New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-24
WORK OF THE ASSEMBLY.
READY TO VOTE ON THE PRESBYTERIAN
BUILDING QUESTION.
DR. JACKSON. THE MODERATOR, TELLS OF THE
GREAT FUTURE AHEAD OF ALASKA
AND THE NEED OF MISSION
ARIES THERE.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE


General Assembly meet one another In the corridors
Of the hotels or pass on the walks Of the grove.
Another question frequently asked Is. How many
salaries are you receiving this Year, These and
similar queries are gentle reminders Of the fierce
storm which broke at the meeting Of the As
sembly yesterday afternoon The Rev. James II.
Knowles. Of Mount Carmel H.. who accused a
secretary Of the Board Of Home Missions Of receiv
ing two salaries Of $500 EACH Is evidently sorry
that he did not know what he was going to say be-
fore he began his speech. DR.. w. c. Roberts, the
secretary in question. in the Auditorium
the preaching service this morning, apparently I'M
disturbed by the unexpected and unpleasant noto-
rety. His friends. and they are many are bitter
over the charges One OF them said to-day that II
was no worse for DR.. Roberts to receive presents
from Mr.. Kennedy than 1t for Or. John Hall.
the president of the Board whose salary is three
four times that paid DR.. Roberts. to receive pres
ents from members OF his church. In neither case
was tho present considered by the giver or the
cipient part Of the salary, but simply an ex-
preston Of goodwill on the part of those to whom
giving did not impoverish nor Withholding make
rich. 1t Is thought that when DR.. Roberts speaks
on Tuesday. when the report Of the Board is pre-
sented. and makes his plea in behalf of the suffer
ing missionaries and the empty treasury of the
Board and the debt Of $4,000 still resting upon IT,
he will make the statement publicly which he
gave 10 the correspondent yesterday, and thus re-
lieve his friends Of the necessity Of further
PLANTATION.
The home Board has another burden TO carry,
rather It's representative has, for committee Is TO
report tomorrow concerning the Investigations into
its methods Of administration. The chairman of
the committee is DR.. William p. Kane. of Bloom
ington. H., whose report last year at Saratoga
caused the committee TO make a thorough inquiry
into the financial methods and executive work OF
the Board Radical reforms are not expected I'M
less II should be deemed wise TO change the secre-
tarial force. The suggestion has been made fire.
quenty that there should be either transfer Of
the home Board office 10 Chicago or the location
there Of a secretary who should do for the home
Board what DR.. Thomas Marshall has done so ably
for the foreign Board The Assembly may order or
suggest such change. but 1t is probable that the
home Board will be allowed to do what seems
wisest after the Assembly has heard what the COM
mittee found in the New-York office.
WORK AHEAD OF THE ASSEMBLY.
Having spent the bulk Of the two days already
passed in discussing the Presbyterian Building. the
commissioners at last about ready 10 vote. To-
morrow morning the Freedman's Board has the
right of way and then DR.. Kanes committee will
make its report. AS IL will provoke considerable
discussion, especially II reduction Of the secre-
tarial force is recommended, time will be set for
its consideration DR.. Mcmillan. the younger secrc-
tary, has many friends who would oppose his re-
moval from the New-York office. Dr. Spinning,
whose speech elected the Moderator. Is a strong
champion OF DR.. Mcmillan. and would vigorously
oppose any movement which threatened his official
life. Tomorrow afternoon the Board of Education
has the first position. and then the vote will be
taken upon DR. Withrows report on the Presby
terrain Building In the evening the cause OF the
freedmen will be presented at the popular meeting.
On Tuesday morning and evening home missions
will claim the attention Of the Assembly as for
eign missions will do Wednesday morning and
evening The Board of Aid for Colleges and Acad-
en,ies will be considered Tuesday afternoon and
next Sunday evening" the Board Of Publication and
Sunday school Work, Wednesday afternoon; the
Board Of Church Erection. Thursday afternoon;
Benevolence Thursday evening and Temperance
Friday afternoon and evening.
The sermon this morning In the Auditorium was
delivered by the Moderator, who with the aid or
MAPS gave an extremely interesting presentation
of the opportunities and needs of mission work in
Alaska On the platform assisting In the devo-
tional services were the following clergymen: Henry
NJ Field the Editor Of THE Evangelist, who at the
age Of threescore and fifteen is younger In spirit
than many Of his brethren who have not seen TWO
score; George F. Whitworth. of Oregon, the Oldest
home missionary the Assembly, 1T is said; George
F Fitch. of China; J. NJ. Alexander, of India r. NJ
HAYES Of Oregon; w. II. Roberts. the stated clerk.
and W T. Moore the permanent clerk. DR.. Field
offered the prayer in which he thanked the Lord
that all differences In the Presbyterian Cnurch had
been healed. He asked pardon for all the sins OF
pas, years. for all the hasty words, spoken OF
written and begged forgiveness for any VINO ma!
have wronged their brethren HIS petitions III De-
half of the Southern Presbyterians were very
touching as he prayed for the day soon to dawn
when. all alienation being put away there nth'
be a spirit Of recognition. not as Northern men CT
Southern men, but as brethren
DIR. JACKsoN's SERMON.
DR.. Jackson said in the beginning of his sermon
that as Paul and Barnabas returned 10 the Nnu'N
IN Jerusalem to tell the brethren What 'he9 ""N
done while on their missionary tours SO ne oe
sired to return 10 the Church when hao Sent I'M"
forth as a missionary 10 the Gentiles TO 'eH MS
bra,bren what he had done as their representative
He d,d not wish he said, TO discuss the whole mis-
sion field but simply TO present one piase Vi '"e
subject. Alaska pr Jackson S"a Of people In
Siberia m whom no Protestant missionary mas gone
Or can GO The h Tnff Sed STATES and ali other
IONS Combined cannot maintain single fIoI
eSan 21b Rnys a. would follow Instantly But
What the united Christian forces are hor ape s
5oring in Alaska do in spite Of he oppositiIx
OF the Russian Empire. Behring strait IS
nils wide II Is only forty miles from an lsianu
Where there is Presbyterian mission INTO SipeIia
The people from Alaska cross 10 siDera; anu
marry and Christian convert IN Alaska ZONE a
into Siberia will do what no or9h hnmsands of peo
pie now without IL. Some time ago II was s'',o
become psrt of the United States, but the United
States Is now in s Alaskan territory luitneI W.,
,bsn Hawaii The Pacific Coast is equally Instant
from the eastern part Of Maine and the western
part Of Alaska. That the people OF the f-dS. az
ignorant Of the resources of Alaska Is often inaue
apparent by questions that are asked after J have
spoken upon the subject. People itequet! ,,aon
II II is worth while to spend so much none! upon
the inhabitants Of worthless country, as II the
TO do with the value OF "A human soul. But Alaska
is not worthless country II has resources %nicn
will at distant day make IL one or the gredtest
States Of the Union As a whole. il Is not a great
agricultural territory. but California Is snlhcen,g
near 70 furnish the grain and the fruits whlch
needed in Alaska. Among the resources are
large fishing interests: the canned salmon sent id
from Alaska last valued AZ S0Vt,vVV
There Is a large coal district, and remember that
Pennsylvania has owed it's development in great