Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-21
THE PREsBYTERIANs NORTH.
DR.. jackson, the Home Missionary
Elected Moderator.

EAGLE LAKE, IND, May 2O.-As was
indicated yesterday, there were but
two candidates for the moderatorship OF
the Presbyterian General Assembly-Dr'
Sheldon Jackson, the home missionary,
and DR.. Henry c. Minton, the seminary
professor. Both represent the work or
the Church on the Pacific coast but the
rank and file of the commissioners raj
lied to the standard-bearer OF home MS
sions. The politicians OF the assem-
bly were treated 10 a great surprise, and
the election Of DR.. Jackson, by vote
OF 3l3 10 28S. was characterized by many
delegates as a breaking Of the ma
chine" IL was claimed az a victory
for the more liberal branch Of the
Church. and was in line with the cleo
ton OF DR.. Withrow last year The new
moderator. in taking the chair dis
claimed any personal element i'm his cleo
ton. but charged IL to the desire or the
church 10 forward the home missionary
work. of which he IS an exponent
The meetings OF the assembly have
been arranged to begin at A. NJ. with
= half-hour devotional service, and to
continue until noon. The afternoon ses-
sion will last from 2:S0 until o'clock.
To-dav's afternoon session began at 3
o'clock and was occupied by the roll
call and the election of moderator.
When the call for nominations was
made. DR.. j. Wilbur Chapman, OF
bethany church. Philadelphia, TOOK the
nIatform. and placed Or. Minton. of the
san Francisco Theological Seminary III
nomination. The nomination was second
ed nv DR. Henry Ward. OF Buffalo. n.
Y. and by Rev II. Palmer, of Oakland,
Cal.
Elder T.. ]. Morrison, of Richmond
Centre nominated DR.. Jackson. The
nomination was seconded by Or. George
l.. Spinning. of Orange, y. j., and Rev.
Richard NJ Hayes. Of Oregon DR..
George Mcmillan, of Richmond, o., also
spoke for Or. Jackson.
Nominations were declared closed, and
the election proceeded. with the result
already stated. When the ballot was de-
clared, Drs. Spinning and Hayes were
APPOINTED a committee 10 escort the sue
cessful candidate TO the platform. where
he was welcomed with few remarks by
DIR. Withrow. The new moderator re-
sponded briefly, and after "A few notices
the assembly adjourned until evening,
when the sacrament of the Lords supper
was celebrated DR.. Withrow presided.
HI. was assisted by DR.. Stephen w. Dana.
of Philadelphia. who administered the
bread to DR.. Wilson Phraner, of New
York. who served the cup The elements
were distributed by twenty elders head
ed by ex-President Benjamin Harrison
and Mr.. John Wanamaker.
THE NEW MODERATOR.
DIR. Sheldon Jackson, the moderator Of
the Presbyterian General Assembly. was
born at Mlnaville. n. Y. in 1884. He was
graduated at Union College In 1855. and
three years later at Princeton Theologi-
cal Seminary. With the exception OF
portion Of the period OF the civil war.
when he was engaged in hospital work In
Tennessee and in the employ OF the
Christian Commission in Alabama, the
whole of his life has been spent in the
home mission field In almost every State
and Territory west OF the Mississippi
river as Presbyterian and synodcal mis-
sionary.
In 1871 he went TO Alaska and was the
father of missions in that region. SUISSE
ouently he became a United States Com
missioner OF Education for Alaska. and
continues TO hold this position. In 1882
he was instrumental in effecting the i'm
narration OF Siberian reindeer to Alaska.
thus furnishing means OF transportaion
IN the natives. and I'm 1894 he imported
some Laps TO act as herders. Recently
ne devoted his private means to the
founding OF college In Utah.