Evening Star Newspaper, May 18, 1893, Page 7

NEW YORK AVE NUE CHURCH. A NOTABLE CHURCH. Where the Sessions of the General Assembly Are Held. THE LINCOLN PEW. ‘The New York Avenue Charch, Both Past and Present—Modern Methods in Church Work—An Active, Energetic Paster and Peopie. an ence The mesting of the general assembly in the New York Avenue Church is an historic event fr the career of a church thai is historic in this city. It is notonly the largest in point of num- bers of any Presbyterian church at the nation’s capital, but it ranks near the top in the denom- ination in chis country. There are only seven or eight Presbyterian churches that have « larger roll of members then the New York Ave- nue. There are over 1,009 members and the Bmit of growth has not yet been reached. The capacity of the church has been reached sev- eral times, and when the pressure becomes too Great a swarm leave the old hive and starts a new center of busy activity. This swarming Process has been « feature of the histdry of thie | church. It bogan a number of years ego and is still kept up. The North Presbrterian Church on N street was originally started as. mission of the New York Avenue Church. and this con- nection was continued until the infant church was able to form an independent organization. Gurley Memorial Church, Le Droit Park. was started as « mission of this church. A few ears agoa number of families left the church and formed the Church of the Covenant. The church has now two misdona, Bethany Mission at the corner of 13th and C streets, which was begun in 1374, and Faith Chapel on M street dotween 434 and 6th streets southwest, which was built at @ cost of $15,000, and first occa- Pied im 1891. The Inter enterprise is almost ready to enter upon an independent existence. This is cnly one department of church activi- ties in which this great organization takes a leading and an energetic part. Its benevolences are large and reach out to fll the different objects which appeal to the sympathy and support of the Christian Church. Last year the total contributions for all pur- poses reached the large sum of nearly $26,000. AN ENERGETIC PASTOR. At the head of this important center of Chris- tian activity is the pastor, Rev. William Alvin Bartlett, D.D. When he eame to the church ¢leven years ago the membership was 595, while today it is 1,043. The merease bas been a steady one, and last year the net gain in mem- bers was sixty-five. Dr. Bartlett is a good type of the modern pastor. He is progressive and in DR. BARTLETT. @ good sense aggressive, and is heartily in favor of any movement which advances the interests of his denomination both abroad and at home. and at the same time he takes an active part mterprises which are designed to improve the social and moral condition of the commu- nity. He is broad minded and thoroughly be- lieves in Caristian unity and the co-operation of all religious bodies in promoting the welfare of the race. In this spirit he some tims ago ac- cepted a rosition on the directory of a charita- ble institution conducted br @ religions order of the Catholic Church. He isnow about fifty- eight years of age. He preaches without man- Uscript and has the power of thinking on his feet. One of the charms of his sermons is the stimulus he gives to thought and the intel- Jectual atmosphere which is bern of contact with an earnest, enthusiastic thinker. He is especinily bappr in the form of addresses which are known as occasional. when he pours forth the richness of his intellectual equipment with attractive power. He built the first People’s ‘Tabernacle in Brooklyn, then he went to Chi- eago. where he was pastor of the Plymouth Cbarch. After a pastorate in Indiarapolis he accepted a call to his present charge. He was ® commisioner to the last meeting of the gen eral assembly, which was held in Portland, Ore. and it was due to his invitation that tho assera biy voted to hold their next meeting in this city. In extending this invitation Dr. Bartlett knew the heavy respousibility which it entailed, but he was also aware that he had behind him the hearty support of the officers and members of his own church and could count on the ac- tive assistance of the Presbyterians throughout the District. In this expectation he has not been disappointed. The assembly before ad- fourning. in » jance with their custom, ap- LINCOLY'S PEW. of arrangements for their 3 ease consisted of the stated seesion of | sth street, w the New York Avenue Church. As the host on tho occasion of the general nasembly, the New York Avenue Church will occupy a large share of the public attention. The prosperous con- dition of this great organization of Christian workers has already been referred to. It has also an interesting past. TTS CAREER AS A CHURCH. In the eariy years of the capital city there were three Presbyterian churches. The First Church, which then occupied a building at the foot of the Capitol, until the removal to tho Present site on 43, streot; the F Street Church, Which occupied tue building now known as Willard Hall, between 14th and 15th streets, and the Bridge Street Church in Georgetown, which has also changed its location. In the year 1820a movement was started for the or- ganization of a new church, and come fifty sig- natures were secured to a paper asking permis- sion from the presbytery to forma ecburch to be located in the northwest. Dr. Lowrie, who was a clerk in the Treasury Department, was at the same time discharging the duties of a pastor of the F Street Church. Tie church also be- longed to the old schocl, while those who were in faver of the new church enterprise belonged mosily to the new school. The permission to organize having been obtained, for the first few Fears of its organization the new church mot in the first floor corridor of the old Navy De- partment building, which has recently been torn }down. On Saturday night the chairs were | placed in the corridor ready for the cougrega- | tion that assembled the next day, and on Mon- | day morning they were removed before the | clerks arrived. This arrangement was, how- ever, only temporary, and as soon aa the funds could be obtained the ground where the present New York Avenue Church now stands was pur- chased from Nicholas Biddle, the president of the famous Bank of the United States. THE ORIGINAL CHURCH BUILDING, A substantial brick building covering about the same space occupied by the present build- ing was begun and the work progressed as far a the roof, when the money gave out and fur- FAITH CHAPEL. ther operations came toa standstill At this critical juncture John Quincy Adams, who was then serving his second term with’ President Monroe as Secretary of State, made the infant organization a loan of $2,000, stating that they could take their time in paying him. This was a large sum of money in those days, and with it the structure was sooncompleted. [twas known as the Second Presbyterian Church, and was, during the early years of its existence, in avery prosperous condition. Among the names en- rolled as the first members are found Mr. Golds- borough, the father of Admiral Goldsborough; John MeClelland, George Gillis and Dr. Lovell. The loan of Mr. Adams was paid