The record-union., 1896-05-18
II Will Open at Saratoga on Next
Thursday.
Prospects That There Will be a Very
Lively Session.
Both Sides Canvassing to Gain Posses
sion of the Assembly Organization,
and the Conservatives Fear That
the Liberals rlay Capture 1.-THE
Defiant Attitude of the New York
Presbytery Sure to Awaken a
Bitter COntest-The Benevolent
Boards in Financial Straits.

IASoOyeSiy ooiS ~ HWoNSH -
Bitter Contest-The Benevolent
Boards in Financial Straits.
NEW YORK, May 1.-THE peren-
NAL quarrel in the Presbyterian Church
over Bible study by new methods is to
have a fresh airing this week at Sar-
atoga Springs. There on Thursday at
high noon opens the one hundred and
eighth session of the General Assem-
bly, of the Presbyterian Church, North,
and the pains and distresses engender-
ed by the interminable Briggs are again
to be endured. This time for the pres
ent outlook there is a promise of sea-
son of greater severity than the church
has yet experienced in its long and Bit
ter succession Of accusations, trials,
deliverances and communications of
which DR.. Briggs, the Union Seminary
and the Bible have been the subjects.
The dawn of peace which was prom
ised at the great memorial love feast at
Pittsburg last year is not at hand.
Unexpected developments in unex-
pected quarters have revealed new re-
sources in possession of the liberal mi
fighters of other assemblies are chosen
Commissioners this year and they have
their battle planned for them. Both
sides are now canvaSsing to gain pos
session of the assembly organization,
and the canvass proceeds on lines very
like those made familiar in political
functions Of the day. Strange to say,
the minority, which, on account of
hands in the past great trials for here
sy has been SO astonishingly small as
to be scarcely worth the counting, this
inconsiderable minority has been time
and again on the point Of capturing
the assembly by shrewd maneuvers in
the canvass for the ModeratorShip.
These tactics are again in play.
Last year at Pittsburg the conserv-
atives, outnumbering the liberals four
TO one, saved their cause at the last
moment by uncovering the schemes OF
the New York Presbyterian bankers
to secure the defeat of DIR. Booth This
year action began at Chicago. AS in,
the past two General Assemblies, the
candidate advanced on the liberal side
as the champion of peace and work
has the high rank of busy and sue
cessful city pastor AS before, they
propose IN opposition to the conserva-
tives a man with the reputation Of
soundness in the faith and stanch con-
servatism. Such a man in 1894 and
again in 1895, receiving the vote Of
every liberal in the assembly, gath
cred such strength from the conserva-
tive side as to bring him within a few
votes of the Moderatorship.
Rev. Dr. John L. Withrow of the
great Third Presbyterian Church at
Chicago is named for that office by
Editor Gray of the Interior (news-
paper as a representative of the pro
sressive" type in the church. In an
editorial announcing DR.. Withrow's
candidacy the Interior" describes the
theological quarrel in the church as a
difference of type of man, not of doc
trine, and calls upon the church in the
coming assembly to disregard this diff
ference and to recognize, in the inter
ests of the efficiency and happiness of
the church, the equal value of both
divisions in the common cause
Coming from this source, the candi-
dacy of Dr. Withrow has alarmed the
conservative party beyond measure.
They see in it a repetition of the fight
of last year, when DR.. Page was forced
out on the conservative side to stand
at is a great plan and I fear it will
succeed" said one of the oldest and
most experienced campaigners. IF
elected" he continued, "Dr. Wfthrow
will place no barrier in the way of un-
doing all that the assembly has done
for truth in the past five years.
Editor Gray and the interior may
be classed as resolutely and unchang-
ably in opposition to the settled course
of the conservative party in the church
He opposed In his newspaper the trial
of DR. Briggs and Dr. Smith, the de-
liverance in regard to the errors In the
bible, and the disapproval of Union
Seminary His nomination Of a candi-
date whoever It might be. would in
itself arouse the conservatives. But
there Is more to cause uneasiness in
this quarter
DR.. Withrow cast his vote in the
Chicago Presbytery to receive Rev.
Frank V. Vrooman as pastor of the
Kenwood Church in that city. Mr..
Nrooman's selection by the Chicago
church caused furore in the West that
was equaled only by that caused by
the Briggs case in New York City. Ac-
cording to his own statement, pub
licly made at a meeting of the presby
terry. he did not expect to find a ra-
f:onal being who believed in every ar
ticle of the Westminster confession of
faith" He denied a full and clear be-
lief in the doctrine of the Trinity as it
is commonly accepted. and stated un-
equivocally his disbelief in the iner-
rancy of the Bible.
After an examination of his belief in
particular by full presbytery. Mr.
Nrooman was received after an avowal
OF his belief and acceptance of the con-
fession which he had previously dis
credited, one of the votes in his favor
being that of DIR. Withrow. This ac-
tiop of the presbytery has resulted in
complaint and a protest which may
find for the case a place on the calen-
dar of the General Assembly. Since the
action at Chicago DR.. Withrows vote
has been the subject of explanation
and an apology in the public press
''I was actuated with a desire to avoid
contention" are his words. II recog-
niZed his lack of technical training, but
his wish to be with us offset the errors
] believed he would outgrow. / thought
st would do less harm to receive him