Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-06-03
The General Assembly Of tho
Presbyterian Church at
Charleston, S. G.

The nccount Of last week brought to tho
attention of the readers of tho Courier the
preliminary action of tho Assembly, which
closed with Saturday
On Monday began the work in earnest
1t would bo impossible to give minute
account of every item of business disposed
of by the Assembly without being both too
long and at tho same timo read too much
like the minutes. Somo things arc selected
which would probably interest the public
and alluson to all olse omitted.
a letter was rcud from DR.. W. G. Dana,
pastor of one of tho Independent Presbytc-
rian Churches in Charleston, proposing
certain questions TO tho Assembly in
reference to existing differences between tho
Independents aud regular Prosbytcrians.
As this letter was answered satisfactorily,
it is hoped that before very long all Pres
bytcriaus in the city will bo one and the
common cause greatly strengthened in this
important city.
Texas oycrturcs the Assembly to give
dclivcrancc on tho subject of "Woman
preaching" which the Assembly did, de-
claring that it was contrary to Scripture
and not to be tolerated.
This subject clicited much discussion,
though all were Gu the same side of tho
question. There was not dissenting voice
or an advocate in the whole body who
| would say ono word in favor of woman
preaching, but tho discussion was caused
| by the introduction Of side issues into tho
main question and tho fact that every ono
thought hc could propose something which
would condemn the practice in stronger
terms.
DIR. Charles Scott, tho delegate Of the
Reformed Dutch Church, was introduced to
tho Assembly and bore the fratornal greet
ings Of thai body to tho Assembly in very
cordial and touching terms. lie alluded to
the fact that he when young man had
landed in Charleston "a stranger in
strange land" and greater stranger from
his Heavenly Father, heard his first sermon
in the very building in which the Assembly,
was convened, preached by DR.. Thomas
Smyth, was Afterwards converted by DR..
l'. NJ. Palmer, led into tho ministry by Dr.
Smyth, and now returned the bearer of
fratcrnal greetings. The Modcrator's reply
was equally touching and impressive. The
Dutch Reformed is tho only church with
which our Assembly exchanges delegates
bearing greeting, all others being given and
received by letter. But the relation
between these two churches is peculiar and
close. In fact, thcro is virtual union
between them, union in doctrine, in every
thing but name. Our students SO to their
scminarica, become pastors of thoir churches
aud oicc vcrsa. They arc very large and
wealthy denomination, confined mostly
to New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania
and Ohio. Our delegate to their Assembly
which meets next week is DR.. Rout, of
Kentucky, with DIR. Pryor, of Virginia, as
alternate
Covngton, Kentucky, and Staunton,
Virginia, were nominated ao the place
Of next meeting of the General As
scmbly, which was decided in favor of
Covington by only two votes, but after
wards reversed upon important considcra-
tions and Stuuuton, Virginia, is the place
of next meeting.
An overture causing considerable discuss
sion was whether an elder or deacon could
voluntarily dcmt his Office or be divcstcd
of it without ccnsurc. After long discus
sion it was decided strictly according to
tho "book of tho church order," that whom.
ever an elder or deacon becomes inaccepta-
bic, tho session may divcst him Of his oflico
without ccnsuro, but that neither elder nor
deacon can voluntarily demit his oflico.
An overture was presented by tho Pres
bytcry of Athens, asking the Assembly to
bo moro explicit on the subject of dancing,
to which vas replied, that tho Assembly
had already been as exploit on that subject
as the nature Of tho case would admit.
Next camo up that which was to bo the
great question, and ono occupying the
attention and thought Of tho whole church.
The question was whether tho dolivoranccs
of the Assembly were authoritative and bind
ing or whether they were simply solemn
admonitions against evil. After occupying
nearly three entire days in which Drs.
firardeau and Woodrow were the chief