New-York tribune., 1896-05-30
PEACE FOR PRESBYTERIANS.
THE SUMMARIES QUESTION SETTLED BY
A COMPROMISE.
REMARKABLE SCENE IN THE GENERAL, ASSEMBLY
WHEN THE FIGHT WAS ovER-A COM
MITTEE on THE PRESBYTERIAN
BUILDING IN THIS CITY.

BUILDING IN THIS CITY.
[hY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBrNE.l
Saratoga, May 2a-The tidal wave OF hai"o"y
Ehich has been threatening the presbyterian s.'p
for two or three days struck her this morh'ls WIN
full force carrying down Moderator CLERKS anu
commissioners. irrespective Of former parry hnes
As the vessel careened and was lost from we" io'
, moment some one shouted Lets sing the DoAo-
,gy." With one mighty volume the strains OF oid
Hundred were heard rising far above the s'oii"
and all OF it's echoes lila,
When the calm came again, the Moderator cai'eu
upon Dr. Booth. of New-York, to lead the AssetlD' @
In PRAYER This he did in petitions that came lioih
the heart and started tears to many eyes he re-
signed from the Union Seminary Board OF Drec.ois
because Dr. Briggs was retained professor a4'e.
his transfer had been vetoed by the Assembly pu'
he has made strenuous efforts here 10 Drlhs apou'
a better feeling between the TWO wings oi inc
Church and the action taken to-day is the culmna-
ton of this effort.
The standing Committee on Theological Semna-
ries had recommended that the Assembly should re-
affirm the action of a year ago on seminary coh-
troll and declare that, in Its judgment, that piah
should be substantially adopted by ali OF the semi
naries The committee also desired the Assenpiy
70 suspend the exercise OF It's powers conferred by
the reunion compact until that compact was made
legal and effective by the seminary ana mat the
committee should be discharged Judge Humphrey
Of Louisville. spoke in favor OF the report
DIR. AGNEw SECURES HARMONY.
Then came the break. DR.. b. l.. Agnew, OF Pniia-
ielpha the Vice Moderator. offered resolution ap
proving the readiness of some OF the seminarles 10
carry out that plan and expressing the hope that
others would their way clear TO do So Conn
dence was expressed in the brethren In charge OF
the seminaries. and they were requested to report
10 the next Assembly what progress they had made
DR.. Booth seconded the substitute The house was
silent. DR.. Agnew expressed the hope that the
compromise would be carried without discussion
His paper, he said approved by Mr.. McDougall
The excitement grew. Commissioner arose. as
If to speak Before he had addressed the Moderator
DR.. Withrow. said in his persuasive tone: Brother
unless you have something TO say against this sub
stitute / think 1t would be for the peace and
goodwill OF the church that this paper should be
passed" Judge Wilson rose, not to oppose DIT
Agnew's papers. but to say that he stood among
q body, very large and growing larger, that sought
the peace of the church.
1--WE ask" he said, mo surrender from any one
"That is right" SAID DR.. Withrow, as If he were
thinking aloud Judge Wilson expressed the
opinion that the recent difficulties in the Presby-
teran Church could have been avoided by the dis
play Of little tact and good deal OF divine
grace He objected, he said to any project which
put under the ban any seminary that was loyal
to the Church.
The alluson to recent difficulties brought DR..
Birch of New-York. the prosecutor in the Briggs
case and Mr.. McDougall, who has borne the brunt
of the seminaries investigation, both TO their feet
In vain did DR.. Withrow try to prevent anything
that might destroy the harmonious spirit manifest