gradually, and as be occupied a double pew in the church dur- ing his long official residence in this city, his pew rent was regularly deducted. It’ was not until some twenty-two years after the Joan was made that, when Mr. Adams was a yeuaber of Congress, the last dollar was psid, and Mr. David McClelland, whose father was one of the organizers of the church, remembers going asa member of the board of trustees to Mr. Adams’ house on F street, between 13th and 14th. to pay the last installment with the accrued interest. The receipt which Mr. Adams gave and which remained in the hands of Mr. McClelland was, during the war, added to a col- lection of antographs and sold at a fair beld in this city for the benefit of the hospital service for $300. THE OLD AND NEW SCHOOL PARTIES. The contest which was then going on between the adherents of the old and new schools in the Presbyterian Church at large had a very dis- astrous effect upon the Second Church. In ad- dition, a largo number of members left the BETHANY CHAPEL. d organized the Fourth Church on Sth street, of which Rev. Dr. Smith was pastor for so many years, The Second Church grew ker and weaker and it was at times dificult euough people together to hold service. The min who were called went to other fields. ong the ministers whose names will be remembered were Rev. Daniel Buker, church an Kev. J. Knox, Rev. George I. Wood, Kev. Mr. Fowler, Mev. Rufus Clark, Rev. Matthew ‘mith and Rev. Mr. Campbell. In the | rity the church had among the | days of pros se Who Were prom- members an! inent in social and o! c. John Quiney Adams continued his connection with the church and Andrew Jac President In the years just prior to yuentiy without a hardt offered his services only remained to guarantee him a salary of $200 a year, which was. however, subsequently raised to 1.000. During these years the F Street Church in- creased in numbers and became © prosperous It also was not free from divisions, party left and built the structure on | ch is nowa Jewish synagogue. nization, however, was short lived, e church property was | torate of the Rev. Dr. ‘edecessors, the F Street was an attendant. the war the church was fi ership at last became | so much THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON, D. 0, THURSDAY, MAY 18, 1893-SIXTEEN PAGES, A UNION EFFECTED. ‘This was the condition of affairsin 1858, when 8 proposition for union was made to the F Street Church. ‘This was accepted. ‘The consotidation was effected October 14, 1859. On that day it was ratified by the bytery of the Potomac, and the name The New York Avene Presbyterian Church was adopted. The Rey. Phineas D.Gurley, in obedience to the cordial wishes of the people, remained as pas tor of the new organization. ‘Among the mem- ders of the F Street Church when the churches united was President Buchanan, who wasa reg- ular attendant. During his administration 7 re. The pew oc- cupied by President Linclon was preserved, and recently it was replaced in the auditorium. where its old-fashioned appearance contrasts strongly with the modern interior. In July, 1859, the F street. property was sold to the Messrs. Willard—the lot for $1.50 per foot, which, wit: the building, amounted to about $12,500. On Sunday, September 25, 1859, ‘the last service was hi in that church, which is now known as Willard Hall. THE PRESENT EDIFICE. In the meantime plans had been perfected to build the present edifice upon the site then owned and occupied by the Second Church. The corner atone was laid October 10, 1859. The lecture room was first used Jaly 14, 1860, and the church was dedicated on the stormy Sunday of October 14, 1368. The cost of the edifice was about $30,000. The church grew in Prosperity, and on March 16, 1865, a meeting was heid which was the first step toward the organization of the North Prosbyterian Church —then called the Northern Presbyterian Mis- sion. Atthis meeting the sum of @1,300 was subscribed—principally by Senator E. D. Mor- gan, ex-Gov. Shepterd, Gen, Carrington and Mr. Ballantyne—for the purchase of the site, and on January 20, 1866, nineteen persons were granted letters of dismission to organize the North Chureh. ‘The Gurley Sanday school was afterward organized. Tho pastorate of Dr. Gurley closed with “his death, September $0, DR. GURLEY's SUCCESSOR. On January 26,1869, the Rev. Samuel 8. Mitchell, D.D., was chosen pastor, under whose ministry the church continued its vigorous growth. In 1872 the present system of sys- tematic beneficence was adopted, resulting very large increase in tho funds raised for mi jonary and other purposes, The work at the Gurley Mission was prosecuted and that at Bethany was begun. In 1374 Bethany Chapel was built and furnished at a cost of $9,318, and in 1876 further improvements were mado at a cost of $1,250. Dr. Mitchell resigned May 2, 1878, to accept a call to Brooklyn, N. Y. D. In June, 1878, the Rev. John R. Paxton, succeeded to tho pastorate. In 1830 the bi edifice for the Gurley Mission was built, and in 1881 the galleries were placed in the church on New York avenue—the coat of the former hav- ing been about €6,000 and of the latter about 26.500. Dr. Paxton rosigned February 19, 1882, to accept an urgent call to New York city. UNDER THE PRESENT PASTORATE. The present pastor, the Rev. William Alvin Bartlett, D. D., was chosen April 17, 1882, and commenced his labors June 1, 1882, at which time the membership was 593. In October, 1885, forty-one members were granted a letter of dismission to organize the Church of tho Covenant, ard others took letters later. In 1888 large improvements were added to Gurle: Chapel to accommodate its Sunday school ani to fitthe audience room proper for church services, and on February 21, 1859, 119. per- sons were dismissed by certificate to organize the Gurley Memorial Presbyterian Church. In the fall of 1833 the work now known aa that of Faith Mission was begun, and in 1890 the sum of $15,000 was raised to purchase the site and the building now occupied by mission, in which the first services were held February 15, 1891. TRE CHURCH OFFICERS. ‘The officers of the charch are as follows: Elders—John W. Foster, Jacob R. Van Mater, Charles B. Bailey, Samuel F. Phillips, Hicrome O. ClaugHton. haniel A. Robbins, Sardis L. Criszey, William B. Gurley, John Randolph, Henry H. Wells, J. R. Van Mater, clerk; William B. Garley, treasurer. Deacons—John D. McChesney, Benjamin C. Somervell, Walter C. Clephane, Frank 0. Beckett, William B. Robison, James A. Freer, Charles E. Foster, J. Rankin, Imbrie, Philip F. Larner, Charles 5. Bradley. Robert P. A. Den- ham, Charles G. Stott, J. R. Imbrie, president; William B. Robison,’ secretary; John D. Me- Chesney, treasurer. Trustees—John M. Harlan, Noble D, Larner, John W. Thompson, John W. Douglass, James Wilkinson, Alex. T. Britton, Lewis Clephane, Frederick Pilling, J. Ormond Wilson, presi- dent, Noble D. Larner; secretary, Lewis Cle- ne; treasurer, John W. Thompson. —— TWO BRAVE GIRLS. How Capt. Scott's Daughters Cheered Up the Crew of the Hyderabad, From the San Francisco Report. The British ship Hyderabad arrived this morning from Swansea after a most eventful voyage of 272 days. Cart. D. F. B. Scott has his two daughters with him, and both the young Indies assert that they never want to make a similar trip. Thia is the Hyderabad’s maiden attempt, and Capt. Scott hopes he will never have a similar experience while he remains skipper of her. After being launched and fitted ont, the Hy- derabad was loaded with coal at Swansea and started for San Francisco. All went well until September 9, when the ship ran into a storm. ‘The stanchions gave way, boats were smashed. the galley was washed overboard, tho eabin was flooded, and finally the cargo shifted. While the ship was lying on her beam ends the foretopgallant mast went by the board, and it looked as though the ship was doomed. It was regular Cape Horn weather, and the men were almost dead from cold. In’ spite of the fact that death was imminent, the captain's daughters were not dismayed.’ They mado coffse over the coul oil stove in the cabin and served it to the half-frozen men whenever an opportunity occurred. The men assert that many times the young women made their way forward when ladders, pieces of boats and hen coops were all awash. e gale lasted nearly a week, and then con- trary winds were met. Capt. Scott was about to give up in despair and start for San Fran- ciseo via the Cape of Good Hope, when on October 12 it came on to blow again. All the temporary yards were blown away and almost an entire suit of sails was lost. The weight of water that came thundering on board bent the deck beams and the veseel began to leak. The cargo shifted again and everybody prepared for tke worst. A conference of the officers was held in the cabin and it was decided to make for the Falkland Islands. The men were ex- hausted by this time and refured to work. Many of them were sick and did not care whether they lived or died. The captain's daughters went among them, bound up their wounds, and. with steaming hot coffee, into which the captain put a “stick” on the sly, persuaded the men to return to duty. Five days later Port Stanley was reached, and for the time the rouble was over. It took 100 days to repair the ship, and then another start was made. ———_+-e+_____ THE POWER OF TELESCOPES. The Largest Brirfg the Moon Nearer to Us Than Boston Is. From the Chicago Herald. The following careful statement by Prof. E. S. Holden on the power of the eye and the tele- scope, as they are contrasted in actual experi- ence, ix of special and permanent interest: If the brightness of a star seen with the eve alone is one, witha inch telescope it is 100 times as bright, with a 4-inch telescope it is 400 times ax bright, 8-inch telescope it is 1,600 times as bright, 16-inca telescope it is 6,400 times as br -ineh telescope it is 25,600 times as bright, 26-inch telescope it 2 times as bright. That is, stare can be seen with the 3s-inch telescope which are 30,000 times fainter than the faintest stars visible to the naked eye. While the magnifying power which can be successfully used on’ the b-inch | telescope ix not above 400 the 36-inch telescope will permit a magnifying power of more than 2,000 diameters on suitable objects—stars, for example. s ‘This power cannot be used on the moon and planets with real advantage for many reasons, but probably a power of 1,000 or 1,500 will be the maximum. The moon will thus appear under the same conditions as if it were to be viewed by the naked eye ata distance of. say 200 miles. ‘This is the same as saying that ‘objects about 300 feet square can be recognized, so that no Village or great canal or even large ce ean be built on the moon without our ». Highly organized life on the moon self known in this indirect way if If one were looking at the earth same conditions the great works of ining or the great operations ms or California ranches would be obvious. ——_——+e+_____ Mare. on a Bust. From the Queen. Art Student—“Bust of Marcus Aurelius.” it was propored to n and close the church. abandon the org: Nouveau Riche—“The present Marquis or the late one?” TWO HUNDRED YEARS. The Story of the Presbyterian Church in America. ITS BEGINNING IN 1684. The First MinSaters of the Church and Their Struggles—The Presbyterian Patriots Dur- ing the Revolutionary War—Rapid Growth of the Church in the Nineteenth Century. —— Five years ago in the city of Philadelphia the Presbyterian Chitch celebrated the centennial of the establishment of the general assembly of the Presbyterian Churck in the United States of America. The assembly of 1893 is therefore the one hundred and fifth of the long series. In connection with this great gathering of Prominent ministers and ruling elders of the Presbyterian Church in congress assembled it is more than a little interesting to consider the history of the church in America, its origin and development. It would be no small or incon- siderable task to treat such a subject in any- thing like a thorough manner, Tho history of the church is so inalienably connected with the history of the many great men who have fought under its banner. Presbyterianism, with its hardy, long-winded and strong-sinewed char- acteristics, derived directly from the character of the early fathers of the church, may well be called the creed of fighters and preachers. Beneath the broad, ample folds of ite banner have struggled many men whose efforts and successes have made their names.and deeds a Part of the history of this great Ian. sbyterian Church is a church militant, church 1n which the missionary spirit has ever been a powerful formative element. The father of the creed in this country was a Scotch-Irish- man, who did not know what was the fear of man. During the stormy days of the revolu- tionary war Presbyterianism in the new world was for the time being at « standstill by reason of the fact that her sons wero almost toa man engaged in fighting for their country and their own freedom. Toa marked degres the adher- ents of the Presbyterian church have been liberty-loving men. m the Declaration of Independence, be- neath the name of John Hancock was written the name of a Presbyterian minister, John Witherspoon. It is the only name of a minis- ter in the list. JOHN WITHERSPOON. John Witherspoon made two visits to Phila- delphia. Ono was to the synod in 1775, when he urged upon itso earnestly the necessity for its issuing that famous pastoral letter for inde- pendence. His second visit was in July, 1776, when he went to take his seat in the Continental Congress. It was on that occasion that he told his fellow members that “the country was not only ripe for freedom, but would soon be rotten for it.” Before he signed his name to the Declar- tion of Independence he uttered these words: “Although these gray hairs must descend soon into the sepulcher, I would infinitely rather that they should desoend thither by the hand of the public executioner than desert, at this crisis, ‘the sacred cause of my country.” It is men of noble structure of a powerful church. With the earliostsettlers infthis country.of Eng- lish,Scotch and French origin, came the Presh terian form of faith and government. Churches of this denomination existed in the colonies in the early part of the seventeenth century, al- though the first presbytery was not organized until 1706. ‘The general synod, having’ under 4t four presbyterics, was organized in 1716, and the complete organization was secured in | 1783 in the adoption by the synod of New York and Philadelphia of the constitution and the estab- lishmont of the general assemb The church, of which Calvin ana Knox wero two such massive supporis, runs back, accord- ing to its adherents, to the time of the Apostle Paul, who said: “Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophe: with the laying on of the hands of the presby- tery.” There is said to have been the esseuce of a general assembly in that convocation of apostles and elders at Jerusalem, which sent out its deliverance to the Gentile brethren of An- tioch and Syria. In Scotland and in Switzer- land Presbyteriantsm was the symbol of free dom. Presbytorianism gave to Christendom the Westminster confession, which Dr. Theo- dore L. Cuyler has called “that unrivaled sym- bol of faith which emphasizes the sovereignty of Jehorah in the heavens and the kingship of Jesus Christ in His church.” Of its polity tho famous Jonathan Edwards said that ‘the Pres- byterian way bas ever appeared to me the most agreeable to the Word of God and to the reason and nature of things.” THE BEGINNING IN MARYLAND. ‘The beginnings of the Presbyterian Church in the American colonies have always been over- hung with something of a cloud of uncertainty. Yet through thiscloud one can make out, rather indeflnitely, it is true, a number of iaces of reachers and a few smail churches struggling jato being on the banks of the Pocomoke river, in eastern Maryland, about the year 1634. Two of these carly churches were at Snow Hill and Rehoboth. One can also see the face of the great missionary pastor, Francis Makemie. ‘Mr. Makemio was undoubtedly the first regular and thorough Presbyterian minister in this country, and he may witin equal justice be con- sidered as the father of the Presbyterian Church in America, He has been called ‘a man of eminent piety, as well as strong intellectual powers and an uncommonly fascinating ad- dress.” Mr. Mekemie was born in Ireland, but the date of his birth is not known. He is sup- posed to have pursued a course of study at one of the Scotch universities, and became pious at the age of fourteen. Ho was in- re by his pastor to the presbytery of Laggan in January, 1631, and was licensed some time before the end of that year. Seven years later application was made to the presbytery by Capt. Archibald Johnson for assistanco in securing a minister for the Barbadoes. In De- cember, 1630, Col. Stevens of Maryland made a similar’ application in behalf of that colony. Mr. Makemie was selected asa suitable person for the mission, and he was ordained with a view to coming ‘to America. He preached for a while at Barbadoos, and was also for a time in Somerset county, Md., and is supposed to have been the founder of the church at Snow Hill. After his marriage to the daughter of Win. An- derson, a wealthy merchantof Accomac county. Va., he made his home in the latter state. In October, 1699, he obtained a formal license to preach, according to the provisions of the tol- eration act, having previously received a certifi- cate of his qualification, at Barbadoes, TROUBLES OF EARLY MINISTERS, ‘Mr. Makemie was a hard-working and emi- nently successful minister, albeit he received any number of setbacks in his work. These, however, could not deter him from his course. In 1704 he made a visit to England and was gone nearly a year. While he was away he visited London and arranged for the supply of the congregations with ovangelical clergymen. At least two ministers from Ireland came to the colonies with him when he returned. These two men were John Hampton and George Me- Nish. In 1705 Mr. Makemie came before the county court of Somerset to secure the neces- sary certifientes for the exercise of their minis- ‘h, when he began his lnbors there ears before, there was the fullest religious liberty in Maryland, the Church of England had become tho established church in 1692, and it was therefore necessary that these men should obtain a license in order that they might perform their ministerial functions un- disturbed. ‘The epplication in their behalf met with considerable opposition, but it was finally referred to the governor, who decided in their favor. Soon after Mr. Makemie came back from Eu- rope the presbytery of Philadelphia was formed, but whether this took place in the year 1706 or at the close of 1705 is a question that cannot be determined now on account of a defect in the resbyterial records. The ministers who formed this presbytery or were united with it previous to December. 1795, were Francis Makemie, George MeNish, John Hampton, Samuel Dav John Wilson, Nathaniel Taylor and Jededi: Andrews. Mr. Makemie was moderator of assembly in December, 1706. In January of the following year Mr. Make- mie and Rev. John Hampton were arrested in New York for having preached without license. ‘They were kept in prison for acouple of months, but were finally released on a writ of habeas corpus and Mr. Hampton was discharged. Mr. Makemie returned to stand trial. He was acquitted, but was not released until be had paid all the fees of his prosecution, which, in addition to his expeuses, amounted to about ter his release Mr. Makemio attended the i: to Virginia ched a sermon by appointment. This Was the last meeting of presbytery he ever at- tended, though it appears from the record of the next mecting that he had in the meantime obeyed an order of presbytery to write to Rev. Mr. Colden of Oxnam, Scotiand, with reference that sort who have built up in this land the | to the latter's taking pastoral cate of the peo- in and about Lewistown, Del. fi ‘Mr. Makemie died at bis home in Virginia in the summer of 1708. He distributed his valu- able library among his family and friends. An original portrait of him was destroyed in the burning of the residence of Rev. Dr. Balch of Georgetown, D. C. Among the names of other great divines that were associated with that of Mr. Makemie in the carly history of the Presbyterian Church in Awerica are Josias Mackie, Jedediah Andrews, Jonathan Dickinson, George Gillespie, Robert Cros, William Tennent. James and David Me- Gregore, Ebenezer Prime, Gilbert Tennent, John Tennent, John Moorhead, Jonathan Par- sons, William Tennent, 2d., Samuel Blair, David Cowell and Aaron Burr. THE FIRST MINISTER IN DELAWARE. ‘The first minister of the Presbyterian Church in Delaware was Samuel Davis, who was en- gaged in business and also preached at Lewes, Del., as early as July, 1692. He is supposed to have been an Irishman. The Boston miuisters were also active in curing for Presbyterianism on the Delaware, Inctease and Cotton Mather being expecially active in this regurd. After the battle of Bothwell a large number of ban- ished Scotchmen began to emigrate to America, and a body of twenty-two sailed from Glasgow for Carolina, William Dunlop, a probationer, ith them andsettiedat Port Koya). The colony was sooz afterward broken up on ac- count of the nubealthy character of the place. Mr. Dunlop served as the pastor of this gather- ing for several years, but iater returned to Scotland and afterward became principal of the University