The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-05-24
SOUTHERN PRESBYTERIANS.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY DRAWING
TOWARDS A CLOSE.

lions Of the Committee on iicensure
Rejected.
AsHEvILLE. y. c., May 23.-'spcC ial. F.
The Presbyterian Assembly met $3.50 \. NJ
and was opened with PRAYER by Rev. Mr..
Lawrence. 4 communication was received
from +. T.. Stephenson. Secretary of the Ma
tional Reform Association, which has in
hand the reform Of the civil laws in regard
10 marriage. divorce and other points con-
nccted with the family. II boing SO near
the close of the session of the present A.
scmbly, it was deemed advisable not 10
take any action, but the whole matter was
referred To the next Assembly.
RIGHTS OF DEACONs.
ln adopting the report Of the committee
OF bills and oYerqrt,, the Assembly de-
cided that deac0ns have no right 30 call
gaii0nal meetings. Dr. Ferdinand
Jacobs, Father Jacobs" as the venerable
Old man is called. read the narration Of the
state of religion i'm the churches. This was
a long hut excellent paper. presenting a
very favorable view OF the sil'e of religion
throughout the Church.
Dr. Campbell read a letter Of fratcTai
-
formed church in America, and it was or
dercd TO bee forwarded to that church.
ON motion of DR.. lIcmphill. the Executive
Committee Of Foreign Missions. was in
slrucied to pay 10 the family Of Rev. John
W. Dabncy, who died in the missionary
work in Brazil. the balance ol The salary he
would have received. had he lived 10 the
end of the present year.
SABBATH OBSERVANCE.
The report Of the standing committee on
the sabbath was read and adopted. This
report refers 10 The fact that this church
was the first tO make a move for united ac-
lion among evangelical denominations for
The consideration Of the subject Of the better
observance Of the Sabbath.
The agitation OF the subject thus started
in 1873 has resulted i'm the formation'of a
National sabbath Association. The follow
ing delegates are appointed to the next
meeting Of this association: Dr.. VI. II.
lloee. of Richmond. Va: Dr. W. T. IhOmp-
son. Charleston, = c.; DR.. II. VI. smith.
Ncw Orleans; Dr. 4. ID. Witherspoon.
Louisville: DR.. G.. Il. strickler, Atlanta.
Ga: Dr James stacy.
The report protests against the profaning
Of t.e sabbath by business or pleasure. or
by the use 0f public conyeyanccs. II ''roc-
0umcnds this day without revision as our
fathers handed it down to u.s."
ON the subject OF Sunday newspapers 10
says: "lhis assembly will occupy no uucer-
tain position; 10 condemns them rs "eyil
ana only ,evil. rs they deprive their opera
lives of the rest oi the sabbath. and furnish
reading unsuitable for the Lords day
LICENsUREs
Mr.. Vance. Of the special Committee on
Liceu-urc. read the following report from
his committee:
The committee TO whom was referred the
majority aud minority reports ofthc commit
tee arpOi0ed by ihc General Assembly ol
1879 10 report 20 thls Assent Is ''on the
whole subject OF ccT~ure. of The holding OF
services by unlicensed pcrs'us,aud of urclci-
lag 10y nal ug tl crs. with tine end ln view of
reducing our practice fO uIiiClMliN,' would
respectfully submit She i0ilowing as q substl-
lute for b1inrDuurfs.
j., I.a' trals for liccisure of probation
crs o. pICarH ilc Gospel remain as at pre-
sent. but thlt This Assembly recommend tu
the lit -hrleiits that chapter ST, section 6.
PARAGRAPHS and Is of the BOOK of Church
1Ider. Dr. .o amended ttat rarf-rapa shall
Iend: "lGc-c cNcrc SEES. or lu the case 'i cii.i-
nilatcs vino may mos hfte pursued tne tcgu-
lai course ui study, Ot |tr eAcrc'r OF tilnl-
lar character. shall. ht ihe discretion oi lhr
ircshr co.. De cAhiliieI mll i. shall AIt.
Obtained saf -ficiiOu rs 90 lue candidate 5
iietv. learning and aptuess io teach ln tlc
Church,
>
discretion OF iHe llcshFitly shall Dc eNllli li-
ed until lt slall have Obtained satisfaction as
i0 tnc nd'aaio's llciv. learning and dptnc.s
90 teach lu tue Gnu ches.
