The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-05-26
D1xIE's PREsBYrERIANs.
A Deliverance on Dancing and tn
Punishment Therefor.

Macon, Ga, May 25.-Rev John r.
Herndon, d. D., of Nashville opened the
sixth days session Of the general as
sembly of the southern Presbyterian
church this morning
The proceedings of the commission APP
pointed to try the appeal case of the
prcsbytery of Ouachita against the action
of the synod of Arkansas We're read. The
commission sent in two reports, but the
finding of the commission upholding the
presbytery of Ouachita was approved
and made the Judgment of the assembly.
Rev. S. A. King, d. d., of Waco, Tex,
gave notice that he would enter protest
A resolution for calling the roll before
adjournment 50 as to check absentees
without leave was adopted.
The report on young peoples societies
was read. 1t says that ''inasmuch as in
dividual strength is most effective by
combination, it is well for the young peo-
pie in our churches to form societies in
order TO develop their energies to the best
advantage and such societies properly
organized and controlled will have the
approval and encouragement of the assem-
bly,. We do not deem it wise to prescribe
any particular form of organization"
Continuing the report says "The ses-
sion must absolutely enforce the iniunc-
tiOn of the scripture forbidding women to
speak in the churches, l. Cor xiv 81, or
in any way failing to observe that rela-
tive subordinatiOn to men that is taught
in l. Cor. xl. ,.13, and other places"
The report from the committee on bills
and Overtures was interesting. 1t is on
request from the presbytery of Columbia
for a deliverance as to whether it lies
within the power of the church session to
excOmmunicate member for dancing.
The committee recommends that the
censurs which may be inflicted
by the church session are admonitiOn
suspension and communication. The
last is the extreme penalty of the law and
is ordinarily to be inflicted only after
milder cenSures have been employed and
failed, and not unless the offender has
been proved guilty of gross crime or
heresy and is incOrrigible and con
tumacious. Nothing is to be considered
as an Offense which cannot be proved
such from the scriptures as interpreted
in our standards. These standards
interpret the scripture as condemning
lasclviOus dancing, and when, in the
Judgment of the session, an accused per-
son is found guilty of participating in
such dances, and when ali other means
have failed TO reclaim the offender, it is
clearly within the power of the session to
excOmmunicate the offending member.
The report on home missions contained
and repeats the old plan Under the new
plan the general assembly appoints two
annual collections for the assembly's
home missions, including causes now
known as sustentation and evangelistic
and church erection, to be taken in the
month of January and September. To
this there was a minority report, but
after discussion lasting four hours the
majority report was adopted
The report on foreign missions was read
by Rev. j. F. Channon, d. D., of st.
Louis The report is encouraging as far
as the work in the past year is concerned.
Rev. N. M. Houston of Nashville, Tenn,
having offered his resignation, the com
mittee asked the assembly to request him
to remain for one more year.
The report of the committee on educa-
ton was also read and made the special
order for tomorrow
The report of the committee on foreign
missions was taken up at the session to-
night and discussed for two hours Con
sideratiOn of this report will be continued
tomorrow 1t is not probable that the
assembly will adjourn before tomorrow
night