Wichita eagle., 1888-05-27
RELIGIOUS NEWS
The PreSbyterians go tOgether-The Ger
man teachers-the Methodist.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, May 26.-The ques-
ton OF the rumor of the two great bodies
of the Presbyterian church which was the
occasion of such an exciting espode in yes
terday afternoons session of the general
assembly again came up unexpectedly this
morning and in the twinkling Of an eye
almost, it passed out of the range Of con-
troversy and debate as far as thisassemb.y
is concerned and long step was made in
the direction of organic union. The result
was received with a perfect whirlwind OF
applause and congratulations among the
commissioners and spectators who crowd
ed the galleries and who were apparently
taken completely by surprise by the sud-
deness of the turn in the proceedings.
The second order of the morning, the re-
port of the standing committee Oh temper
ance, had just been reached and Rev. w.
o. Campbell, d. D., had mounted the plat
form to speak to its adoption when the
Rev DIR. Smith, of Baltimore. the veneer
able ex-moderator of the assembly, stepped
forward and announced that the special
committee of the conference to which had
been referred yesterday all matters relat
ing to the union with the southern as
sembly, was ready to report. Rev. VIM.
c. Young, d. d., read the report. Sub
stantially it was as follows:
That this general assembly commend
the fidelity and efficiency of the commit
tee appointed last year to confer with
committee from the southern assembly as
expressed in the report yesterday submit
ted, and that while it would be premature
and improper to accept that report as a
definite form of union, this assembly de-
clares its hearty approval of all answers in
the committee report touching the var
ious questions submitted to it by the COM
mittee of the southern assembly. Further
more the general assembly expressed the
hope that the fraterniZing spirit that had
been manifested in these centennial days
might prove the beginning of an era of
more cordial fellowship and cooperation
between the two assemblies Of the Pres
byterIaa church. 1t was recommended
that the committee of conference appoint
ed last year be continued with an addition
OF i've members to confer with any similar
committee that might be appointed by the
southern assembly respecting the co-opera-
ton of the two branches of the church.
The report concluded by declaring that
this operation in its fullest sense could be
accomplished only by an organic union
and expressed the fullest confidence in the
y
report recommended the addition of the
following members to the committee of
conference: Rev. Henry Darling, D. d., OF
Clinton, \. Y: Rev. Charles Pomeroy, d.
d., of Cleveland, Ohio; Rev. VIM. G.
Young, ID. D., of Louisville, Ky; Hon. ;.
NJ. Breckenridge, of St. Louis Hon. NJ.
Knox, of Minneapolis. DR.. Young had
scarcely finished reading the report when
a score OF voices moved its adoption and
there was visible excitement among the
commissioners ana auditors. a single
member was seen struggling for recogni-
ton in the body Of the hall, but he WAS un-
able TO make himself heard and d mighty
volnmne ot ayes answered the moderanDrs
question. That settled 1t, and the clerk,
Rev. .Wm. Il. Roberts, ID. d., Immediately
teleEraphed the action to the southern
general assembly at Baltimore The reGu-
lar order was quietly resumed.
The report OF the standing committee on
Temperance was presented. The report
recommended that church people
by no means sanction the traffic in
liquor, either by endorsing the bonds
Of dealers or renting buildings
10 them, and includes resolutions disClaim-
ing political motives, but declaring III
favor of the entire suppression of the traf-
fic of intoxicating liquors as a beverage.
They recommend TO the sessions that
church membership be denied TO liquor
DIR. Campbell spoke in favor of adopting
the report and its accompanying resolu-
tons
Dr. Howard Crosby opposed the adoption
of the resolution denying church member
ship to liquor sellers, anu hoped il would
be stricken ont. The sentiment of the
assembly was apparently so strongly in
favor of the resolutions that the debate
was not prolonged. They went through
with only few dissenting voices The
assembly then adjourned until Monday.