Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-05-22

ties at Variance.
Saratoga, n. Y, May 21.-The one
hundred and eighth general assembly
of the Northern Presbyterian Church
was opened here this morning at II
o'clock in the First Presbyterian Church
where so many previous assemblages
have met. Prayer was offered by Dr..
Wm. Durant, pastor of the church The
Psalm was read by the the Rev. VIM.
Z. Carr. OF Danville, Va, colored COM
missioner, and the Scripture lesson by
the Rev. Wm. S. Marquis. Prayer
was offered by Rev. Joseph VI. Gozeen,
Of Kolhapur, India. The opening SER
mon was delivered by the Rev. DR..
Robert Russell Booth. of New York. the
moderator, on the subject of Christian
Union and Denominational Loyalty"
The text was taken from the Gospel of
St. John xvii. 20 and 21.
Mr.. Booth spoke of the misuader-
standings and conflicts which have di-
vided the church and hinders its work.
He deprecated any work or act which
might aggrayate present troubles. Hs
SAID: "On one hand there are charges
OF undue severity in the administration
of discipline coupled with a plea for
liberty within certain limits, which. up
to this time, have not been defined.
On the other hand there is fear or
conviction that essential truths are az
stake and belief that the church is
contending for honor and life in the
! stand which she has recently taken in
her discipline and deliverances.
1T may be a dream: it may be a de-
lusion," said the preacher, but speak
ing as it were for the last time in such
a place Of public authority, | appeal 10
| the sound Christian sense of this ven
! cradle assembly to take some proper
measures to ascertain what it is that
divide us, and what is required for the
abatement of strife and a reconciliation
| of parties at variance"
The first important business tran
sacted this afternoon was the election
Of a moderator. Dr. Francis c. Mon
fort, of Cincinnati, editor of the Herald
and Presbytery. was nominated by Dr..
Thomas H. Clelland, CT Duluth. Tha
name OF DR.. David R. Reed, of Pitts
burg, was presented by Rev. VIM. II.
Hubbard, of Auburn, n. !. DR.. john
r. Davies, of New York, made a strong
! speech in the interest of DR.. John l..
| Withrow. of Chicago.
The result OF the ballot was With
row 315; Breed 163, and Monfort ST.
! The election was then made unanimous.
| The newly elected moderator was con-
Quoted TO the platform and indicted in
TO office by the retiring moderator. Dr.
Booth. DR.. Withrow expressed a high
appreciation Of the honor conferred up
on him, and expressed his determina-
tion TO use his best endeavors as a SER
want OF the assembly. DR.. VIM Dur
ant, chairman Of the committee of ar
Tangements, presented to the moderat-
or a gavel which had been provided by
the local association of the Daughters
Of the Revolution. II is of wood which
grew on the field where Burgoyne sur
| rendered, and was made by a cOXswain
of Admiral Farragut's flagship.
After a resolution, which fixed the
hours Of the daily sessions from Q
o'clock until 1870 and from 2:3O D. m.
until 3, tha assembly adjourned until
evening, when the sacrament of the
Lords Supper was celebrated. DR..
Booth presided and was assisted by
Drs. Breed and Clelland and by Elders
selected from the various synods.
DR.. WithrOw, the new moderator, in
stituted a new departure at once. One
of the most arduous duties Of a newly
elected moderator is the appointm n
Of numerous committees, upon one OF
which every commissioner finds a place.
Il has been necessary to ask the advice
of the clerks and of a few prominent
commissioners. At the close of the
evening session. DR.. WithrOw called for
a meeting OF two representatives from
each Presbytery with whom he might
advise in the mattre and the result OF
the experiment is awaited with inter-
est.
Somc interest was aroused ~ the pub
lication of a dispatch from Mr.. Kings
lev. treasurer Of Union Seminary, stat
ing that Prof. Henry p. Smith, VINO was
suspended by the general assembly OF
1894 is to deliver a course Of lectures
at the minary during the next year.
\ false report also was spread that he
he was engaged 10 take The place OF DR..
Briggs in the seminary during the
wears leave OF abs nee recently granted
10 him by the board OF directors.