Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-06-04
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Recent. Sessions of the Big
Presbyterian Convention.
IMPORTANT MATTERS FINISHED
Licensure of Students From
Union Seminary.


Saratoga, N. Y, May 90. In the de-
stional exercises at the opening of to-
, days session of the Presbyterian Gem
eral Assembly there were frequent and
feeling allusiona to the disaster at ST.
Louis and East Sc. Louis.
The order on church erection was
presented by DR.. William #. Junkin OF
Montclair, N. j. The report showed
total expenditure on all accounts, in
Guiding loans and grants, of Sl65, 5S2.
Tho report on the Presbyterian
Building in New York was read by Dr.
Kane OF Bloomington, ILL., 1t recon
mends that the building be sold and
that the Assembly accept Miss Rachel
Lennox Kennedy'a proposition to fit up
home for tho boards, but concludes
with clause referring the matter to
a special committee of ii to be APP
pointed by the moderator, with in
Htructions to confer with tho boards OF
home and foreign missions and advise
as to the most prudent course to be
pursued In connection with the prop
erty. The recommendation was adopted
without debate.
Church unity was presented by DIR.
Patterson of Pennsylvania. The com
mittee asked TO be discharged from
further conference with the commits
sion Of the Protestant Episcopal Church
on this subject Tho stumbling block
was stated to be the failure of that
church to agree upon basis of mutual
recognition and reciprocity. Tho re-
quest was granted.
Saratoga, N. Y, May 20. Tho Pres
byterian General Assembly voted to
day to meet next year at Wipona, MINI.
Saratoga, N. ", May 81. The Prea-
hyterian General Assembly finished two
important matters yesterday. The APP
pointment of committee to confer
with the officers of the board of home
missions in New York was the first and
the adoption of paper in relation to
the icensure of students from Union
Seminary was the other.
In its essentials the report atlirms
the action of the General Assembly Of
1885 concerning reception by the pres
hyteries OF students as candidates who
are pursuing or intending to pursue
their theological studies in seminaries,
for whose instruction the General
Assembly disavows responsibility. The
committee declares that students seek
ing to come under the care of presby-
teries as candidates for the Gospel
ministry have no presbyterial or eccle
siastica status save what is implied in
church membership, but having a pur,
pose to qualify themselves in doctrinal
belief for the Gospel ministry, it is in
dispensible for the purity of the church
in doctrine and policy that presby-
teries in receiving them under their
care so direct them in all cases whom
necessary, and, il need be, require
them to pursue their theological
studies under some approved divine. .
or in Institutions or Summaries which
have not been disapprovod by the
church. While fully recognizing the
constitutional right Of presbyteries in
the matter of licensing candidates for
the ministry, we are nevertheless
urgent that due respect be given to
the deliveranGes of the General Assem-
bly, in the matter of the education of
students for the Gospel ministry.
Ii was decided not to change the
name of the Board of Missions for
Freedmen" to Board of Colored Mis-
sions. "
The beginning of the end of tho
assembly was signalized by the reading
OF this Narrative on the State of Re.
ligion." by DIR. Sexton, synodicaI mis-.
sionary Of Nebraska.
The stated clerk read the annual
necroloty, containing 1876 names.
The assembly refused to indorse the
movement in favor of the 10th amend
ment to the constitution.