The record-union., 1897-05-22
Speaks on the Symbolism of Woods 1t
is Composed of,
Chairmen of the Various Committees
Announced - DIR. WithrOW Pre-
sents the Report on the Presby-
terian Building at New YOrk-A
ninority Report Also Presented.

by General Harrison. The gaVel was
composed of hard woodstock, poplar,
black walnut. birch and maple. The
oak. he said, represented the Calvinistic
framework of the church; the poplar
the free civil government fostered by
the church: the black walnut, not
painted and hidden, stood for the
churchs love of finish. or individual
ism; the birch, with dropping branches
and clinging leaves, typified the shell
tering church of the lambs of God, and
the maple, with its image of sweetness,
stood for the retiring Moderator and
his sermon. The various pieces of
wood We're all historic. The oak was
from the first church in Indiana, and in
Hanover Theological Seminary, the
mother of Mccormick Seminary, Chi
cago. The black walnut was from the
first church of Indianapolis. All parts
represented first things.
An enthusiastic delegate inquired at
the end of the speech in a loud tone:
What's the matter with Harrison?"
and was answered by the usual re-
sponse.
Before proceeding to business, the
Chairmen of committees were announc-
Wanamaker, Philadelphia: Bills and
Overtures, John L. Withrow, Chicago;
Judicial Business, DR.. Henry c. Min
ton, San Francisco; Church Policy, DR..
Robert F. Sample, New York; Home
Mission, DR.. John d. Hewitt, Emporia;
Foreign Missions, DR.. ]. Wilbur Chap
man, Philadelphia; Education, DR..
Stephen W. Dana, Philadelphia: Pub
Col oh owl
Elder James Jerome New York;
Church Erection, DR.. George W. Whit
worth, Seattle: Theological Seminaries,
DR.. ]. Clark Hill, Chicago; Ministerial
Relief, Hon. James Il. Mount, Indiana;
Freedom, DR.. Thomas Lawrence, Ashe-
vile; Aid for Colleges, DR.. George L.
Spinning, Orange, N. J.; Correspondence.
DR. Byron Sunderland, Washington:
Benevolence, DR.. Clinton, New York;
Temperance, DR.. A. o. Olney, West
Troy. y. Y: Leave of Absence. David
r. Moore: Mileage, Elder E. w. Fisk,
Philadelphia; Finance. Elder ]. w.
Hall, Brooklyn.
The Committee on Presbyterian
Buildings at New York, whose report
was presented to-day, was appointed a
year ago and has made partial reports
several times in the interval. Its con-
illusions have been awaited with inter-
est. The assembly listened with eager
ness through the reading of about sixty
octave pages, and showed a desire to
hear the whole case. The applause
which greeted the speakers was indi
cative Of an agreement with the con-
clusions of the committee. and adverse
to the long report Of the minority of
one which was presented by Elder Nc
Dougall of Cincinnati. The speech of
General Harrison. delivered in the midst
of the reading of the minority report.
was heard with close attention, and af-
ter another speech on behalf of the
committee the reports went over as
unfinished business.
The report of the committee of eleven
on Presbyterian building in New York
was read by DR. Withrow, the Chair
man, and was as follows:
Your committee held its first meeting
ings in New York City on July Is and
10, 1896 An extended conference
was held with the Boards of Home
Missions and statement was given to
the public the next week.
The committee held a second meeting
in the city of New York on March Il
and Is, 1897, all the members pres
ent EXCEPT General Harrison and Mr.
Williams, and adopted the following,
viz:
In view of the action taken by the
assembly Of 1894, prior to the letting of
the contract for the building, as shown
by it's minutes hereinbefore given, we
conceive our only duty to be TO confer
with the two boards, and 70 advise as
TO the course to be pursued in con-
nection with the new Presbyterian
house. The committee finds that there
is no pending offer from any one to
buy the property; nor has there been
since the first meeting of this commit
tee.
Whether the property on Twentieth
street and Fifth avenue, as well as that
on Fifth avenue and Twelfth street.
should be sold or not, are matters
which, under existing conditions, may
be properly and safely left to the de-
termination OF the two boards
The application of the money derived
from the Stuart estate toward the erec-
ton of the new building was not Illegal
use of such money. The committee ad-
vises urgent appeals to all the churches
of our denomination TO make not only
the ordinary but increased contribu-
tions for home and foreign missionary
operations; in the full confidence that
under no circumstances will money
given for current work be applied to the
account of the new building but that
the debt thereon must be provided by
other contributions for that purpose. In
view of these facts, your committee
offers for adoption the following reso-
lutions:
1. That the disposition of the two
properties in question shall now be left
to the Boards of Home and Foreign
Missions as agents of our church.
= That the General Assembly hereby
expresses its cordial appreciation of the
laborious services. the sacrifices of time
and as we'll as the contributions of mon
ey made by members of the board and
others, also in the conduct Of these
enterprises.
3 That the General Assembly ap-
proves the action of the committee
and herewith discharge the committee
of eleven
financial statement in regard to the
Presbyterian building was also read. II
showed that 80 per cent of the office
portion of the building is already rent
ed. On April 1st the actual rental
amounted to $50, 2,43S out of total rental
,Xalue in the entire building of $125. .3533