Helena weekly herald., 1889-05-30
SUU HEKN PRESBY TEXANS,
Discussing sabbath Observance and
Church Union.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, May 22.-Ths
evolution question came up again to-day in
discussion of the resolution to disapprove
the action of the South Carolina synod con-
demning as unwise, irregular and uncon-
stitutional the action of the Charleston
Presbytery in forbidding the public con
tending against the decision of the
Baltimore Assembly in the Woodrow
evolution case. After several heated
speeches the resolution disappearing the
action of the South Carolina synod was
adopted by vote of 113 to 81. Thus the
doctrine of evolution was again showed
under. In particularly vigorous speech,
opposing the action of the Charleston
Presby terry, DR.. Girardeau said they had a
right, as guardians of the church, to pro-
hibit the circulation of such false doc
trine. The matter comes down to the
question whether we as a church are to
consider the scriptures silent or not in re.
gard to the manner of creation. The Bal
timOre Assembly said not; the Charleston
Presby terry said not, and he hoped this
General Assembly would do the same.
CHATTANOOGA, May 23-In the South
ern Presbyterian General Assembly to-day
the report of the committee on Sabbath
observance recommended that the assembly
indorse the petition to change the inaugu-
ration day to the first Wednesday i'll
March, or the last Wedne sday in April,
and to prohibit work on the Sabbath. The
assembly request the officers and mem be rs
of the church to refrain from all travel on
Sunday, except in cases of necessity and
mercy. The report was docketed. The
| ion, of 4
church was then called. a special COM
mittee, which had considered the report of
the conference committee, submitted a ma
joriiy report tayoring the adoption of the
scommendation to cooperate, and min
orlty report opposing it. The afternoon
was devoted to discussion. Not all the
members spoke. The sentiment is in favor
of cooperation.
One of the strongest protests made was
by DIR. Gerardeau, of South Carolina. The
adoption of the report to cooperate,
said he, was to stop the organic union. If
so the question is whether the assembly
will sacrifice the union of the Southern
Presbyterian church for the union with the
Northern church. 1 think l represent the
people of my section in South Carolina
when l say if the church adopts any meas
ure tending to the union of the whites and
the blacks in church or state, maLy Pres
bytelians will leave Chattanooga, Tenne-
see. The discussion was continued until a
late hour to night. Whenever an oppor-
tunity had been given to speak vote was
taken and SO votes were cast in favor of
the cooperation and 81 in opposition the
full strength of the assembly not being
represented. The report was then decided
adopted
CHATTANOOGA, May 24.-In the South
ern Presby terians General Assembly to-day
several members who voted against the
action of the Assembly in adopting the CO.
operation report filed written dissent,
stating that the assembly should have first
referred the matter to the Presbyteries. In
expressing their opinion of the report of
the standing committee on foreign mis-
sions, while approving cooperation in
foreign fields, they discourage union of
missionary churches where "the dis
tinctive features of our government are
surrended and those entering into such
union will no longer be considered our
missionaries" This report was referred to
a special committee to report at the next
assembly.
A telegram was received from the North
ern Assembly at New York, stating their
action on the cooperation matter.
The telegram was referred to special
committee. This committee reported this
evening the following answer to the North.
ern General Assembly: "We concur in
the action of your assembly as conveyed in
your telegram"
This report was adopted, those who op-
posed the joint report last night being ex-
cused from voting.