The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-25
philadelphia NEXT.
Meeting Place Of Presbyterian
Assembly in 1901.

the absence of a large number of COM
missioners at the meeting of the Pres |
byterian general assembly this morn
ing there was marked interest taken in
the debate for the third time, of the
Peoria overture. which was adopted by
a-Rote Of 257 to 229. and in the reports OF
the finance and narrative commlIteeS.
The commissioners expressed general
satisfaction concerning. the amount OF
important measures passed upon by the
assembly and the results attained, es-
pecially the peaceful solution OF the
swo0Dgansat tisdpec-
McGiffert case, the generally conceded
wise disposal of the creed revision and
the complicated and voluminous War
zaWlack case " h1ch had been before the
church courts three years. Philadelphia
was selected for the meeting place of
the assembly in 1901
AT the opening of the session Rev.
George B. Spalding, d. D., Ii. D., of
Syracuse, n. Y, delivered the invoca-
tion. The reading of the minutes was
concluded and approved, when the mod
orator, DR.. Dickey. arose and announc-
ed the first order of business the report
of the finance committee. Elder H R.
Elliott chairman of the committee then
read the report. The duty of the conf
mittee he said was to examine the ac
counts of the trustees Of the assembly
and the stated clerk. The amount OF
money handled by the financiers of the
assembly was shown to be 1857 $50. Sc. The
cash income was S40,419.76. The princl-
pal was increased $27. 500. 63 by three leg
acies. making the total amount receiY-
ed SOB 965.72.
The cash balance at the end of the
fiscal year was $77, ,4S443.
The work of the Stated Clerk Dr.Rob-
erts who also acts as treasurer of the
assembly was highly commended.
Stated Clerk Roberts announced that
the committee on the place of meeting
for the next general assembly and the
1TtnQi0fTEnpf the NIT Of
rangementS had selected Philadelphia
for the place of meeting. DR.. Dickey
was made chairman of the arrange
ment committee
At the reopening OF the discussion. or
| the Peoria overture which came before
| the assembly as the regular order OF
| business, Rev. DR.. Isaac A. Cornelison
created surprise by declining to resume
his address which was suddenly termi-
mated the day before
He requested that the time allotted to
| him be placed at the disposal of the
commissioners and suggested that Dr.
! Herrick johnson speak on the PROPOSE
| tiOn. This was objected to and the
moderator called Col. James M Rice,
the author of the Peoria overture to the
platform.
| Coz. Rice's remarks were along the
same lines as We're followed by DR. Cor
| nelson. His aim was to show that the
overture was not too complex and would
not become imperative because of this
| fact.
At the close of Col. .Rfce's address con-
| fusion prevailed in the assembly over
an extension of time for further discus
| sion which was soon dispelled by the
firm stand of the moderator and the en-
tanBleJnent was Strengthened out by
permitting DR.. Herrick Johnson of Chi
| cago to occupy the floor Is minutes to
| speak in favor of the overture to be fol-
lowed by DR.. Radcliffe. who led the op-
position.
DR.. Johnson asserted that there was
no political bias in the overture. AS he
| proceeded the debate became heated,
and his declaration that some synods
| were unrepreSented on the standing
committees called the moderator and
the stated clerk from their chairs
DR.. Dicl1ey said if a synod was not
represented, DR. Johnson was as much
| at fault as he, being one of his advisors.
The stated clerk said every synod was
represented on the committees.
DR. Johnson declared the experiment
was q good one, and the assembly could
afford to experiment because it would
| remove the reproach which is already
upon the assembly.
Rev. Dr. Wallace Radcliffe continue
/ the interesting discussion, addressed the
assembly against the overture. lie
spoke strongly against the methods OF
its promoters. He denounced the 30
litical idea embraced in the overture
and said it would fill the general as
sembly with the air and spirit of poll
ing wards. and alluded to possible whis-
perings against candidates and gerry
Wandering in the direction of election
districts.
The vote was taken amid much con
fusion. Time had been extended until
nearly an hour had been consumed in g
vigorous but not acrimonious debate. A
motion to lay the whole matter on The
table was opposed with cries Of mo,
and was lost At this point DR.. Rob.
erts. the stated clerk, arose and de
nounced the idea of abuse of power
and defended the present and past mod
orators against all allegations.
The vote was then taken on thi
amendment or the Peoria overture. Thl
vote stood 257 for the minority and %
| against it. giving a majority Of %.
DR.. Herrick johnson 1mmedlatel!
moved that a committee be appointed
to arrange election districts called 70
by the Peoria overture.
Rev. DIR. William Covert made the re
port of the committee on narrative
which treated of the spiritual life of tn
entire Presbyterian church He sal
ehe chilling influence of mercantile lif
was encroaching on the spiritual life 0
the church. Other hindrances to re
l | lisious life were the lack of the famil
altar in the homes of the church; tn
: lack of trained teachers in Sabbat
= schools; the restlessness Of minister
: and churches, and limited contribution
| for church work.
/ The ministerial neurology of the Pres
byterian church was read by State
Clerk Roberts The names of decease
| ministers who passed away during tn
E year numbered 1913
4 The committee appointed to arrang
r the election districts provided for b
1 the Peoria overture was announced
, / The chairman is Rev. Hugh K Wake
/, D. D.. of the presbytery of Los Angeles
synod of California