New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-05-17
MINTON FOR MODERATOR
PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
ELECTS CALIFORNIA PROFESSOR
OVER DR. PURYEs
Try TELEGRAPH TO TIE rRrprxrI

10y TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRTBrNFI
philadelphia, May 1.-the Rev Dr. Henry Col
lin Miuton, OF California. was elected rnoderato-
by the Presbyterian General Assembly ,o-da,- a.
feating DR. George 7. Purves. OF New-Yorx.
There were 5l3 votes cast, OF which Dr. Minton re-
ceived SS1 and Dr. Purves 20 The unexpected fire.
Guently happens in the General Assembly cleo
lions. II happened to-day. The pastor OF one of
the leading churches Of the Presbyterian denoina-
ton. IN many respects the greatest in membership.
wealth. history and influence was defeated for the
highest honor In the gift OF the Church by a pro-
lessor In one OF the smaller theological seninaries
OF the church who, IL Is said receives nominallv a
snau salary, and only secures about one-third Of
mat The wealth OF the Eastern church. with its
gifts 70 the mission boards. placed against the
needs OF the home mission field. and the Western
coast especially, and the West won.
For weeks il has been known that DR.. Dins-
more. OF San Jose, and DR.. Minton Of San Fran
cisco, were rival candidates DR. Dinsmore's sup
porters came here determined TO run their man.
whether he succeeded failed. but they saw a
Aght and withdrew their candidate. so the West
presented a solid front against the East The
speeches were, as usual. complimentary 10 the
men, both Of whom have done splendid work in
the church. Judged by their representatives, each
was admirably qualified for the place Other
things being equal. "a said by the advocates OF
each man that the other candidate might properly
be chosen, but each insisted that other things
were not equal, and that therefore the one for
whom he spoke should be selected.
WHAT WAS SAID OF DIR. PURvEs
The Rev. DR.. ". c. Roberts, of Danville. Ky.
president Of Centre College. placed DR.. Purves IN
nomination. DR.. Roberts the most intimate
terms for years with DR. John Hall and the leading
men in the Fifth Avenue Church. in New-Tork
and he spoke out OF fun heart in behalf Of that
church. which has done much carry on the
work OF the denomination. especially IN the home
mission field. lie also knew. he said. the work Of
the home missionaries. toward whom his heart
turned with the deepest affection. Representing,
therefore. the men the field who do the work
and the men IN the city who furnish the money
which makes the sacrifice OF the missionaries pos
sible. he urged that the two classes should unite
and choose as moderator the pastor who succeeds
Or. Hall nobly.
DR. James E. Moratt. OF Cumberland Nd. sec
onded the nomination, did also DR.. Herrick
johnson. Dr. Mofatt had been a brother pastor
u DR.. Purves in Baltimore. while DR.. Johnson had
been tho pastor OF the church which DR.. Purves
attended a boy. He therefore spoke with
tenderness. unlike that OF father. for the
whom he had known boy and man. student
md teacher and pastor He declared that Dr.
Purves was constituted that il would be abso-
lUtely impossible for him be unfair prejudiced.
Like Zaccheus. the New-York pastor was small.
but. unlike the OF Jericho he did not need 70
climb a tree 10 things. The only argument,
DIT. Johnson said in closing that could be brought
against DR.. Purves, was one OF locality, an i'm
portaut argument, II there were other consdera-
lions, but he declared that between DR.. Purves
and any other candidates that could De named
thcre no such thing as equality. He was pre-
emnently fitted 10 preside over the present as
sembly.
PROFESSOR MINTON'S ADVOCATES
Professor Minton was placed IN nomination by
the Rev DIT. Hugh X. Walker. OF Los Angeles
HIS argument was, the East did not need q mod
orator least OF all did the Fifth Avenue Church
need one That church had done noble work. and
would continue 20 do so. moderator or no mod
orator The West did need the help which would
come from having % its men at the head OF
the assembly. He hoped also that the commits
sIoners would see At 70 strengthen the hands OF
their brethren IN the West by deciding to hold the
next assembly there. FOR not only had residents OF
California offered free entertainment for the COM
miss.oneFs but also thousands OF dollars toward
the railroad fares
d. Walker was pathetic in his reference 20 the
sacrifices which Dr. Minton had made by remain
ing professor IN the san Francisco Seminary. on
an extremely small salary. while he might have
secured a very much 'arger one by yielding TO the
calls that came for his services : pastor in
Eastern fields. But he loved the West and stood
there DR. Walker said. despite all the 'isms' with
"a bic6 the West was infested. The speaker re-
sreS 20 The Episcopal convention with It's bishops
and other diguitaries, which Is to De hela IN sah
orator" he said. land Will place him alongside
The whole Episcopal convention and say mere Is
'G resident James D. Mo4tt Of washington an, and
80 Portland ore. seconded the nomination OF the
Western man Or Mo1att gave togoas sFhieT ~
fafrnoss The Pacific Coast should secure the honor
~ IINl also pleaded for fairness. DR. FurNes voted
- T6r ATintGn and Dr. MintOn for DR. PurEes
Tho candidates then retired. and the roll was called
CAREER OF NEW MODERATOR
u nIinton was born in Washington County.
Penn IN ls55 lie was educated al Washington and
Jefferson College and at the Western Seminary, al
Allegheny Penn He has been professor o. system
stfc theology in the San Francisco Seminary for
.ls,,en years. Before accepting that place he made
"a trim around the world. and is well known in every
,,ission field He is a strong man. and will preside
with great ability
An exciting debate took place just before the
hour Of adjournment Dr. Niccolls. OF 81. Louis.
r~aleinr \ motion that the assembly non-concur in
49, rule for the election OF standing committees,
edor.a5 n wear ago known the Peoria plan,
IN which the commissioners themselves, ana not
-, -ooaeraror decides who shall be members Of
-La sfanding committees. DIT. Johnson, OF chicago.
.-nosed fhe motion which laid on the table, IN
Crisr Thsr mis- assembly might have chance 10
Sc ROW the plan would work
The entire morning was occupied Win the de-
rite~v ~ The sermon by the Rev DR. Charles A
pf0lzey the retiring moderator, his subject being
The Kingdom Of God ,-..-- -, -
TIE women interested in home missions had an
All Gav session In the Witherspoon Building where
Interesting reports were presented, ana addresses
fIled with enthusiasm were made