The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-27
Proceedings of the General Assembly
Were Harmonious and Much Work
Was Accomplished.
FOUR REPORTS DISPOSED OF
ALL THE DEBATES SPIRITED, But
WITHOUT TINGE OF ACRIMONY.
Possibility that Trouble May Arise
Over the Proposed Dismissal of "a
Home Mission Secretary.

ST ecal to the indianapolis Journal.
WINONA PARK, Eagle Lake, Ind, May
26.-Calm and placid as the waters of the
little lake just outside the auditorium doors
have been the proceedings of the Presby-
terian General Assembly to-day, with only
slight parliamentary squall two to
ruftie the smoothress of the surface. 1t
was q business session from first 10 last,
and the chairmen of committees and secre-
taries of boards. who came primed with
arguments and loaded with facts to do bat
tie for their reports, were sent away with
out opportunity to fire them at the assem-
bly,. Four reports were taken up during
the day, considered and adopted without
so much as an unllind word, thing un-
precedented, at least at this session of the
General Assembly.
The weather was warm and balmy and
the sun shone brightly all day, both ma
ture and man seeming to have imbibed the
spirit of harmony instituted yesterday by
DR.. Withrow's address. The report of the
committee on the reception and licensure
of candidates for the ministry dis
posed of without debate. and then Rev.
Wilbur j. Chapman read the report of the
standing committee on foreign missions
a number of missionaries from all parts of
the heather world spoke enthusiastically
Of their work, and such good feeling result
ed from the little experience meeting that
the assembly rose and sang the long-meter
doxology. Short prayers were called for
also. and number of responses were
made. When the debate was entered on
there was somewhat of a parliamentary
Sti ir hx q iN1isi of tl;o r6-
ing the fifth resolution of the report which
called for two collections year for the
cause of foreign missions. After consid-
cradle discussion, all of it good natured
the resolution was adopted.
FURRY OVER A WORD.
The report of the committee on publica-
tions and Sabbath schools was the first
order of the afternoon, and, with one
amendment, was adopted with minimum
of debate. Then came the report of the
special committee on church temporalities.
1t was expected that this report would
certainly cause the recasting of the apple
of discord, and DR.. John Fox, chairman
of the committee, admitted afterwards that
he was prepared to talk an hour or more
in favor of his report But it was not
necessary for him to take even the time
belonging to him as chairman, for his re-
port was adopted by a generous majority,
with only one comparatively unimportant
amendment. There was quite little con-
f1ict over the proper definition of the word
congregation" as used in the report, but
everybody went half way to accommodate
everybody else, and the difficulty was ami
cably adjusted.
The first resolution embodied in the re-
port of the special committee on home mis-
sions adopted at yesterdays session was
the subject of much talk here to-day and
may be the cause of further strife in re-
gard to the home mission board. The COM
mittee which reported yesterday was made
up of three ministers and six laymen ap-
pointed by the General Assembly of 1896
to examine into the work of the board Of
home missions. The committee was ap-
pointed in answer to a demand for inVesti-
cation and a popular opinion that the af-
fairs of the board were not managed as
economically as they might be- The action
under which the committee was appointed
follows:
I'm view of the present financial strin-
gency and the difficulty OF raising sufficient
funds for the prosecution of the mission en-
terprises of our church, we recommend
that a committee consisting of three minis
ters and six laymen be appointed by the
moderator with full authority:
81. To confer with the home mission
board regarding, its method OF general ade l.
mlnlStratlOn ana suggest WndC changes, II
any, are advisable therein.
80 To carefully examine the eXpendi-
lures for officers, salaries and clerk hire,
and to indicate what reductions, If any, can
be made consistently with economy and et-
ficiency of service.
''3 TO examine the books and accounts
of the board, with the aid of an expert
accountant, if such aid be deemed desirable,
and to recommend any changes they may
regard as essential.
"a To ascertain the cause of the present
accumulated Indebtedness, and to recon-
mend such measures as in their Judgment
will most efficiently remove the Indebted
ness and prevent the recurrence of deficits.
"5. To publish in the church papers, at
the earliest possible moment such infOrma-
ton as in their judgment viii be of value
to the whole church, and make full report
of their work, with recommendations to
the next General Assembly"
BY appointment of the moderator, the
committee was constituted of the follow
Charles A Dickey. Rev. John Dixon, Ed
bison, Robert n. Wilson, S. Nj. Clement
and Robert Pitcairn
THE OBJECTIONABLE RESOLUTION.
The report submitted and adopted yes
terday embodied a set of resolutions, the
first of which was Objectionable to many
and raised quite a storm of discussion
which has not subsided with the adoption
of the resolution and out of which trouble
is likely to come at any time, if only in
the way of talk. This is the resolution:
Resolved, That the board of home mis-
sions be directed to so reorganize it's meth
DDS of administration that the executive
work shall be placed in charge of one sec
retary, with whatever assistants may be
necessary, and that he be accountable to
the board for it's faithful and efficient man
agement."
Up to this time the Presbyterian board
of home missions has had two secretaries,
both drawing large salaries. The present
fncumbents are DIR. Mcmillan and DIR. Rob
erts. DIR. Roberts is the man who is openly
charged with drawing two salaries. one
from the board the other from John S.
Kennedy. of New York. There has been
for some time i'll feeling between the two
secretaries who are supposed TO be equal
in power. When DIR. Roberts returned TO
the board after having taken for a time
the presidency of Lake Forest University,
he was given the title of senior secretary
This so displeased DR.. Irwin who was then
the other secretary, that he resigned. Dr.
Mcmillan took his place, but 1t is said he
and DR.. Roberts have never been in cordial
relations with each other.
When Chairman w. +. Kane, of the spe-
cial committee read his report yesterday, in
reply to a question he said that the only
one of the secretaries present at the as
sembly, DR. Roberts, was heartily In favor
of the proposed change placing the office
in charge of one secretary. Because of
his assent he has been charged by many
here with conspiring against his colleague
TO gain all the glory lor himself Before
Or. Kane's statement that DR.. Roberts was
with TIE committee those VINO knew of the