Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-05-30


Philadelphia, May 29-At to-day's
session of the general session OF the
United Presbyterian Church the report
of the Board of Home Missions was
adopted, and the report of the Board
OF Foreign Missions was read and dis
cussed. The question of acting upon
the memorial of the Chicago presby-
terry, asking for the repeal Of the sec
ton OF the Westminster confession
which prohibits marriage with a de-
ceased wife's sister, was brought UP,
but postponed for a future discussion.
The resignation of DR.. Owens as cor
responding secretary of the Board of
Missions was accepted, and a resolu-
ton was adopted requesting him to
write a history of the Board. DR..
Owens, in discussing the report of the
Board, said it was not gratifying, ac-
cording to the figures, but they have
increased some, and if it had not been
for this increase, the church, as whole
would have shown a decrease.
The memorial presented at the last
Assembly, asking that the President
appoint a resident missionary at the
Warm Spring reservation, in Oregon,
was discussed and no further action
will be taken.
With reference to the use Of tobacco
being sinful and inconsistent with the
Christian profession, which was sent
by the last assembly to the Presbyter-
les, the Committee on Bills and Over
lures to-day reported that the vote was
eleven to one in favor of taking no ac-
! D+A
eight to four in favor OF similar nom
action in the matter of the prohibition
of its use by students.
Another overture requiring church
members to promise, systematic and
proportionate contributions was voted
down unanimously by the Presbyter-
les.
The afternoon session was devoted
to the reports of the committees on
foreign missions and women's work
in church extension.
The report of foreign missions was
presented by the Rev. J. G. Carson, of
Xenia, o. The report showed such a
promising condition of the foreign mis-
sions for continued progress that the
assembly voted TO increase the appor-
tionment of 1000 to Egypt to $685.
goo, and the apportionment for the
work in India was increased $4,000, to
500, 600.
DR.. w. w Barr, speaking of the re-
port, said that 1877 missionaries had
been sent to foreign fields since that
work was begun. DR.. Barr recently
returned from the Egyptian missions,
and speaking of the work there, said
hot ha nf Jo ~ 10,
forces in the Soudan had opened a
territory containing 100000 of peo-
pie to Christianity.
DR.. J. P. White stated that in the
Egyptian missions sustained by the
United Presbyterian church there are
twelve thousand persons in the
schools, twelve thousand in churches,
and two thousand native Christian
workers are being sent into the homes
to carry on the work.
The report of women's work show
ed that there are 954 missionary socie-
ties, with a total membership of %
T07. During the past year $50, 1873 was
contributed and s52,519 was sent to
missions, leaving a balance of S14.636
with which to begin the work of the
ensuing year.
DR.. j. A. Grier, president of Allegh-
eny Seminary, addressed the assembly
tonight on Missions OF the United
Presbyterian Church."
The committee having in charge the
memorial of the Chicago Presbytery
asking for the repeal Of that section
of the Westminster confession which
prohibits marriage with a deceased
wife's sister. held a meeting late to-
night and decided not to make a re-
port on the subject to the Assembly
This action of the committee will pre-
vent discussion on the subject during
the present Assembly.
The committee on bills and overtures
tonight recommended and the General
Assembly adopted the memorial of the
Southern Illinois Presbytery in regard
TO the secret societies. This provides
Tor the appointment of committee
composed of one member from each
Synod to revise article XIV, which pro-
hibits members of oath-bound secret
societies from becoming members of
the denomination. and further to say
whether this should prevent members
of all secret organizations from joining
the church on which there is now such
diversity Of nDipion