The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-24
RULES OF THE CHURCHES
A NUMBER OF SUBJECTS ACTED
ON BY THE PREsBYTERIANs.

nal-A Gratifying Showing Made by
the Sabbath Schools.
AsHEvILLE, N. c., May 23.-In the Pres
byterian general assembly the report Of the
standing committee on publication was con-
sidered seratim. 1t was adopted after strik-
ing out the clause recommending that the
report Of the committee be printed at the
same office as the regular proceedings.
Concerning an overture from the Tran
sylvania presbytery, asking the assembly to
add to topics 9and IL of the narrative Of the
sessions the words "among church men,
bers," the committee recommended that the
request be granted.
STICKING TO THE OLD HYMNAL.
An overture was read from the Atlanta
presbytery asking the assembly to consider
the subject Of psalmody with view to sup
plying the church vita new hymn books
better adapted 20 the use of the churches
than the present one. The committee
recommended that the overture be declined,
since the executive committee, with the
sanction of the assembly, has put
its imprint upon the psalms, hymns
and spiritual songs which seem TO
be equal to the present requirements. 1t
was recommended that no books. tracts or
other literature should be published by the
committee which have not been examined
by at least two of the examiners, approved
by majority Of the committee.
EDUCATIONAL WORK.
The report of the standing committee on
educationewas also considered seriatim. A
portion was adopted at once. That part
recommending that $685. 900 be raised to aid
in the education of young ministers called
out several speeches, but was finally
adopted. The report of the committee was
then adopted as whole.
The report of the committee on Sabbath
schools, showing their gratifying condition,
was read and adopted.
A report on systematic beneicence was
read and answers to number of overtures,
being part of this report, asking for the re-
peal of the present schedule Of collections,
and recommending that the collections
taken up during the months named be for
the causes specified. Two sections were
adopted. The third section, which was con-
sidered too broad for the assembly to in.
dorse, was dropped.
PROLONGED DEBATE.
When the time came for adopting the
report as a whole, DIR. Davies earnestly op-
posed it on the ground that it was revolu-
tionary and that it was opposed to the
directory of worship, and DIR. Shearer sec
onded him on the ground that the adoption
OF the report would put Presbyterians
on a level with the Methodist and other
churches. The report favored the issuing
of licenses to preach to men not regularly
educated for the work. This was the con-
tested ground and the assembly prolonged
its session half an hour to discuss it, AT
| the end of that time vote was taken on its
adoption and it was lost.
BILLS AND ovERTUREs.
~
mitted reports. The first overture was one
from the Greenbriar presbytery, asking
that the constitution be amended so that
the elders and deacons be required to take
an examination ON church doctrines and
rules before they could be ordained. The
committee recommended that this overture
be docketed and spread on the minutes, to
come up before the next assembly. After
some discussion the recommendation was
accepted.
An overture from the synod of Arkansas
asking what was to be considered official
proceedings of church court, and IL an
error was afterward found, how it was to
be corrected, was answered that when the
minutes Of meeting were approved they
became the official proceedings, and cor
rection could be made at a subsequent
meeting. The report was adopted.
THE COMMITTEE ON NARRATIVE.
The report of the committee on narrative
was read by DR.. Jacobs. 1t stated that
sixty eight presbyteries had submitted re-
ports, and they were based only on partial
reports from the churches. Not more than
20 per cent. of the churches had made any
report whatever. This failure to re-
port was to be regretted. The
state Of things from the presbyteries
heard from were, however, highly
satisfactory. Many small churches were
making no advancement, but the general
report was good. 1t was estimated that not
more than four-afths of the population
were professed christians. One hundred
years ago tine ratio was one to twenty-five.
Sunday newspapers were denounced Con-
tributions in the different churches were
spoken Of as satisfactory. The report was
adopted and the committee discharged.
THE REFORMED CHURCH.
DIR. Campbell, from the committee on
foreign correspondence, read a letter pre-
pared to be sent to the Reformed Church of
America acknowledging the receipt OF u
letter from the delegate appointed by the
Reformed church TO bear greetings to this
assembly. The assembly would send no
delegate this year, but assured the Reformed
church of their unabated interest and Joy at
the tokens of divine favor in the prosperity
with which they have been blessed.
The auditing committee examined the
accounts of Rev. DIR. Wilson, treasurer of
the assembly, and found them neatly and
properly kept. The accounts show bal
ance of s228.
WANT THE PRINTERS IN CHURCH.
The report of the committee on Sabbath
was brought up and adopted. The last
clause refers to Sunday newspapers as en-
couraging evil. They food the laEd with
psrnic.ous literature. Church members
were asked not to countenance them in any
way.
Rev. DIR. White of Texas introduced a
resolution asking for the appointment of a
chair for Bible study in the theological SEM
mary, and Dr. Hemphill introduced one
asking that the salary for 1890 for John W.
Dabney, recently deceased missionary to
Brazil, be appropriated for his family.
They were adopted.
The report Of the committee on syste-
matte beneficence. consideration of which
was not finished last night, was again
brought up. A motion to add that the COL
lection in February be applied to church
erection was carried. The report was
adopted as whole.