New-York tribune., 1900-05-21
PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.
PREPARING FOR BUSY WEEK OF
wORK-ToPICs TO BE DEBATED-To
CELEBRATE OPENING OF
NEW CENTURY.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]

TELEGRAPH TRIBUNE
St Louis. May 2G-Sunday Is a rest day in the
Presbyterian Assembly. but tomorrow morning the
work OF the committees VIII be resumed and the
regular order OF business taken up at o'clock
The McGsnert case viii have hearing before the
Judicial Committee. Of which the Rev. Dr. William
NcKlb5in. Of Cincinnati. is chairman. AS Dr. Nc.
EibDB IS the who successfully prosecuted the
case OF Dr.. Henry Preserved Smith II inti1nated
that Dr. Birch viii find a friend in him when he
presents his appeal before his committee but DR.
McKibbin is just he is conservative and it is
known by his friends that he will not swerve one
5ot or title from judicial attitude because OF his
own part IN former heresy trial
The question before the committee is the simple
Are the papers in order? II So the appeal
Il Or. Birch from the decision Of the Presbytery
OF New-York in disnnissing his charge against the
Union Seminary professor must be reported,
VIII doubtless be entertained. The fact that Dr.
AcGiHert is no longer a member Of the Presbvterv
and 81 his request and by its vote no longer a
Presbyterian minister does affect the situation
al Had he Joined body deemed hereticaI
since his disuisston by the Presbytery the Book
OF Discipline would allow the Assembly 10 place
him on trial, and If found guilty he could be con-
demned and even excommunicated from the Pres
6yterian Church. although no longer claiming ale
glance 70 that denomination.
Dr. George Alexander. OF the University Place
Church IN New-York viii defend the action Of the
Presbyrery before the Judicial Committee and II
possible prevent the appeal from being entertained
Should this be the result DR.. Birch himself can be
~ the Church by instituting & trial for heresy
which justified by the higher courts OF the
Church The attitude OF DR.. Birch in forcing the
issue before the Assembly IS therefore in part de-
fensiTe one; he must prove that he a
peace csturber or the risk of personal loss in
his own Presbytsry. At the same time 1t is fair
u add thai DR.. Birch has intention Of prosecut-
ing 6ead man; Il the Assembly jusrihes his action
hv enrertaiuing the appeal. will doubtless an
nounce that the brother deemed hereticaI is no
long or ne rOfl 1f rhs P-aShr ha
plea Of uolle prosequi and the famous heresy case
wll De end.
PERMANENT CLERK PROBLEM
Cr McKibben has another problem 10 wrestle
Ee Is the chairman OF the committee Of rep
-esentatives Of the Synod 10 decide what names
shan ae presented 10 the Assembly as candidates
fer The position OF Permanent Clerk. This com
mirtee has been termed facetiously, the commit
zee 70 Kill of unprornisng candidates" There was
never so large crop Of candidates for As
s=nhly Office. Pennsylvania and Nev-York have
Two each. Ohio. Missouri. California and other
States have settled upon a single TO repre-
sent each Synod. and each IS pushing him with
concentrated force. Last week of the condi-
dates for the moderatorship considered 100
young The argument against one OF the candidates
for the clerkship IS that he is too old. DR.. Her
rick Johnson, Of Chicago. has candidate; II he
had ne would probably fasten 10 who was IN
the middle Of the road far as age Is concerned.
Messrs McCleLand, Gemrnill. Smith Birch Mil
ler. Sw1ggett and Noble are among the names now
before the committee The first two are from
Pennsylvania. The second pair from New-York
with Missouri, Ohio and California following the
order named The committee may decide TO recon-
mend au OF the names, without mentioning the
qualifications of the several men, any OF whom
would make excellent clerk but not more than
one TWO OF them, If any. occupy that place of
dignity and honor in the Church which DR.. William
E. Moore, Of Columbus, filed when he chosen
70 that Office in 1884.
The revision overrures causing the sub-com-
ulir1ee OF the Committee Bills and Overtures
much anxious thought # the overtures were in
any sense concurrent.the problem would be
dihacult. hut what shall be done when there are
a ha-1 dozen more requests 10 be considered.
Il the question simply Shall the Westminster
Confession Of Faith be revised? the committee could
frame answer that could be acted on, but that
IS only one OF several suggestions that are con-
tained in the overtures.
COMMITTEE ON CONFESSION
7 looks at this writing # there would be q
committee constituted by the Assembly TO con-
slider the whole question. with power possibly to
report plan OF action 70 the Assembly
which shall seek unite far possible all sec
Tions Of the Church. to report what changes can
be made mediately-that is the pres
byter1es act upon them constitutionally-and
leave the question Of a general revision OF the
Creed or the preparation Of a new one be taken
ID later. The truth is that there is no general
dissatisfaction in the Presbyterian Church with
the Westminster Confession a whole. There
less than a half dozen sections in the entire
Confession that cause any serious disturbance and
one or Of these sections the change on1is-
sion Of single word phrase would settle al
the controversy that mas arisen the historical
Confession that IS threatened with storage IN a
dark room.
The churches OF the city were well filed this
morning, and numerous popular meetings were held
IN the afternoon. when the Of missions Sab
bath observances, Sunday schools etc, were pre-
sented by interesting speakers. Commissioners
occupied nearly all the Protestant pulpits. The
Moderator always breaches the first Sunday morn
ing after his election in the church in which the
assembly meets and DR.. Dickey had large
audience 10 listen 70 his earnest discourse. In the
closing part OF his sermon he said:
The evidence Of Christ dwelling in our hearts is
me comprehension and experience of the love OF
Christ that is so broad and long and high and
deep that II passeth knowledge. We have expert
ences that help grasp this great spiritua.
truth. We know how heart dwelling and love
work together. We love heart Cwellers. To
get cut OF the dampness and darkness Of a re-
-gOn that IS nothing except cold creed, nothing
save historic into the freshness and light and
love Is the struggle Of faith. The question Of the
departing Lord What do you believe
ne CID not ask them 10 repeat the Apostles Creed
even, bCt HIS question was, Lowest thou me? and
the promise Of the departing Lord was will come
unto You and make my abode with you. Paul
would have Us know al learn by faith and
: