New-York tribune., 1900-05-17
PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.
PREPARING FOR THE GENERAL CON
VENTION TO OPEN IN ST. LOUIS To
DAY-MATTERS TO COME UP.
fpY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE !

St. Louis. May 16.-Every train from every d.
rection to-day brought commissioners to the
Presbyterian General Assembly, which Is TO
begin its sessions in this city tomorrow morn
ing Rumors of strikes and strikers had been
received by the visitors before they left their
homes but far the strangers are con-
cerned no one OF them Will have any tale Of
to tell when he returns home. The only
evidence Of any trouble Is the presence Of two
policemen on each car and apparently they are
riding there for their health. Had the cars been
tied up the Committee of Arrangements would
have conveyed the commissioners in omnl-
buses specially chartered for the purpose.
The preliminary foreign missions conference
attracted goodly company at its sessions
to-day. This annual meeting is a tribute TO the
fidelity and generalship Of the Rev. DR.. Thomas
Marshall of Chicago the field secretary of the
Foreign Board of Missions. The Rev. Dr. A. W.
Halsey, of New-York. is to present the cause
OF foreign missions next week, and is therefore
the presiding officer of the Conference. which
gives high spiritual tone to the more formal
meetings Of the Assembly.
QUESTION OF MODERATOR.
In an experience running fourteen AS
semblies. it har never been difficult to pick
the winner in the race for Moderator as it is
tonight. Pennsylvania has two men, both of
whom are determined to run, with the result
that both will probably be defeated.
Indiana has favorite son. backed by THE
Interior of Chicago. Ohio, never backward in
putting forward able men for places of great
responsibility, has candidate, and the Central
West has one Some of these men say frankly
that they are in the hands of their friends, and
others say as frankly that they want the office
and If their friends fulfil their pledges to them
they will get it.
1t looks tonight as if Drs. Dickey McEwan,
McKibbon Fisher and Kerr would all rum with
the result that will be elected on the first
ballot; then the lowest two or three will with
draw in favor of those who had the highest
votes and a second ballot will settle the ques-
tion
The permanent clerkship is complicated
than even the Moderatorship, there being nearly
a score of Commissioners suggested for that
office which is chiefly honorary. the whole
vice requiring about two weeks in which to per-
form it; the salary at present attached to the
office is $780, but it will probably be reduced to
it's normal figure, $500. A suggestion. to
many, was made to-day by able to speak
with some authority, that it might be well to
have such proceedings needed for the
minutes taken stenographcally. under the d
rection of the Stated Clerk. This will doubtless
be advanced when the question of salary comes
up. If it were brought forward before the office
was filled half of the candidates would doubt
less withdraw their names. along with fitness
for the office goes the willingness to have that
fitness remunerative
REVISION AGITATION.
The so-called widespread agitation for
vision of the Westminster standards has not ma
teralzed so much as it's advocates have led the
public to believe the case. There are to-
night overtures from twenty-five Presbyteries
referring to this question. About one-half of
them ask for a new creed and the other half for
a revision of the old one. Under the constitution
the suggestion of d New-York Commissioner
may be adopted. to lay the matter on the table
indefinitely. The General Assembly is not re-
quired by it's constitution to send down an over
Presbyteres unite in asking for It, AS there are
232 Presbyteries in the Assembly at present no
action need be taken unless more than seventy
five Presbyteres ask for II.
1t seems probable that a special committee
will be appointed to consider the whole question
of creed revision or new creed IN the year,
and report to the next Assembly. This will
satisfy those who have overtures at the AS
semby, and will prevent hasty action on mat
ter fraught with dangers which the average
clergyman or elder. for that matter, has not
considered, viz. the question of carrying the
matter to the civil courts: Resort to Caesar was
threatening when the Union Seminary withdrew
from General Assembly control, but the threat
was not carried out. 1t is said, however. that If
the Confession was shelved by the Church
litigation would follow almost instantly. 1t is
not feared that this action will be necessary.
The question of biennial Assemblies or smaller
representation in annual Assemblies is likely to
come up in some form This year, although an
attempt last year TO keep it down. or, rather, to
reduce it, was voted down. One suggestion of
the report a year ago would reduce the body to
422 Commissioners and the other to 300; at
present there are more than six hundred Com
mssoners.
Dr. Sample, of New-York, the retiring Moder
ator is resting tonight In preparation for his
task of delivering the sermon tomorrow morn
ing. 1t is expected that he will say something
then about union with the Southern Church
which may lead to the return or the Southern
brethren to the mother Church.