Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1901-05-31
ITS LABoRs
Final Adjournment of the Presby-
terrain General Assembly
Closing Proceedings.

Philadelphia, Pa, May 29.-The one
hundred and thirteenth PRESBYTERIAN
general assembly was dissolved at
G:15 o'clock Tuesday night by Moder-
ator Minton, after. having been in SEES
sion for nearly two weeks, during
which time many matters of the ut
most Importance to the church were
considered. Chief among these was
the question regarding; the revision Of
the confession of faith. After a dis
cussion continuing nearly four days
this momentous subject was referred
to a special committee of Fl members,
who will make recommendations as to
the banner in which the creed should
be revised and present them to the
next general assembly, which meets in
New York.
Tuesday, for the first time since the
assembly convened, the equanimity of
the commissioners was disturbed by
the introduction of personalities. The
trouble occurred during the discussion
on the craftsmanship of the revision
committee. Rev. DIR. j. D. Moffat sug-
gested a change in the minutes of
Mondays session so the records would
show that d new committee had been
appointed to revise the creed regard
less of the old committee, of which
Rev. DR.. Charles A. Dickey, of this city,
was chairman. His suggestion was
adopted, and Rev. DR.. James +. Moi
fatt, OF Cumberland, Nd, moved that
Moderator Minton be elected chair
man of the committee. This incensed
the friends of DR.. Dickey, and al
though DR.. Moffatt's motion pre-
vailed, the subject was revived later in
the session by Rev. DR.. S. j. Niccolls,
of St. Louis. DR.. Niccolls moved to re-
consider the motion, but, as he had
not been present during the earlier de-
bate, he was declared out of order.
The motion to reconsider was then re-
newed by Rev. w. d. Crockett, of Can
ton, Pa, and many of the commission
ers participated in the debate that
followed. Realizing the delicacy of
his position, Moderator Minton re-
.Elinquished the chair to Vice Moder-
ator Pitcairn. The matter was finally
adjusted by DR.. Dickey, who advised
the assembly against reconsidering
the motion, saying he was confident
there had been no attempt to cast n
reflection upon him, and that the COM
missioners merely desired to honor
his successor as moderator. DIR.
Dickey's friends wanted the election
of the chairman to be made by the
1@ror,s%%oo - ,,Is IL '.
coded DR.. DicKey would have been re-
elected. The motion, however, was
! lost.
The closing. hours OF the assembly
were devoted to routine matters. The
report of the committee on temper
nee urged ministers to call the atten-
ton of congressman in their districts
to the necessity for the completion of
legislation now pending regarding the
drink traffic in the islands of the Pa
cific. The report also urges the gov
eminent to take effective action to-
wards the suppression of the liquor
traffic in all of our new possessions.
The committee on the Peoria plan of
electing standing committees APP
proved the system. In accordance with
the resolution offered by John H. Con-
verse, of this city, a special committee
on evangelistic work was appointed.
In d%issolving the assembly Moderator
Minton made an eloquent address, and
before the final benediction was pro-
nounced the commissioners sang the
beautiful hymn, "Blest Be the Tie That
Binds"