The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-26


only infaIlible rule of faith and practice.
The assembly, indeed, desires the fullest
and freest investigation and inquiry on the
part or reverend Christian students into the
foundations of the Christian faith. but it
deprecateS everything which, whether in it's
substance or in the form Of its expression,
needlesSly disturbs the faith of the Chris
tan people. The General Assembly de-
pIores the renewal of the controversy occa-
stoned by the publication of this book at a
~ healed. 1t sympathizes with the wide
spread belief that the utterapces of DR.: Nc
of the Scripture as interpreted by the Pres
byterian Church and by evangelical chris
tendon And the assembly stamps with it's
emphatic disapproval all utterances in the
book called to its attention by the Presby
terry of Pittsburg not in accord with the
standards of our church. But the church
needs peace, union of it's forces, cooper
alton OF all its members. spirit of brother
hood and mutual confidence, so that 1t may
address itself with intense zeal and no
waste of energy to its great, pressing and
practical work of saving the souls of men.
take no action at present, in the earnest
hope that Dr. McGiffert may be led to make
a satisfactory explanation of his position
In relation to the standards OF our church,
or in default thereof peaceably to withdraw
from the Presbyterian ministry. Respect
fully submitted.
SHELDON JACKSON. Chairman. BY the
majority of the committee.
The first minority report omits the para
sres the fullest and freest Investigation"
etc, and repeats the paragraph beginning,
But the church needs peace" 1t then pro-
ceeds as follows:
1.-The assembly deplores the renewal of
the controversy occasioned by the publica-
tlon of this book at a time when our recent
the widespread belief that the utterances
of DIR. McGiffert are inconsistent with the
teachings of the Scripture as interpreted by
the Presbyterian Church and by evangelical
christendom, and 1t notes the painful
anxiety which is being felt concerning the
effect of these utterances on the life and
works of the church. Therefore. without
pronouncing judgment upon the teachings
OF this book or upon the views of its author,
tNe assembly directs the Presbytery of New
York, of which DIR. McGiffert is a member,
to confer with DR.. McGiffert for the relief
of the church, either by satisfactory ex-
PLANTATION or otherwise, and to take such
further action as the peace and purity of
wv S. PLUMER BRYAN"
The second minority report says: I'm re-
Spouse to an overture from the Presbytery
of Pittsburg the assembly declares itself
never more profoundly concerned than it is
to-day for the maintenance of the faith. The
assembly is confident that no one acquainted
with the history of the Presbyterian Church
in the United States can doubt it's condem-
nation of false and pernicious teaching
charged against the book in question by the
matters as the irreverent handling of the
Testament. setting aside of its authority as
a divine rule of faith and practice denial
of the fundamental doctrines of evangelical
the obligations by which the author and all
other Presbyterian ministers have bound
themselves and the like. But the church
just now needs peace union of all its forces,
cooperation of all it's members a spirit of
brotherhood and mutual confidence that 1T
may address itself with intense zeal and
NO vxyoC fo Of fay1Er IN ifC ore
and practical work of saving the souls of
men. The assembly, therefore. without pro-
nouncing upon the question as to how far
the terms employed by the Presbytery OF
Pittsburg are or are not justified by the ac-
tual teachings of the book referred to-
deems 1t wise that no further IS ae5ion lion, can
The majority report was signed by thir-
teen members of the committee, the first
minority report by six and the second min
GRITTY report by one member. The reports
were ordered printed and the subject was
made the first order of business for Fri
day afternoon.
The regular order of the day was foreign
missions. DIR. George F. Pentecost, OF
Yonkers, N. Y, chairman of the standing
committee, presented report and addressed
the assembly. The report on foreign mis-
sions. submitted contained the following:
The fiscal year began with debt of $97 ,454,
but this and all other obligations had been
met, Appropriations had been reduced $780,
600 and thus the debt which had existed
since 1893 had been extinguished. The gifts
TO the DOdTu from the woman DOdIu Hdu
increased by SOS. but there had been thirty
deaths or designations. Reports from all the
fields were encouraging. The total receipts
were $97S 12S. The disbursements were 1854
f02, of which $56.051 was for office expenses,
part Of, them at the direction of the Gen
eral Assembly.
Following the report Mr.. Robert E. Speer,
secretary of the board, presented the scope
of the work of the church in foreign lands.
Mr.. Speer said that the church had not risen
to its duty and had not maintained its rate
of increase during previous decades. COntri-
buttons last year were less than those of
ten years ago by $40 600. From the first place
in the amount of funds used the Presbyteri-
an Church had fallen to second having
fallen behind the Methodist churches. The
speech was a strong plea for an increase in
receipts for the foreign board and an elo
quent appeal was made for contributions to
this board The foreign missionaries, who
ere commissioners to the assembly, were
sponded and representatives from India,
Persia, Japan and Korea. occupied consider
able time At this session the vice modera-
tor, Hon. James A. Mount, Governor of In
diana, temporarily took the chair for the
first time.
At the afternoon session the report of the
board of publication and Sabbath school
of New York Dr.. Elijah r. Craven, secre-
tary of the board. also spoke. The report of
the board of publication and Sabbath school,
also presented. represented two interests
the one missionary and the other CONNER
cfal. The publication board reported net
profits of $31 .04I on sales aggregating $121-
s55 of books and tracts and $257 ,25S for peri
of I,ec0S55 copies of books ard tracts and