Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-05-20

Gus exercises in the Presbyterian AS
sembly to-day the chairmen OF the
standing committees and part OF the
committeeman We're announced.
Following this announcement the
special committees on reduced repre-
sentation, West Point chapel, charters
of boards, digest. reprinting OF the
minutes. Sabbath Observance. and
boards of systematic benefcence re-
ported
The committee on reduced repre-
sentation reported alternative resolu-
tons, one making the number of com.
missioners 422 and the other 800. The
former number is based on a ratio Of
one commissioner to Is ministers, and
the latter was one minister and one
elder for each 5000 communicates.
John F. Patterson. Orange. N. j.. is
chairman of the committee
The West Point chapel committee
reported that notwithstanding opposi-
ton, the Catholics have been permitted ,
to erect chapel at West Point.
James Yeareavil. chairman OF the
Sabbath observance committee, pre-
scented memorial on Sabbath observ-
ance and resolutions calling for In
creased respect for the day and enact
ment of Sunday laws.
The reports of the boards and COM
mittees were presented
The board of foreign missions. in
their report. said: The transfer II
the Philippine Islands to the United
States opened new field for Chris
tian missions. The board had prepar-
ed for this event by conference with
other missionary agencies, that there
might be no wasteful competition In
the new fields, and by Offering to re-
ceive any contributions which might
be made for mission. Nearly $lO.-
600 has been received for this purpose.
and two missionaries sent to Manila.
Other missionaries will soon be sent.
The special funds so generously pro-
vided has enabled the board to take up
this work without interfering with the
support of the older missions.
"The general ferment in China led to
such an openness to the gospel as has
never been known there and the bap-
tisms in our missions were 1.41s, az
compared with s3S the previous year.
The vastest empire of the earth is
shaking and moving at last. In
Korea the results OF missions has been
even more manifest. The members re-
ceived number 1853 and more than 81
600 catechumens have been enrolled.
In the Pyeng Yang field alone the peo-
pie have built during the year forty
four churches. Yet this mission was
lot established until 1885, and five
years ago the total church member
ship was 141; to-day it Is 2,079. In
Korea, as in China, Christianity Is ex-
erting a mighty influence on social life
and political institutions as well,
which has already issued In q roya.
proclamation of religious liberty.
"The board rejoices to report that
the year ends as 1t began without any
deficit. The receipts for the year have
been ss63,743, as compared with SSH
81 for the year 1s97-'9s, the latter In
Guiding tie contribution for the defect
Of 1s96'97. The board has felt con-
strained In making the appropriation
for the fiscal year 1s99-1900 to limit
the budget TO sS25.000. With the hope
that enlarged contributions from the
church during the year will enable
it to add to this amount. This iss
100000 less than the appropriations
six years ago"
The report OF the treasurer showed
that offerings had been received from
4,753 churches and that no direct aid
had come from 2,647 churches. None
Of the current contributions to the
boards had been used to make up any
part Of the deficit OF the Presbyterian
building.
The report of the auditor showed
that the current and invested assets
amount to s1.7sS.2lo. and the liabilities
to s1,320,212. the apparent surplus,
s4,437 however, may be required to
close some Of the outstanding mission
balances.
The report OF the board Of home mis-
sions was In substance: The total
number Of ministers employed was
alp. Of whom 1872 were under the
charge Of the synods OF eight States
and independent Of the board. The
synods expended sf25.3s5 in their sup
port, and the board seS5.454 ON field
work. The board began the year with
a debt Of s1s7.S3s; the total contribu-
tions were $S56.9O6 so the board had
no debt to show. Besides the 1880
ministers the board had under It's
charge BAT teachers in III schools with
S.4l1 pupils: in the Sabbath schools
there we're 1os teachers and TAI
scholars. The conversions reported
were 100. In the 1856 churches under