The sun., 1900-05-18
PRESBYTERIANS MEET.
Opening Session of the General AS
sembly at ST. Louis.
COMMISSIONER DROPS DEAD
Ohio Clergyman Attacked by Heart
Failure In the Church Where
Assembly Had Already
Begun Work.

st. Louis, May 1.-THE first day of the
Presbyterian general assembly was mark
ed by Il tragedy. Rev. William A. Ech-
OILS of Middlesport, o., a commissioner 10
the assembly representing the Athens
tOD preahytery, dropped dead in the
auditorium of the Washington and
Compton Avenue Presbyterian church,
where the assembly is meeting. He was
seated in Il pow in the rear of the church
when attacked with heart disease. Three
physicians tried to reHuscitate the minis
ter. but without avail
Dr. Echols had Just arrived. Before
going to the church he complained of
being i'll and consulted physician.
Nearly LOCO commissioners and dele
gates. representing all the northern and
western staics and territories and many
of those in the south, with the Synods of
Catawln, central and south China. north
China and India. are i'll attendance at
the assembly. Among them are many
eminent divines and prominent laymen.
Washington and Compton Avenue
Presbyterian church, in which the main
deliberations of the body are held, had
been decorated and fitted with every
thing that would minister to the comfort
and convenience of those in attendance.
Matters of great Importance are to be
considered during the present gathering
and it probably will be two weeks before
final adjournment is taken. Special in
terest is centered in the election of a sue
cessor to Rev. Robert +. Sample, ID. D.,
LII. D., moderator of the assembly.
Rev. DIR. William McKibbon of Cincin-
natl and Rev. DIR. Charles A. Dickey of
Philadelphia, two of the several candi-
dates for the position, have arrived.
Scarcely less interest rs being taken in
the selection of some one to take the Of
fee of permanent cferk of the assembly,
recently made vacant by the death of
Rev. DIR. William e. Moore of Column
bus, o., who filled the position for Is
years. There are eight or ten candidates
for the position of permanent clerk. New
York will present the name of Rev. DR..
Il. Ralston Smith, stated clerk of the
Presbyterian synod of the Empire State.
Pennsylvania has two candidates-Rcv
DIR. b. q. Gimmei of Cresson and Rev.
DIR. Charles s. McClelland of Pittsburg
stated clerk of the synod of that city
Other candidates are Rev. DIR. Henry
Branch, stated clerk of the presbytery of
Baltimore; Rev Dr. Edward T. Swig-
gett, stated clerk of the synod of Ohio
md also stated clerk for the presbytery
of Cincinnati and Rev. John II. Miller
ID. d., who is the candidate Of the synod
of Missouri.
The Creed Agitation.
Great interest is taken in the agitation
for revision of the creed, which it is ex-
pected will come before the convention
The following are the sections in the
Westminster Confession of Faith to
which it is said exception is taken:
"Third. BY the decree of God, for the
manifestation of his glory, some men and
angels are predestined into everlasting
life and others foreordained to everlasting
death.
"Fourth.-These angels and men, thus
predestined and foreordained, are partic
ularly and unchangeably designed, and
their number is so certain and definite
that it cannot be either increased or di'.
minished.'
> A large number of reports were pre-
sented. including those of the board of
church erection, the board of education,
the board Of publication and Sabbath
school work. the board OF home missions.
the board of foreign missions, the per
manent committee on temperance and
the board OF missions for freedmen.
The foreign mission board reported
that it would close its fiscal year Mag 80
free from debt. The amount appropriat-
cd for tho year was 35,35L42. Funds
~-....:.r'eG: werc rs.;sed to paw all the sD-