Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-05-27
THE PRESBYTERIANS.

After discussion which lasted over
three hours, the General Assembly of
the Presbyterian Church, which closed
its morning session in Richmond yester-
day, recommended a change in the
Book of Order, so as to provide that
the ruling elder may deliver the charge
to the people at the installation of a
pastor.
The assembly coDcurred in the action
OF the committee on overtures recon-
mending the change in the bsptismal
formula from the words Unto the name
Of" to sin the name Of"
The report OF the same committee
recommending ministers to exercise
the greatest caution in performing mar.
riage ceremonies where doubt exists
as to the consent of the parents of eth
er OF the contracting parties when such
parties are under age, was also adopted.
The report of the committee on col
ored evangelization was considered at
length during the afternoon session.
The statement contained in it, that
crime is on the increase among the ne
gro population, was the chief subject Of
contention. The fear was voiced that
in the present infammable state OF the
negro mind, the PRONUNCIATION of such
statement was ill-advised. 1t was,
however, supported by the Chairman,
who, as the result Of his investigation,
made the statement that three-fourths
of the crime in the South is committed
by Degroes and the increase of crime,
particularly among the younger mem
bers of the race, is alarming. The re.
port was amended go as to read that
statistics show the prevalence Of
crime" etc.
The last session of the assembly was
held last night. 1t was for the most
part occupied with addresses made up
on resolutions expressing the apprecia-
ton OF commissioners for hospitality
and courtesies extended to them during
their visit.
A resolution to include Sunday news
papers aud excursions in the list of
worldly amusements against which the
pastoral letter is to be directed, failed
of adoption, many of the com mission
ers being absent from the session, and
it being deemed inadvisable to recon-
slider the action of the full assembly.
The assembly was dissolved by the
moderator, who, according to the form
ula, ordered the election of another as
sembly to convene in Atlanta, Ga, on
the third Thursday in May, 1900.
1t took the General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis
yesterday longer to decide when the
nineteenth century ends than it took to
pass the resolutions against the Nor.
mon Congressman, Roberts, and in
favor of an snti-polygamy amendment
to the national constitution. These
resolutions, which represent the ma
tured thought of the Presbyterians OF
the United States after many months
of consideration, 80 exactly expressed
the sentiment of every commissioner
that they were adopted with single |
supporting speech.
Hermann Warszawiak, expelled two |
years ago, for alleged gambling, by the |
session OF the Fifth Avenue Church, OF
NEW 1OTh, VIII udVo W ~ W luo -'on
York Synod for relief.
New presbyteries are to be establish
ed in the Pekin neighborhood in China
and in the Yukon valley in Alaska.
Last night Thanksgiving meeting
was held at Westminster Church, DR..
Sample, the moderator, presiding.
After today's session the assembly will
adjourn.
At yesterdays session of the General
Assembly of the United Presbyterian
Church in Philadelphia the report OF
the committee on The state of religion
aroused much discussion. The report
among other things said: 1.-THE incre ase
in membership has been small. Last
years percentage of GAIN" it contin-
ued, "was so pitifuliy small that it has