of Glasgow. The ministers of New England also sent missionaries to Carolina, the first of these whose names we know being Thomas Barrett, who was on the Ashley river Prior to 1634. It was in Philadelphia in 1729 that the synod solemnly declared its agreement with the West- minster confession and catechism as “being in all the essential articles good forms of sound words and systems of Christian doctrine,” Soon after this a lively controversy arose in the synod between the two factions that were known as the “old side” and the “‘new side,” the former holding hard to the Presbyterian symbols of faith and their demand for an edu- cated ministry, and the latter as firmly main- taining that the great revivals under Whitefield and Tennent were from heaven and not from men. apart, however, and in the reunited synod thero were ninety-four ministers, of whom about three-fourths had worn the “new side” badge. GILBERT TENNENT. The moderator of that reunited synod was ‘one of the most remarkable men that the Pres- byterian Church has ever counted among its members. Gilbert Tennent has been called the most powerful member of the most power- ful family in the church of that era. uc ceas as a preacher was phenomenal, and he was the heart and soul in the revival movement that swept over the country at that time. Ase boy he came over from Ireland with his father, the famous Willian Tennent, and settled on the banks of the Neshaminy creck. There tho elder Tennent, with his four sons, erected that tude structure, the “Log College,” which, de- spite ite humble and unpromising beginning, yet contained within itself the germs of Prince- ton College, the Princeton Theological Sem- inary and all the other institutions of learning in the Presbyterian faith on this continent, The “Log College” did good service in train- g @ number of ministers for the church, but it was not all that was necded, and both fac- tions of the synod saw the need of greater educational facilities. The “old side” allied itself with Yale College, but the plan of a con- nection fell through, and it was left in an un- pleasant condition as a result of its hostility to the Log College. The ‘new side” was more successful. It took sides with the institution founded by William Tennent. At his death there was no one to fill his place, and it was felt clearly that the time had come for some- thing more considerable in the way of a col- lege. Through the efforts of Jonathan Dickin- son a charter for a new college was obtained in 1746, and it was opened in the following year, with Dickinson as its first president, in his house in Elizabethtown. Upon his death—in the fail of 1847, the college was removed to Newark, and Aaron Burr was selected as its president. Ten years after the date of the charter the college was removed to Princeton, und while its formal title is the College of New Jersey, it has always been better known by the name of the town it has made famous, THE FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY, The first stops looking to the formation of a constitution for the American Presbyterian Church were taken by the synod of New York and Philadelphia in May, 1785, and a committee was appointed with instructions to report the following year. On the 16th of May, 1738, the constitution was ratified and with its adoption came the organization of the first general assembly in May, 1783. The assembly of that year embraced four synods, soventcen presby- teries, 180 ministera and ‘419 con, ns. ‘The sessions of the first assembly occupied but five days. 3 o | ior bi nd one of its first official acts was the adoption of a letter of congratulation to President Washington. In reply he sent a modest and dignified answer. Most of the time of the assembly was spent in welding to- gether the new organization, in adopting measures to print and circulate copies of the Holy Scriptures, and in organizing church ex- tension and home mission work. THE REVIVAL oF 1800, A remarkable event in the history of the church was the “great revival” which began in 1800 and flew like a whirlwind over the country to the west of the Alleghenies and to the south as far as Georgia and South Carolina, _It was a curious spectacle of religious excitement, and with it came the introduction of camp meet- ings, which at that time were tremendous in point of numbers and attended with all sorts of hysical exercises, convulsions and ecstacies. Tne supply. of preachers, especially in Ken- tucky, where the excitement reached its greatest height, was quite inadequate for the occasion and a number of volunteer lay ex- horters were licensed was done in oppo- sition to the authority of a “‘synodical commis- sion” and started the disagreement that ende in tho Cumberland schism of 1810. Another in- fluence bevide that of the great revival in giv- ing an impetus to. the church grew out of the “plan of union” that was adopted in 1802 under whose influence Presbyterians and Con- gregationalists joined hands in the work of founding new churches throngh the wilderness of western New York and Ohio. This scheme, however, was abandoned in the storm of con- troversy which disrupted the church in 1837. In 1802 the general assembly appointed a committee to direct home missionary work, and in 4816 this committee wasenlarged into board of missions. Other matters that received a great deal of attention from the church about this time were the temperance reform, the slave traffic and the practice of dueling. So- cieties for the education of ministers were or- gunized, ns was also the “American Board of Foreign Missions,” and the leading theological seminaries throughout the country were founded. During that first third of the century there was a wonderful development of the lay element in the eldership and in all branches of church work. Within that time the church had grown until it contained twenty-one eynods, 116 presbyteries, 2,500 congregations and 233,000 members. THE OLD SCHOOL AND THE NEW SCHOOL. Toward the close of this prosperous era it became evident that there was trouble ahead, and the conflict, partly theological and partly ecclesiastical, Vegan again between the oid school and the new echool. For five years the sessions of the general assembly were stormy in the extreme, and in May, 1838, two general assemblies met in Philadelphia’ at the same time. In 1857 the southern churches which had been allied with the new school assemblies withdrew and organized under the name of the “United Synod of the Presbyterian Church.” The old school held together for four years longer, but its disruption came with the fall of Fort Sumter, and the result was that within twenty-four years the Presbyterian body had been divided “into four, two in the north and two in the south, ‘The first formal movement looking to a re- union of the two factions in the northern church was made at St. Louis in May, 1866. The two assemblies were in session in that city at the same time.and they both appointed com- mittees to confer upon the desirability of a re- | union and to decide upon the methods by which this end might be brought about, Two yeurs later the joint committee presented its plan of reunion to the two assemblies and this was the subject