Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-05-29
THE CREATI0N'OF MAN
DEL1vERANcE OF THE SOUTHERN PRES
BYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.
The Complaint in the Case Of Rev. Or.
Woodrow Not Sustained by the
General Body.
[BI telegraph 70 tho pIsps.eh.l

BALTIMORE. May %. The Southern Pres
byterian General Assembly was called TO or
der by the moderator at $50 o'clock. The
Chair announced the commissioners 10 try
The complaint Of the Presbytcry OF Mecklen-
burg against the Synod OF North Carolina.
The Auditing Committee reported that an
examination OF the reports OF the Executive
Committee on Foreign and Home Missions
and OF the Committees on Publication,
Education. Institute for Training Colorcd
Ministers, and Trustees Of the General As
sembly, and found them correct. The same
committee made report recommending that
the $4,000 in Virginia bonds be referred 10
a special committee for disposal TO the best
interest OF the General Assembly.
DR.. Smoot, OF the committee on the vote
IN the complaint OF Or. Woodrow against
the Synod OF Georgia, reported that the
views Of the General Assembly are that God
made the body ont OF the dust Of the earth,
and that II was not evolved from 4 lower
animal.
A substitute for The report was presented
declaring that the action Of the Synod Of
Georgia did not anuuI the action OF the Pres
hytery Of Augusta or elect the ecclesiastical
Standing OF DR.. Woodrow, and further that
the views held BY DR.. Woodrow were not
contrary TO the standards OF the Church.
The substitute was rejected and the report
OF the committee adopted.
Rev. L. @. Whaling, Of South Carolina,
read protest against the action OF the Gene
raj Assembly in this matter, which. without
action, was ordered on the minutes.
The pending buSiness-the report OF the
Committee on Home Missions-was then
taken up.
Rev. DR.. Stricken, OF the Committee on
Bills and Overtures, presented a report on
organic union OF the Northern and South
ern PRESBYTERIAN Churches. Ten OF the
presbyteries oppose such union, while others
wish cooperation In Christian work, which
can only be accomplished by organic union.
The report says the obstacles which have
heretofore appeared against organic union
have not been removed, and it Is deemed
best for the Southern Church 10 remain sepa-
rate. The report wishes that all past differ
ences be forgotten and that close fraternal
relations be maintained, and that joint
committee be appointed to confer upon and
report to the next General Assembly the beet
means Of cooperation in extending the
Church.
The following is the text Of the report
which was adopted concerning DIR. Wood
row:
whereas the Presbytery Of Augusta did
tud Rev. DR.. James Woodrow. ID. d., not
guilty OF the charge preferred against him
by Rev. W. Adams, ID. D., wherein he was
charged with teaching aud Formulating
opinions aud doctrines In eSsfilct With the
sacred Scriptures and interpreted in our
Standards, the confession Of faith, the Longer
and shorter Catechism Of the Westminster
Assembly; that be dld on occasions meu-
toned In said charge teach and prOmulgR'e
tL.k l.. lcI 90 dam ~ nFnhghtV the
product OF evolution from the body Of some
lower animal; and whereas the Syned Of
Georgia did, upon complaint OK Rev. William
Adams, u. D., annul such action OF the
Presbytery OF Augusta, which judgment OF
the synod OF Georgia ~ brought TO this Gen.
eral Assembly by complaint OF Rev. James
Woodrow, d. D.:
Now, therefore. Il il the judgment OF the
General Assembly that Adams BODY was de
rectlv fashioned by the Almighty God ont OF
the dust Of The ground without any natural
animal psrentage Of any kind. The wisdom
of God prompted Him to reveal the fact, while
The inscrutabe mode Of HIS action therein
has not been revealed
While. therefore, the Church does not pro-
pose 10 touch, handle, or conclude any ques-
ton Of science which belongs 10 Gods KING
dom OF nature, She must, by her divine
constitution, see that these questions are not
thrust upon her 10 break the silence OF the
Scripture and supplement by any scientific
hypothesis concerning the mOGe Of Gods
being or acts in the creation, which are m
scfutable to US. II Is, therefore, ordered
that the complaint in This case he not sus-
tanned, and the judgment OF the Synod OF
Georgia be, and the same is hereby, in all
Things affirmed.
Tie following is Elder Hammond's sub
sti,ule:
"Inasmuch as the synod's action could
not, and was not, intended 10 anuul the yer-
diet 81 the Presbyiery Of Augusta, by which
DR.. Woodrow was acquitted OF heresy, the de-
cision Of this assembly does not affect tbe min
lslerlal character or ecclesiastical standing Of
the complainant. This assembly being for
hidden by the constitution OF the Church to
handle or conclude anything but that which
Is ecclesiastical, does not pronounce on the SCI
entiGc hypothesis which DR.. Woodrow holds
as probably true. but solemnly judges that
the Interpretation OF the Scripture account
Of the creation Il mans body, III accord
ance with such Hypothesis, - contrary to
the Standards Of the Church"
The substitute was rejected.
The protest OF DR.. Whaling was signed
by himself. L. W. Heiskel, j. o. Lindsay,
and thirteen Others. The protest is as fol-
lows:
We desire 10 enter solemn protest against
the decision OF this General Assembly re-
iusing TO sustain the complaint OF Rev. James
Woodrow, D. d., against the Synod oil
Georgia, for the following reasons:
/. The second specification in the indIci-
ment is expressly excluded by the constitu-
ton OF the Church, inasmuch as nothing
ought TO be considered by any court as an
offence OF admitted az matter Of accusation
which cannot be proved TO be such from the
Scripture AZ interpreted IN the Standards.
2. In the view OF yeur protestants the
Holy Bible does not reveal the form OF mat
Ter out OF which aud the time IN which God
created Adam, aud therefore the hypothesis
Of evolution "a believed by Rev. james
Woodrow cannot be regarded rs In conflict
with the teachings OF the sacred scriptures.
3. The Westminster Standards SIMPLY re-
produce without Interpretation the stafement
OF the Scriptures in reference to the creation
Of Adams body, and as The views OF the
complainant are not in couflict with the
statements Of the Scriptures. so Deither can
they be with the teachings OF the Standards.
4. The action Of the assembly IN refusing
10 sustain this complaint Is equivalent to
pronounciug certainly false the theory Of
evolution as applied By Dr.. Woodrow TO
Adams body, which Is purely scientific
question, entirely foreign TO the Legitimate
sphere OF ecclesiastical action.
Your protestants, therefore. are unwilling
that this General Assembly should eXpressany
opinion whatever respecting the hypothesis
OF evolution or any other scientific question.
In consideration Of the report Otthe Commit
tee on Hems Missions, Rev. DR.. Craig SAID
that 10 the State OF Georgia there is valley
twenty-five miles long that has not church
Of any denomination in IT, so 1t could be seen
tho need Of religious instruction IS not con-
fined to newer sections OF The country.
The Tariff Bin sra Caucus.
[By telegraph to The Dispatch.l
10