Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-14
A NOTED GATHERING.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY or pREssy-'
TERRAIN CHURCH MEETS MAY IS.
MILL Be IN SESSION TEN DAYS.
rmuortsnt Duties 10 he Performed
over Two Hundred Commissioners
win he Prcsent-Arrnngcm for
Their Entertainment.


rembly viii remain, in session for about
ien days.
Two hundred and four representatives
q the Southern Church are expected TO be
N attendance. and arrangements have
been made for their entertainment during
the assembly by members Of the Presby-
lerian Church in this city.
This General Assembly is the supreme
rourt Of the Presbyterian Church. III
Is tho properly constituted authority 10
interpret law, and to review the proceed
lngs OF synods and presbyteries in all
The Southern States The assembly has
moreover, entire control OF the foreign
and home mission work OF the Church,
Rs well as Of its publication and educa-
iional interests.
Judicial cases are brought before the
assembly by appeal from lower courts
ma have TO be tried questions of con-
stitutional law are considered and de-
fermined, as well as all matters which
might properly come before a judicial
BODY.
THE RULING ELDER QUESTION.
Ollt VI lHt JlOol liiHOit SHN fNS'N'N''~'
rs far as is known at the present time,
which the assembly will have to deter
mine, concerns the right of ruling elder
10 deliver a charge 10 the people on the
occasion OF the installation of pastor.
The functions OF ruling elders has be-
rome one OF the leading questions in
Church polity, and the revolution, which
began about fifteen years ago, is still pro-
crossing. The last General Assembly re-
commended that the presby teries should
adopt an overture authorizing the APP
pointment Of ruling elders 20 charge the
people at the installation of pastor,
ana in effect prohibiting MIN from charg
ing the pastor
Most OF the time OF the assembly will be
devoted TO the consideration OF plans for
Church extension.
THE MEETING OF 1872.
The only previous meeting of the Gene
raj Assembly held in the city Of Rich
mond was that of 1S72-twenty-seve years
ago. The opening sermon was preach
ed by Or. William S. Plumer, on Isaiah
ILL.,, IL: HE shall see of the travail of
his soul, and shall be satisfied" The as
sembly held its sessions ia the Grace
Street church. with DR.. Thomas r. Welch, |
OF Little Rock, Ark, as the moderator
Among the prominent members Of that
Hendrick, OF Kentucky; Dr. Howe, Dr.
Plumer, and DR.. Adger. of South Caro-
lima; DR.. Marshall of Texas. and DR.. |
Armstrong and DR.. Handy. Of Virginia. |
or those who were in that assembly who |
will return to the meeting of 1899, are DIR. |
j. H. McNeilly of Nashville; Dr. f. II. |
Johnston, OF Elizabeth City, n. c., and !
the Rev. L. u. Price, now of Roanoke, |
Va.
Among the matters that attracted spe- |
cial attention and public interest was a
paper presented by Colonel John r. j..
Preston on the preparation of few scrip
tural and well-considered forms, with re-
sponses. such forms TO be optional with
pastors; which paper was not adopted.
The Revised Book of Discipline was re-
ceived from the Committee on Revision
and sent down 20 the presbyteries for |
adoption or further criticism.
The growth of the Church since that
meeting is shown by the fact that the
Southern Church had then 91,20S commu-
nicants. and now has about 100000. 1t
then contributed for all Church benef-
cence about 100000 and this year about
100000. an increase of $4,000.
OUTLINE OF THE ARRANGEMENT
The enrolment Of commissioners will
begin in the lecture-room of the First
ming at o'clock, and the assembly will
be opened at II o'clock next morning with !!
a sermon by the Rev. i. NJ. Green, ID. D.,
moderator of the last General Assembly. |
a new moderator will then be elected |
and two temporary clerks.
In the afternoon at . o'clock the assem-
bly, Will so for an excursion down the |
river on the steamer Pocahontas, ac-
companied by as many citizens as can be |
accommodated. Members Of the assem-
bly, will so as the guests of the ladies of |
the First Presbyterian church.
On Friday evening holy communion
viii be celebrated in the First Presby-
terian church, 10 which service all Chris
tian people are invited.
On Saturday evening at 8 o'clock the |
Covenanters societies of the city will |
give reception to the General Assembly |
In the lecture-room and parlors of the
church On Thursday afternoon a recep-
ton will be held at Union Theological
Seminary, and on Friday at u o'clock
the ministers of the various denomlna-
the assembly and elected to sit as cor
responding members. The ministers will
be presented in a body, and 1t is ex-
pected that an address will be delivered
by one of their number.
MODERATOR OF THE ASSEMBLY.
The present officers OF the General AS
sembly are: Rev. Il. NJ. Green. ID. d..
of Danville, KY, moderator; Rev. DR.. r.
p. Farris. Of St Louis, permanent clerk:
Rev. w. a. Alexander. ID. D., of Clarks-
vile. Tenn, stated clerk and treasurer.
Rev. Il. nj. Green, ID. D.. the moderator
OF the General Assembly. is pastor Of the
First Presbyterian church of Danvile.
Ky
DR.. Green is a man of fine nreserca
standing over feet in height, and is as
much admired for his extreme courtesy
as Tor his high character and ability. Hell
graduated at the Theological Seminary
of Columbia. S. c., in 1858. and went i'm
into the Confederate army as
a chaplain. He had five brothers in the
army. and his mother was a hospital
so the family was well repre-
sented IN the war. When peace was de-
clared DIR. Green became pastor Of the
Presbyterian church at Washington, Ga.
OF which Alexander II. stephens was then
a member. After six years at Washington.
DIR. Green became editor at Columbia. S
c., OF the Southern Presbyterian news
paper. This position he held for two
years, during which period he was a
member OF the General Assemby's For
eisn Missions Committee the secretaries
Of which were the Rev. Drs. j. Leighton
Wilson and Richard McIlwaine. He was
also a member and secretary of the |
Board OF Directors of the Theological
Seminary at Columbia.
lie went as pastor TO Washington ~ |
C.. for three years, and thence 10 Dan ,
Vile. KY, where he has been pastor OF
the First Presbyterian church for TWEEN
ty-two years. This is one OF the three,
oldest Presbyterian congregations In
| "a a Iu 10. \