In Fifth avenue. A majority
of each board and many of the secreta-
ries and clerks openly sympathize with
the object Of the league.
DR.. Booth Is a member Of the foreign
board. He has always been prominent in
its councils Years ago he lifted an enor-
nous debt. nearly half million dollars,
that had rested for years upon the boards
treasurers. 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, and understand
ing this, the missionary strength was en-
listed in a measure In this fight. Instruc-
tons were sent out to each delegate
known to be In sympathy with the Briggs
side, the word being, anything TO beat
Booth
LOBBYING.
An old-time father Of the Presbyterian
Church, remembering the cordial reunion
OF the old and new-school churches
which took place here twenty-five years
ago, and which this assembly Is to COM
memorate. would have stood here to-day
an amazed witness OF the lobbying
methods in vogue in the General AS
sembly. The Conservatives acted to
man under clear and definite instructions
to give their full strength to Dr. Booth'
The Liberals and the weak-kneed Con-
servatives had their instructions, out they
lacked a candidate. At the last minute
they met In caucus and discussed the
most available man. In this they could
not agree, so when the votes were
counted they were divided-l6o Tor Dr.
Pahe. of Topeka, and SO for DIR. Adams.
OF MINNEAPOLIS showing q strength of
Liberals nearly double that found In any
assembly for the last Ave years. The
lines on which the campaign was con-
Quoted were clearly shown in the nomi-
mating speeches to-day on the floor OF
the assembly.
Understanding the issues clearly, and
the forces that were worked against
him. DR.. Booths missionary committee.
which he will announce tomorrow. may
be expected to put the screws upon the
Home and Foreign boards.
DISTRESSING SITUATION.
The situation with respect TO these
boards Is most distressing at this juno
ture, as the western commissioners are
constrained to hold that the boards are
wasting their funds and violating their
pledges to donors In the erection or
twenty-story marble palace In Fifth ave.
nue. to cost s2.0c00OO. Both boards come
to the assembly with enormous debts
the one $4,000. and the other $S6o,0oo-
while two years ago the accounts showed
a surplus In the treasury. Thus sweeping
changes are imperative IN the Offices
OF the missionary boards. 1t Is clearly
the intention to raise these points In the
assembly missionary committees this
year. Should the issue reach the floor
of the assembly. a violent and determined
opposition would be aroused. which would
make the assembly memorable.
On the call of the roll. the vote stood
as follows: Booth, 800; Page, l6'; Adams,
SO. The election having been made unani-
nous, Dr. Booth was escorted TO the plat
form by Governor Beaver and Professor
Zenos, and formally welcomed to the
chair by the retiring moderator.
DR.. Booth and his advisers worked until
late hour making up the membership
Of the assembly committees. The inn
portant committees this year will be the
one on bills and overtures, which VIII
consider the question Of the treatment
of Union Seminary students; the one on
the Theological Seminary, which will take
up questions relating to this institution;
the one on home and foreign missions,
which will examine the minutes of the
two missionary boards OF the Church.
DR.. Booth opposed DIR. Briggs in the
Union Seminary, where he was a direc-
tor, and when that Institution rebelled
against the assembly veto he resigned
from the directorate.