Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-06-02
Presbyterian Assembly Com
ing to a Close.
ADOPTS STRONG RESOLUTION
With Regard to Sunday Oh
Servance.
Delegates Well Pleased With
Rock Island.

The seth general assembly OF the
United Presbyterian church will
come to a close this aitern DON.
Omaha will be selected as the place
OF holding next years assembly.
Many of the delegates. all of whom
have expressed themselves a. much
pleased with Rock Island and the
hospitality of the people, have al
ready left for their homes.
The report of the committee on
bills and overtures was taken up at
the opening Of this mornings ses.
sion. A new presbytery was pro-
vided for. lying partly in the synod
Of Pittsburg and partly in the first
synod Of the west. The prayer for q
new plan of distributing supplies
and settling ministers was referred
to q committee to report next year.
The moderator and clerk were d.
rected to issue annually q Thanks
giving proclamation. recognizing in
it the mediatorial Office of Christ,
md making mention Of spiritual
blessings. Tbs memorial with re-
gard to the order of Woodmen was
referred to former actions of assem-.
blies. believing that the law of the
church is sufficiently explicit in this
case.
The following is the action with
regard to the use of the corporate
name Of the church: 1t is advisable
that corporate and private institu.
tions should avoid the use of the
name United Presbyterian" in bus
mess enterprises over which the
church has no control and which are
Of q secular and business character.
The reports of the committees on
publications and Sabbath school.
were read and adopted.
The committee on reforms recon.
mended that 10 delegates to the
Anti-Slavery league convention be
appointed. The petition of memoir.
ialists asking that one day during
the week Of prayer be given to the
subject Of temperance was granted
Strong resolutions we're adopted
with respect to Sabbath observance.
Yesterdays Session.
The assembly was convened with
prayer by Major E. Dunn, at 9
O'Clock yesterday afternoon. The
report upon young peoples wsrk
was then taken up. The committee
reported an increased interest in the
work throughout the whole church,
there being 624 societies with . nom.
bership Of 26,sOs, q gain of 1,511,
and contributions of tS3,2O6 FAC
junior societies, with q membershir
OF 1853. and contributions of e3,846.
The institution held in Omaha last
year was attended by 1855 delegate,
and visitors, and the institute ar.
ranged fer Indianapolis in Angus,
gives promise Of exceeding any ye,
held in point Of interest and attend.
ance. Rev. j. A. Duff, of Chicago,
general secretary Of young people,
work. addressed the assembly with
regard to the work, and the report
was adopted.
The report on ministerial relief
was taken from the docket and read.
]. D. Ferguson, the secretary of the
board, addressed the assembly.
This board has always been able to
pay its benefciaries, and have TO-DAY
. little balance on hand in the treas.
ury, said Mr.. Ferguson. This board
has an endowment Of 100000, and
Is giving help to a great many
worthy servants Of the church. The
report was adopted.
The reports of the committee on
finance and of the treasurers of the
various boards were approved. 1t
was recommended that q contribu.
tion be made to the Whitman monu-
ment fund provided the condition Of
the church's funds will allow.
Under the head Of education the
board was directed te secure stats.
tics with regard to the attendance OF
young people at colleges and acad
emies. Uniformity in qualifications
for freshman class was recommended.
Academies receiving aid from the
fund for colleges and seminsries
must have property worth $500
and have it secured to the church.
The following was adopted 40 q sub
stitute for the majority and minority
report-that the board Of education
be directed to present to the next 40.
sembly . comprehensive educational
policy.
Last evening the assembly con-
vened At 7:30 and WAS led in pr aver
BY Rev. Albert Esrdan. The report
OF the committee on church extern
sion was taken up. This is one arm
OF the great home mission work of
the church. As fast rs the church
opens up new fields in the cities and
in the country. this board comes to
its help in securing q house Of wor-
ship. There are very few churches
west OF the Mississippi that have not
been helped BY this board. Under
the efdcient management Of the cor
responding secretary. A. G Wallscs,
D. D., of Pittsburg. the wsrk Of the
board il in good condition. Cooper