The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-05-17
Presbyterian Assembly.

Philadelphia, Pa, May l7.--For the
first time in the hi tOry of the american
Presbyterian Church the highest honor
In the gift Of tho Church has been award =
ed to man from the Pacific SLOPE. BY
q surprisingly strong majority he One
Hundred and Thirteenth General Assem-.
bly, In Calvary Church, yesterday elected
Rev. Heury Collin Mintcn, OF san Fran
cisco, its Nj oderator. DIR. Minton had as
his only opponent Rev. George L. Purves,
OF New York, who had beeu considered
an almost certain winner, aud tho former
carried off ,he honor by vote OF 837 to 26I:
The successful. candidate Is professor OF
theology IN the san Francisco Theologic.
al Seminary.
Tho victory O! Dr.. MintOn was q sur
prise 10 even his friends. who had scarcely
hoped to overcome the New York candi-
date on the threshold OF his home, but the
result Of The election showed that strong
and even pathetic appeals for recognition
for tho West had had Lhe desired influence
on the members OF the Assembly. In the
preliminary electioneering the members
of the California synod held u caucus to
determine the respective streDg h OF Drs
MintOn and DinsmOre, who weGe rival
candidates from the e. ate. The vote
stood ~ to in favor Of DR.. Mintop. and
il wal. decided tu unanimously turn IN FOR
him. Rev. Dinsmore withdrawing from
tho contest
Rey. William c. Roberts, OF KentuckV.
presenter the name of DR.. Purves and
was strongly seconded by kevs. j. Il.
Moffatt, of Maryland, and Herriok John
son, OF Chicago They said they believed
DR.. Purves to be the logical successor of
DR. Dickey for many reasons, and though
they admitted that locality wa' factor
entitled 10 confederation In tho election
of a moderator, Other things being equal,
hut thev did N thiu L nthAr fhinva
equal.
The supporters OF Dr. Mutton had q
chance TO smother the ovation ACCORDED
to his rival when DR.. Hugh *. Walker,
Of Los Angeles, placed IN nomination tho
Californian. Dr. Walker refutcd evhry
argument for the election of the Eastern
candidate, and made an appeal. strong
and pathetic, for the recognition OF Wost.
ern Presby teriunism.
1t Is one thing o preach the Gospel In
Pittsburg, Baltimore and New York. he
declared, taking up tho arguments Of DIR.
Purves' flisnds, "but 1t is-ano,her thing
to preach it ON the Pacific coast against
the conflicting and atheistic sen ntimeats Of
tho frontier and to teach thu puro theology
OF Christ. New York can do without tho
Moderator. ShG has had 1t limo and tino
again. 1t is not tho Shing to strengthen
The strong. The thing to do is 20 strength
en- the weak and the Pacific coast is the
weakest line of the churcL's ran.parts."
President J. d. Moffut Of Washington
and jefferson College who had been
mentioned as IL possible modera or, warm
ly seconded tho sentiments of the Kew
Walke-. stuting that where the contest
was hottest there the greatest intellscts
we're developed "The battles of Chris
tendon are not fought In the east today,
declared DR.. Moffat. Its out in Cullfor-
mia, hore they have no statue laws recog
nzng the Sabbath; where they tax
churches Ike theatres and factories. that
tho war is waging. aud that is where Dr.
Minton has received the training"
Boh candidates were called on to vote.
D.. Puryes voting for Dr. Minton, and
tho latter voting for DR.. Purves, after
which they retired. The roll call resulted
in surprising show of strength for DR..
Minlon, and when his election was an
nounced the applause was general
Rows NotfaL and Walker were appoint
cd q committee 10 annornGe to DR.. Minton
his election, and DR.. DicK,.y at once vacut
cd the chair IN favor OF the new Moder
Rtor.
On behalf of tho Presby terian Board of
Publication, Judge Wilson presented
Moderator Minton with Il handsome gayel
made of wood OF the Old Publication
Building.
The excitement of tho election was over
| shadowed momentnrily when Rev. Samuel
| j. Niccolls of ct. Louis. moved to havo
| the Assembly not concur with Rule s,
adopted at the last AS As,embly, wb ich vests
tho appointment OF committees in the
| Assem- bly, Instead of wi h the Moderator,
A sYirioi debate followed, In which
! Rev, Herrick johnson. Of Chicago; Jas
81. Pollock, of Minneapolis, ant Henry
TssN. Lambrth opposed the motion. DR.,
Dlckey and General Louis Wagner sup
por cd DR.. Nccoll.. but finally Ephruim
! Banning, of Chicago suggested that it
was only fair to the last Assembly to
gIve tho rule trial, and he made motion
to lay over DR.. Niccolls motion indefinite
| ly. which was agreed to.
| The Moderator appointed Revs. Asher
B. Temple Geneva Calvin ID Wilson,
Dayton Harris &. Rice. Logansport, and
Charles Z. Thompson, temporary clerks
| Of the Assembly.