The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-17
MINTON 70 Be- MODERATOR
THE PRESBYTERIAN GEN
ERAL ASSEMBLY
PEORIA PLAN WILL BE TRIED
Under Its Provisions Members of
Standing Committees Will BE Sc
Iected by Their Respective
Election Districts.

PHILADELPHIA May 16.-The Presby-
terrain general asse mbly, which began it's
18th meeting here today, disposed Of two
important matters during the afternoon
session. Rev. Henry Collins Minton, d
D.. of California was elected moderator.
and by an emphatic vote the assembly de-
cided to accept the Peoria plan Of
choosing standing committees, though an
effort was made to obviate the system.
Rev. DR.. Minton's only opponent was Rev.
George r. PurVes, d. D., LII. D., CT New
York, and of the 6lS votes cast DIR. Min
ton received 537 and Dr. Purvis 2I6
The opening session of the general as
sembly was called to order by Rev. DR..
Charles A. Dickey, the retiring mod '"ator,
at II o'clock, in Calvary Presbyterian
church, where all the business meetings
of the assembly will be held. OF the csc
commissioners there were hut few alb
sentees, and most of these will doubtless
arrive not later than tomorrow, having
been unavoidably delayed. The entire
nave of the church was occupied by tie
commissioners ana the CALLER es were
crowded with spectators, a large number
pi them women.
Calvary chapel was given over to the
various local committees, who established
headquarters in the building in order to
be within easy access of the visiting del
egates.
The registration of the commissioners
began at s o'clock this morning, and
from that hour until converting time DR..
w H. Roberts was kept busy receiving
credentials.
The opening hymn, II Love Thy
Church, O, Lord" was sung by the vast
assemblage of delegates and spectators.
Within the chancel with Rev. DR.. Dickey
were Rev. Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman, of
New York; Rev. DR.. Samuel ]. Nichols,
of st. Louis; Rev. DR.. J. Herrick John
son. Chicago; Rev. DR.. Roberts, stated
clerk; Rev DIR. William B. Noble. per-
manent clerk. and Rev. DR.. ]. S. Jones,
pastor of Calvary church. Rev. DR.. Mich
oils offered prayer, in which he made
touching reference to the Illness of Mrs.
Mckinley. Then came the sermon of
Rev. DR.. Dickey who spoke for two
hours on the coming of the kingdom of
Chrct. At the conclusion of his sermon
DR. Dickey constituted the assembly, the
commissioners standing during the invO-
cation Recess was then taken until
o'clock, when the roll of commissioners
was called and the organization of the
assembly effected.
Nominations for moderator were declar-
ed in order. and Rev DR.. w c. Roberts
of Danville KY, placed the name of
Rev DR.. Purvis before the assembly.
In making the nomination DR.. Roberts
spoke in the most glowing terms of the
qualifications and abilities of DR.. Purves.
The nomination was seconded by Rev. DR..
James e. MOffatt of Cumberland Md,
and Rev. DIR. Herrick Johnson, of Chica-
go. Rev DR.. Minton was placed in NOM
ination by the Rev. Hugh K. Walker,
d. D., of Los Angeles Cal. He asked
for DIR. MintOn's election on the grounds
of justice and fair play, claiming that
the West was entitled to the honor Of
possessing the moderator, as that high
Office has in the history of the Presby-
fpria11 ~, baI Nv ply
men west of the Mississippi
Rev. James E. Moffatt, of Washington
and Jefferson college, in seconding DIR.
Minton's nomination, said the time had
arrived when the general assembly should
be made a continental congress- Rev.
DR.. Edgar o. Hill, of Portland Ore, and
Hon. f. T. Roots, of Connorsville. Ind.
also seconded DR. Minton's nomination.
No other candidates were placed m
the field, and, the roll being called, the
vote resulted as above stated.
DIR. Minton was escorted to the pulpit
and made a brief address to the assem-
bly,
A motion by Rev. DR.. Nichols to non
concur in the Peoria plan" which
places the appointment of standing COM
mittees with the assembly instead of I'll
the moderator, and was adopted by the
st. Louis general assembly, elected
storm of protest. AS this is the first yea
of the plan the assembly decided to give
it a trial, and DR.. Nichols motion was
laid on the table.
BY the Peoria plan" the church is
divided into election districts each Of
which decides who of its members shall
be placed on the several comm ttees. The
commissioners select their own chairman
leaving the moderator without authority
IN the matter The committees will be
selected tomorrow and presented to the
assembly Saturday
Al the suggestion of the committee on
arrangements, the assembly decided to
meet daily at a. M, p. m. and s p. m.
There was no business session tonight
the commissioners participating in the
administration of the Lords supper at
Calvary church.