New-York tribune., 1901-05-18
PRES SBITERIAN GREATNESS
WHAT CHURCH DID IN LAST CENTURY
AND EXPECTS TO DO IN PRESENT
ONE SET FORTH BEFORE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
[Br TELEGRAPH To THE rR1BuNE.I

the PRESBYTERIAN Church. and boundless are it's
opportunities An entire day has been given by
the General Assembly to reviewing the history of
the work accomplished in the century gone, and
of showing what may be achieved in the century
hand. At the morning session of the celebra-
tion held in the Academy of Music, addresses were
delivered by the Rev Drs Willis B. Craig. of Chi
cago and Henry c. McCook. of Philadelphia. In
the afternoon the same place. the speakers were
the Rev. Drs. Henry c. Minton, of San Francisco.
the new moderator of the assembly. and George
T. Purves of New-York, DR.. NIinton's opponent
yesterday, and Robert E. Speer, of the secre-
taries of the Board of Foreign Missions.
The evening session devoted to the work of
the twentieth century fund committee, whose re-
port presented and address by the Rev.
DIR. Samuel j. Niccolls, of ST. Louis.
DR.. Craig gave general review of the nineteenth
century. and Dr. McCook showed what progress
had been made by the Presbyterian Church during
that period. DIR. Mnton discussed The Divine
Purpose Developed in the Progress of Time DR..
Purves called attention to the problems of the
century while Mr. Speer had for his theme, THE
Speedy Bringing of the World Christ; the clos
ing address in the evening on the opportunity
and duty of the Presbyterian Church in the twen-
tieth century.
Interesting statements made in regard to
the funds raised. debts paid. endowments secured
and mortgages lifted through the efforts of the
committee having this work in hand. In the report
special mention made of the work of DR..
the year and DIR. Roberts. the stated clerk OF
the former 1t said:
1T has been OF the highest value to this work
that 1t has been forcbly presented by the mod
of the assembly in the leading cities OF the
land The committee desires record its gratitude
and the gratitude of the Church to him for his
nest and efficient advocacy of this cause" Con-
cerning Dr. Robertss work, the report said: The
gratitude of the committee and of the Church are
due the treasurer, the Rev. William H. Rob
erts d. D.. for the abundant and untirng labor
which he has bestowed without compensation upon
the interests involved in this fund The commit
tee OF which the Rev. Dr. Marcus A Brownson is
chairman. is of the opinion that not less than
$50 900 900 should be raised for fund they
believe that this can be pledged within year.
and therefore received permission to be continued
to prosecute the work already planned upon so
large a scale.
WHAT SETTLED MODERATORSHIP
The question of the dictatorship settled
by a decisive at the election yesterday. but
the commissioners still wondering how It turned
out as 1t did. Had a cyclone struck the hackers OF
DIR. Purves they could scarcely have been more
surprised than they were that he ran more than
sixty behind the from the West. If the
New-York surprised. much more are
those whose candidate the great prize. 1t is al
ways easy 10 explain and many explanations are
floating around. One is the effect that the hackers
Of DR. Purves erred in presenting him as the pas
tor of a rich church. and it is significant that he
secured relatively small number of the votes of
the elders. The speeches in favor of DR.. MintOn
also appealed to the lay element DR.. Dickey, in
discussing situation says that the sentiment OF
the assembly touched by the spirit of the Pa
cifc Coast that is making such brave fight for
Presbyterlanism against odds In his opinion this
consideration turned the election. Speaking of the
NewYork pastor. DR.. Dickey says:
No man more deserves any honor the Church
can bestow than DIR. Purves. His splendid work
is known and appreciated by the whole Church.
His appearance In any assembly, when the locality
plea could not be made 10 tell with the force with
which it told yesterday would assure his election
sembly will insist upon the recognition of his
ceptionaI service by making him moderator by
bfore the assembI Dr qPTV and I DIR may Nnton
ment regarding the Confession of Faith They are
things; both can be trusted
REVISION OF CONFESSION OF FAITH.
Tomorrow the revision question will up
with the report of the special committee. The
majority report has already been printed it recon-
mends that a committee be appointed by this as
sembly to prepare a brief summary of the reformed
faith, notsto be substitute for the Confession
and not to affect the terms of subscription but
rather to manifest and maintain the integrity of
the reformed faith and also to prepare amendments
TO nve chapters of the Confession of Faith. either
by modification of the text or by declaratory
statement The committee is unit regarding the
revision of the Confession in the manner described
thdt 1t shall in no way Impair the integrity he
system of the doctrine forth in the Confession
and taught in the Holy Scriptures but it is under
stood that minority of the committee a clergy
man and elder. will protest against the brief
statement suggested by the committee as they
believe II is liable to nearly all the objections which
lie against creed, and they will recommend
that the section OF the report calling for a sum
mary OF the doctrine held by the reformed church
sIlall be omitted. After the reports are read day
VIII be set for their consideration which will prob
aoy not be earlier than Wednesday Thursday
of next week
The pictures taken by The Tribune photographer
yesterday made a pleasant break in the proceed
IIlSS OF the afternoon. In speaking incident
Dr. Dckey, who was then in the chair as unodera-
tor, paid this tribute the work done by the
newspaper men:
- AT the request of the press through The New
1ork tribune, the General Assembly consented 10
1aVlng a hashhght picture taken. IL was a happy
INVERSION, ana contributed not little to the good
Ieehng that pervades the assembly. IL was nor
me vanity of the assembly that suggested this
picture; IL was evidence the cOqirTesv tba
assembly. The representatives of the nTAss 90
very anxious TO fairly reflect the assemble and
tney deserve TO be considered when they ask any
reasonable favors' '
WOMAN ELDER IN CUMBERLAND ASSEMBLY
West Point Miss. May 1.-THE Cumberland
presbyterian General Assembly reconyened this
morning Among the members is a Young
woman. Miss WANNA Wolsey who represents a
Litchheld, KY. presbytery ruling elder No
objection was made 10 her enrolment although the
procedure is unusual
telegram announcing the dangerous Illness OF
Mrs. Mckinley read, and message of symua-
thy ordered TO the President, tha
Sembly united in prayer for the recovery of the
distinguished patient
SUSPENDED Students TAKEN BACK.
Columbia University's six sophomores who were