The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-20
READY FOR ASSEMBLY
NORTHUMBERLAND SESSION
OF THE BODY MEETS TO-DAY.
tor Withrow and Other Dfstin-
guished Visitors at Winona.
CHURCH POLITICAL GOSSIP
STILL UNCERTAIN WHO WILL BE
GIVEN THE HIGHEST OFFICE.
Healthy Opposition to Stated Clerk
ROberts-Baptist Home Mission
Society Anniversary.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WINONA PARK, Eagle Lake, Ind, May
l9.-The dawn tomorrow will see every
thing in readiness for the 1G9th Presby-
terian General Assembly, which begins here
in the morning, and if it be a beautiful
dawn, neither management nor visitors will
have anything of which to complain. The
weather is the only uncertain quantity in
the requisites of a successful assembly,
and at a place of this kind it is realized
to be of the utmost Importance. All day
long a stream of visitors has invaded Wi
mona. The crowds in the morning were
small, but during the afternoon and even
ing, when the heavily-loaded trains from
the south and east arrived, the crowd in
creased and spread over the pretty park.
The reception committee and employees of
the various hotels were kept on a constant
run, assigning commissioners to their quar-
ters, carrying baggage, and pointing out
directions and localities.
The most distinguished arrival of the day
was General Harrison. He came at 9:20
O'Clock tonight on a Big Four train, which
was run up from Wabash for his especial
benefit. The train arrived at Warsaw eight
minutes ahead of time, so that the commit
tee which went over from Winona to re-
ceive the general found he had taken
cab and driven over to the assembly
grounds. General Harrison came alone and
retired at once to the rooms reserved for
him at Hotel Winona. He reached the ho-
tel before the committee which failed to
meet him and was resting in his apart
me1ts when the members returned. Stated
Clerk Roberts came in during the day and,
fa ha ic
the most important man here. The Rev.
H. c. Minton of California, Rev. Sheldon
Jackson of Alaska, and Rev. w. f. Sam
pie of New York, all candidates for the
Office of moderator are registered at the
Winona Hotel, and the big special which
rolled in in two sections later in the even
inf brought Nr. John Wanamaker and
Rev. j. Wilbur Chapman, of Philadelphia.
Cincinnati and st. Louis seat large dele
cations.
INDIANAPOLIS VISITORS.
A number of indianapolis people, in addi-
tion to General Harrison, have arrived to-
day for the opening session. Among these
were Mr.. John H. Holiday, Rev. M. l..
Haines, Rev. r. V. Hunter and Mr.. and
Mrs. Frank M. McCrea. Governor Mount
is expected in the morning, and the special
trains yet to arrive will bring the rest
of the commissioners.
The missionary conference has continued
during the day and evening in three ses-
sions. The conference is not in any way
legislative, but is informal In nature and
merely for the purpose of stirring up IN
terest in the cause of missions At the
morning session there were discussions on
several questions of missionary interest led
c. L. Work of Cincinnati, Rev. H: G.
Denison OF McComb, o., and Rev: H. A.
Johnston of Chicago; In the AFTERNOON
Mrs. s. c. Perkins of Philadelphia and Mrs.
d. B. Wells, principal of the Westminster
Seminary at Fort Wayne, read papers and
addresses were made by Rev. Thomas as Mar
shall, Rev. c. B. McAfee of Park college,
Missouri, and Rev. Thomas Kline of Chi
cago. A devotional hour preceded the reg
ular evening session. and the Assembly
room at the Minnewawan Inn was found
too small for those who tried 70 get IN.
An. adjournment Was taken to the aqal- 1ai
torIum Rey ". s. Marquis rfioe OF Hock agd aSi
addresses were made by Rev. H. c. Min
ton and Rev. Thomas Marshall of Chicago,
The conference is merely preliminary to
the business of the General Assembly, put
there has been some disappointment that
it has been so poorly attended Dy thoSe
who were especially invited.
The assembly will open tomorrow morn
ing at II o'clock with sermon by Dr.
Withrow the present moderator, VINO ar
rived to-day. 1t is expected that Governor
Mount will be here to formally open the
assembly and his address will really be the
first thing in order, though he is not down
on the programme. The election of new
moderator will take place in the afternoon
In some respects this gathering of eminent
PRESBYTERIAN divines is much like polti-
cal convention, though, or course, thefe
are not nearly so many wires pelnB p9llea
The new moderator IS to be elected py
uopular vote of the assembly and in this
contest most of the interest is now center
ing Every section has its faVorlte candl-
date and to organize these sections ana 10
unite them on some one is the work OF the
energetic ones now on the GROUNDS. Llttie
groups of long-coated, silk-tiled church pol
iticians, if the term may be admitted with
out disparagement, are to be seen almost
any hour of the day or night
gathered on the long Iotele Lerandas' or even IN
about convenient stump in the woods
discussing the chances of their 1aVorlte
candidate, or endeavorlng TO prlhg some ne
commissioner to their way OF
thinking. Up till yesterday the contest
seemed to lie between Dr. II; G. Minton,
OF San Francisco, and the SeT w. she,nor ,11oil
have strong followings and both are men
who have every qualification for success
full moderator DR.. Jackson has for several
public instruction in Alaska. Botn nave
many friends already here, as Wen as 10
come. and the discussion wakes nVely at
However the favorite does not always
win and it became apparent as long ago as
Tuesday to those who have an eye FOR such
things that neither Dr. Jackson nor Dr.
Uinfou is nv any means sure of the place,
nor is it out of the range of possibilities
that the honor will go to another. Grad
ually and almost unaccountably Tor the
last few days there has been growing
strong sentiment in favor of the Rev j.
Wilbur Chapman, of Philadelphia. no one
knows whence it comes. nor how, but 1t is
here everywhere, seeming to spring up out
of the ground and TO drop from the trees,
and the knowing ones look wise When Or.
Chapman's name is mentioned.
EyENRY ROSE HAS a THORN
This would be no great religious gather
ing were there not some apple of discord
to create a diversion from the contented
stream of Presbyterian calm. The first
this wear is but a small one and is not likely
to grow into any unusual size, but it is
here, nevertheless. The trouble, if there be
any. is TO be in regard TO the office of
stated clerk of the General Assembly. The
office is a permanent one, paying a large
salary and the present incumbent, the
Rev w H. Roberts, of Philadelphia, has
held IL since 1884 He is the executive Off
Ger of the assembly, so TO speak, and has
sole charge of all business and finance
There has been question of DIR. Roberts s
ability as stated clerk, for il is admitted
by all that he is eminently htted for the
position. He is man OF remarkable exc
cutive ability and business intelligence and
has been an invaluable officer Notwith-
standing all this, there is a growing feeling
against him and "a desire that some one
else should have his place. Those who are
tatorial manner of Or. Roberts that is pro-