Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1896-02-24

Will Therefore Preside at a Meeting of the Home Missions organization--About Unfermented Wine.
 "Grover Cleveland does not stand as as Christian or Presbyterian We can't afford to introduce him as the leader at the big home mission meeting. He would attract a crowd, a rabble. '
 These were the words used by the Rev Dr. Stealy B. Rossiter at the meet ing of the presbytery of New York, held the other afternoon at the corner of Twentieth street and Fifth avenue, New York. The meeting had been har monious up to that time. There had been considerable discussion over the admission to the presbytery of certain men whose work was not wholly con- fined to New York city. It was finally decided to admit those who received mail there.
 Then Dr. Thompson made report from the home missionary department.
 The committee proposed, first, that special services be held at the chapel of the Presbyterian house on March ,, at which the elders and ministers of the church would be present and over which William D. Dodge would preside.
 They also proposed that on the fol lowing day the Presbyterian ministers in the city should exchange pulpits and preach on home missionary work. Final ly, on March 5, was to come a grand home missionary rally in Carnegie hall At this Dr. John Hall was to act as temporary chairman and introduce Pres ident Grover Cleveland as the presiding officer. Addresses were to be made by Dr. Sheldon Jackson, B. T. Washington and T. De Witt Talmage.
 AS Cleveland's s name was pronounced murmur ran around the room. All the ministers and elders present assumed an air of interest.
 Dr. Ressiter rose hurriedly to his feet and exclaimed "Is he in earnest? Have we got to the condition where we have to depend on mems names to do the work of God?''
 Dr. Thompson explained the work that Jackson had done ill the west and Washington in the south and spoke highly of Dr. Talmage's eloquence and fervent spirit in the home missionary field.
 As for the national head of our coun. try" he continued, 'tall I can say is that he''-
 Applause interrupted his remarks, at the conclusion of which Dr. Smith got the floor and said he approved of the plans of the committee entirely He knew that MT. Cleveland was a good Presbyterian.
 1T am sorry" said Dr. Ramsey, that this has not been a secret session. hate to have it go out to the world that we have made reflections on the head of the government. He has shown his sympa- thy with us, and we should accept it cordially He has been a good Presby- terian. 1 have heard him iii public speech laud the Westminster cateehism and praise the confession of faith. If he presides over our meeting, it will show people that the Presbyterians mean busi- ness; that they are acting on common sense lines. J
 II am not opposing the plans of the committee. said Dr. Rossiter, earnest ly and slowly. "God forbid that should do that, but l want to enter slight word of dissent At the foreign missions meeting they had former president as presiding officer. At the home missions meeting we propose to have an acting president as chairman. It looks as if we were trying to go them one better ill public feeling. This fact will bring out certain political preferences that will tell upon the audience. l don't like it. Grover Cleveland does not stand as a Christian or Presbyterian. We can't afford to introduce him as the leader at the big home missions meeting. He would attract crowd, rabble. We want earnest men, thoughtful men. We should hesitate before asking the presi- dent to be our leader.
 Dr. Patterson said he thought the last remarks were sensible. He did not be- lieve that it was proper to try to Ego the foreign missions one better.
 Dr. Shiland-I think that President Cleveland
 Dr. Wiley-f object. I don think we should indulge in uncomplimentary re- marks about the head of our nation.
 s'I didn't intend to make uncompli- mentary remarks, /" replied Dr. Shiland. 1T only wanted to say that had heard him make good religious speeches. '
 After some further discussion the re- port of the committee was adopted, with five dissenting votes.
 D. Stuart Dodge of the temperance committee made report. which con tained the following words: .'That ses- sions allow the use of unfermented wines only at the communion table It is lamentable that many, who sorely need the sustaining comfort of the Lords supper, are debarred because of alcohol ill the sacramental cup. The adulterated compounds of modern com meree should be banished from the or dinanee and their fumes no longer desc crate the house of God.
 This created considerable discussion, in which Dr. Mullally said he liked a good glass of wine himself and drank it. He thought it certainly should be used at the communion table. It was finally