The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-05-22


Presbyterian general assembly to-day
was opened with devotional exercise led
by Rev. A. Forbes Irwin, Of Hutchln-
son, Kansas. Before taking up the
docket the gavel was presented to Mod
orator jackson by ex-President Benja-
min Harrison on behalf OF the presby-
terry Of Indiana. The donor spoke at
length upon the symbolism Of the woods
used in itB construction and the mooer-
ator replied In few appropriate words:
The moderator announced chalrmen OF
committees and afterward the hrst or
der Of the morning was made the report
OF the committee Of eleven on the Fres-
byterian building in New York. was
read. Dr. Wlthrow, the chairman, read
the report, and It was as follows:
'In view OF the action taken by the as
sembly Of 1894, prior TO the letting OF the
contract for the. building, as shown Dy
its minutes hereinbefore given, we con-
ceIve our only duty TO be 10 confer with
the boards OF home and foreign missions
and to advise as to the course TO be pur-
sued in connection with the new FresDy-
"The committe finds that there Is no
pending offer from anyone to buy the
property; nor has there been since the
INST meeting OF this committee.
whether the property on Twentieth
street and Fifth avenue, as well as that
on Fifth avenue and Twelfth street,
should be sold or not are matters which
under existing conditions may be prop
erly and safely left TO the determination
of the two boards. !,
"The application OF the money derived
from the Stuart estate toward the erec-
tlon OF the new building was not an ille-
gal use OF such money.
"The committee advises urgent appeals
to all the churches Of our Denomination
to make not only their ordinary, but
increased, donations to home and for
eJgn mission operations; in full conh-
dence that under no circumstances Will
money given for current work be ap-
piled to the account OF new buildings,
but that the debt thereon must be pro-
vided for by other contributions for that
purpose.
tee offers for adoption the following res
olutions:
Il. That the disposition OF the two
properties In question shall now be left
TO the boards OF home and foreign mis-
sions as agents OF our church.
"2. That the general assembly hereby
expresses fits cordial appreciation OF the
Iaborlous services. the sacrifices OF time
and as well the contributions OF money
made by members OF the boards and
others also in the conduct OF these en-
terprises.
-. That the general assembly ap-
proves Of the action OF the committee
and herewith discharges the committee
OF eleven"
Financial Statement.
A financial statement in regard to the
Presbyterian building was also read. 1t
showed that 80 per cent OF the Office
portion Of the building is already rent
ed. On April the actual rental
amounted TO fS2, ,iS3, out OF a total rental
value in the entire building OF &i25,S5S, or
over IS per cent. On the above basis
the income account showed a credit bal
ance OF $7O7 over all expenses. When
entirely rented there will be n net In
come OF $4,000. or s per cent on the in
vestment Of the boards In the build
ing.
The cost Of the building was $l,76o, 900.
and the equity OF the boards in the
building Is $S6O.0O0, there being mort
cages Of 100000 upon It,
At the close Of the reading OF the re-
port notice was given OF q minority re-
port to be presented by one member OF
the committee, Elder Thomas McDou-
gall. Of Cincinnati. This report was
presented in printed form, constituting
a pamphlet OF sixty pages, After speak
ing Of the authority Of the committee
the report gives an account OF the nc-
QUESTION OF the old property OF the
boards Rt So Fifth avenue, and also that
at Twentieth street. The report pro-
ceeded to show a real Indebtedness OF
81, $4,000 on the new building. Special
stress was laid upon the offer OF John
Kennedy, OF New York, to take the
building or the hands OF the church,
laid before the assembly In 1895.
Ex.ProsIdsnt Harrison.
The day was opened by the presenta-
ton Of a gavel to the moderator by Cen
ernl Harrison. The gayel was compos-
cd OF hard woods. oak. poplar, black
walnut, birch and maple. The oak, he
said, represented the Calvlnistic frame
work OF the church; the poplar the free
civil government iostered by the
church: the black walnut, not painted
nor hidden, stood for the church's love
OF finish, or individualism; the birch.
with dropping branches and clinginE
leaves, typihed the shelterlug care OF
the church for the lambs Of God, and
the maple, with its message OF sweet
ness. 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, Chi
cngo. The black walnut was from the
first church OF Indianapolis. All CON
stltuent parts represented first things.
An enthusiast at the close OF the speech
in1uIred in n loud tone, Whats the
matter with Harrison?" and was greet
cd by the usual response.
The committee chalrmanships were
then appointed.
Al the opening OF the afternoon session
of the assembly the floor was granted To
President Harrison, member OF the
committee Of eleven on the New York
building. as he was compelled to leave
Immediately.
Al the close OF General Harrison's re-
marks, Elder McDouEall continued read
ing his long report, interjecting remarks
in reply to the previous speaker. till call
e,i 10 order by commissioner. The read
ing occupied nearly all OF the remainder
OF the afternoon session.
Al its conclusion the report was re-
celved and n motion made to substitute II
for the majority report. After some de-
bate the matter went over until morning.
The evening session was devoted 10 a
public meeting Of the board OF publlca-
lion and Sunday school work, DR.. With
drow presiding. Addresses were made
by Rev. James A. wClden. supcrlntcnd-
cnt and two Sunday school missionaries,
Rev. Joseph Brown. Of Wisconsin, and
MIR. II. +. SulzcT, OF Minnesota. Mem
hers OF the assembly had their first OPP
portunlty to hear MFR. John WRnamaker
OF philadelphia, and he was greeted With
rounds OF applause.