The Saint Paul globe., 1897-05-17
QUESTION WHICH WILL BOTHER
THE PRESBYTERIAN ASSEM-
bly,.
A CANDIDATE
FOR THE POSITION OF MODERATOR,
HERETOFORE HELD ONLY BY
MINISTER'S.
The One Hundred and Ninth Annual
Assembly to Begin at Wtnona,
Ind, May 20.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, May 16.-The
109th assembly Of the Presbyterian
church in the United States will meet
at Winona assembly grounds, Eagle
fake, Kosciusko county. Ind, on May
20, 1897, and will probably continue in
session until May 81. The assembly
will be composed Of about 900 dele
gates, one-half of them ministers and
the other half ruling elders. The dele
gates are elected by ecclesiastical
bodies called presbyterfes and come
from every portion Of the country. The
Presbyterian church represented by
this general assembly is the only one
which has ministers and churches in
every state in the Union, and by the
statistics Of 1895 consisted Of 1873 con-
gregations, 6,942 ministers and 943,716
members. The contributions for con-
gregational expenses for the year 1896
We're $40, ,413, ,785, and the contributions
for missionary and other benevolent
purposes $3,643,23 The foreign mission
work of the Presbyterian church is con-
Quoted in fifteen different countries. It's
missionary and benevolent work In the
United States is carried on by agents
called boards. These boards are eight
In number, three of them located in
New York city, namely, the boards of
home missions, foreign missions and
church erection; three located in the
city of Philadelphia, namely, pubHce-
ton and Sabbath school work, educa-
tion and ministerial relief; one, the
board Of missions for freedmen. at
Pttsburg, and one, the board of aid for
colleges and academies, at Chicago.
The boards located In New York oc-
cupy what is known as the Presby-
terian building, corner of Twentieth
street and Fifth avenue, and those 10
Gated in Philadelphia will soon remove
from their present quarters at 1884
Chestnut street to the Wftherspoon
building, corner Of Walnut and Juniper
streets.
The 1O9th assembly will be opened at
IL a. m.. on May 20. with a sermon
by the retiring moderator, Rev. John L.
.Withrow, d. D., pastor of the Third
Presbyterian church, Chicago. Among
the delegates are found ex-President
Harrison, Mr. John Wanamaker and
other able and influential -laymen.
Among the ministers appear Rev. Shell
don Jackson, D. D., Rev. Henry C. Min
ton. d. D. professor in the Presbyterian
Theological seminary at San Francis
co; the Rev. Robert F. Sample; D. D..
pastor Of the West TWenty-third Street
Presbyterian Church, New York city:
from Philadelphia, the Rev. Drs. John
Mcintosh, s. w. Dana and J. G. Bolton
and Others. The business Of the as
sembly will consist Of two main lines
of work: i-'
First-The consideration of the annual re-
ports Of the eight boards above referred TO.
'Frhls portion of the business will take up
a IONS ~ fr,o1 How
consideration OF the reports Of
special committees The most important of
(which are the following:
cFirst-Committee on the powers OF assembly
and presbytery In the care and icensure OF
candidates.
Second-Committee on voters at the election
Of pastors and other church officials.
Third-Committee on conferences with the
board of home missions.
Fourth-Committee on the Presbytery build
ing, New York city.
Fifth-Committee on methods of manage
ment Of church temporalities.
The reports of these several com
mittees have not yet been made public
and it Is not the usage to give them to
the press prior to the meeting of the
assembly.
with regard to the moderatorship of
this new assembly, 1t is stated that the
candidates for the office thus far an
nounced are Rev. Henry c. Mlnton,
D. D.. San Francisco; Rev. Robert f.
Sample, D. D., New York; Rev. Sheldon
Jackson and Mr.. John Wanamaker, of
Philadelphia. A number of gentlemen
have thought of nominating EXPIRES
ident Harrison, but he has declined the
honor on the ground that he could not
give the necessary time to the duties of
the Office. In connection with the mod
eratorship, it is of interest to know that
a layman has never yent filed the posi-
layman has never yet filed the posi-
ton, and that there are many persons
who doubt if the constitution of the
Presbyterian church will permit any
other than a minister to occupy the
highest office in the church.