Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-28
Presbyterian General Assembly Takes
Up Routine Work Today.
VACANCY End SUPPLY COMMITTEE
Lively Tilt Over the Election of
Committee Chairman.
YOUNG PEOPLES WORK

terian general assembly engaged in lively
de bate today over the approval Of the min
utes. Rev. DR.. D. j. Moffatt objected to the
phraseology of the resolution creating the
committee on revision. The resolution au-
thoriZed the continuance Of DR.. Dickey's
committee, and DR.. Moffatt claimed that
this committee had been dissolved when
their report was adopted. He therefore sug-
gested that the records be made to show
that a new committee was appointed even
though its membership should consist of the
old committee.
The wording of the resolution was ac-
cordingly 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 chairman of the old
committee, it would be discourteous to Sc
lect new chairman. A motion was made
empowering the committee to select their
own chairman, but this was defeated.
DR.. James E. Moffatt of Cumberland.
Md, stated that DR.. Dickey had been made
chairman of the last committee because Of
his office as moderator of the assembly. He
moved the election of Moderator Minton
as chairman of the new committee on re-
vision and the motion was carried.
Report of Special Committee.
The first order of the day was the report
of the special committee On vacancy and
supply, read by Judge Robert N. Wilson of
this city. The report contains plans eor
the employment of unemployed ministers
and the supply of vacant churches. TO
carry out these plans the adoption of the
following resolution is recommended:
That all ecclesiastical changes shall be
reported Immediately upon their occur
renee by the stated clerk of the presbytery
to the stated clerk of q
who shall issue a supplement to the min
utes at regular intervals containing list
of such changes. These lists shall be fur
nished without charge to the chairman 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 vacant congre-
cations.
THAT a standing committee of the as
sembly consisting of five ministers and four
elders is hereby constituted to be known
as the standing committee on vacancy and
supply. To this committee shall be re ferred
for consideration all matters connected
with the subjects Of unemployed minis
tiers and the supply of vacant churches
, The committee. with the exception Of
deemed inexpedient the establishment of a
permanent committee of the assembly to
act as bureau of information in the mat
ter of vacancy and supply Dr. Sample Of
fered resolutions appointing this perma-
nent committee, with salaried corre-
spending secretary. The portion of the re-
port in which all agreed was adopted and
the remainder referred back to the COM
mittee, to be reported upon at the next as
sembly.
Young Peoples Work.
Rev. DR.. Vance of Chicago offered the
following as substitute for the commit
tees report on young peoples work:
Resolved That we counsel our youn;,
DpOn1e'S SOciptv n consider he
tions of the assembly with reference to
them, and carefully seek counsel and gui-
dance Of the pastor and session in all their
affairs"
DR.. Vance was the only commissioner to
vote in favor of the resolution
AT the request Of DR.. Roberts the re-
port was taken up seriatim. The resolu-
tions authorizing the adoption of a plan of
oversight and establishing a standing COM
mittee on young peoples work were de-
feated. The remainder of the report was
adopted.
The first display Of personal feeling since
the assembly convened was manifested
when the Rev. DR.. S. J. Niccolls of St.
Louis moved to reconsider the motion
electing Moderator Minton chairman of the
revision committee. DR.. Niccolls said the
election of Dr. Minton was a severe ref1ec-
tion on the chairman Of the former com
mittee
DR.. Niccolls, that the members of the re-
vision committee be instructed to meet to-
morrow in the Witherspoon building and
elect their own chairman"
DIR. MOfatt's Point of Order.
Rev. DR.. E. J. Moffatt of Cumberland
Md, arose to a point Of order and stated
that DR.. Niccolls was not competent to
move reconsideration, as he was not pres
ent When the first motion was carried The
point was sustained by Vice Moderator
Pltca1rn, who had taken the chair when
the discussion began and Rev. W. D. Crock
etl OF canton, Pa, made the motion
rev. DR.. Herrick Johnson of Chicago in
speaking to the motion, said that in view of
the del1cacy of the situation he thought il
better to allow the committee to determine
who should be the chairman.
Dr Monatt said he must insist that the
revision committee is new committee hay-
ing no connection with the committee of
which DR.. Dickey was chairman
1t is the custom of the general assem-
bly,, said DR.. Moffatt, ito elect the moder-
ator eX officfo chairman of such a commit
tee and the selection of any other brother
would be an affront to the moderator"
Dr. D1ckey secured the floor and re-
quested the assembly to vote down the mo-
ton to reconsider. He did not think the
assembly meant to cast a reflection on him.
but he desired to honor his successor. The
motion was lost. The assembly donated
5000 to Laurel Street Church, JacksonyilIe
to reimburse the congregation for losses
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