of an overture sent down to the several presbyteries. In May of the following Year the two assemblies met in New York and with only nine dissenting votes out of a mem- | bership of 560 approved the joint committee's plan. At the adjourned sessions of the assem- blies in Pitteburg, November 12, 1869, the breach that had separated them was healed over effectually. Amid the excited fervor attendant upon this happy event the proposi- tion was made that the sum of $5,000,000 be raised asa special thank offering. ' This sub- scription when completed actually amounted to $7,883,000. It was in Philadelphia, however, that the great reunion assembly of 1870 was held. ‘There were present 640 commissionera, | representing 51 synods, 259 presbyteries, 4,526 churches and 446,560 communicant members. THE GROWTH OF THE CHURCH. ‘The growth of the Presbyterian Church in America has been something at once remarka- ble and encouraging. At times there have been a ‘Tne two factions did not long remain | dissensions and bickerings, but through it all the increase in membership, influence and wealth has been steady and large. A: to the statistics of the Northern Presb; Church a3 contained in the census of 1890-91 tl Property aggregated $74,455,200; the number of communicants or members was 788,224, According to last year’s report of Rev. Wm. H. Roberts, stated clerk of the asrembly, the total contributions of the church during the year for ail its various objects amounted to $14,298,271, Efforts have been made in recent years, and it is still believed they will be crowned with success, to bring about a union between the northern and southern churches, which were separated by the civil troubles between the two sections, ——-—_ OYSTERS ON THE PACIFIC COAST. Prospect for Thelr Propagation in the \ ‘Waters of San Francisco Bay | The surprising discovery that oysters of the { Atlantic const species do multiply and cau be propagated in the waters of San Francisco bay is on the point of being announced by the United States fish commission. For more than twenty years such oysters have been regularly grown in the Bay of San Francisco. ‘Every autumn about 100 car loads of baby bivalves not bigger than a thumb nail are carried all the way across the continent and planted at the Golden Gate. There they are cared for until they reach marketable size, when they are sold for eating. So highly are they prized that they fetch 2 cents apieco— ‘twice as much as thoy are worth in the cast. Up to the present time it hasbeen believed that these valuable mollusks would not breed in this adopted home, because the water is so cold. ir propagation ordinarily demands » temperature of 70 degrees, while those waters seldom register over 61 degrees Fahrenheit. Thus, though the soft clam transplanted from New ‘England has prospered on the Pacific shore, all hope of similarly domesticating the Atlantic oyster was abandoned. _ Nevertheloss, recent investigation has disclosed the fact that the allen species is adapting iteclf to ite new habitatand is multiplying naturally to some small extent. Furthermore, it is practically certain that it could be made to reproduce its kind on a satisfactory scale by very simple methods, BROUGHT FROM THE ATLANTIC. Live Atlantic oysters were first brought to San Francisco in 1870, when the earliest trans- continental railway was completed. They were so highly appreciated that the business of fetching them 3,000 miles to market rapidly grew. Eventually, however, the practice was adopted of transporting the bivalves only in the shape of *‘seed,” und the infant mollusks were planted out in beds until they grew big enough to be sent to market. The young shell- fish are shipped from the east by fast freight in the autumn. Usually the loss does not amount to more than 10 per cent. The freezing of the liquid about them does not injure them. To illustrate the length of time during which frozen oysters may remain out of water with- out dying it is worth mentioning that on one occasion several car loads of them were lost through a mistake and were two months on the journey. When they finally arrived in San ‘rancisco nine-tenths of them wero alive and in good condition. Californians will undoubt- edly consume more oysters when they can get them at Baltimore and Philadelphia prices. ‘THE NATIVE OYSTER OF THE PACIFIC COAST abounds in San Francisco bay. It isa very poor sort of shellfish compared with the bi- valve of the Atlantic. It is small and very prolific. The shells of this species form ex- tensive deposits covering the shore for miles and stretching in bars out into the bay. Th pat” of these small mulluxks fastens upon the eastern oysters, which soon become covered with the growing parasites, Thus it is neces- sary to clean the imported oysters for market by knocking off the young natives which have adhered to them. Doubtless the latter crowd out of existence many of the young of the At- lantic kind. In San Francisco bay there are very few of the star fishes, which are such for- midable enemies of oyster culture in Long Is- Jand sound, but the little mollusks known as “drills,” which bore through the oyster shells and suck ont the soft parts of the ani- mais, are becoming plentiful, having been brought from the east together with the oysters. FOES TO THE PACIFIC OYSTERS. But the most dreaded foes to oysters in Pacific waters are the stingrays. These dis- agreeable and sometimes dangerous fishes enter San Francisco bay in large numbers in the spring and remain until Iatein the fall. They feed exclasively on shellfish, for crushing which their mouths are provided with a sort of bony pavement in each jaw. Ase protection against them, all beds have to be fenced around with closely set stakes eight feet high. When a broken stake allows s school of stingrays to raid an oyster bed, its surface after the tide has gone out presents the appearance of a field ‘that has been rooted by hogs. Sometimes the oystermen, discovering the presence of such intruders, manage to entrap them inside the line of stakes, thus destroving many during one low tide. This fencing of beds against sting- raysisaheavy expense to the oyster farmers of California. OX MUD FLATS. All the eastern oysters now growing in San Francisco bay are bedded on mud fists in shallow water. Such locations are selected in order that the beds may be readily fenced in for the purpose of kee} ing out stingrays. At low tide the bivalves are out of water and ex- posed tothe sun, The California summer is rainless and hot. Probably this is one reason why the oysters have not shown a tendency to multiply rapidly, inasmuch as such exposure would be calculated to injure the young spat. Atthe same time the muddy ground is not favorable to propagation, inasmuch as the baby Bucs, DR. BRIGGS’ CASE. The History of the Proceedings as Officially Set Forth, \ i THE TEXT OF THE APPEAL ‘The Charges Founded on Utterances Made | in His Inaugural Address — Action Taken | Before the Presbytery and the General | Assembly—Grounds of Appeal. ee ‘Tho meeting of the general assembly cf the Presbyterian Church, which convened in this city today, attracts moro general notice both inside and outside the Presbyterian Church than such gatherings usually do, because the case of Dr. Charles A. Briggs will come before the body inan appeal from the presbytery of New York. The appeal in the case fille a good many. printed pages. The amended charges and specifications against Dr. Briggs on which he was vrosccuted, and of which he was ac- quitted by the New York presbytery, fill « pamphlet of thirty-six pages. There are eight distinct charges, all based on utterances made in the inaugural address delivered by Dr. Briggs at the Union Theological Seminary in New York ‘on the occasion of his induction into the Ed- ward Robinson chair of biblical y The following opinions, found in the inan- gural address, are those for which he has ac- tually been tried “1. That God speaks directly to men with divine authority, through the reason and throngh the church, as well as through the Bibie. 