The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-26

ceding days. He maintained that tii6. Assembly had broken all preceden1s m having elected a Moderator who 6id not know the difference between tho new and old school of theology except what he knew from history. He war q child, he said. of the reunited cAuDcn. For himself, he thought the nsovsnentl as outlined in recommendataon B r fraught with the utmost danger. 1heI errors in the confession of faith wero' only incidental. and he believed tho minority report offered the relief. He was afraid of the idea of compromise. There was a time for compromise. but he would earnestly try to set what ho' wanted before he would turn to - proposition to compromise.
 pr. Herricl< Johnson. Rev. Dr. Herrick Johnson analysed the confession of faith and showed tho benefits to be derived from short creed containing the essentials of tho Westminster doctrine. He said:
 "The confession contains statemeufsi not essential to our system of doctrine. The form of subscription proves this. We receive the confession as contain- ing the system of doctrine. not as the doctrine itself. Specific confession statements prove the se ne point. Take the oath clause. A man believes or not without affecting his orthodoxy. don't believe it. There is only one. We know what that is. Wilful desertion is not sufficient ground for divorce.I We may believe this and our stand-' ing as orthodox Presbyterians is not questioned.
 Dr. George T. Purves of New York followed Dr. Johnson, after which . vote on the minority. report was taken. The motion as originally put was tol substitute the minority report for the report of the majority, but by agree ment of both sides, the motion was changed so that the vote would be on the question of striking out recon-' mendation B. The motion to strike out the recommendation was lost by a vote of 2s4 to 27t. sS. Joseph H. Vance Of Chicago moved the previous question on the original motion n-the adoption of the majority report in its entirety, but after the Moderator said he hoped the matter would be laid over till Monday. the motion to move the previous question. was overwhelmingly defeated.
 As the Assembly had agreed te eA= journ at noon today to accept an in~ vitation to visit Princeton University adjournment was taken until 9 a. m. Monday.
 Before the Assembly adjourned, the Moderator announced that J. D. Mef- fatt. President of Washington and Jefferson University. would have the floor at the opening of debate Monday. as he wished to offer an amendment to the motion to adopt the majority report.
 When Dr. Moffatt was asked what the nature of his amendment was. he said: T don't know what 1t will be. but in view of the divided vote, I want to think and consider something thas we can send to the church with greater unanimity."
 The commissioners left for Princeton on a special train at 1:4o p. m.
 Little Rock Assembly Adjourns.
 Little Rock. Ark. May 25.--After adopting the usual resolutions of thanks, the forty-first session of the Presbyterian General Assemly adjourn- ed sine die at 12:SO p. m. today. Al majority of the commissioners left on the afternoon trains. At this morn- ing's session the unfinished business of the session was disposed of. Rev. F. R. Beattie made a report on tine commits tee on publication, showing that the publishing plant is worth about $60.000. The hymn book. he reported, Is now ready. printed and will soon be on sale. Dr. s. M. Smith, presented a protest against the action of the Assembly In declining the invitation to participate in Confederate memorial exercises. but after the original resolution was read, he withdrew his protest.
 The Assembly adopted the report of the Committee on Sabbth Observance. urging the people to remember the Sabbath day and keep it Holy. and that all ministers preach on Sabbath observ- ance at least once a year.
 In response to an overture from the Montgomery Presbytery as to the validity of ordaining a probationer by two ministers and one elder, the As- sembly declared that an ordination so made is not strictly regular. yet when ratified by the Presbytery, is valid. The Home Missions Executive Commit tee was directed to turn over the prop erty, books and papers of the invalid fund to the Ministerial Relief Execu- tive Committee, the Assembly having created the latter committee to take charge of the work of raising and dis trfbuting funds for the relief of dis abled ministers, and their families.
 At the business session last night Rev. S. L. Morris of Macon, Ga, tn newly elected secretary of the Home, Missions Commission was received, the commissioners standing in welcome tff him. Dr. Morris said the honor had come to him unsought. He announced his acceptance. after prayerful con- sideration and consultation with his home people. The moderator called up- on Dr. Boggs of Holly Springs. Miss, to offer a prayer for the success of the new manager of Home Missions. and pr. Boggs responded.