The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-06-03


the question of assembly control of
theological seminaries having not the
least significance of the assembly's gen.
eral attitude.
The race question in the south came
up unexpectedly on petition to allow
q Colored church in Texas to Join a
presbytery in Arkansas. The discus.
sion was long and covered many points,
but the petition was finally decided in
the negative. The reason given was
an unwillingness to recognize color dis
tinctions in the denomination
DR.. John Clark Hill Of Chicago pre-
sented a report on theological semi.
naries, giving acts and statistics as to
each. The matter of the assembly con-
troll Of seminaries came up in the same
report. The institutions at Omaha,
Dubuque and Lincoln reported the
charter changes which had been'asked
by previous assemblies. The Auburn,
Mccormick, Newark German semi
naries said they did not see their way
clear to make the changes.
In closing the committee recon-
mended the following resolution THAT
the assembly accepts as sincere the re.
peated positive and explicit written
declarations of seminares, that they
are loyal to the church, and that their
teachings and properties are in their
Judgment fully safeguarded to the gen
eral assembly, but if at any time in
the future these seminaries should find
that changes could be made in their re-
spective charters as the general assem-
bly, has desired, il will be gratifying TO
the whole church to have such changes
made"
According to constitutional rule de-
clared adopted on the affirma tive vote
of the requisite number of presby-
teries, it will hereafter be necessary for
candidates for licensure and ordination
to pass a satisfactory examination in
the English Bible.
A committee OF arrangements for the
next assembly was appointed consist.
ing of Rev. S. Q. Dickey, manager Of
Winona assembly; DIR. Charles Little
of Wabash and Drs. Roberts and Moore,
clerks of the assembly.
The principal portion Of the session
was occupied by the report of the tenn
perance committee, which in outline is
as follows.
Only one presbytery reported that a
majority Of it's churches still used alco'
holic wine at the Lords supper, while
20 presbyteries reported that this was
their bounds.
The committee suggested that the
general assembly memorialize the presi
dent and congress for the appointment
of a committee for the thorough inves'
tigation Of the liquor traffic and urged
the assembly 10 express its unqualified
disapprObation Of the use of intoXiCat-
ing beverages at college banQuets,
The standing committee On this sub.
ject reported through Rev. H. H. Henry
! of Birmingham, Pa. 1t was recon-
mended that every legitimate means be
used by the church and its members "a
suppress the liquor traffic, and that
members be urged to use their int1u.
! ence by observing habits of total absti.
nenCe. 1t was decided 10 set apart as
temperance day the third Monday in
October.
Mr.. w. G. Lilly, chairman of the
permanent temperance committee, was
then granted the floor TO explain the
work Of the committee. Elder Van
Ransealer of New York, moved an ad.
ditional resolution endorsing restrict
i've legislation. This resolution was
finally laid on the table.
Then came sharper debate than be.
fore on the report as to the use of wine
at the alumni banquet at the Sesqui
centennial anniversary of Princeton
university. The committee recon-.
mended that as the institution was not
under the control Of the general assem-.
bly, no action be taken on four over.
lures received from certain presby.
teries.
The discussion waXed hot and points
of order became numerous. Pres
| ~ "a k, .
parliamentary tangle that 1t has yet
experienced.
The confused discussion lasted some
time, when the whole matter was dis.
posed of by a motion to lay it on the
table, which was adopted by an over
whelming vote.
Near the hour of adjournment the
committee of l5 to confer with the
home board of missions IN order to har.
noui2e methods Of work was an.
nounced as follows;
Ministers, j. l. Withrow, Chicago
chairman w, II. Logan, Maryland
John Dixon, New Jersey William p
Kane, Illinois John S. Mcintosh
Pennsylvania }. McCloskey Blaney
Kentucky r. M. Hayes, Oregon
George l.. Spinning, New Jersey: j.
McHolmes New York d. S. Tappan,
Ohio; Samuel j. Nicolls, Missouri
Elders, Governor James A. Mount, In,
diana Charles +. Vanderburg, Mime
sofa George Lane, Michigan, anG
John B. Minnis, Tennessee.
After the routine business which
marks the close of each assembly, the
roll call and votes of thanks 10 all whC
had contributed to the success and con
venience of the body, the assembly ad
journed sine die.