Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-05-27
WORK OF PRESBYTERIANS.
General Assembly Discusses Important
Matters.


Matters.
by 'felegraph) MA"
NEW ORLEANS, May 26.--At the
seventh days session Of the General
Assembly o! the Presbyterion church
Ut the United States. the matter of the
most Importance was the report the
the committee ON the home and school
at Fredericksburg, Va
Elder c. w. Somerville, the super
lntendcnt and master. discussed the
condition of affairs at length The in
*titution is heavily In debt but on the
whole the report was considered en-
couraE1ng.
Concerning fredericksburg College
ana tlnnc, the committees report sets
forth that all connection between the
home and Fredericksburg College has
been severed.
The college building and grounds
have been sold for the amout of their
Indebtedness. The trustees reserve
he right Of free college tuition 70,
tWentyfour orphans for ten years.
Tho assembly adopted the reconmen-
hatinn that all churches make q col
lection for the institution on the last
sunday in next December The propo-
sltlon to appoint an agent to solicit
subscriptions for the home was also
tUtoptcd. The recommendation is not to
do anything with the home which fur
nlSh"s special instruction and educ;,-
ton I" prepare foreign missionaries
was adopted. The report was then
adopted as a Whole. ....
The report on theological sen,iuarie.
was next read. 1t sets forth that all
reports from Seniinaries are of an en-
c"uraginS character. There has been
excellent attendance during the year
IN all l,G59-forty one Of whom have
completed the course to enter the min
lSlry.
All the seminaries have improved
their buildings. Union Seminary will
probably remove from CHAMPIONSHIPS
neS. Va. to its new Richmond, Va,
home soon The churches have always
responded promptly to appeals for help
from the seminares. Beneficiary edu-
cation and the more judicious expen-
diture of fuds for that purpose are now
being carefully considered at both Co
lunibi;t and Nashville.
With reference to the complaint OF
lsev. s. S. Laws, d. D.. against the sy-
nod of South Carolina. 1T was recon-
niendcd that Rev. c. w. Humphries,
~ D., chosen by the synod to repre-
sent 1t. be accorded the floor and that
DR. Laws be replied to, and that the
assembly deems 1t unwise to offer any
advice to the synod controlling Column
ba at this time. The report concludes
by recommending the adoption of a
plan for summer school for Bible
study.
DIR. Laws was accorded the floor to
debate the matter OF his protest. Pre-
flcins his remarks by saying that
he had to say had nothing Of self inter-
est in it, he went on to argue against
the wisdom OF policy which made
dead line" on professorship aid in the
colleges. He argued that there was no
sense In 1t. no sound policy, no author
ity In scripture or reason or experience
for turning a professor out because he
has attained Il certain age. He thought
this matter was one vital to the inter-
ests Of Presbyterian institutions. AS
long as mans faculties were intact
and clear and vigorous and his power
of mind generally unimpaired, age
but enriches usefulness. The hour OF
| adjournment left the doctors address
pending.
Tonghts session was devoted to the
| standing committee on colored organi-
cation. The committee recommended
| the approval of the purchase of the
IIachrouse homestead as the perma-
| ncnt quarters Of the Stillman Institute
| and Endorsed the formation of a sepa
| rate colnrcd Presbyterian body and
urged financial aid. 1t deemed the
! Ferguson Williams College indispensi-
| BILE for the successful development OF
| the colored movement.
| The services Of Revs. DR. Phillips
| McAlpinc and Wilson We're commend
| cd and it was suggested that 4 trensu-
| rcr of funds for colored work be To-
| Gated at Tuscaloosa. ...H