The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-24
Both the Southern and the North
ern General Assemblies
Take Up and Act on the Confer
ence Committees Report,
recommending Fraternal Coo
alton in Religious Work.
Both Assemblies Adopt the Reports
DR.. Girardeau Stoutly Opposes 1t
Because 1t VIII Ultimately
Lead to Union.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, May 23.-The
Southern Presbyterian Assembly was
called to order at o'clock this morning.
Elder ]. A. Enslow submitted the report
Of the Auditing Committee, which de-
clared that the acts OF the treasurer of the
: assembly and OF the treasurer OF the Board
>>sd Trustees OF the assembly were correct
The report with reluctance advised the
acceptance OF tho resignation of the Hon.
Jas. Hemphill, for twenty.one years
member Of the Board Of Trustees, and
recommended that Trustees John l..
Brown and John T.. Brown be reelected
trustees; that DIR. j. d. Shearer, president
OF the Davidson College, succeed the Rev.
J. Y. Farr on the board, and that Jas.
Patton Erwin and Gen. Rufus A.. Bar
ridge, OF Charlotte, n. g., be elected new
members OF the board. The report was
adopted.
The Committee on Systematic Bene6ci.
aries reported that the collections last year
amounted'to S25I, i6j.
The Committee on Sabbath Observance
recommended that the assembly indorse
petition to change the day Of Inauguration
10 the first Wednesday in March or the
last Wednesday in April, and to prohibit
work on the Sabbath, and that the assem-
bly, request officers and members OF the
church to refrain from all travel on Sun
day except in cases of necessity and mercy.
The report was docketed.
The question OF cooperation with the
Northern Church was called. The special
committee which Lad been appointed to
consider the report Of the Joint Conference
Committee submitted a majority report
fayoring the adoption Of the Conference
Committees recommendation TO cO-ope-
rate, and n minority report opposing ii.
The former was signed by nine members
OF the special committee, the latter six.
Rev. :. NJ. Watson, OF Missouri, made a
talk in support OF tho minority report. OF
which he is the originator.
N DIR. j. r. Wilson, clerk OF the assembly
and chairman OF the joint committees ad.
Al yocated the adoption Of the joint report.
The question Is collision or cooperation,
said he, and the latter Is natural and
- preferable. Some OF our Northern breth-
rem say nothing less than organic union
will satisfy them. | submit the statement,
II we can't cooperate, We can't unite. Ii
we can't court, we can't marry. Is not
our Southern bride handsome enough?
think she is, but I'm afraid she is MOI;
ready yet.
The entire afternoon session was devoted
10 the discussion OF the matter, each
member being allowed five minutes time.
Not all the members spoke, but the scnii-
ment Is Overwhelmingly m support OF co.
operation. A report recommending OF
gunc union would, however. fail.
Theposition OF those who made speeches
during the afternoon indicated as follows
Synod OF Alabama. four Tor corporation;
synod OF Arkansas. five for corporation;
synod Of Georgia, eight for corporation;
synod Of Kentucky, ten for cooperation
aud two against Il; syndol Of Memphis,
Fix Tor cooperation; synod OF Mississippi,
eight for cooperation and one against 1t;
synod ui Missouri, eight for cooperation,
synod Of Nashville, eight for corporation;
synod Of North Carolina, siX for co-opcrl-
ton aud two against II; synod Of South
Carolina, four for cooperation and i've
against Il.
One OF the strongest protests against the
motion was made by DR.. j. VI. Girardcau,
OF South Carolina. ''fho adoption OF the
report 10 cooperate" said he, lis u step
10 organic union. II 30, the question Is
whether the assembly will sdcrihcc the
union OF the Southern Presbyterian Church
for union with the Northern Church.
think represent the people Of my section
In South Carolina when ! say that II the
church adopts any measure tending to the
union Of the whites and blacks In church
or State, many II the Prcsbyterians will
leave that denomination and seek others.
Tho Southern Presbyterian Assembly,
until late hour tonight, discussed tho
matter OF cooperation with the Northern
Church. Short speeches were made 10y
four delegates FROM the Synod Of South
Georgia and Florida, two advocating and
two opposing the report. Seven dele gates
from The Synod OF Texas spoke In support
OF cooperation aud six against Il. Eleven
delegates from the synod OF Virginia adyO
Gated tho report aud seven opposed Il.
when every ono had been given an op.
portunity 10 speak the vote on the qucs
ton wis taken by ayes and noes aud re-
corded; ninciy.nno votes were cast IN
favor OF corporation ~ provided for IN The
report Of the joint committee Of confer.
cncc between the two assemblies. Twenty
seven votes were cast In opposition, TIC
full strength OF the assembly not bcing
represented. Tho report was declared
adopted. II was moved and carried e
officially notify by telegraph the Northern
Assembly Of the action taken. The Us
scmby then adjourned.