New-York tribune., 1901-05-29
REVISION CAUSES A TILT.
PRESBYTERIAN HARMONY SOMEWHAT
DISTURBED

| oe-eiai Assembly adjourned this evening after
u 'he most interesting sessions in generation.
CFeeo revision came to the front twice this morn
| ING over the question of the chairmanshiD of the
| new committee. The commissioners still dis
| cusslns the harmonious action reached yesterday
and hope that the Church will approve the assem-
! hy's attitude in this important subject
| George E. Sterry. OF New York. an elder IN the
| Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church. of the
| leading laymen in the NewYork Presbytery. said
10 The Tribune correspondent: THE action OF the
| assembly seems TO me to be wise Ministers and
| elders from the West came to the assembly feel
Ing that their labors unnecessarily heavy be-
| cause of the words at present used in the
preston of the faith of the Church This appealed
very strongly to the commissioners from all parts
| of the country. and invoked effort to afford
what relief was possible. After much thought and
discussion the action taken issued. and it IS be-
| leved that IT will afford much comfort to the
Church" Other conservative men made similar
| marks
This morning commissioner moved that DR..
| Mnton, the moderator. be the chairman OF the re-
vision committee. Every supposed that
| Dr. Dckey was to lead the committee as he
| had the old one. Just why this impression no one
| knew. but that it did prevail apparent to
| nearly every one. The moderator resigned the
chair to Mr. Pitcairn. the vice-moderator, when
| this question arose. DIR. Baker. of Philadelphia,
moved a substitute that the committee when ap-
| pointed should select its own chairman The as
| sembly. however. agreed with the hrSC motion, ana
|
| knowedging the compliment which the Assembly
! had paid him, he paid his respects to the former
| committee. and said that as he understood the
question there had been no revision committee pre-
vous to the action of yesterday; that the former
committee was simply to inquire what should
| be done under the circumstances The present one
| is an entirely new committee. having for its mem
bers among others fourteen of the men who served
| last year the committee of inquiry
| Apparently the question of Greed revision was
/ aDfIXr
was not in the church when this action was taken
| When he learned what done, conferences were
| the order of the day until the hour OF ADJOURN
! ment. when DR.. Niccolls. of st. Louis backed by
DR. Johnson. of Chicago. endeavored to secure the
| reconsideration of the motion naming Dr. Minton
as chairman. Mr. Sterry reminded the assembly
| Of its action a year ago when. after the commit
| tee appointed. DIR. Dickey, as Moderator or
the assembly. added 10 it and made chair
man. This year Dr. Minton added TO the com
mittee. and, following the precedent of last year
has been made chairman. The bearing Of this
| action is very extensive" said Mr.. Sterry, as he
| took his seat.
REFLECTION OR AFFRONT.
| Or. James E. Mofratt of Cumberland. Md re-
| called to the assembly the fact that If personal
| feelings TO be considered those of DR.. Min
| ton should be forgotten; IT, as DR. Ntccolls had
| said the assembly had reflected upon DR.. Dickey
| 10 dsplace DR.. Minton now would be a virtual af-
front the Moderator.
| DIR. Dickey agreed with the last two speakers
and expressed his regret that he had not been in
| the house when the question was first suggested
| that he might have had the honor of naming DR.
| Minton as chairman Hearty applause greeted this
noble sentiment. and II Dr. Dickey is not the head
| of the committee he stands very close TO the
| members OF the assembly. DIR. Niccons and Dr.
! Johnson went to their hotels wondering what it
all meant and why they had been drawn into a
contest not at all their concern. placed seemingly
| in opposition 10 the new chairman of the commit
tee OF which they members, and then deserted
| by those whom they had seeked to help. DR.. Mic
| coils made some references TO an animal having
| fauen into n pit. which ne had supposed he was
asked to help out and then discovered that his
| sistance needed: he not talking for
| publication. and his comments not given YER
| batIm.
| STRONG WORDS ON TEMPERANCE.
| The assembly recommended plan bring
| cant churches and unemployed ministers together
| and statement OF principles for the guidance Of
| young peoples societies. The report OF the COM
mttee temperance urged ministers to call the
| attention OF Congressman in their districts to the
| necessity for the completion of legislation
| pending regarding the drink traffic in the Islands
| OF the Pacific The report also urges the govern
ment take effective action toward the suppress
sion OF liquor traffic all of our now posses
sions. These strong sentences are taken from. the
The question whether or not the United States
government COY should engage IN the saloon business
listed the interest Of mutitudes whose interest in
| temperance reform had been hitherto somewhat
| languid Much indignation was felt the trick
| whereby one of the public servants presumed to
| thwart the peoples will and nullify law. Congress
| was thoroughly advised of the wishes of the
| good people or the land that the army saloon
| should be banished, and the in the lower
| house pronounced But the final action by
| the Senate approached there deep soIiCitude
| II was plain that the entire influence of the War
| Department being eXerted the side of the
| brewers and their beer. The homes. the parents
| and the best interests of the soldier boys. how
| ever. found able defenders. on the side of the
| army saloon quoted minister's arch
DisiippS ana nlsloiS- over dSdiiiSI Ilese Sehat tor
Gallinger quoted. from a letter Just received, the
| testimony of your committee that almost unani-
nous vote had been given against the beer canteen
| by the General Assembly of the PRESBYTERIAN
] Church representing million communicates
| and approximately three million adherents: and
| he declared that the vast number of petitions and
| afforded indisputable proof that the churches IN
J general of the same mind The which
pdllSHeo tle peer was Il triumph lOT righteousness
1t affords convincing proof of the power of public
| sentiment. II shows Christian and women
that what they wish and with sufficient earnest
ness and inststence ask for in national legislation
| they usually in the long secure. Let those
| who excluded from the ballot box remember
| the power OF the mail box"
| The recommendations included these.
| we urge the ministers and laymen of this as
semhly and of our Church at large to call the at
need of the completion of the legislation already
begun for the protection from the drink traffic OF
the native Inhabitants of the islands of the South
| Pacific
I'VE earnestly request national authorities TO
| take effective action for the suppression and ex-
cluson of the traffic in intoxicants from our new
| possessions and dependencies
! After a brief debate the recommendations were
| adopted the report itself is simply the basis for
/ the recommends tlOnS.
| SECRET SOCIETY MEMBERS IN CHURCH.
THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY