The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-06-03
EVOLUTION AND THE CHIHCu

The General Assembly of the Southern
Presbyterian Church recently in session
ut Augusta, Ga, had under considered
the subject of evolution in its relations
to orthodox Christianity. The commit
tee to whom the matter was referred
made the following report, signed by
nlne out of the thirteen members:
10 the several overturcs on the sub-
Ject to the evolution of man, sent up by
the Presbyteries, the General Assembly
return answer as follows: The Church
remains at this time sincerely convinced
that the Scriptures, as truly and author
ltatlVely eXpounded in the Confession of
Faith and 'Catechism, teach that Adam
and Eve were created, body and soul, by
the immediate acts of the Almighty pow
er, thereby preserving a perfect race
UNITY That Adams body was directly
fashioned by Almighty God, without any
natural animal parentagc of any kind,
and OF matter previously created of moth
ing, and that any doctrine at variance
| Herewith is a dangerous error, inasmucb
as in the methods Of Interpreting Scrip
turc it must demand, and in the consc
quences which, by fair implication, it
Will involve, it will lead to the denial of
doctrines fundamental to the faith.
'Cieo ID. Armstrong, chairman; VIM.
f. Jenkins, r. X. Smoot, G. B. Stricken.
l.. G. Vass, A. N. Hollifeld, M. Won
Lear, r. B. Fulton, d. n. Kennedy"
The minority presented the following
report:
"The undersigned, members of your
committee on ovcrtures on evolution,
would recommend the appointment of a
special committee to draft pastoral let
ter to the Churches and Prcsbyteries of
the Assembly, embodying the following
points:
81. A recognition of thealarm and I'M
easlncss pervading tho Church on account
of the evolution discussion, and that this
alarm and uneasincss are not unfoundcd.
". An 1ntlmation Of our loyalty to the
symbols, as tie correct Interpretation of
the Holy Scriptures, and determination
to defend them against any interposition
which would mar the historic sense or
contradict any traditional doctrine of our
faith.
''3. The original application of the
doctrines contained therein belongs to
the Presbyteries, and the Assembly con-
| slders them competent for their f,mc
ton; neither would it usulp or forcstall
this function, or hamper them in its Der
formance, by granting any in thesi de
hVerances which could be construed into
an anticipatory exposition of the law, bu
could not be of binding force.
81. The Assembly assures it's Presly
teries that tie highest Court of tn,
Church will be ready at the proper timt
to uphold and endorse any judicial action
OF the Presbyteries founded on the con
Stitutional law of the Church."
This report was signed by the Rev
VIM. Finn, the Rev. L. l.. Ferguson
the Rev. II. e. Smith and Ruling Elder
V. Fl. Henderson.
The Rev. Messrs. VIM. Finn and F.
E. Smith presented the following addi,
tional minority report
"We the undersigned, members of the
special committee on evolution, recon-
mend that the General Assembly decline
to make deliverancc on the subject,
because the answer which is invoked by
these overtures, if granted, would violate
our constitution. (Notc Confession of
Faith, chapter 81, paragraph ~
'SccOnd. Because the Word of God.
as interpreted by our standards, gives
the faith of the Church.
''Third. Because before one Of our
lower Courts q concrete case is pending
involving the matters Of those ovcrtures. "
The matter was discussed quite at
icngth-two days being consumed in The
debate.
The motion WAS then put that the mi
nOrity report be substituted for the ma
iority report, but it was lost. 1t was
moved that the vote be next taken on the
majority report and that the yeas and
nays be called and recorded. Adopted
The roll was called and resulted in a vote
of 1877 yeas to J3 nays. SO the majority
report was adopted.
OTHER MATTERS.
The following resolution was offered
by the committee on foreign correspond
Gnce:
Resolved, That the committee appoint.
ed to confer with similar committee of
the GeneIal Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church in the United States of America
for the purpose of arranging for cen
t9nnial celebration, shall also constitute
the Committee of this Assembly for carry
ing out such arrangements.
DR.. Richardson read letters from col
legos in the different Presbytcrics as to
their conditions, which show them to be
rather short of funds.
Dr. Smoot said that they should cdu-
cate their boys to be ministers-that if
they had no ministers there could be no
church. Fathers should press upon their
sons that the great object in this life is
not to make money, but to glorify God
The afternoon was spent in discussing
the report OF. the committee on theologi-
cal seminaries, which is as follows:
| The standing committee on tlpOlOUical