The morning news., 1890-05-18
SUNDAY NOT KEPT HOLY.
pREsBYTERIANs ALARMED BY THE
SIN OF THE AGE.

The Tendency to Make the Day one
of Recreation on the Increase -
snecial Committee Appointed to
Renort on the Work Among the
Neeroes - Several Overtures Pre-
sented.
AsHEvILLE, n. c., May 17.-This was
che third day of the general assembly OF the
Presbyterian church south. The proceed
ipgs were opened at $50 o'clock this morn
inr with prayer by DIR. Hemphill
4 communication was read from the
colored presbytery of Texas asking that
the assembly give them aid in building
churches. 1t spoke hopefully of the work
they were accomplishing in that state. 1t
was signed by J. H. Blake, moderator, and
was referred to the committee on home
missions.
The suecial committee for work among
the negroes was announced by the modera-
tor as follows: r. ii. Fleming, Il. A. Kiss
ing. w. c. Smith, R. Q. Baker, Nj. NJ.
Gillian, 7. S. Bradheld and William Cox.
This committee will report to the assembly.
The presbytery of Albemarle presented
an overture on the evangellzation or the
jaws 1t was referred without being read.
An overture touching an obligation OF
tithe was referred to special commlttee.
A second overture with regard to evan
gelization of the Jews from the presbytery
of Athens was referred.
A number of other overtures were read.
The more important were one from the
synod of South Georgia and Florida, asking
that the boundaries of the synod be
changed; one from the presbytery or Con-
cord, asking that the question OF tithes be
remitted by the assembly; and one from
the presbetery of Enoree, in reference to
young women who we're Offering themselves
as foreign missionaries.
OBSERVANCE OF THE SABBATH.
The report of the permanent committee
..on Observance of the Sabbath was referred
to a special committee It expressed re-
pret that the committee had nothing of an
encouraging nature to report. Many things
had been bettered as result Of their work,
but in their opinion observance Of the Sab
bath was not retaining its hold upon the
people as in former days. The general ten
dency seemed to be in the direction of looser
views of the observance of the
Lords day. Out of forty bresby-
teries to which they had written no
more than dozen reported an improve
xnent in the keeping of the day. " bile it
was generally admitted that more faithful
observance was noticeable among church
members it was not so in the outside world
Many seemed to think that the day was for
recreation and pleasure, and not for sacred
rest.
SOME OF THE CAUSES.
The introduction of railroads, foreign
travel and the prevalence OF a looser view
of the meaning of the scriptures were
assigned as possible causes. Newspapers
We'd with each other to make their issues
on that day most attractive. The report
stated that public conveyances were patron
lied ON Sunday largely by church people
By way of throwing light to offset the dark
side of the report it afforded the committee
pleasure TO state that the municipal laws
in some of the larger cities were now
better enforced, and saloons were
closed in some of them and
base ball games prohibited on Sunday. The
chairman of the committee had attended
the annual meeting of the American Bible
Union, held at Washington, and had deliv-
cred lecture on Sunday trade and Sunday
newspapers The report spoke Of President
Harrison and majority of the members of
his cabinet as being of pronounced religious
views.
GREETINGS SENT NORTH.
A committee on foreign correspondence
was appointed to send greetings to the Sar-
atoga assembly and forwarded the follow
ing: "The general assembly of the Presby-
terian church south in the United States, in
session at Ashevilie, IN. c., sends fraternal
greetings, and iAvokes upon you the divine
blessing"
The report of the executive committee on
publication was read by DIR. James X.
Hason and referred.
The treasurer's report shows that SIS, 557
have been received on the collection account
from churches, Sabbath schools and indi-
viduals during the past year, an increase of
about 10 per cent. There has been a large
increase of expenditures for benevolent
work. The table of assets and liabilities
shows an excess of assets over the liabilities
of SS0,041, an increase over last year of
IS, ,S52. The liabilities and debts are practi-
caly none. The number Of all the period
icals issued during the year is as follows:
Earnest Worker, $1,000; Children's
Friend, 100000; Lesson Paper, 1.560,000; /;
primary lesson papers, 10000
EDUCATIONAL WORK.
The report of the executive committee on
education was read by DIR E. M. Richard
son and referred. 1t spoke with feeling of
the death of F. W. Sheriff. of the committee.
Compared with last year the number of
persons aided by the committee was thirty
nine greater. The committee urged the
importance of increased contributions, and
asked Sunday schools and ladies' societies
to contribute. 1t also urged large churches
to give their aid to the committee instead
of to individuals, as was frequently the Gus
tom.
DIR. C. A. Stillman read the thirtieth an
nual report OF tn6 executive cOmmlCuee OF
the Institute for Training Colored Ministers
at Tuscaloosa, Ala. The report stated that
there had been no interruption of the exer-
cises, and that in Robert B. McAltin, who
succeeded DIR. Sanderson, they had found a
worthy head far the institution. The at
tendance of students. Presbyterians, had
been somewhat larger than in previous
years. The report recommended the estab-
lishment of a preparatory department for
the training or colored students. Five
students will be sent out at the close of the
present session. The library has / 800 vol
umes. The report was decidedly fiattering
A UNIVERSAL PEACE PLEA.
DR.. w. A. Campbell submitted an over
ture asking the assembly to petition the
different religious bodies of the country
asking them to join the assembly in petition
ing all the governments of christian coun-
tries to take measures to Danish warfare a
ameans of settling strife that arises between
nations and to substitute a more rational
and christian tribunal 1t was tabled.
long communication from the tenn
perance committee was presented and it
reading was made the special order of bust.
ness for to-day.
The place of meeting of the next genera
assembly being up for discussion, Rev. G
Wilson of West Virginia invited the Assem-