The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-06-02
Evolution in the Southern General
Assembly
DIX WooDRow's THEORY CoxDEMsED FL
YorE OF IS7 TO j.


MAJORITY REFoET.
To the seversI ore-tures On the subject
Of the evolution Of man sent up b. the
Preshytsries the General Assembly returns
answer a. follows.
The Church remains al this time sin
eerely convinced that the Scriptures, a.
truly and authoritafiveiy exPounded ID
our confession Of Faith and Czfechisms,
teach that Adam and Ere we're created,
body and soul, b. immediate acts OF Al
mighty Power, thereby preserving perfect
race unity
That Adams body Was directly fash
Toned By Almighty God, without any nat
ural animal pzreutsge OF any kind, out OF
matter previously created Of nothing.
And that any doctrine Al variance there |
| with i a dangerous error, inasmuch a. by
the methods Of interpreting Scripture il
must demand, and in the consequences
which BY fair implication it will involve.
/ il will lead 10 the denial Of doctrines fun
damental 10 the faith.
| Sigued-O George d. Armstrong, K. h
smoot, W. F. Junkin, G. B. Strickler, L.
&. vass, A. y. Hollifeld, NJ. Van Lear, Z.
B. Fulton, .. y Kennedy.
MINORITY REPORT.
The undersigned members of your
Committee on Oyertures on Evolution,
would recommend the appointment CT
special committee TO draft a pastoral letter
to churches and Presbyteries from the As
sembly emhodyIng the following points:
/. A recognition of the alarm and I'M
easiness pervading the church on account
Of the Evolution discussion, and that this
! alarm and uneasiness are not unfounded.
i >. A reiteration Of our loyalty to our
= symbols a. the correct Interpretation OF the
, Holy Scriptures, and determination TO
! defend them against any Interpretation
, which would mar their historic sense or
! contradict any traditional doctrine OF our
! faith.
3. The original application Of the doc
trines contained therein belongs to the
lPresbyteries, aud the Assembly considers
them competent for this function.
Neither would it usurP or forestall this
function, or hamper them in Its perform
ance by ANYTHING in these deliveranee;
= which could be construed as an anticipa
tory exposition Of the law, but cannot b
Il of binding force.
Ell 4. The Assembly assures its Presbyterie
that the highest court Of the church val
oe ready at the proper time to uphold an'
endorse any judicial action of the Presby
teries founded on the constitutional law O
:. the Church.
% Si6ned-F L. Ferguson, VIM. Finn, Y
Il II. Henderson.
le The discussion of the question was tn
q, chief topic OF interest before the body. D
!. Woodrow occupied nearly two hours, an
Z while it is said he made profound in
Y, preston, he was at times defiant and r
1t bellious in his utterances. The vote stood
~ 1l9 in favor OF the majority report, and
=. - against 1.-THE latter being as follows;
ly Synod of Alabama-Dr. William Fir
ut and Elder Thad Harrison Synod of A
b. kansas-Elder H. Henderson Synod
id Georgia-Dr. Woodrow Synod Of Missi
er- sissippi-F L. Ferguson, Elder II. Ginde
Synod of South Carolina Elders y.
Holmes, J. B. Jennings, r. II. Wardlay
Synod Of Georgia and Florida-Rev. I.
Smett, Elder A. &. Vidal Synod Of Ke
tucky-G. II. Mourning; Synod OF Tex
Elder George A. Mccall. The Synods
Virginia, North Carolina, Nashville, Mi
inc souri, and Memphis voted unanimously /
D. the majority report.
H. On the 9th the Committee on Educ
- ton submitted a report setting forth th
~ the Assembly sustains very important
= lation to all colleges in the Church and
y bound to maintain a supervisory jurisd
ton, to keep Them free from all teaehir
"a inconsistent with the Word of God as
pounded in the standards Referring
ne evolution, the committee pointed to t
III fact that Columbia Seminary, in which
al Woodrow occupies the chair of Seier
er- and Revealed Religion, with an endo
Try ment OF $4,000 per year, has but elev
on students, and recommend that on accor
.en Of troubles, the college be closed.
At The report of the committee was fna
err disposed of on the 18th, when the Genel
US Assembly resolved to recommend the 81
pension OF Or. James Woodrow from
chair in Columbia Theological Semina
las The committees report recommended Il
Up the Seminary be closed, but the Assemb
i've tired of technical opposition, and wea
her Of the agitation of evolution, proceeded
cir this summary decision.
INST DR.. Woodrow declared that this DO
-ai. was taking snap judgment when his ca
ose on indictment for heresy ard error v
ses pending in the lower courts. He clai
II. that such recommendation, even from 4
~ high body, can have no binding eft
r and he will simply await the action
- the Presbytery and Synods on this gu
M ton. The vote on the suspension was
to %.