The herald., 1896-05-23
Presbyterian General Assembly
Breaks Up in Confusion
THE ENDEAVOR SOCIETIES
Find Advocates and Opponents Holding
Variant Opinions
Sunday Amusements Denounced and SYM
pathy Denied to Prosecuted Baptists.
The Methodist Conference
Associated Press Special Wire.

| SARATOGA, May 22.-The Presbyte-
rian general assembly broke up at 3
o'clock this afternon in confusion in the
, midst of vote on resolutions on spec
ial committee on relations of young peo-
! pies societies to the church. Resolu-
tions had been adopted that a state
ment of relations be sent to the sep
arate societies TO be read by them and
reaffirmiug the action of the assembly of
1893. The former recommendation was
reached only after a long discussion and
under the operation of the previous
question. Just at the hour of adjourn
ment motion was made to strike out
the other recommendations of the COM
mittee and discharge it. Action on this
motion was only prevented by the
abrupt announcement by the vice mod
orator. Dr. Benjamin l.. Agnew of Phil
adelphia, that the hour of the session
had expired and the assembly stood ad-
journed. One recommendation of the
committee was entirely eliminated after
an animated discussion and after a di-
vision.
1t related to the formation of Presby-
terian unions of young peoples socie-
ties in all presbyteries. The action in
this direction was due to the belief that
the plan, as proposed, would seriously
interfere with present inter-denomina-
tional associations and cooperation.
The business of the day consisted in
the reception of the reports of the spec
ial committees appointed in 1895.
DIR. John Cox of Brooklyn reported on
the temporalities of the church. recon-
mending a change in the constitution OF
the church in regard to the office of dea
con. and suggesting that theproperty of
the churches be committed to the board
of deacOos when possible.
on account of point of law contained
| IN, 4l,..
| made special order for tomorrow
| morning.
Special reports on new editions of the
constitution of the church and of the di-
gest for deliVerances of the assembly
were made by the stated clerk. DR.. Rob-
! erts. The final report of the morning
called forh warm discussion. 1t relat-
ed to Sabbath observance, and was pre-
sented by Elder Worrell of New York
The report denounced all work on Sun
day. various theories of individual lih-
erty excursions, ball games bicycle
riding, lax views of the Sabbath, social
entertainment and the Sunday news
paper. Christian people We're scored for
their lax observance of Sunday The
resolutions, which were adopted re-
affirm former deliverances as to the per-
petual binding obligation of the Sab
bath. They also commend the efforts
made in Sunday schools and young peO-
pies societies for the better observance
of the Sabbath; appointed the last Sun
day in October as a day for the special
consideration of the subject and COM
mended the work of the American Sab
| bath union and its auXiliaries
Elder L. II. Main of Kearney. Neb
| introduced a resolution expressing lack
| of sympathy with the criminal prosecu-
| ton of those persons who honestly and
| conscientiously observe the seventh dav
| inc .,f+ +I,.,4
met with opposition and his motion was
! tabled
The final address of the morning ses-
sion was delivered on invitation of the
assembly by DR. Martin Kneeland of the
Boston sabbath observance committee
on the work Of his association.
The report of the admission of polyg-
amous converts to baptism and the
church came up on an overture from
the synod of India. which asked that
the decision be relegated to the synod
Tor decision in each case. The report Of
the special committee. consisting of DR.
John r, Wells of Brooklyn, president Of
the board of foreign missions: DR.. Il. =.
craven of Philadelphia. and Elder Geo.
): Junkln, was presented by DR.. Craven
1t stated that the request could not be
granted and this view was adopted by
the assembly by formal vote.
Inc report of the committee appoint
ed in 1898 TO consider the relations of the
young peoples societies of Christian
EhdeaVor to the church was heard with
close attention. 1t was presented bv
Dr. Breed. chairman. The committee
recommended that the action of the as
sembly of 1893 be affirmed, com1nendinr
the spirit of the organization. conn
selling them to reorganize fully their
relations to the church and urging them
10 prosecute their study of the doctrines.
/ < tfNrsT g.F+ . l.
church. 1t was also recommended that
the previous deliverance should be am
pinned in its details in order to meet
certain demands and harmonize GER
tain views which have developed in the
three years which have elapsed, and in
ofder to secure more fully its practical
application"
divergent views We're represented in
the committee, but all united in the feel
ing that the assembly should recognize
| the great good which has attended the
organization of the young peoples So
cleties, and at the same time that If
| should undertake to so direct the fu-
| ture OF all these societies that they NAV
| ne OF the greatest service to the cause Of
Christ and the furtherance of the in
| tiuence of His church"
Inc vital recommendation was that
| the present committee be continued and
that IL be directed to get statistics and
! otheT information and on the basis of
| tne same to submit to the next assem-
ply If the way be clear. plan based on
! thls information. which Will unite our
| societies along the line of our historic
! NeWs OF Christian doctrine and Wor-
| ship" WV
particular attack was made upon the
| resolution containing this proposal but
| u was carried under a construction of
the operation of the previous question.
which carried the main question along
| with an amendment
Ihen followed a motion to strike ont
| the remaining recommendation and to
| discharge the committee Pending this
motion the hour Of adjournment arrived
ana further discussion was choked off.
METHODIST CONFERENCE,
LENELAND, Ohio, May 22-The
Methodist general conference occupied
itself today in electing editors of church
papers and secretaries Of church socie-
ties. Very little remains now in the way
| of elections. When Dr. D. NJ. Buckley
was overwhelmingly elected editor of
the New York Christian Advocate there
was an immense ovation to the popular
! New Yorker, Resolutions We're adopted
| favoring arbitration and will be copied
| into foreign languages and sent to rulers
| of nations throughout the world. Bish-
| op GOodsell was excused from further
| attendance upon the conference, as he
| must go abroad. Portland, Ore, was Sc
lected as the sixteenth Episcopal resi-
| dencp, and rules TO be fOlloVpd hv the