The record-union., 1896-05-18
than to create a contention in the pres
bytery over his reception"

than to create a contention in the pres
bytery over his reception"
1t is this action and this explanation
of his action that is the basis OF oppo-
sition to DR.. Withrow on the part OF
the leading conservatives. HE would be
man pliable in the hands Of the
crafty liberals is the comment Of
conservative.
DR.. Frank C. Montfort. editor of the
Herald and Presbyter,' will stand as
the candidate of the Western conserv-
atives. There is not a shadow Of a
doubt as to what DIR. Montfort would
do were he in the Moderator's chair
Personally, as editor of the Herald and
Presbyter' his influence has been con-
stant and unceasing on the side of the
old order of theological belief and Bib
lical study. He has been through the
thick of the fight at Cincinnati in the
Smith case. The New York conserva-
tives would be satisfied to rest their
trouble with DR.. Briggs and Union
Seminary in his hands. But there is
another conservative above the hori-
zon, DR.. David r. Breed of the First
Church, Pittsburg. Dr. Breed will not
abate one jot or little of the strictest
orthodoxy in pulpit or seminary. He
stood as a fortress two years ago amid
the almst solid liberal delegation from
Chicago in the desperate fight on theo-
logical seminary question at Saratoga
DR.. Breed, moreover, is man Of great
strength of character and fine personal
appearance, affable, agreeable and
popular. Being pastor and not an
editor would give him advantage over
DR.. Montfort in such a contest for the
ministers of the Presbyterian Church
are not fond of their editors. One fac
tor in the contest is the strength of the
home missionaries, who come in force
to the assemblies. The candidates for
Moderator chosen by the liberal side
have been men of strong missionary
spirit and this vote has been cast usu-
ally on their side. With two such men
as DR.. MOntfort and DR.. Breed to divide
the conservatives there is much ground
for the hopeful view Of Dr. Withrow's
chances INDUCED in by the liberals.
The attitude Of the New York Pres
bytery toward the general assembly is
sure to awaken bitter contest at Sara
toga. That attitude can best be de-
scribed as defiant. The Pittsburg as
sembly ordered the New York Presby-
terry, and in truth all Presbyteries, to
not receive students educated at Union
Theological Seminary because that in
stitution persisted in its contumacious
teachings. The New York Presbytery,
as well as other Presbyteries, disre-
garded this order, but they criticised
and condemned the action of the assem-
o. ha ta1
and unusual. The conservatives are pre-
pared to view this act of the Presby-
terry with fiery eyes when they reach
Saratoga. The New York delegation,
which is almost solidly arrayed against
the New York Presbytery in this action,
is greatly discouraged at the outlook
They expect bitter fight and they an
ticipate losing fight as WELL
"a reverse may strengthen us"-the
words of one of the leading New York
ers-is their only consolation.
Equally important with the selection
of a Moderator will be the consideration
OF the low financial status Of the great
benevolent boards of the church. The
home and foreign mission boards are
practically bankrupt and such has been
their condition for two years They
came before the assembly last year
with the enormous debt Of $500, 900 To
raise this sum the boards had hypothe-
Gated every scrap of stocks and bonds
in their possession, the accumulations
from legacies of many years. Beyond
this their real estate possessions on
Firth avenue were weighted with heavy
mortgages executed to raise money to
build the great Presbyterian palace on
that thoroughfare. Not a cent of credit
was available to either board and a
plain statement to that effect was made
by the Treasurers at the Pittsburg as
sembly. A grand committee was ap-
pointed to raise a million dollar me-
mortal fund for the benefit of the
boards. This committee has been at
work the past year, and the result of
its labors will be made known VIII
the million dollar sum be attained?
How greatly have the debts of the
boards been increased? These are ques-
tionS that affect the vitality of the
church to an extent greater than can
be told in words. In all probability the
boards debts are swollen 80 per cent,
while the million dollar effort will be
seen to have been a failure.
The Board Treasurer will also make a
report as to the finances of the great
office building venture in which they
have embarked This subject has had
much criticism in the assembly and in
the denomination papers. The criticisms
were hastily squelched last year on the
eve of the memorial meeting at Pitts
burg, but there is life in them yet and
they will doubtless arise at Saratoga.
The Theological Seminary control
project also comes up again, having
been resubmitted to the Seminary
Boards for further action. Such action
has been taken and the committee will
assemble tomorrow at the Adelphia
House, Saratoga, to digest and prepare
a report. The report cannot be fore
shadowed at this writing but it will be
in line with the previous action on the
same subject, recommending further
supervision and control by the assembly
of the temporal and spiritual affairs of
the Presbyterian Theological Seminar
les.
JOHANNESBURG PRISONERS