Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-05-21
ASSEMBLY DOWN TO WORK.
Dr.. Sheldon Jackson Elected on the
First Ballot

By Decisive Majority - There
Were but Two Candidates, DR..
jackson and DR.. Henry G. Min
ton; Both of the Pacific Coast,
the Former Representing the
Home Missionary Work Of the
Church and the Latter a Semi
nary Frofessor-Claimed to be a
Victory for the More Liberal
Branches Of the. Church-The Re-
firing Moderator Sermon.
Eagle Lake, Ind, May 20.-As was
indicated yesterday there were but two
candidates for the Moderatorship of
the Presbyterian General Assembly
DR.. Sheldon Jackson, the home mis-
sionary, and DR.. Henry C. Minton, the
seminary professor. Both represent
the work of the church on the Pacific
coast, but the rank and file of the
! commissioners rallied to the standard
bearer of home missions. The politi-
clans of the assembly were treated to
a. great surprise, and the election Of
DR.. Jackson by vote of 313 to 23S was
characterized by many delegates as
a breaking Of the machine" 1t was
claimed as a victory for the more lib
era branches of the church and was in
! line with the election of DR.. Withrov
| last year. The new Moderator, in TAX
ing the chair, dsclaimed any personal
elements in his election, but charged
it to the desire of the church to for
ward the home missionary work, of
which he is an exponent.
The meetings of the assembly have
been arranged to begin at nine a. m,
with a half hour devotional service,
and to continue till noon. The after
noon session will last from half past
two until five. To-day's afternoon ses-
sion began at o'clock and was occu-
pied by the roll call and the election
of Moderator. When the call for
nominations was made, DR.. J. Wilbur
Chapman, of Bethany church, Phila-
delphia, took the platform and placed
DR.. Minton, of the San Francisco The
illogical Seminary, in nomination.
He spoke of the candidate as a par
! Humanitarian, man of wide expert
ence and catholic sympathies; a pastor
in former years and now trainer Of
pastors. a successful professor and a
representative Of no faction in the
church.
Geographical considerations were
adduced. and it was stated that he
stood for the old bible and the denomi-
national standards. The nomination
was seconded by DR.. Henry Ward, Of
Buffalo, n. Y. and by Rev. S. Palmer,
of Oakland, Gala.
For moment it looked as though
there were to be no further nomna-
tions. when Elder ]. H. Morrison, OF
| Richland Center. Wis, rose in the rear
of the house and nominated Dr. Jack
son. After some difficulty, the speaker
was induced to take the platform and
made a brief speech.
The nomination was seconded by DR..
George l.. Spinning, of Orange, n. j.,
in an address that was frequently in
terrupted with applause. He began by
saving that no man who did not have
a message had right upon the plat
form. He said that this highest honor
of the church ought to be conferred
upon a representative of the cause of
home missions, not representative OF
a coast or of a part of the church. lie
said that DR.. Jackson, too, was loyal
to the old bible and the standards and
that he was put forward by no faction
or cliuue. The nomination was sec
onded by Rev. Richard NJ. Hayes, OF
Oregon. who deprecated any words
which seemed to indicate any sectional
feeling. DR.. George NJ. Mcmillan, OF
Richmond, Ohio, also spoke for DR.;
Jackson. Nominations were declared
closed and the election proceeded, Win
the result already stated.
When the ballot was declared, Drs.
| Spinning and Hayes were appointed a
committee TO escort the successful
candidate to the platform, where he
was welcomed with a few remarks by
DR. Witherow. The new Moderator re-
sponded briefly. and after few notices
! the assembly adjourned until evening,
when the sacrament Of the Lords Sup
| ner was celebrated. DR.. Witherow pre-
| sided He was assisted by Dr. Stephen
w. Dana. of Philadelphia, who ad-
ministered the bread. and DR.. Wilson
| Phraner. Of New York. who served the
cup. The elements were distributed by
elders headed by Ex-President Ben
iamin Harrison and Mr.. John Wana-
| maker
DR. sheldon Jackson. the Moderator
of the PRESBYTERIAN General Assembly,
was born at Minavile. n. Y, in 1884.
He was graduated at Union college in
| 1S55 and three years later at Princeton
! Theological Seminary. With the ex-
cention of a portion Of the period Of
the civil war. when he was engaged in
bosnitaI work In Tennessee. and in the
EMPLOY EMPLOY Of the Christian Commission
in Alabama. the whole of his life
has been spent in the home mission
fold in almost every State and terri
tary west of the Mississippi river as
| - ..I ord Svnodical missionary.