New-York tribune., 1901-05-23
PRESBYTERIANS TO DEBATE
IN READINESS FOR DISCUSSION OF
CREED REVISION AT PHILADELPHIA.
MOVEMENT To HOLD MEETINGS IN AcAD-
ENVY OF MUSIC DEFEATED-MIsSloH-
AIRY LOSSES N CHINA.
tnY TELEGRAPH TO THE TEIBrNE-l

fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
Philadelphia. May 22-The eight boards OF 'e
Presbyterian Church having finished the review OF
their work the docket is clear for the revision
debate. which begins tomorrow morning ana VIII
last. by order OF General Assembly, untll IL u
finished So great is the interest manifested IN 'iie
discussion and many persons have signineu -
intention OF coming Philadelphia 10 near lne m u
bate. which will probably occupy two days IL iio'
more that attempt was made this aileiHo ~ ~
hold the sessions OF the assembly in the AcaoehlS
OF Music until the question is setteo' "
Louis Wagner, of this city. voiced the OPINION Vi
many persons to-day when he made motion ask
ing for the transfer OF the place OF meeting he
referred 10 the suggestion that the discussion OF
creed revision too solemn a question 10 take
place public hall. but he said that II the meet
ines became spectacular it had been hnted they
would be- would be the fault OF the assembly
and not the place in which it meets.
DR.. Charles A. Dckey. chairman of the revision
committee. issue with his brother declaring
that I'm his opinion il would be fatal mistake for
the assembly TO go into hail crafty the curl
osity OF the public. IF / had my way added DR..
Dickey 7 would have a smaller church than the
present one. where just the jury could be accom-
modated. If you find a larger church. very
well but don't into public hall with this ques-
tion. We here speak to the galleries
We are not here TO talk for the newspapers and
have them flood the world with the news that the
Presbyterian Church is the verge of a great
division. DO not. pray you. vote TO hold these
meetings in a public hail.
The order Of the day having arrived General
Wagner's motion not submitted TO the house
and the struggle for seats will begin at an early
hour tomorrow. Ordinarily the prayer meeting
is not very large but the leader tomorrow will
have q full house
Two topics CT srecial interest to-day were for
eign missions and the Presbyterian Building in
New-York The addresses Of Robert f. Speer and
DR.. Richard S Holmes viii long be remembered.
The church was packed this morning, scores of
persons standing hour and half before Mr..
Speer rose 10 speak and during the forty-fve min
that he occupied the floor. Not a person
moved during that time. the thrilling story of
Christian work in heather lands narrated.
With burning zeal the young secretary held the
great audience spellbound Not with brilliant
rhetoric but with dead earnestness he moved
strong men to tears and the entire audience ap-
plauded again and again he pictured the stand
taken by missionaries in defence OF those COM
mitted TO their told of the martyrs in
China ascending 10 their rewards through the
flames and the tortures inflicted by those to whose
welfare they had devoted their lives. People
not saying tonight What beautiful oration!''
but I'VE must make forward movement for for
egn missions
Mr. speer was tender in his references 10 the
death Of DR.. John c. Lowrie, long the secretary
of the board and DR. Babcock. "the disciple whom
Jesus loved" The references TO the Presbyterian
missionaries murdered in China nearly all of
whom went from Pennsylvania received amid
OF them as having been murdered. but he gave
the last glimpse which the Chinese Christian had
OF one Of them he looked through the flames
a ano saw MI simeox holding child In either hand
refusing to deny Christ sounded like a chapter
from the book OF the early martyrs whitening
were the words with which Mr. Specr referred 10
the Tenomous and malicious criticism poured upon
the missionaries, not always by who id il with
malicious spirit, but often through ignorance or
thoushtlessness The only smile produced by the
sault which the critics had taken in regard to
ks riaG sarl-- TN
them boorish and i'll trained men; suddenly they
nnd that they are crafty and designing, and the
plant that the missionaries retained their
Christian ideas and did conform themselves at
criticised for conforming themselves to the Gus
toms OF the people Ihey are accused of violating
iefs. anu SU''''' O'ref mat
II do not hold brief to defend Dr. Ament." said
Mr Spear. hui don't believe that there is just
man in this assembly, who, left he was with
WIDOWS and orphans to care for would not have
done the same things that he did (4earty APP
pauseo But. whatever may be true of any agent
OF any other denomination. challenge you find
any paper. true false, complaining against a
single Presbyterian missionary. Formerly the
ihlssonarles We're termed harmless and innocent
roos' suddenly I G they become pernicious and wicked
eekn. Let me quote from a letter sent 10 by
Captain A. 7. Mahan bearing on this point: AS
enity il IS to be expected that he that is not for
ShI1st VII be against Eim-a pitiful condition. but
nevitable. Nothing more demonstrates the agency
% o. persona ae.n than the attitude of non-Chris
The brother-n-law OF Minister WI was quoted as
oeiending the missionaries in China. declaring that
been let alone 10 do their work the troubles would
never nave broken out a letter was also read
tyrs. who said: 'The bitterest part Of our trial
was the faithess reproaches Of fellow Christians
uabe lives My soul literally torn with an
gnissh by such words They seemed to reflect such
DR.. Holmes said that the debts on the Presby-
from 81 2sOee0 to $4,000 and this he expects to
raise before winter.