The record-union., 1896-05-23
Even to Riding Bicycles and Reading
Sunday Newspapers.
Portland, Oregon, Selected as the
Place for the Last Episcopal Resi-
denCe by the Methodist Conference
Editors of the Various Church
Organs EieCted-Baptist Mission
ary Union.

SARATOGA On. V. May 22.-The
Presbyterian General Assembly began
work at $50 o'clock this morning, Mod
orator Withrow in the chair.
The report of the Committee on the
Church at Home and Abroad maya
zine was read by Chairman John 5.
Macintosh. The accounts of the year,
for circulation of 1880 copies of the
magazine per month, show a deficiency
of S3,44S. The report, with slight
amendments, was received and adopted,
and the committee was continued.
DR.. Fox of Brooklyn, from the Com
mittee on Church Temperatures, re-
ported a recommendation to change the
form Of government of the Presbyte
rian Church in the clause relating to
deacons. At present church trustees
may be persons not members of the
church, and in consequece conflict some
times occurs between elders and truS-
tees. The proposed change gives the
direction and control of the church tenn
poralities to deacons instead of to trus-
tees, and requires that deacons shall be
elected from the communicates of the
church Such management shall in all
cases be subjected to the exclusive au-
thOrity of the session and minister
over the worship of the church, in
Guiding not only the times and places Of
preaching the word and other religious
services, but also the music and the use
of the church buildings.
The report of the Committee on Sab
bath Observance was read by Chair
bn in iycr he ra-
port, referred to the chief perils of Sun
day observance, such as the greed of
gain, which compels thousands against
their will to work on the Lords day; the
dissemination of theories concerning
individual liberty and social order,
which are destructive of our best ma
tional tradition; Sunday baseball
games, Sunday theaters and Sunday
bicycle pleasure riding, etc.
The report entreatS members and all
other persons to 'conscientiously dis
countenance whatever tends to break
down the distinction between this and
other days, as, for instance, Sunday
trading, buying, reading or in any way
supporting Sunday secular newspa-
pers, social entertainments and vista
tions that dissipate serious thought, and
all self-indulgence on the Lords day
that tends to unfit them for Gods wOr-
ship" and recommends that, as far as
practicable, the last Sabbath in Octo-
Der shall be specially devoted to the
consideration of the binding Obliga-
ton to remember the Sabbath day to
keep it holy" The reference to Sunday
bicycle-riding, which, however, was not
embodied in the resolutions, caused some
debate, DR.. Kneeland of Boston speak
ing for the tolerance of the Christian
bicycle clubs, providing they attended
no meets. The resolutions were adopted.
AT the afternoon session DR.. Craven
of Philadelphia read the report of the
committee to which was referred the
overture of the Synod. The bill arose
over a conflict in some of the Indian
churches as to which marriage of the
polygamous converts should be recog-
nized. the first, or family marriage, or
the second, or love marriage. Con-
sideration of the report was deferred
Chairman Breed presented the re-
port of the Committee on Young PeO-
pies Societies. To this committee was
referred the overtures for the formation
OF a Westminster League in opposition
to the Christian Society: also overtures
asking for the recognition in the as
sembly of the Christian Endeavor and
other young peoples societies by the
institution of a board of young peoples
societies 1t recommends the cultiva-
ton of young peoples societies by the
church sessions and presbyteries, but
declines to advise the formal approval
of any society or the establishment of
a Presbyterian society or of a board of
young peoples societies. The report
excited an amusing debate, in which
the merits and demerits of the Christian
Endeavor and other societies were
aired.
The committee recommends the adOp-
ton, along with other things, of a reso-
luton, as follows:
The assembly deems it unnecessary
to prescribe any specific form of or
ganization for individual young peo-
pies societies, while it expects them to
conform to certain acknowledged prin-
ciples both general and particular, as
follows: In general these societies are
to be organized and to work in conform
ity with the historic position of the
church, as expressed in her standard
In specifying its historic position. the
committee states, among other things.
the following in relation to the political
action of the young peoples societies
THE separation of the church in its or
ganic capacities from all political creeds
and all methods Of political action. Our.
young peoples societies may not be
utilized for the advancement of any
political project, however apparently
laudable.''
A statement of relations of the soci-
cites to the session was also proposed.
which provided for a close supervision
OF the constitutions, schedules of serv-
ices, ETC., of officers and distribution Of
funds of the societies
Presbyterian unions of such societies
were further advised by the report
The whole report, except the last re-
communication concerning Presbyterian
unions, was adopted without opposi-
ton.
On division the assembly adopted
the amendment striking out the clause
recommending the plan of unions to
the presbyteries.
The assembly then adjourned. with
the Breed report still the order Of the