The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-05-29
SETTLED UP QUICK
PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEM-
BLY, ADJOURNs SINE DIE.

Sense-ImportantA Action Taken Regard
Ing the Assembiy's Oversight of the De.
nomtaationaI ssmIuaries Caution OBJ
served as to Legislation Which Goes in
for Making Men Righteous
Eagle Lake, Ind, May 2S.-The Pres
byterian general assembly which adj
journed tonight was the shortest session
In eight years. In spite Of the desire TO
finish up it's business tonight, there was
little unusual haste, and the record of
the committee on temperance showed
that the assembly was ready 10 defer
adjournment, il necessary, in order TO
attain suitable and reasonable decision
IF questions that remained to be decid-
I'd.
Eagle Lake, Ind, May 2s.-When the
Presbyterian general assembly gathered
this morning it was understood that an
effort was TO be made TO complete the
sessions today. The rush characterize
ing closing hours began at once. The
committee on bills and overtures report
ed briefly upon petitions as to certain
liquor bills and Sunday legislation pend
ing in congress The statement was
made that sufficient information was not
a. hand for deliberate judgment, but
a general statement was adopted, cover
ing the subject AS follows:
THE general assembly reaffirms deep
interest IN all legislation and commends
the efforts OF Christian men m our
state and federal legislative assemblies
to safeguard social purity and to pre-
vent the maintenance of liquor saloons
In any government building"
The standing committee on systema tic
benefcence reported through DR.. VIII
son Phraner. The report showed the
causes Of encouragement to benevo-
lence. These were the debts Of the
boards. the fact that the recommends
tons OF the assemblies had called for
more than three times the amount ever
collected in any year. a lack Of oblliga-
ton on the part Of the churches to sup
port the work Of the boards and the
existence Of numerous societies in the
churches which sap their resources.
From the figures given It appeared that
only one-third Of the total receipts from
all sources came from the churches as
such; thus, In 1896, only s343 y9SS out Of
total Of s2.533152. After discussing the
question of apportionment Of church Of
ferings the committee advised the substi-
tuition Of system Of advance pledges
from the churches stating the amount
that each church would give to each du-
ring the following year.
The committee recommended an in
crease above the average Of the past six
years. Pending the adoption Of the re-
port, the general assembly was addressed
by Dr. Wilson Phraner, chairman OF
the committee. and Rev William H.
Hubbard
Before taking UP the following order.
Moderator Jackson announced that many
commissioners had already left the as
sembly and hore had said goodbye and
would appear no more
He suggested that by close attention
10 ousiness-voting, not talking, and by
having night session the assembly
could adjourn tonight or tomorrow morn
Ing The assembly's response was the
unanimous adoption of motion to hold
a night business session
The next order was taken I'D. being
reports on the church periodical. The
Church at Home and Abroad. presented
by DR.. John S. Mcintosh of Phflade,-
phia- An average circulation of Il ooo
was reported, with receipts Of s17s55
Elder Ralph p. Prime attacked the mol
ICY or the magazine, saying that II had
Cost the church $50. 900 IN eleven vaers
He wished the matter sent TO tha co,,-
mittee on bills and overtures for the
Information OF a plan to relieve the
churcn or further expense, and IL was
30 ordered
Dr. John Clark Hill Of Chicago nre-
sented report on theological serina-
ries. giving facts and statistics to each
The matter of the assembly control of
seminaries came UP in the same renor,
The institutions at Omaha. Dubuo,a
and Lincoln reported the charter chang
es winch had been asked by previous
assemblies. The same seminaries re-
ported that such changes as were desired
by the present assembly are impracti-
caoie and unnecessary The Auburn
seminary replied that the present n,an
was entirely satisfactory and that i'm
proVements cannot be devised. McCnr-
mick seminary declared its loyalty TO the
cnurch. but said Il did not see the vsv
clear TO make the changes recommend
ed by the assembly Newark German
seminary also replied that Il did NOT
see lis way clear 10 make any charter
changes. In closing the committee rec
commended the following resolution:
That the assembly accepts as sincere
the repeated positive and explicit writ
ten declarations of seminaries. that they
are loyal 10 the church and that their
teachings and properties are. in their
judgment, fully safeguarded 10 the gen
ersA assembly but II at any time in
the future these semina ries should and
that changes could be made in their res
pectivs charters as the general assem-
ply mad desired, il will be gra tifying 20
the whole church TO have such changes
made"
The original form Of the resolution
stated that the replies Of the se-ninsries
were satisfactory but against This nro- |
test was made by Dr.. Birch of New York
II would be better. he said, to say moth |
Ing and let the matter disappear. and 10 !
moved TO strike out the preamble and
The motion was lost. The
motion TO lay on the table was lost bv a |
heavy vote and the amerded resolution |
as given was adopted without division.
The fact that the amendment was pro-
posed by DR.. Withrow had a great effect
n influencing the action Of the assem- !
by.
The committee also recommerrieS that |
he seminaries inaugurate courses OF in
ltructior on scioIogy hr,r .h{s callas @o-+,