Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-05-26

The Peoria Overture Adopted, but
the Question VIII Reappear-The
Greed Revision Committee Named.

Greed Revision Committee Named.
ST. LOUIS. Mo-, May 25.-The most
| important features of the session OF
the general assembly was the reap
pearance of the Peoria overture, which
was thought to have been given a rest
by adoption at the morning session,
and the appointment OF the creed re-
vision committee. One of the New
York commissioners offered two
amendments as substitutes to the Sec
tions of the Peoria overture which pro-
vide for the number of members of the
standing committee and the appoint
ment of chairmen. The substitutes
provide that an additional member
shall be on each committee and that
men of the committees. Action will
be taken on the amendments before
final adjournment of the assembly.
The greater part of the afternoon was
occupied by reports of committees.
Notwithstanding the absence of
large number of commissioners there
was marked interest taken in the de-
bate over the Peoria overture, which
was finally adopted by a vote of 257
to 229. Reports of the finance and mar
rative committees were presented.
Philadelphia was selected for the
meeting place of the assembly in 1901.
At the reopening of the discussion
on the Peoria overture, which came be-
fore the assembly as the regular order
of business, Rev. DR.. Cornelison created
a surprise by declining to resume his
address, which was suddenly termin-
ated the day before. He requested that
the time allotted to him be placed at
the disposal of the commissioners.
The moderator called upon Col. James
M. Rice, the author of the overture.
Col. Rice claimed that the present sys-
TEN inclined to an abuse of power. He
said the overture was not aimed at
anybody, but is a progressive feature
of Presbyterianism.
Dr. Herrick Johnson, of Chicago,
spoke in favor of the overture. He
asserted that there was no political
bias in the overture. His declaration
that some synods are unrepresented on
the standing committees called the
moderator and the stated clerk to their
feet.
DR.. Dickey said if a synod was not
represented Dr. Johnson was as much
at fault as he, being one of his advis-
ers. The stated clerk declared every
synod was represented on the commit
tees. DR.. Johnson maintained that the
assembly could afford to experiment
because it would remove the reproach
which is already upon the assembly.
After an acrimonious debate which
had lasted several hours, voting was
begun. A motion to lay the whole
matter on the table was lost. The
Peoria overture was then adopted by
vote OF 257 to 229.
Rev. Dr. VIM. c. Covert made the
report of the committee of narrative,
which treated of the spiritual life of
the entire Presbyterian church.
A neurological report was read,
showing that 123 ministers died during
the year.
A committee was then appointed to
arrange the election districts provided
for by the Peoria overture. Rev. Hugh
]. Walker, D. D., of the presbytery of
Los Angeles, Gala, was elected chair
man.
Rev. DR.. G. Lowrie, chairman of the
temperance committee, read the report
of the standing committee on temper
ance.
DR.. Lowrie set forth in his address
that the contributions of the church
for the prosecution of the work of the
committee had been only $1,465.S5, a
very small amount and altogether in
sfficient, considering the Importance of
the work.
During the discussion Rev. Hugh
Lamont, of the Presbytery of Puget
Sound, offered an amendment protest
ing against the existence of official per-
mission of liquor selling in the can
teens of the army of the United States
This caused a heated debate after
which DR.. Lamont amendment was
adopted.
The report of the standing committee
on theological seminaries was read by
Rev. DR.. David R. Keene. A decrease
of from two to fourteen students was
reported at nearly all the colleges.
The report was accepted and the
recommendation approved without
discussion.
Moderator Dickey named the follow
ing ministers and elders appointed on
the creed revision committee: Drs.
Herrick Johnson, Illinois; S. j. Mic
coils, Missouri; D. W. Fisher, Indiana;
George T. Stewart, New York; VIM.
McKibben, Pennsylvania Samuel P.
Shrecher, Ohio; Benjamin B. Warfield,
New Jersey; 5. w. Dana and Elders. D.
r. Moves. Minnesota: E. w. HUMPHREY.