The Portland daily press., 1888-05-26
KISSED IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Confusion Among the Presbyterians
Caused by a misunderstanding.
Or. Paxton Sets Himself Right and
is then Warmly Applauded:
The QUESTION of Union Finally Re-
ferred to Committee.

PHILADELPHIA, May 26.-There was a
large attendance at the Presbyterian general
assembly in Philadelphia this morning The
first thing done was to vote to meet next year
in the Fourth Avenue Presbyterian church,
Philadelphia. The report OF the Judiciary
committee was approved until the appeal of
Judge Charles T. Drake against the synod of
Baltimore in the case Of Rev. George A. Lit
tie was reached, in which the synod had re-
fused to condemn responsive reading Of
Scriptures in public worship. The judiciary
committee recommended that the appeal be
not sustained on the ground that the general
assembly of 1886 had passed upon the matter
by declaring that it was not prepared to re-
commend to the session that responsive read
ing was subject for discipline On DR.. Cros-
ley s motion the case was referred back TO
the committee, with instructions to report
only upon the orderly character OF the ap-
peal, and the same disposition was made OF
the committee report on Judge brakes ap-
peal in the case of Rev. Mr.. Hamlin, of the
Baltimore synod, which was similar in every
respect.
The report of the standing committee on
foreign missions was next called. DIR. john
son, chairman of the committee made very
encouraging exhibit Of the work among the
heathen Every reference to organic union
brought out applause. The discussion of this
question is awaited with uncommon interest.
Every seat on the floor and every nook and
corner in the gallery was occupied this after
noon, as it was known that the question OF
an organic union Of the two great bodies of
the Presbyterian church would be fairly upon
the General Assembly in the consideration
OF the report Of the committee of conference
with the corresponding committee Of the
Presbyterian Church in the United States
Nhe southern General Assembly,. Rey. j.
Il. Smith, ID. d., of Baltimore, read the re-
port OF the committee Of conference. The
question of the relation of colored people in
the South to the church is thus disposed OF
in the committees report; "We are of opin-
ion that our assembly will agree to a basis to
organize a union by which the present lboun-
darieS and constituencies of the presbyteries
and synods in the South shall remain in
statu quo. to be changed only with the con-
sent OF the parties interested, and all new
churches and presbyteries hereafter estab-
lished shall be established by and received
into connection with the presbyteres and
synods respectively, as the interested parties
mutually agree"
DIR. Smith said this was merely designed to
give the members of the colored churches the
liberty OF entering into such associations as
they deemed proper and was in no sense
mandatory upon the colored people, who
could associate with the white presbyteres
or not, as in their judgment seemed proper
Rev. Everard Kempshall, ID. D., of New
OCIocN, IuUf6Q Lllt TbCOmulLmeQL OF the
port, with instructions to report to fine next
general assembly. The solemn issue involved
required that haste should be made slowly,
and the continuance Of the committee, with
the addition OF several members from the
section of the general assembly not now rep
resented, would conduce to the union SO
fondly hoped for.
Rev. John r. Paxton, OF New York, fa-
vored DR.. Kempshalps resolution for the re-
commitment. During his remarks occurred
one OF the most remarkable demonstrations
yet seen upon the floor Of the General As
sembly. He referred to the faternal spirit
engendered by the visit of the Southern AS
Sembly and their reunion in Yesterdays
centennial celebration. Science at this
time is golden he said, there stands the
came from Africa's sunny strand" Here the
assembly and spectators broke into a
perfect storm of Kisses which the
moderator vainly strove to suppress. break
ing his gavel in the effort to do so.
the coiored men and his w remark had had
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 assembly rewarded this senti-
ment with loud applause. Dr. Paxton's
plea was for campaign Of masterly in
activity.
Rev. Dr. Crosby, of New York, Rev. DR..
Thomas A. Hoyt, of Philadelphia and others
favored immediate action. Justice Strong,
DIR. McCosh and other speakers approved OF
delay
Rev. VIM. III. Franklin, ID. d., eolored
commissioner from Tennessee, got the floor
to say the Negro in the South was not de-
generating. He was called down on point
of order, however, when he said the coiored
people did not want to separate the presby-
terry and synods as the committees report
intimated.
An amendment finally offered by Cover
1rwkA kA.NI. Al
matter before the Assembly to a special
committee with Justice Strong as chairman,
to report to the Assembly at the earliest pos |
sible moment, its report to take precedence |
over any other order before that body. The |
moderator appointed as a special committee, |
Justice Strong and Drs. Crosby, Young, |
Hoyt and Sanders. The Assembly then adj |
journed.