The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-23
PRESBYTER|ANS
ARE DEMOCRATIC
Refuse to Reduce Pres
ent Representation.
pnPIII WITH THE PEQPI E
POPULAR WITH THE PEOPLE
ASSEMBLY VOTES DOWN THE
PLANS PRESENTED.
Many Other Subjects of Great In
terest to the Church Are
Considered During the
Session.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

MINNEAPOLIS, May 22.-Democracy
asserted itself in the Presbyterian Cen
eral Assembly this afternoon. With
shout the assembly voted down two care
fully considered and prepared plans to
reduce the membership, one by "a third
and the other by more than half. The
committee on reduced representation, APP
pointed a year ago, was scarcely given
courteous treatment, so pronounced was
the feeling against getting farther away
from the people. Two members OF the
committee presented the two proposed
plans-on making the basis of representa-
ton 5000 communicates and the other
making the basis thirty-six ministers in
the presbyteries instead of twenty-four,
as at resent. Colonel F. L. Hitchcock of
the committee argued for the representa-
ton by synods, according to membership
and declared that there was no doubt
that 672, the present membership OF the
assembly, was far too large 1t was
plain, from the ' Interruptions, that
Colonel Hitchcock was not on the popu-
lar side, and when he sat down expires
sions Of the democratic spirit ;ame out
strongly and profusely.
They call this a mob" said DR.. Page
of Topeka, Kans. IF it is mob, God
grant that there may be more such. God
pity the Presbyterian church with the
bulk of the wealth of the United States
in it's Golfers, if it cannot afford large
assembly"
THE time has not come to reduce the
assembly and l hope it never will come.
cried DR.. George w. P. Bierch of New
York 1--WE ought to keep as near the
people as we can. The backwoods pres
byteres now hold the balance of power;
| don't know what we would do without
them, they hold the balance so true
Impressed by the strength of the oppo-
sition, a friend of reduced representation
proposed to send an overture down to the
prCsbyteries asking their advice. The mo-
ton was promptly laid on the table.
DIR. John W. Dinsmore of San Jose Of
fered q substitute motion thanking and
discharging the committee and indefinite
" referring the question of reduced rep
reservation. When the vote came, there
was mighty Yes and feeble NO"
The decision against another part of
the senate committees report was closer
By vote of 1874 to 168 the assembly decid-
ed not to increase from f1Ve TO ten the
number of ministers necessary TO consu-
The judicial committee reported on a
number of matters and was granted per
mission 10 refer to special committees Tor
trial such cases as required supreme ad-
judication.
Wiack suspended for alleged gambling
from the Fourth Avenue Church, New
York, two years ago, was referred to
The Rev. Mr. Backus of Kansas got a
committee to try his appeal from the
synod of that State. E. r. Day of the
presbytery of Waterloo was advised to
present his case to the synod of Iowa.
DR.. w. r. Kirkwood of Emporia, kans.,
presented a report of the committee OF the
board of education. The report held that
the expense of the board was not undue
and that it could not be reduced without
consolidation of boards which was not
wise. The standard of ministerial educa-
ton was declared not to be declining, and
the day of shrinkage in the number of
candidates for the ministry was said to be
in the past. The reelection of the mem
bers of the board whose terms expire this
year was recommended
The Chicago and Schuyler overtures,
calling for a commission to investigate
the whole subject of ministerial education,
were approved by the committee, and 1T
was recommended that committee of not
less than eleven be appointed for that
purpose. The report was adopted intact.
The McGiffert matter was made spe-
cial order for Thursday. The feeling now
is that drastic action will be taken.
The denunciation of recent mob out
RACES in the South made in the report of
the committee of freedmen was finally re-
ferred to that committee for reconsidera-
ton Colonel James Rice of Peoria, Ill, ,
the father of the Peoria overture, aimed
at reducing the moderator's power, says
he expects vigorously to push his meas
The overtures now before the committee
on bills and overtures in favor of expell-
ing Congressman Roberts of Utah from
the House OF Representatives are likely
to be passed by the assembly almost
unanimously If they get by the commit
tee.
Before the popular meeting tonight of
the Freedman's Board, the largest of the
meetings held under the auspices of the
assembly Rev. H. w. Hubert of Cleve-
land. originator of the movement to raise
the $40 900 Indebtedness Of the board an
nounced that subscriptions and appor-
tionments will foot up $50 900 or $4,000. For
the first time in a generation all depart
ments of the Presbyterian church are free
from debt. 1t was announced, however,
that every presbytery is expected to pay
the portion of the debt apportioned to it.
as all excess above the quota which any
presbytery gives will be devoted to open
ing some of the schools which have been
been closed for lack of funds