Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-05-31
SOUTHERN PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

question of amending the constitution touch
ing the education of ministers was cOntin-
ued A vote was taken and the majority
report was adopted, deeming it unwise to
make any changes because Prebyteries
already have the power to license and or
dain in exceptional cases. In the afternoon
session the subject of fraternal relations was
discussed.
| On the 9th communications touching the
observance of the Sabbath were referred to
special committees. The committee on bills
and OYertureS recommended that the sub
stance of overtures be published in thNmin-
utes. kilograms of Christian salutations
were read from the Y. NJ. G. a. Convention
at Milwaukee and from the Cumberland
Presbyterian Assembly at Nashville. The
Assembly returned salutationS. The COM
mittee on home and foreign missions re-
ported both fields in good condition. The
committee on resolutions and on traternal
correspondence with the Northern Assem-
bly reported that it should be carried on by
delegates in 1884 and 1885 and afterWard
by letter.
DR.. Smoot read q letter from DIR. Brown,
delegate to the Northern Assembly, stating
that DIR. Crosby had offered resolutions
in the Northern Assembly sweepingawayall
imputations against the Southern Church,
which was referred to the Rev. Drs. Her
rich, johnson, Breckenridge and Crosby,
and that majority Of the committee had
reported against the resolution. The letter
caused some excitement in this body and
will probably be a barrier to more express
sions of fraternity.
| The misunderstanding of the action OF
the Presbyterian Assembly, in regard to
fraternal relations, makes a further state
ment of facts necessary. On Tuesday the
committee on overtures reported and recon-
mended the following:
Resolred, That all correspondence with
other ecclesiastical bodies shall be conduct
ed by letter.
At the afternoon session DIR. Bullock of.
fered the following substitute: "While it
is our rule to conduct our correspondence
by letter, yet under present extraordinary
circumstances and to avoid the appearance
of discOurtesy the Assembly deems it prop.
ed to the General Assembly of the PreSby'
terian Church in the United States" After
lengthy discussion the subject was laid
over as unfinished business. When it was
taken up on Wednesday the discussion was
kept up at great length.
At the afternoon session MIR. G. R. Hemp
hill offered the following substitute:
"Resolued, That the method of correspon
dence by letter which now obtains between
this Presbyterian Church in the United
States and other churches, except the Re.
formed Dutch) Church and the General
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the
United States of America, be extended tC
these bodies, with the exception, however
that delegates be appointed to these respec'
tive churches at their next meeting to con:
vey our cordial Christian salutation and tc
state to these bodies the method of our ftl.
ture correspondence in the hope that it may
meet irapproval, and that the attention
of Presbyteries be called to this action o1
the General Assembly,"
This substitute was adopted by 113 ayes
to % nays. Without reaching final vote
the substitute was referred to a committee
of seven to perfect the phraseology of the
resolution. The report of this committee
is made the special order for Friday, when
an exciting debate is expected.
| DR.. McElWain's resignation as secretary
of home missions was accepted by the AS
sembly, he having accepted the presidency
of Hampden Sidney College.
overtures made the following report in re.
ference to overture No 81 from the PreSby-
terry of Upper Missouri in regard to the ap.
pointment of a committee by the Southern
Assembly touching organic union:
"YOur committee would recommend the
adoption of an answer that the General AS
sembly declines to appoint a committee for
| the purpose stated in the overture, as our
principles are so essentially different in sew
eral vitality important particulars from
those Of the Northern Presbyterian Church
that the idea Of organic union cannot be
entertained"
Dr. Primrose moved an amendment, say
| ing: "Your committee deems it ineXpedi-
ent to appoint such a committee" The
amendment was adopted, yeas 102, nays 32.
Moderator opposed the amendment on prin-
ciple, opposing organic union and thinking
the Assembly should give reason for it.
When the vote occurred on the original
question it was amended by DR.. Davis so
as to read: "The General Assembly de-
clines to appoint committee for the pur-
pose named" and this was unanimously
adopted. DR.. Witherspoon read the report
of the committee on education. Speeches
were made upon the report by DIR. II. G.
Alexander of Union Theological Seminary,
Prof. G. R. Hemphill of Columbia, and DIR.
Shelman, president of Tuscaloosa Institute,
for training colored ministers. The report
was adopted.
Prof Hemphill'S resolution on fraternal
relations was taken up. A telegram was
received from DR.. Brown, Southern dele
gate to the Northern Assembly, regarding
the passage of resolution by the Northern
Assembly upon the question of fraternal
relations, which met with great applause.
Action was postponed on Prof. Hemphill's
resolution till the Assembly learns what
resolutions the Northern Assembly have
passed. There was much excitement in the
Assembly over the question.
The following telegram was received
from Saratoga at ~ o'clock, and was loudly
applauded:
Ito the Rev Dr. Prior, Moderator of the
General Assembly: The following paper,
offered by DR.. Crosby, completely covering
the point, has been passed unanimously :
The committee report that fraternal rela-
tions having been happily established be-
tween the two churches on the basis Of the
withdrawal of all imputations officially
made from either side against the Christian
character of the other, no further action Of
the Assembly is necessary:
VIM. BROWN"
The Assembly decided this evening that
correspondence with the Northern Assem-
bly, should be by delegates in 1884, and
afterwarwards by letter. The Moderator
received telegram from the Saratoga
General Assembly y saying that the Assembly
had set apart Saturday morning, from to
II O'Clock, as an hour of prayer for an out
pouring of Gods Spirit on both churches.
The Assembly telegraphed that it would
set apart that hour for prayer. Col. Pat
Joyce, just returned from Saratoga, where
he went as a fraternal delegate, made
speech in the Assembly, telling of his cor
dial reception and the brotherly feeling in
that Assembly.
The Assembly adjourned at - o'clock NJ,
on the 26th, after harmonious and profta-