Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-06
GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO MEET.
Presbyterian Supreme Body to As
semble in May.

semble in May.
The general assembly of the Presbyterian
Church in the United States of America, SO
called in order to distinguish the body from
the southern assembly of the Presbyterian
Church in the United States, the southern
branch. will be held in ST. Louis, Mo-, be-
ginning the third Thursday in May and
continuing until all the business for which
it is called together is completed. The SEES
sion will be opened with q sermon by the
retiring moderator Rev. Robert F. Sample
of Philadelphia.
The general assembly will have about COG
members. and in the body the presbytery
of Washington city will have two minister
ial and two lay commissioners. These lat
ter will be elected at the meeting of the
presbytery in April.
Among the items of business which will
come before the assembly will be an over
ture on judicial commissioners, to which
all judicial cases may be sent. The object
of the overture is TO authorize the general
assembly, synods and presbyteries to ap-
point judicial commissions for their re-
spective bodies.
The committee appointed at the meeting
of the general assembly last year to devise
some plan by which unemployed ministers
may be brought into active service In con-
nection with the churches will also submit
their report.
The celebrated McGiffert case, which it
has been generally supposed was settled
last year, will, 1t is expected, again occupy
the attention of the general assembly at its
next meeting. AS heretofore stated in The
Star, the assembly condemned DIR. Nc
Gifferts book, entitled "A History of Chris
tianity in the Apostolic Age" as teaching
doctrines in conflict with the Holy Scrip
lures and the confession of faith of the
Presbyterian Church. and referred the case
to the presbytery of New York, of which
T0r Too; to
position as in its judgment the peace of the
church and purity of Doctrine might re-
quire. The assembly at its meeting in 1888
counseled DR.. McGiffert to reconsider the
questionable views set forth in mis- book, and
If he could not conform his views to the
standards of the Presbyterian Church TO
peaceably withdraw from the Presby terian
ministry.
assembly. the presbytery of New York,
during the early part of this month held
conference with DR.. McGiffert. In the
course of the interview the members of the
presbytery condemned the teachings of the
formers books, but failed to induce him to
withdraw from the church. Upon a vote
being taken it was decided by large ma
jority that the presbytery would have
nothing further to do with the matter
The minority of the presbytery not sat
isfied with this action, at a recent meeting
again preferred formal charges against the
alleged offending minister. The charges,
together with a number of specifications
were referred to the next meeting of the
presbytery, to be held early next month.
1t is believed here that the recently made
accusation will not be entertained and 1t
is regarded as certain that the losing side
will take an appeal to the general assem-
bly,.
The appeal of Mr.. N. Mccullough of this
city, which has been already twice before
the general assembly, twice before the
synod of Baltimore, and once before the
presbytery of Washington city, will again
be before the first-named body at its next
meeting. Mr.. Mccullough is not satisfied
with the decision of any of the church
courts thus far rendered, and hopes to get
favorable verdict from the assembly
The commissioners from the presbytery to
the last assembly were Revs. Drs. Wallace
Radcliffe and T. Davis Richards and Messrs.
A. r. Quaiffe and Robert E. Harvey.