The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-05-29
Last Session of General Assembly
at Philadelphia Marked by
Personal Feeling.
HARMONY WAS SOON RESTORED
Friends of Doctor Dickey Consid-
cred Doctor Minton's Appoint
ment Slight to Former
Moderator.

Philadelphia. May 2s.-The one hundred
and thirteenth Presbyterian General As
sembly was dissolved at 6:15 o'clock by
moderator Minton. after having been in ses-
Sion nearly two weeks. during which time
many matters Of the utmost Importance to
the church were considered Chief among
these was the question regarding the revi-
sion Of the Confession Of Faith. After a dis
cussion continuing nearly four days this
momentous subject was referred to a special
committee. who Will make recommendations
as to the manner in which the creed should
be revised and present them to the next
general assembly. which meets in New
York.
To-day. for the first time since the as
senhly convened. the equanimity of the
commissioners was disturbed by the intro
ductfon Of personalities. The trouble oc-
Cured during the discussion on the chair
manship Of tho Revision Committee.
The Reverend Doctor ]. d. Moffat sug-
gested change in the minutes of yester-
days session so the records would show
| that a new committee had been appointed
to revise the creed regardless Of the old
committee. of which the Reverend Doctor
Charles A. Dickey was chairman. His
suggestion was adopted and the Reverend
Doctor James E. Moffatt Of Cumberland,
Md. moved that Moderator Mintop be elect
ed chairman of the committee
Doctor Niccol1s Revived Question.
This incensed the friends of Doctor
Dickey. and, although Doctor Monats mo-
tion prevailed, the subject revived
| later in the session by the Reverend Doctor
s. J. Niccolls of st. Louis
Doctor Niccolls moved to reconsider the
motion. but as he had not been present
during the earlier debate. he was declared
out of order. The motion to reconsider was
then renewed by the Reverend w. d.
Crockett Of Canton. Pa, and many Of the
commissioners participated in the debate
that followed.
Realizing the delicacy of his position,
Moderator Nfinton relinquished the chair to
| Vice Moderator Pitcairn.
The matter was finally adjusted by Doctor
Dickey, who advised the assembly against
| reconsidering the motion, saying he was
| confident there had been no attempt TO
cast any reflection upon him. but that the
commissioners merely desired to honor his
! successor as moderator.
Rector Dickey's Friends Lost.
Doctor Dckey's friends wanted the cleo
ton OF the chairman to be made by the
committee. in which event, it is conceded,
Doctor Dickey would have been reelected.
The motion, however, was lost.
There are still six memhers of the Re-
vision Committee to be appointed but
Moderator Minton said to-day that he had
| not yet made any selection.
The closing hours of the assembly were
! devoted to routine matters. The report OF
| the Committee on Temperance urged min
listers to call the attention of Congressman
m their district to the necessity for the
completion of legislation now pending re-
garding the drink traffic in the islands OF
| the Pacific.
The report also urges the Government to
take effective action toward the suppression
OF the liquor traffic in all of our new pos.
| session.
| The committee on the Peoria plan OF Sc.
iecung standing committees approved the
| system.
In accordance with the resolution offered
yesterday by John H. Converse of this city
q special Committee on Evangelistic Work
was appointed.
IN ussoiving the assembly, Moderate,
Nfinton made an eloquent address. and he
fore the fnal benediction was proDouncet
the commissioners sang the beautiful hymr
"Blest be the tie that binds"