2 Thst there may have been errors in the original autographs of the Scriptures. 3. ‘That Moses did not write the Pentateuch and that Isaiah did not write half of the book that ——— sey 4 That the — ication of Christian people is not altogether completed at death, but goes on in the state between death and the fiual jadgment.”” THE aprean. The formal appeal itself is interesting, as it gives a history of the various proceedings thet have been taken in the case. The appeal is from the presbytery of New York and is made in the name of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. It was prepared by the committee that prosecuted the case before the presbytery. This is the committee that has conducted all the proceedings against Dr. , beginning in May. 1891. It is composed of Rev. Drs. G. W. F. Birch, Joseph J. Lampe and Robert F. Sample and Ruling Elders John J. Stevenson and John J. MeCooi. The appeal, which is dated New York, Jan- wary 18, 1893, says: The Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, represented by the under- signed prosecuting committee, in the case of the said Presby yterian Church against the Rev. Charles (A. Briggs, D.D., te the follow- ing appeal from the final judgment in tis case, rendered by the presbytery of New York onthe 9th day of January, 1898, with the grounds therefor and the of the crroreaileged. Believing that the trial of the said Dr. Briggs is one it the most important vterian in the history of the Presb; Chureh, by reason of the errors to be contained in the address of the eaid Dr. Briggs at his inauguration as profeseor of biblical theology in Union de- livered on the 20ch day of January, I which inaugural addres charges and tions were tabled and prosecution, in compli- ance with sections 10 and 11 of ‘the book of Giscipline, was initiated by the ytery of New York’ in the name of the Presbyterian Charch in the United States of America, and believing that the distinct and definite con- demnation of those alleged errors, by the supreme judicatory of the waid Presbyterian Church, is necessary in order to prevent their spread aud influence in the denomination: sruod of New York, believi responsibility rests upon the general which is charged with the date of all controversies ing, warning or testimony against error in doctrine inany church, presbytery or synod, and in cases that affect or concern the promotion of truth and holiness through all the churches under its care, as set forth in chapter XII, sections IV and V, of the form of government, and in view of the desirableness of the speediest settlement of this most important case, do hereby appeal to and request your venerable body to enter immediately upon the considera- tion and judicial investigation of the appeal effect, that said paper was largely sais charges or ah argument upon, the case, and was denommated by Briggs limeel?. 2 ““Bespouse to the Specifications submitted to the uss the merits of the main question behalf of the accused before and without pers Mitting the prosesuting committee vo be ‘on the merits of the use decision of the moderator. the question was divided, and the moderator was sustained said presbytery, after fully ing Dr. a ee gd Charges and 8; and without sitting the stir com- mittee to be hoard on ‘the ‘merits of tee cam, upon the motion of tho Rev. Henry Van Dyke, D. D., made and entered on its records ite de- cision and final judgment dismissing the said and *pecifications in form and legal effect; withoat approving of the positions stated inaugural address, at the same time earnestly the and quict of the and im view th declarations made Briggs touching his loyalty to the Holy tures and the Westminster standards, and his disclaimers of interpretations put ‘ou of bis words, deoms it best to dismiss the and hereby does so dismiss it.” APPEALED TO THE ASSEMBLY. From the aforesaid action of the said tery of New York on the said 4th day of Novem- ber, A. D. 1891, in dismissing the case, the prosecuting committee took an appeal in the hame and on behalf of the aid by of the book of discipline, was given to the stated clerk of the presbytery of New York, and seni Sees Sn cienes Sean or eee Be sembly, within the time required by eectious 96 and 97 of the book of disa The . in the case were referred to the jndical committee of the general assembly of 1892 at Portland, Ore., and the following action was had thereon? The judicial committee presented ite in the care of the Presbyterian Church ia, the United States of America va. Rev. Charles A. page. D. D., which was accepted, = follows: T icial committee pA ‘that mbasemeaer the Sn submitted to it in this case, and adopted the following resolu slik F eb i hereby presented, to issue the caso, and to finally determine’ the im volved, 80 as to secure mollusks require hard surfaces on which to fix themselves. By paving the bottom with old shells this latter difficulty would be overcome, and propagation would very likely be much more rapid. @00p PRosPEcrs. If eastern oysters can be propagated natur- ally in San Francisco bay these bivalves will become comparatively cheap at the Golden Gate. One plan suggested by the United States fish commission relates to the creeke and estu- in that neighborhood which are flooded by the tides, The water in such places, being comparatively shallow, is raised by the sun tos. higher temperature. Brush could be planted to collect the spat, and it would not be difficult to keep the stingrays out by means of fences. A notion of the scale on which the culture of ‘oysters in that region is now carried on may be got from the fact that one company has 2,000 acres of beds fenced in. These are divided into six groups, the individual beds varsing in ex- tent from fifty to 1.000 acres. The seed oysters are transplanted from certain of these localities to others for fattening before they are sent to market. This concern ships the mollusks, canned or boxed, to all large towns from Vic. toria to San Diego, and from Salt Lake City to Honolula. OYSTERS FROM WESTERN MEXICO, Attempts have been made by the orster growers of San Francisco bay to introduce there the large oysters of western Mexico, which strikingly resemble the Atlantic species. Un- fortunately, most of the bivalves died on the voyage. Now that there is railway connection between Guaymas and the Golden Gate tho transportation of these mollusks