El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1898-05-19
VOL. XVIII. NO. 1O7.
Presbyterian Assembly.

Presbyterlan Assembly.
WARSAW, Ind, May 19.-There
were about elk hundred delegates and
nearly as many visitors crowded into
the assembly auditorium at Winona At
eleven o'clock this morning when the
one hundred and tenth general assem-
bly, of the Presbyterian church was
called to order by the retiring Moder-
ator, DR.. Sheldon jackson. Seated
about DR.. jackson on the platform
were the leaders of the clergy and
laity of this powerful denomination.
The clergywas represented by theolo-
Rians of reknown, the laity by:financi-
ers, whose influence is international,
and business and professional men who
have reached the top round of the lad
der Of fame. Taken all in all it was .
most distinguished gathering of dis
tinRuished men and one truly represen-
tative of the powerful and wealthy
Presbyterian church in America. The
assembly opened with simple religious
service at eleven O'Clock. ''Send Out
the Light" was the opening religious
hymn, and after the voices had died
away, q long prayer was offered, ask-
ing the divine blessings upon the gene
raj assembly, the church It large,
"the President of the United States
and all the soldiers and sailors of
America engaged in the war;"
The sermon of the retiring modera-
tor was next in order. DR.. jackson
confined bis sermon in the main to re-
marks of purely advisory character,
touching the duty Of the church and
the clergy, and concluding with short
prayer for the success of American
arms in the war with Spain and the
expression of hopes for an early peace.
The election of new moderator will
be held late this afternoon. All the
morning csnvassing has been going on
and lively time is expected when the
ballots are cast. Rev. Henry c.
McCook of Phllsdelphis still appears
to be the leading candidate, but .
number of dark horses have sprung
into the race in the last twenty-f0ur
hours and the result of the election is
tes are booming Rev. William N. Page
of Leavenworth, Kas, the Ohio men
are out for Rev. William McKibben of
Cincinnati, while the Eastern delega-
tions are somewhat divided in their
choice between DIR. McCook and Rev.
w. II. Roberts, also of Philadelphia,
and Rev. Wallace Ratcliffe of Wash
inRton, D. c.
In spite of the efforts of . majority
OF the delegates to the general assem-
bly, to belittle the movement, there arc
indications this morning that . lively
contest will be precipitated when the
presbytery Of Pittsburg pr senss its
memorial asking thu assembly TO in
auRurate case of heresy against Prof.
A. G. McGiffert, D D., of Union Theo-
logical Seminary, on account of Ger
tain expressions in his recent 'sHistory
Of Christianity in the Apostolic Age"
Those supporting the movement are
evidently endesvoring to make of it .
second Briggs case. The book con.
tanning the alleged heretical utter
snces Is the fifth in the international
Theological library series now being
issued under the supervision of Pro-
fessor Briggs of New York, and Pro-
feesor Sslmond of Scotland ss editors.
In point of literary excellence and his
toric value Professor McGiffert's work
is highly praised by the critics. The
main point for vigorous attack in the
book is the implied contradiction of
the Westminster conference with re-
gard to the sacrament of the Lords
supper. In other respects DR.. McCif-
fert goes still further into liberal doc
trines and appears utterly Indifferent
to the doctrine of the inerrancy Of the
scriptures. He takes it for granted
throughout his work that the Bible 10
not to be regarded as infAllible. It
was upon this very point of doctrine
that DR.. Briggs awss excommunicated
in 1892 by the general assembly.