The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-05-28
Subject of Consideration in
Presbyterian Assembly.
SOME CHURCH SOCIETIES
Proposed Supervision by Pastors Is
Voted Down.
AS TO VACANCY AND SUPPLY
One Phase of the Question Settled
and the Rest Goes to the
Next Assembly.

Philadelphia, May 2S.-The Presbyterian
general assembly engaged in a lively de-
bate to-day over the approval of the min
utes. Rev Dr. J. D. Moffatt objected to
the phraseology of the resolution creating
the committee on revision. The resolu-
tion authorized the continuance Of DR..
Dickey's committee and DR.. Moffatt
claimed that this committee had been
dissolved when its report was adopted.
He therefore suggested that the records
should be made to show that the new
committee was appointed, even though its
membership should consist of the old com
mittee. The wording of the resolution
was, accordingly, altered. and the minutes
were adopted.
Then arose the question as to the chair
manship of the committee. DR.. Herrick
Johnson said in view of the fact that DR..
Dickey had acted as chairman Of the old
committee ii would be discourteous to Sc
lect new chairman. A motion was made
empowering the committee to elect its
own chairman, but this was defeated. DR..
James E. Mofatt of Cumberland, Nd,
moved the election of Moderator Min
ton as chairman Of the new committee on
Vacancy and supply.
The first order of the day was the re-
port Of the special committee on vacancy
and supply, read by Judge Robert n.
Wilson of this city. The report contains
plans for the employment of unemployed
ministers and the supply of vacant
churches. To carry out these plans the
adoption of the following resolutions is
recommended:
That all ecclesiastical changes shall be re-
ported Immediately upon their occurrence by
the stated clerk Of the presbytery to the stat
ed clerk OF the general assembly. who shall
issue a supplement to the minutes at regular
intervals containing a list of such changes.
These lists shall be furnished without charge
TO the chairmen of presbyterial and synodical
committees. to the clerks Of presbyteries and
synods. and, upon request, to unemployed
ministers and to the clerks OF sessions of va
cant congregations. That a standing com
mittee Of the assembly. consisting of five
ministers and fouN elders, is hereby consti-
tuted. to be known as the standing committee
on vacancy and supply. To this committee
shall be referred for consideration all matters
connected with the subjects of. unemployed
ministers and the supply Of vacant churches.
The committee, with the exception of
Rev. DR.. Robert F. Sample, chairman,
deemed ineXpedient the establishment of
a permanent committee of the assembly
to act as q bureau of information In the
matter Of vacancy and supply. DR..
Sample offered resolutions appointing
this permanent committee with a salary
Of a corresponding secretary. The portion
of the report in which all agreed was
adopted and the remainder referred back
to the committee to be reported upon at
the next assembly.
Young Peoples Work.
Dr. Roberts, stated clerk. as chairman.
read the report of the special committee
on young peoples work. The committee
expressed the opinion that the pastor
should be the recognized head of all de-
partments of congregational activity and
therefore also the head of young peo-
pies organizations. The committee also
presented a plan for the presbyterial and
synodical supervision or oversight" of
young peoples societies.
Much discussion was aroused over this
paragraph:
In so far as assembly oversight of the
societies is concerned, it is deemed best to
confne supervision at present to the estab-
lishment Of a standing committee on young
peoples work.
Many or the commissioners were OF the
opinion that the work Of young peoples
societies would be handicapped rather
than assisted by this plan of oversight.
J. Willis Baer, general secretary Of the
Christian Endeavor Society, said the re-
port was complicated and liable to misin-
depreciation. For that reason he would
not object to seeing 1t voted down, al
though he agreed with the committee that
young peoples organizations should be
under the guidance of the pastor. AS a
representative OF the Christian Endeavor
society he could make no objection to the
report as whole.
Rev. Dr.. ]. A. Vance of Chicago offered
as q substitute for the committees report
a resolution counseling young peoples
societies to seek counsel and guidance Of
the pastor and sessions in all their affairs.
DR.. Vance's was the only vote in favor of
the resolution.
The report was then taken up seriatum.
The resolutions authorizing the adoption of
a plan of oversight and establishing q
standing committee on young peoples
work were defeated. The remainder of the
report was adopted.
Rev DR.. S. J. Niccolb of st. Louis moved
20 reconsider the motion electing Modera-
tor Minton chairman OF the revision COM
mittee. DR.. Dickey requested the assem-
bly, to vote down the motion to reconsider.
He did not think the assembly meant to
cast g reflection on him, but he desired to
honor his successor. The motion was lost.
The assembly donated $4,000 to Laurel
Street church, Jacksonville, to reimburse
the congregation for losses sustained dur
ing the recent confagration.