The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-18
FOR MINISTERIAL RELIEF
PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Is SEEKING A WAY.
Work of the American Bible Society
Reports of COmmittees-sOuth-
crn Presbyterian Meeting.

NEW YORK, May 1.-THE Presbyterian
General Assembly met to-day in the Fifth
avenue Presbyterian Church with Vice
Moderator Daniel r. Noyes presiding. A
half hour devotional service preceded the
business session, which was opened by
reading the minutes Of yesterdays meet
ing. The several standing committees were
requested TO go into session in the chapel
and prepare their reports for hearing be-
fore the assembly next week.
The Rev. DR.. Ingersoll, of the American
Bible Society. was presented to the assem-
bly, and spoke on the work of the society
in the translation and distribution abroad
of the Bible. especially among the natives
OF India. The Rev. DR.. James f. Riggs,
of East Orange. y. j.. offered a resolution
calling upon the moderator to appoint a
committee Of three to draw up and bring in
a minute indorsing the work Of the Ameri-
can Bible Society. The vice moderator an
nounced that the would be APP
pointed next week.
The report of the standing on
ministerial relief, which was presented yes
terday. was then called UP by the Rev. DIR.
Thomas Parry. The Rev. DR.. Benjamin l..
Agnew, of Philadelphia, in discussing the
report told of the various plans the COM
mittee had considered in it's effort to care
in a proper manner for retired c%lergymen.
DIT. Agnew said a plan had been sub
mitted to an insurance company by which
that company was to pay 5000 annually to
each Of the cIergymen and $500 to each of
the widows. The ompan asked for a
premium of 100000 he said, and the plan
was not considered feasible. Another eff
fort was made 10 raise a permanent fund
of 2.O00.0O or $,O00.O0. the interest of
which was to go towards the sustenance
OF the retired clergymen. when the rail-
way companies and many of the large
manufacturing concerns can see their way
clear to provide for their s-uperannuated
employees" asked DIR. Agnew, why should
not the church do SO2'
DR.. Parry made a plea for the old Pres
byterian clergymen and mentioned many
Instances where superannuated c~lergymen
had suffered cruel want. rs this worthy
of the wealthy Presbyterian Church, he
asked. II know of one instance not long
ago where an old minister seventy years
old died and had TO be given a paupers
funeral in a church where there were over
seventy miHionaires. Shame on such a
church,
cepted, and il was agreed that there should
be a further discussion of it next week.
a specia! committee was appointed to
look into the question of the Westminster
hoIs of the Presbyterian Church at Perth
AmoOy. y. J.. There had been some ques-
tic2 OF closing the home. and the report
lldQ duNlStu lldl THIS DC uolE anu ludl tie
ministers who are there now should be
transferred 10 another home. There was
some difference of opinion among the COM
missiOners. SO the matter was laid aside for
further discussion.
The vice moderator announced the names
OF the committee on evangelistic work.
The chairman is J. II. Converse, Of Phila-
delphia.
bishop Andrews. of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church.. was introduced to the assem-
bly,. He expressed his pleasure and salts
faction at meeting the members of the
assembly. Bishop Andrews will formally
address the assembly before the final adj
urnme When tO-day's adjournment
was taken the delegates visited the Ameri-
can Tract SOciety's building and then went
u the New York University.
The evening service tonight in the Fifth
avenue Presbyterian Church was in the
interest OF the church board of aid Tor col
leges and academies. II was Onduc ted by
the Rev. Dr.. Herrick Johnson, of Chicago.