by rail might give better results. Along the Mexican lagoons referred to are enormous mounds of ovster shelis accumulated by past generations of In- dians, who did a large business in drying the meats of the shellfish and sending them inland for sale. Previous to the introduction of the Atlantic species oysters were brought from the beds of Acapulco and sold readily :n San Fran- cisco at 25 cents apiece. Their srrival was regularly announced by placards on steamer days. However, so many died on the vo that the business was not profitable, and it was finally ruined by the introduction ‘of eastern oysters on the completion of the overland rail- road in 1870. A sack full of oysters was recently brought to San Francisco by'a steward of one of the Aus- tralian steamers. They rere sold in the market and were pronounced as good as the eastern bivalves. It has been recently sug- gested thatthe oysters of Japan might be prop- agated successfully in California waters. They ere very large, full and well flavored. Some- times they attain a length of twelve inches. It is thought that their introduction would not be difficult, inasmuch as a great many kinds of Japanese shellfish are identical with Pacific coast species, os —____ Symptoms. From Life. The wife—“There isa prescription that the doctor left for you today when he called and found you out.” The husband—“How did he know what to Sa HOW THE PROCEEDINGS BEAN. In the further prosecution of the case on the part of the said Presbyterian Church, the ap- pellant. represented by the said prosecuting committee, tfully sets forth: ‘That on April 13. A. D. 1891, the presbytery of New York appointed a committee to con- sider the address of the Rev. Charies A. Briggs, D. D., in its relation to the confes- sion of faith, and that on May 11, A.D. 1891, the said committee presented to said presbytery areport which was ted, and its recom- mondation, “that the tery enter at once ‘upon the Jadilal investigation of thecase,” was jopted by the resbytery, and theron it a That & committee be = pointed to arrange and prepare the ¥ roceedings appropriate in the case of Dr. Briggs,” and the Ror. G. W. F. Birch, D. Dr Rer. Joseph J. Lampe, D. D., Rev. Robert F. Sample, D.D., and Ruling Elders Jobn J. Stevenson and John J. McCook were appointed such committee in conformity with the provi- sions of section 11 of the book of discipline. That after tho initiation of the prosecution by the said judicatory, the presbytery of New York, as above recited, the said prosecuting committee entered upon its duties. ‘That as said prosecution was initiated by & Judicatory and not by individual prosecutors, in compliance with the provisions of section 10 of the book of discipline, the Presbyterian Chareh in the United States of Amerioe be- came the prosecutor, and an original party in the ‘case, ‘and. wan ‘represented br. the aid proseeuting committee, which said committee, under section 11 of the book of discipline, was charged with the duty of conducting the prose- cution in all ite vtagosin whatever judicatory, until the final issue be reached. That at the mecting of said presbytery, held on October 5, A. D. 1891, the suid prosecuting committee presented charges and specifications in the case of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America against the Kev. Charles A. Briggs, D. D., which were read in Presence of the judicatory, and were then served by the moderator upon the said Rev. Charles A. Briggs, D. D., together with a cita- tion, citing him ‘to appear and plead to the said charges and specifications at a meeting of the said presbytery, to be held on November 4, A. D. 1891. ‘That after said charges and specifications had been presented to the enid presbytery and had been read. the presbytery entertained a motion made by the Rev. George Alexander, D. D., to arrest the judicial proceedings and to discharge the prosecuting committee from farther con- sideration of the case, as follows: “Whereas the presbytery of New York, at its meeting in May last, on account of utter- ances contained in an’ inaugurai address de- livered January 20, 1891, appointed a commitiee to formulate charges against the author of that address, Rev. Charles A Briggs, D. D., and whereas, since that action was taken, the ac- cused has supplemented those utterances by responding to certain categorical questions. * “Therefore, Resolved, That presbytery, without ouncing on the sufficiency of these later deciarations to cover all the points con- cerning which the accused has been called give me?? The wife—“He said that from my appenr- ance and symptoms he knew you were suffer- ing from chronic dyspepsia.” in question, with hearty appreciation of the faithful laborers of the committee, deems ii j & i i gpe abs tered on the minutes of the answer. (Minutes of general pages 153, 205.) The , upon its merits, argued by the appellant and the the general assembly, on May of general assembly, 1892, Provisions of sectiun 99 of the pline having been fully complied i it ie i ° i t fi § 4 5 5 a REMANDED FOR A NEW TRIAL. On May 30, 1892, the committee appointed to draft a form of judgment to be entered in the said case submitted its reportand recommended the form of decree or order, which was (minutes of the general assembly, 1892, 152) and is as follows: The Presbyterian Church in the ‘States of America vs. Rev. Charles A. D. D.—Appeal from the judgment of the pres- bytery of New York dismissing the case—The general assembly having. on the 28th day of May, 1892, duly sustained all the specifications of error alleged and set forth m the appeal and ications in this case, “It in —-. ‘30, 1892, ordered, that the of America against Charles A. Briggs, D. D., be, and the same is hereby, reversed. And the case is remanded to the presbytery of Now York for a mow trial, with rections te © said presbytery to proceed to pass upon determine the sufficiency of the charges and specifications in form and legal effect, permit the prosecuting committee to the specifications or charges, not changing general nature of the same, if, in the f rill ance of justice, it may be necessary to amend, so that the case may be brought to issue and tried on the merits thereof as ae may be practicable. “And it is further ordered, that the stated clerk of the general assemily return the record and certity the proceedings bad thereon, with tho necessary papers relating thereto, to the presbytery of New York.” ‘This mandate of the general assembly was received by the rtated clerk of the of New York and submitted to the at its meeting held on the 13th day of June, 1892, when tho very ie ‘Tiesolved, That in the judgment of presby- the issue of Aes patty ing the summer, but will receive the attention ‘of presbytery on its reassembling in the fall.” On the 9th day of November, 1592, the pres- bytery of New York met, was constituted charged, in accordance with rule XL, of the general rules for judicatories. During the first day's session of the said jadicatory, in compli- ance with the snid mandate of the general E it expedient to arrest the judicial proceedi at this point, and hereby discharges the c mitteo from further tion of the case. assembly, and the provisions of section 230f