Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-05-26
PRESBYTERIANs.
One Million Dollars for Foreign Mis-
sions.

hlLaDtLfhiA, ddt -.
There was a large attendance at the Pres
byterian general assembly, Friday morning.
The first thing they did was To vote to meet
next year in the Fourth Avenue Presbyterian
church. The report of the judicial commit
tee was approved. The appeal of Judge
Chas. I. Drake against the synod of Balti-
more, in the case of Rev. Geo. o. Little,
was reached, in which the synod had refused
to condemn responsible reading of scriptures
in public worship. The judicial committee
recommended that the appeal be not sustained
on the ground that the general assembly of
1876 had passed upon the matter by declar
ing it was not prepared 10 recommend to ses-
sions that responsive reading was a subject
for discipline.
On DIR. Crosby's motion the case was re-
ferred back to the committee with instruc-
tions to report only upon the orderly char
acter of the appeal, and the same disposition
was made upon the committees report, On
Judge brakes appeal, in the case of Rev.
Mr.. Hamlin, of the Baltimore synod, which
was similar in every respect. This will
bring the whole matter OF the responsive
readings before the general assembly. The
report of the standing committee On foreign
missions was next called for. DIR. johnson,
chairman of the committee, made a very
encouraging exhibit of the work of spreading
the gospel among heathens. The report
recommended the contribution of 81 900, 900
for the cause of foreign missions during the
present year. Every reference to the or
ganic union brought out applause. The dis
cuseion of this question is awaited with un-
common interest.
The Union of Northern and Southern
Presbyterians.
Every seat on the floor and every nook and
corner in the gallery was occupied this af-
ternoon, as it was known that the question
of organic union of the two great bodies of
the Presbyterian church would be fairly
upon the general assembly, in consideration
Of the report of the committee on conference
with like committee of the Presbyterian
church of the United States and the Southern
General Assembly. Rev. j. I. Smith, Dds
of Baltimore, read the report of the committee
on conference. The question of the relation
of colored people in the South 70 the church,
is thus disposed of by the committees report:
1--WE are of the opinion that our assembly
will agree to a basis of organic union, by
which the present boundaries and constituent
cies of presbyteries and synods in the South
shall remain in statu quo to be
changed only with the consent of the
parties interested, and all new churches of
new Presbyterians hereafter established, shall
be organized by, and received into connection
with Presbyterian synods, respectively, as
the interested parties mutually agree" DIR.
Smith said this was merely designed to give
colored members and colored churches, the
liberty of entering into such associations,
and was in no sense mandatory upon colored
people, who could associate or not with White
Presbyterians as they saw proper" Rev.
Erard Kempshall, ID. D., New Jersey, moved
the recommitment report with Instructions
to report to the next general assembly. The
solemnity issue involved required that haste
be made slowly, and the continuance of the
committee with the additions of several
members from sections of the general assem-
bly, not now represented would conduce to
to the Union 50 fondly hoped.
Rev. John Il. Paxton of New York, fay-
ored DIR. Kempshalls resolution for recon-
mittment, and during his remarks occurred
one of the most remarkable demonstrations
yet seen upon the floor of the general as
sembly He referred to the fraternal spirit
engendered by the visit of the Southern as
sembly and their reunion in yesterdays
centennial anniversary. "Silence at this time
is golden" he said there stands Il negro
may God curse the day when he came from
Africa's sunny strand" Here the assembly
and spectators broke into storm of Kisses
which the Moderator vainly strove to stop,
breaking his gavel in an effort to do so. DIR.
Paxton explained that he loved the colored
men, his remark having been misunderstood.
What he did mean was, that the negro had
been stolen from his home, robbed of his
heritage and sold into slavery. The assem-
bly, rewarded this sentiment with laud ap-
plause. DIR. Paxtons plea was for a cam
paign of mastery inactivity.