New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-12
IGNORES THE SEMINARY.
Presbytery Takes Radical Action on
Union Theological.

At the semi-anuual meeting OF the New-York
Presbytery held yesteday in the chapel of the
Old First Church. Fifth-ave and E!eventh-st
the Rev. Dr. Anthony T. Evans OF the West
Presbyterian Church, who has been moderator
for six months. was reelected to serve another
six months.
The following commissioners to the General
Assembly were elected: DR.. Evans. the Rev.
Drs, Robert Johnson. OF the American Church,
Montreal Canada; J. Ross Stevenson of the
Fifth Avenue Church: Robert Mackenzie Of the
Rutgers Church; John Lloyd Lee, Of the West
minister Church; Howard Agnew Johnston, of
the Madison Avenue Church: the Rev John c.
Palmer, OF Emmanuel Chapel Of the University
Place Church; the Rev. Horace G. Miller col
ored Of the Mount Tabor Church, in East One
hundred-and-fourth- J. c. Holden. of the
American Church OF Montreal, Canada; NJ Linn
Bruce. former chairman of the Republican
County Committee: James Talcott of the Fifth
Avenue Church; James Marshall Stewart Rob
ert Wallace W. y Crane, D. Willis James and
f. G. Smeadley.
The Presbytery took radical action in ignoring
the Union Theological Seminary after the secre-
tary had announced the receipt OF an applica-
ton from student in that institution
TO be examined for admission into the Pres
bytery. The application was from Amos Isaac
Dushaw. member of the Brick Church. Fifth
O
order, the moderator said the communication
IRON the student was not regular. and he ruled
that il was not before the P-estutery The rul-
Ing occasioned no discussion. There is nothing
to prevent an examination being accorded the
applicant after he has been graduated from the
seminary. Last year the General Assembly
omitted in its minutes any reference to the SEM
mary. but yesterdays was the first action of
any kind taken by the Presbytery. The Rev
DrS. charles A. Briggs and a. c. McGiffert are
still professors il the seminary
Another action that was construed as against
The seminary taken I'm considering the
resignation received from the Rev. Spencer r
Hitler Of the Morrisania Church. washinrton
ave. and One-hundred a nd -sixty-seventh-st
who wished the resignation to take effect in
June when he viii be seventy years old His
assistant is the Rev. George Power Merritt. who
was graduated recently from Union Theological
seminary. The latter is likely TO be chosen by
the Morrisania Church 10 succeed Nh Hitler.
The Presbytery deferred action on Mr.. Huliers
resignation.
The most spirited discussion Of the session was
occasioned by a resolution offered by the Rev
Dr. Robert Russell Booth, pastor emeritus of
the Rutgers Church. The resolution directed
that the commissioners to the General Assembly
voice the Presbytery's disapproyal Of any propo-
q
ored Presbyterian churches from the main body
in this General Assembly. The introduction Of
the resolution and what followed involve A
delicate question between Presbyterians in the
North and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church
IN the South. The Cumberland is a powerful
sect Of the Southern Presbyterian Church body
and is to meet in General Assembly I'm Dallas
Tex, next month. about the time of the General
Assembly meeting at Buffalo. The Cumberland
Church has been active lss a propaganda toward
joining the Presbyterian Church OF America (to
which body this General Assembly belongs). 1t
was asserted yesterday that the resolution was
prompted by the opposition of certain members
of the Presbytery 10 the proposed union; that
a union could be prevented by formal action on
the part Of the General Assembly favoring nom
separation from its cOlored churches. Dr. Booth
was Joined in his defence Of the resolution by the
Rev. Drs Howard Agnew Johnston, George
Alexander. Charles II. Parkhurst Stevenson and
Mackenzie and the Rev. Horace G. Miller coli
ored pastor of the Mount Tabor Church
Separation was favored by the Rev. Drs. Dun
can J. Mcmillan of the New-York Church,
Seventh-ave. and One-hundred and -twenty-
eighth-st.: r. r. White. of the Faith Church
Forty-eighth-st, and J. II. Hoadley of the
Thirteenth Street Church They opposed action
union with the Cumberland Church. and they
thought it ineXpedent to anticipate that the
question would come up in the General Assem-
bly,.
The resolution was tabled
Professor Thomas c Hall. Of Union Theolog-
iCal Seminary. said last evening that he hardly
thought any special significance was to he at
tached TO the action Of the Presbytery yesterday
far IL related to the seminary He
thought the relations between the presbytery
and the seminary were friendly as they had
always been