The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-05-26

Presbyterian General Assembly to-day
settled two Important questions. The
first was not to sell It's building in New
York. and the second to have only one
secretary OF home missions. The latest
echo of the controversy over DR.. Briggs
and the Union Seminary came up in the
report OF the judicial committee, which
extended 10 all presbyterieS. the order
to exclude students OF that seminary
from their care. II was apparent that
few commissioners knew what they
were voting upon. as the matter came
up on appeal from some unnamed ac-
ton of the synod of New York, the
name Of the case alone being given.
At the opening OF the afternoon sess-
ion the following reply 20 q cablegram
to Queen Victoria, sent yesterday. was
"The queen thanks the assembly for
its kind telegram"
(Signed.) EDWARDS"
The special orders for discussion were
two reports on the Presbyterian build
ing at New York and the report Of the
special committee OF conference with
the board OF home missions. Several
speeches on the former subject were
made under the 1--WE minute limitation
and the floor was granted 70 DR.. With
row, chairman OF the committee.
He said that many things had been
charged against the committee and pro-
ceeded to enumerlte them. These were
in effect that all facts in the case had
not been presented: that the Twentieth
street property had not been procured
after the consent OF the assembly had
been secured and that the mortgage on
the building had bene misrepresented as
to It's amount To these statements Dr.
WlthrOw replied that the committee had
facts and had presented findings on
them to relieve the assembly OF the
trouble; that the acquisition Of the
Twelfth street property was similar TO
that Of the Twentieth street and t.nt
the allegation as TO amount OF the
mortgage was mistaken.
As to the legality Of the use OF the
Stuart legacy in the building, II was
supported by the opinion OF nine emi-
nent lawyers against the view OF ono.
The introduction OF sectional issues was
deplored, particularly when the four
synods Of the east contributed two:
thirds of all the benevolent funds OF
the church. Il was claimed that tine
committee took palms 10 ges tacts ana
was not engaged In any white washing
operntion, and that SIS report was con-
Eistent with the statement OF Mr.. Nc
Dougall, who made the minority report
OF "fnll confidence in the fidelity, abil-
Ity, good faith and integrity OF the
boards In the work including the cree
tIon of the building" Every effort was
made to induce the withdrawal Of dis
sent in vain. As to the effect OF advice
TO sell on members OF the board, It was
said Il would wound feelings and do
harm.
BY = Big Majority.
The proposal to buy the building, at
trIbuted to Mr.. Kennedy, OF New York,
was long since dead, havlng expired by
Limitation. A letter was read from Miss
Kennedy's pastor. stating tina: for over
year Mr.. McDougal had had no an-
thorlty to speak for her, and that she
had no intention OF doing anything fur
ther in regard to the matter. This had
reference 10 offers once made by the
former to buy the building on certain
conditions and the OFFER OF the latter to
nut the Twelfth street property Into
proper condition for the use o. the
boards. As to the proposal to go back
TO Twelfth street. Dr.Withrow said that
the land In question was worth 100000
nt least. and that the building would
cost Sl3O.0OO at four per cent. With the
addition OF cost OF position and taxes II
would amount to more than &25O,OO0. 20
which so much objection was maue.
In closing the hope was expressed that
the assembly would be unanimous In
Its action.
A motion to lay the minority report
and ali substitutes on the table was
promptly carried by an immense ma
jority, The question OF the adoption Of
the majority report was put to rising
vote and only two commissioners were
seen 10 be on their feet, one minister,
who ducked down too quickly 70 De reg
ognlzed and the other an elder, VINO
Wns so dAzed by his loneliness that ne
stood longer than his Dlmbler fellow
commissioner. The final result was
celebrated by singing the doxology.
As sort OF compromise measure the
following rule was inttCiuced anu
ndonted 10 govern che action OF boards
"when any board receives legacy, tile
use OF which Ia not Indicated In the
will OF the testa!or, TIE funds shall
either be used for current work or IN
vested in accordance with laws proVid-
cd for the care OF trust funds IN Ihe
state where the board Is located. But
n not so used they shall be held until
the general assembly approves OF some
dIffcrent use OF less than that which the
board may propose to make.
beaten at All Points.
At this point Hon. John wanamaker
took the modcrator's chair and parlla-
mentary confusion began. Or. Kane,
chairman OF the special committee on
bor,e missions. took the floor on Its re-
mort and moved the adoption OF the
ilrst resolution which directed that the
work OF the board be committed to one
secretary instead OF two as heretofore
AS soon as seconded, the motion was
put without opportunity for debate and
declared carried. A motion to recon-
slider was lost by q large vote.
The request OF several commissioners
and the chairman That reconsideration
be had resulted IN second motion 20
reconsider but this was blocked by the
objection OF one commissioner, pr
ward. OF Buffalo At last the pnrlia-
mcntnry knot was cut by motion 60
rescInd and the way for debate was
opened. Several brief speeches were
made, but the assembly was impatient
10 vote and continued calls OF "Vote,
question" were made.
An attempt to refer che matter 10 the
hoard for report was voted down, and
after brief consideration the recommen-
datlon for single secretary was adopt
cd. The other recommendation as to
meetings Of administration were then
speedily passed. The ilrst referred to
the making OF appropriations for each
year, which was directed to be made on
the basis Of average receipts for several
years. The board was directed to avoid
debt and Il Incurred to pay the Hon'e
from the assets OF the succeeding year,