Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-27
THE pREsByTERIANs NORTH.
Exodus Already DcEun-HeNt Meet
iup-PIacc Probably Phiiadelphin.

EAGLE LAKE, IND, May 26.-The
exodus from the General Assembly has
already begun. To-day the meetings Of
the Woman's Foreign Missionary EXecu-
tive Committee closed. and the number
Of those who left at once was con-
siderable AT noon the grounds about the
auditorium were dotted with picnic par
ties. and bright colors replaced the more
sombre hues that have been in evidence.
The Assembly has finished most OF It's
sensational work. and has settled down
To business. The desire to reach the end
was seen in an unwillingness to endure
long debate. even upon important mat
ters. Calls for invitations for the next
General Assembly have already been
made. Winona Assembly is i'm the field
asking the body 10 return, but the pro-
liability is that the majority OF the COM
uissioners will favor Philadelphia The
decision will not be reached for a couple
of days.
The first order to-day was the report
Of ,he Committee on Foreign Missions.
The report Of the Standing Committee
on Foreign Work was presented by j..
Wilbur Chapman Of Philadelphia. The
committee recommended the adoption OF
resolutions directing that two collections
for foreign missions be taken each year,
and deprecating gifts 10 foreigners So
ucitine. iu America Pastors were urged
10 consult secretaries before allowing
such collections in their churches
Other addresses were made by Mis-
sionaries Ewing and Alexander, OF IN
dia: Boomer. chile COrbett. and tltch'
China: Esselstein. Persia; Taylor Laos
and Moore. Korea. Mr.. Esselstein was
particularly emphatic in denunciation OF
unauthorized solicitors for foreign mis-
sion enterprises unconnected with the
Church.
Much confusion was caused by a recon-
mendation that two collections for foreign
missions be taken in the churches each
year. and the number was finally re-
duced TO one against the protest Of the
board, through DR.. ElwoOd. The other
recommendations were adopted, and the
conference adjourned pending resolu-
ton providing for the publication OF the
names Of such collectors.
BOARD OF PUBLICATION.
The afternoon session was devoted to
the work Of the Board Of Publication and
Sabbath-school work. The standing COM
mittee on this subject reported through
its chairman. Elder James Jereance OF
New York, reviewing the work of the
year. Recommendations were made call
ing for contributions of 100000 during the
next year for the use Of the Sunday
school branch of the board, and urging
churches to adopt the new hymnal, which
is now in use in over 400 churches, ana
whose sales aggregate 10000 copies. The
board was directed TO prepare a Sunday
school exercise and Sabbath Observance
10 be used on rallying day, the last sun
day of September I'm each year.
The remainder of the afternoon Cession
was devoted TO the report of the special
Committee on Temperatures Of the
Church. which was read by Rev. John
Fox. of Brooklyn. The report recon-
uended that the control Of church pro-
pertv be committed TO the boards of ses-
sion and deacons of the organization, so
far as the same may be consistent with
the laws of the several States. An
amendment was adopted. recommending
that the various synods of the Church
prepare a model of charters for churches
and forms of bequest, so that property
may be safeguarded TO the denomination.
After a brief discussion the report was
adopted.
In the evening a meeting was held in
the interest of foreign missions. Dr.
John L. Withrow eX-moderator of the
assembly. presided. Addresses were made
by DR.. Corbett on the work in China.
Rev DR.. Ewing on that in India. Rev.
DR.. Esselstein on that in Persia, and
Rev. DR.. Hopkins on that in Syria.