New-York tribune., 1902-05-24
FOR A STRICT SUNDAY.
RESOLUTIONS ON SABBATH OBSERY-
ANCE ADOPTED BY THE ASSEMBLY.

Joy over the revision of the creed was ex-
pressed by several speakers in the devotional
exercises which preceded yesterday mornings
session Of the Presbyterian General Assembly,
and in the course Of regular business through
out the day there were expressions of thankful
ness for the harmonious and united action OF the
assembly on Thursday morning. There was
good attendance at the assembly's session.
The first report to receive attention yesterday
was that of the special committee of Sabbath
observance, presented by James Yereance OF
this city. chairman of the committee. 1t re-
ferred TO the recent attempt to secure legislation
for this city TO open the saloons on Sunday. and
declared that the failure of the attempt was "a
great victory for the Sabbath, for temperance
and for righteousness" showing that the
American people not yet ready to submit
the Decalogue or any of the Ten Command
ments 20 vote of city to determine whether
1t shall be obeyed or not
Fifteen resolutions for the assembly TO act
upon. urging better observance of the Sabbath
were presented IN the report. One was rejected
1t reprobated card games the Sabbath and
the point was raised that the assembly should
not be put on record as indOrsing card games
other days Of the week. One of the others that
were adopted was the following:
Resolved. That we deprecate political conferences
great and growing evil in this republc mas and wRcS
has led in some recent campaigns TO public po-
htical meetings on this day.
DR.. van Dyke administered a rebuke TO mem
bers of the judicial committee who could not
be found when they wanted in the COM
mittee room. saying 90 them: You here to
got through with the work of the assembly
That is what the Church sent you here for.
brethren. and not merely to have good time"
DR.. Hubbell. who described the work OF the
Sabbath committee in this city. said the COM
mittee helped by the police Even Devery
helped u.s. he said.
The Rev. DR.. Arthur c. Mcmillan presented
the report of the standing committee on church
erection. 1t said that the Board OF Church Erec-
ton began last year with 3275 81. and spent
S205.269. beginning this year with an empty
treasury Since 1885 the board has spent 81
353. 800 in aiding 1859 churches to erect build
ings The Rev. Erskine n. White, secretary Of
the board, was applauded when he said:
We hear many sneering references 70 the decay
let me tell you that between fifteen and twenty
churches and houses of worship are dedicated In
beginning of the year TO the end.
There was division In the special committee
on vacancies and supplies DR.. Robert F. Sample
and Dr. Herirck Johnson signing minority re-
port in favor OF the establishment OF central
bureau bring vacant churches and ministers
without charges together. Judge Robert y.
Wilson who read the minority report opposed
the plan for central bureau, saying IL
entering wedge by which the General Assembly
might usurp the rights Of the presbyteries and
synods. DIR. johnson said the plan ought TO be
tried; that usurpatiOn OF the rights Of the
presbyteries was possible in the establishment
OF mere information bureau Dr. Roberts. the
stated clerk Of the assembly asked that the
plan be delayed for year. saying:
The fact is that the churches whose pupits are
long vacant churches that our ministers with
out charges do not want TO preach In. If you
vote 100000 for home missions, will put three
hundred of our unemployed preachers to work at
The minority report adopted. and the
special committee reapponted. Before the
morning session ended. the assembly decided,
by vote of 205 against 159. to send to Con-
gress a protest against the printing at public
expense of Thomas Jefferson's THE Life and
Morals of Jesus OF Nazareth"