New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-17
CHURCH MACHINE METHODS
PRESBYTERIAN PAPERS CONDEMN
w1pr-prrr1,INc IN ELECTION OF
GENERAL ASSEMBLY COM
MISSIONERS.

,,,.,.aro,s MINI May 10 (speciaD.-In order TO
..c,r. cer,o,n action at the coming General Assem-
h,v In this city which they believe Is essenuui "
The welfare OF the Presbyterian Church throue"ou'
the world and to particular churches ana p'eSo'
teries II Is said that there has been an uhusua'
amount Of vgire-pulling this spring IN some qua"
ters There are rot many offenders. II Is oeheved'
80 ,sr ~ am. IN the active pastorate but 1t Is
an omen secret that men coming to MIME
onous whose election was secured by means OF
n ticket industrlously circulated and WORKED ior
on the dag preceding The election, which was neiu
ON Monday 1t is also open secret that men
who are not commissioners were workeo against
in the interest of peace and harmony
So bold have the aggressors become that 'neir
,c.,on. have been severely criticised by many
prcs,vierian pastors and elders. who say thut
they are weary of this oiciousness on the part Oh
sele-appointed med6lers in General Assembly, MAJ
,ers 'The Presbyterian Journal" of Philaoeiphla'
in which aggressive work has been done. thus oe-
nounces the machine methods, In question;
..There was a time when the selection OF Mod
orator for the General Assembly and the shaping
Of the business 10 come before it was pruoenuy
lef: 10 the Assembly Itself. Full connoehce "'so
was rcposed in the ability Of the Presoy'er'es u
select proper commissioners and In the latter oe-
irg governed in their decision on Important dues-
,,ons nv their convictions OF what best for the
Church in the light OF full Assembly discussion ana
celebration.
But the day 10 past when this could be truth
fully said II IS not consistent with the machfe
methods in vogue in other spheres OF action. we
have now ecclesiastical politicians In the ChuEch'
and relleio-nolltico Journalists. who assume to
shane matters 10 their liking beforehand The
propcr one in their estimation 10 MODERATE an
Assembly Is best decided in advance by seif-coh-
sttutcd faction ring; and II is thought wiser
that certain Presbyteries be nstigated to overture
the Assembly 10 a definite course IN reference 10
m before Influences
exerted 70 secure the election Of commissioners
favorable 10 their plans Through them the MOO
orator having been chosen. and by him the COM
mttees ha virg been appointed in due time the
Presbyteria overtures are favorably reported upon
and tie action decided upon In advance by the ma
chine IL successfully carried through.
''Somei hing OF this kind has been apparent with
more than one General Assembly meeting since
1890 and credibly Informed that II mas
been and H. being earnestly worked for the coming
one In Minneapolis The fine Italian hand OF the
ecclesiastical cabal has been plainly manifested In
New-York City. More than a month ago. In ad-
vance Of the election OF Commissioners, II was de-
cded even before he elected a Commissioner,
who would be the proper man west of Pttsburg to
preside the coming General Assembly. ne
was even Invited we are told to conference with
those who had resolved upon his election. IL was
doubtless TO &c! MS c9nsen 10 ne bose des
ignated and familiar with machine methods an
emo 70 10 mnS fbe SENTIMENT Of those Who should
be chosen. Those not connected for years with the
in the wirepulling schemes At least one agent
visited Philadelphia and talked with Presbyers as
10 the kind OF men who should or should inc, not De
cerps from articles prepared for certain religious
journals and communications purely anonymous
have been addressed to Commissioners and others;
Caucuses of the Commissioners have been held
weeks in advance.
and all this to influence the formation. organiza
less disreputable despicable In ecclesiastical
than in civil tribunal? No matter how deep may
ances there be justification for the adoption
OF such measures to meet them and to punish those
uneccleslastical and unwise schemes only makes
them the more to be deplored and commended
and highly derogatory of it's highest court. They
deserve TO be severely frowned upon and rebuked
be Wounded s the house
friends. Our General Assembly will be in danger OF
becoming byword and reproach, ..,..s .,o
following criticism upon the action of a minister
..The usual Sunday school class was held at the
legislation at Albany this week. Similar work was
man to another in the interest of ticket to be
voted on at the meeting OF the f,resbytery on Mon
to the pulpit and begged not 10 nominate a brother
minister for General Assembly Commissioners
Another cergymen was asked not to allow his
name 70 be presented or If 1t was. TO withdraw ii,
as II would 1njure the ticket 10 have this new
name before the Presbytery. Failing TO secure the
to mention the fact that he had been approached.
but here again no pledge was given; Every one or
was presented on the floor OF the Presbytery on
Monday. While II Is perfectly proper for a COM
Of sn TO hT yws in S
General Assembly. we do not hesitate to say that
the methods employed by Senator Of the United
Sunday conferences at hotel are no more CEN
surabe than are those TO which we have referred In
the Presbytery.