The Saint Paul globe., 1897-05-22

EAGLE LAKE, Ind, May 21.-This Is
regarded as one Of the most important
days Of the session of the Presbyterian
general assembly. 1t was opened by
the presentation of a gavel to the mod
orator by Gen. Harrison. The gavel
was composed of hard woodstock, pop
lar, black walnut, birch and maple. The
oak, he said, represented the Calvin
istic framework of the church; the pop
lar, the free government fostered by
the free church, the black walnut, not
painted or hidden, stood for the
church's love of individualism; the
birch, with dropping branches and
clinging leaves, typified the sheltering
care of the church for the lambs Of
God, and the maple, with its message
Of sweetness, stood for the retiring
moderator and his sermon. The various
pieces of wood were all historic. The
oak was from the first church in
Indiana and from Hanover theological
seminary, the mother Of Mccormick
seminary, Chicago. The black walnut
was from the first church Of Indianap-
oils. ALI constituent parts represented
first things. An enthusiast at the close
Of the speech inquired sin a loud tone:
Whats the matter with Harrison 2"
and was greeted by the usual response.
Before proceeding to- business the
chairman Of committees were announc-
ed as follows: Vice. moderator, John
Wanamaker, Philadelphia; bills and
overtures, DR.. John e Withrow, Chi
cago; judicial business, DR.. Henry c.
Minton, San Francisco; church policy,
O~I,r VI yox>1xs hoy,
missions, DR.. John D. Hewitt, Empor1a;
foreign missions, Dr. J. Wilbur Chap
man, Philadelphia; education, DR..
Stephen w. Dana, Philadelphia; publi-
cation and Sabbath school work, Elder
James Yereance., New York; church
erection, DR.. George F. Whitworth,
Seattle; theological seninaries, DR.. j.
c. Hill, Chicago; ministerial relief, Hon.
James A. Mount, OF Indiana; freedmen,
for colleges, DIR. George L.. Spinning,
Orange, N. j.; correspondence, DR..
Byron Sunderland, Washington; be-
nevoience, DR.. Wilson Phraner, New
York; narrative, DR.: D.. Edwards, ST.
Paul; temperance, Dr. A. r. Olney,
West Troy, N. Y; leaYe of absence,
David r. Moore; mileage, Elder w. w.
Fisk, Philadelphia; finance, Elder
James M. Ham, Brooklyn.
COlIul1lllcC tlNc IISSDy lSl loIl
building, New York, whose report was
presented today, was appointed a year
ago and has made partial reports sew
eral times in the interval. It's conclu-
sions have been awaited with interest.
The assembly listened with eagerness
throughout the reading of about sixty
octave pages and showed desire to
hear the whole case. The applause,
which greeted the speaker, however,
was Indicative of agreement with the
conclusion of the committees and ad-
verse to the long report Of the minority
Of one, which was presented by Elder
McDougan, Of Cincinnati. The speech
Of Gen. Harrison, delivered In the
midst Of reading of the minority report,
was heard with close attention, and
after another speech on behalf of the
committee. the reports went over as
unfinished business.
The assembly today was opened with
devotional exercises led by Rev A. For
bes Irwin, Of HUTCHINSON, Kas. The
first order Of the morning was made
the report of committee Of eleven on
the Presbyterian building in New York.
The report was read by DR.. Withrow,
chairman. It was in part as follows:
In view Of the action taken by the assembly
OF 1884, prior to the letting OF the contract for
the building as shown by it's minute, hereinbe-
fore given, we conceive our only duty to be
TO confer with the two boards and to advise