The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-05-17
GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Presbyterians to Meet May 20
Benjamin Harrison the
Probable Moderator.

country, represented Dy ueiegates CHOSEN
for the purpose meet in General Assem-
bly, and transact such business as the
d of a great church organization
demands. There are about 100000 fol-
lowers of Calvin al told, and they are
represented in the General Assembly by
about 600 delegates, Of whom 300 are min
listers and the rest lay members.
This year the General Assembly will
open May 20 at Winona, Ind. This place
was formerly a summer resort, but two
years 6 1t was purchased by a number
of wealthy Presbyserians, who formed a
summer school, which it is the intention
to make the Ch~aiitauqua of the West.
Mr.. S~tudebaker, the millionaire manu-
faeturer. is President of the association.
Winona itself is Situated on the shores
of Eagle Lake, about two miles east of
Warsaw, Ind. There 100 acres in the
grounds, and nearly $500, 900 has been
spent in identifying them. There are
large assembly halls, a number of big
hotels and numerous cottages.
An interesting feature of the coming as
sernbly is the probability that ex-Presi-
dent Benjamin Harrison will be chosen
moderator to succeed DR.. J. L. Withrow,
OF Chicago. He has been prominently
itSAt4oiCu IOT luS pldce, anu mas Oeeu
elected a delegate by the indianapolis
P~resbytery, of which he has long been a
membe 1t is confidently asserted, more
over, that he would not decline the honor
should it be offered TO him. There are,
however. several distinguished divines
who will also be named. and it has been
the custom to choose the moderator from
among the wearers of the cloth.
~ -BraShufQrfan r1ubTfro fiopc hove haa, IN
claring in advance that his session Of
the General Assembly is to be noted for
peace and harmony. They say that there
before the assembly, such as the DR..
Br1ggS prosecution. If these predictions
are fulfilled, the assembly will certainly
pc a unique one, for the Presbyterians
and as these are not always unanimous.
me sessions are usually marked with
stirring debates.
If there is to be no contention. then
e1tner the Liberals or the Conservatives
must have buried the hatchet. This is
hardly, probable, for at the last General
tory In many years by electing their can
didate for moderator, and the Conserva-
tives could hardly be expected to give In
apt to be a sectional division on other
points than the election of a presiding Of
ficer.
Tue HrSl session Will De opened, accord
ing to custom. by the preaching of the
annual sermon by the retiring moderator.
Then will come the election of his sue
cessor. After this the regular business
important issues will be brought up cam
not be prophesied with accuracy, but
there is no e that the programme will
be a dull one.
AT least three important committees
are to make reports. and these are bound
to be interesting. There is the committee
OF eleven of which DR.. Withrow is chair
man, which was appointed to look into
the subject of the missionary building
in New York.
hen there is the Committee on Tenn
opinion as to whether or not men who
are not members OF the church should be
allowed to fill church Offices. 1t has been
the practice in the past to allow men to
act as trustees who are not church mem
bers. DR.. John Fox, of Brooklyn, author
of two books which have recently at
tracted considerable attention. is chair
man of the committee. Another commit
tee of nine will report on the work of the
Home Missionary Board and recommend
ways and means for extending it.
1t is barely possible that the old ques-
ton of the admission of women as lay
delegates to the General Assembly will be
again revived. Many women are expected
to attend the Winona Assembly, and it is
reported that the sentiment in favor of
their cause has been increasing and may
ave become powerful enough to win the
day. 1t is not probable, however,, hat this
issue will given the prominence which it
has attained in theg general conferences OF
the Methodist Church in years past.
The proposed union of the Reformed
Church with the Presbyterian Church is
limos certain to be brought up and once
more discussed. 1t is not expected that
the Presbyterians will offer any opposition
to the union. The doctrines and faith OF
the two bodies are much the same, and
the union of all the Calvinists would make
a large and powerful organization.
The coming Assembly is the one hundred
and ninth and will be one of the few
which AVE been held in the West,
Besides the 900 delegates it is anticipated
that a large number of Presbyterians who
will have nc voice in the proceedings, Blu
who are nevertheless interested in its do
ings, will be present. Owing to it's near
ness to Chicago, many members of the
Church from that city will attend, and
excursion trains will be run not only from
Chicago, but from POINTS in Indiana. 1t is
probable that fully 5000 persons in all will
gather on the grounds.
The members of the Winona Association
are making extensive preparations for the
reception and entertainment of a large
crowd, for they wish to produce a
pleasant impression on the elders. There
will be opportunities for sailing on the
lake, and an old rescecourse is to be con-
verified into a bicycle path, where races on
the silent steed may be held for the
delectation of the delegates.