New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-22
THE APPEAL OF DIR. WOODROW.
BEGINNING OF HIS DEFENCE OF THE DOCTRINE OF

BEGINNING OF HIS DEFENCE OF THE DOCTRINE or
EVOLUTION BEFORE THE SOUTHERN ASSEMBLY.
Baltimore, May 81 specal).-The question OF evolu-
ton brought up In the Southern General Prcsoy-
terrain Assembly to-day and will continue to sgtate
that body for several days. The Rev. DR.. james
Woodrow complainant on appeal from sentence In
tho lower court for heresy, pleasantfaced elderly
man. with q snow-white, square cut beard His iron
gray hair, rather long. Is brushed back from his
forehead. Two reports made by tho Judicial
Committee. The majority report that DR.. Wood
row had brought himself within the exception pro-
yided by the Rules of Discipline by showing that no
was prevented by the providence Of God from season.
ably prosecuting Il and the cammittee recommended
that his complaint DO heard The minority report de-
clared that as DR.. Woodrow failed lodge his COM
plant with the clerk of the higher before the
close Of the second day OF its sessions, required by
the Book of Church Order, and that, having thus
failed regularly prosecute his complaint the last
Assembly had right TO presume that he had aban-
doned his complaint and that Assembly having sx-
amnod and approved the minutes OF the Synod OF
South Carolina, the committee believed the case
barred and recommended that tho complaint be dis
missed
The majority report adopted and the doctor
was given hearing He said that he did not appear
before the Assembly much on his account as to
proclaim great truth Of vital importance to tho Life
of the church Either he guilty of heresy or he
was not. He still adhered to the doctrine the
theory OF evolution forth in his addresses and
he asked that the judgment Of the Synod Of South
Carolina in his case DO not sustained first, because
1t was contrary to the law in that it implied that
the Word of God interpreted in the standard
teaches specifically the kind OF matter employed In
the formation Of Adams body second, because II
was contrary 70 the evdonce as the Word OF God does
teach anything 20 these particulars Whom the
doctor made his declaration many Of the delegates
shook their heads In dlsapprobation and the sentiment
of the Assembly was apparent DR.. woodrow only
got ons-fonrth through his argument He IS bne
Speaker. Tomorrow he will make HIS strongest
speech. in which he Will rebuke the church for con-
tinung, no claims, TO misunderstood and msintcr-
pref the Bible upon the creation of man.
Dr. Moot, from the Committee on Education, made
report the subject OF ministerial educ alton. The
among the presbyteries for the education of young
ministers, and that the clergymen be advised 10 I'm
press upon their congregations tho importance OF this
work OF tho Church In sermon TO be delivered on
the first Sunday in November. The report was
adopted. The Rev. DR.. Moot offered a resolution on
the question OF temperance in order to formulate the
views OF the Church and any false impression
that may have gone abroad in reference TO the action
taken by tho Assembly on Saturday. Already one
Of the secular papers had said that tho antwhskey
party had prevailed In the Assembly. He wished II
Understood that there neither a whlskey nor an
antwhskey party in the Assembly. The resolution
was az follows
"Resolved, That tho action taken by this General
Assembly the third day of Its session. In appoint
ing Committee on Temperance, was not Intended 70
commit this Assembly to or against any political
questions prohibition socallcd moral reform
now sgtatng the mind OF the public but the purpose
have the committee formulate the views or the
Church upon the question OF temperance
After Considerable discussion the previous question
called and the resolution was passed.