And paragraph shall read:
Ioshyiery shall require its candidates,
whenever pricfi able, To complete iha usual
course Of 9cademic3l studies auu ..s5 O.
study divinity at least two years under some
approved teacher oitheDioey
"a. ln view oftnc fact thar there ere m-1y
destitute fields greatly ia need of tie prctcA-
td word. Hut That these are increasing ln
number yearly. and where's we have many
young men of ability and undouhted liu'g ,
Who have tuC ministry ln view, and nave
plItiy nttoi themselves for this work, we re-
commend lhai Thy Dee permitted To conduct
religious services under tHc jurisdiction OF
sessions and lrl sbyteries.
Bird. Whereas, tie form of government l.
chapter I, section 3, paragraph !, max Z
the duty Of ruling elders "tO take ihe over
si .ht Ol the spiritual interest rs OF the par
Ter church ana also II lhe cnufch seneruhy .
when called thclcuniO. that nu corrup ion OF
doctrine or morals enter thcreln:' ana
where's. ilc proposed directory for worship,
chapter .. paragraph 2, indicates tAe pr %
prieiv oi meetings Tor prayer, 10 ie conduct
od bV the pas or cor some other member of the
session. in which the exercises should b.
3D. aver, praise. the reading of the scriptures
and eX orlatlOu, 10 Is .hc duty Oi me RUINS
elders, both ia the absence Oi the bshpps or
pastors. and iu destitute places, 10 conduct
religious services, leading tine people iu slI@
me The praises of God. IN prayer, giving Bible
readings or seloc ng "a passage OF scripture
ard cXpounding DO unto the people, making
.thf m understand the meaning thereof
But w would also recommend that sucl
labOrs Of ruling elder bee confined 10 the
congregation of which he is "a member uni 49,
authorized by his PfcsbyteIy To labor else
where.
AS the fields are whitening unto the har-
vesi, as 10 seems wclluigh mp essiDlc g. Sc
cure an adequate ministry, as the OospSi ls
10 be committed 10 faithful men, uourished
up i'm sound dOrt'ine, as our ruling elders are
well qualified 10 instruct the people Of God,
and as they are specially CHARGED IN Ncls
2D.2S Ito lesd the Church. az God, it is tnch
uounden duty 10 procl9in the Word OF the
Lord as opportunity is pie esented.
Kcspcc. fully submitted. j. 1. Vance, j j
Wade, Kenneth Mcdonald.
This brought forth many amendments and
more speeches-some Of which were very
good-and when the house came 10 vote
on the subject. ihc report was rejected 10y ;
vote of IS 10 ,6. Striking as this does at q
vital point in the p0lity of this church. ihi'
conservative body hesiiated about takin.
any action that mi sht result in very radi
PEACE ARBrfRArloN.
At4P. VI. tine Assembly met again, an
th. report Of the bills and oyertufes com
mittoe in regard % DR.. Campbells Overture
ina reference to peace arbitration; the pfnpo
.itiou Of the paper was adopted. ana DIS
/ Camnleu and lioge aud VI. VI. Gillian wer'
anpDiuicd committee % confer win olh1
| churches. Drs. Campbell and Hoge Wer'
appointed delegates 10 "a peace conference
| 10 be held IN Europe next year.
CoLORED RACE.
The ropcrt Of the committee on the evan
oallzation Of the cOlored race was read a''
/ adopted. This report says there Is an j.
creasinl, interest IN this work. IL urges n
increased effort To give the pure Dospel
the seven millions OF these people III li'
southern states. The report on Noluh'aN
societies was presented ana adopted
REVISED DIRECTORY.
the Assembly referred the revised dire'
tory back ~ the committee OF revision, VA,
Dr.. Kerr. Davies and Lacy were added
this committee. ..ol
\ GOOD deal Of routine business was sO
ten through with at the night session.
vote Of thanks was returned 10 u
church and citizens for their 10
nitality. 10 the railroads for iaNor
and The representatives OF the pre-
for courtesies. All the business Is no
lone. and all that is left i the iorlnaI q
iournment, which will take place to-iho
: row morning,
-r,,r MnpTLFRN BODY.