Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-05-26
DECISION REVERSED.
PRESBYTERY OF OUhCHlTA SuS-
TANNED IN THE APPEAL CASE.
Home-sfission Report Presented, Dis
cussed, and Adopted - Lascivious
Dancing-Wome en- Subordinate.
Especial telegram to tho Dispatch. ]


Macon. Ga, May 25.-The comm ission
reported recommending that the decision
OF the Synod of Arkansas be reversed and
the presbytery Of Ouachita be sustained in
the appeal case. This action authorizes
presbyteries to employ their candidates
under the direction of the Presbyterial
Committee on Home Missions.
The Home Mission Committee presented
its report, which was carefully prepared
and fully discussed. occupying the greater
part OF to-day's discussions. One OF the
amendments offered was to discontinue
tho publication of the Home Missionary,
but it was decided TO continue its publ
cation tor another year.
THE sYSoDIcAL PLAN.
The report recommends the adoption OF
what Is known as the synodical plan OF
home missions-thst Is, that each presby-
terry and synod do all In their power to car
~ on the ome- mission work in their own
bounds giving two collections year to
the general work. which are to be used in
the missionary synods and In the regions
beyoLd.
DR.. p. II. Hoge, of Wilmington. n. c.,
was invited to address the assembly as the
representative OF the Home Mission Com
mittee of tho synod. After many speeches
by members of the assembly the report
was adopted.
Rev. J. n. Craig. ID. d., and the former
Executive Committee on Home Missions
were reelected for the ensuing year.
CAN BE EXPELLED.
In response TO an overture the assembly
SAYS that after milder censures have failed
and in case the offender has been proven
guilty of lasciyious dancing the church
session may excOmmunicate mber.
This 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 proven guilty OF gross crime or here
sy and IL incorrigible and .contumacious.
Nothing is to be considered rs an offence
which cannot be proven such from the
Scriptures as interpreted IN our standards.
These standards interpret Scripture as
condemning lascivious dancing, and when
In the judgment of the session ali accused
person is proven guilty OF participating In
such dances, and when all other means
have failed to reclaim the offender. 1t Is
clearly within the power of the session to
excoIamunicate the offending member.
resolution for calling the roll before
adjournment so as TO check absentees
without leave was adopted.
tOCIEIlES.
report:on the young peoples societies
was read. 1t says that "inasmuch as IN
dividkal strength is most effective by CON-
bination. 1t is well for young people IN our
churches to form societies in order to de-
yelop their energies TO the best advantage.
and such societies, properly organized and
controlled, will have the approval and en-
couragement of the assembly. We do not
deem 1t wise TO prescribe any particular
form of organization"
Continuing. the report says " The ses-
sion must absolutely enforce the injunc-
tiOn of Scripture forbiddng women TO
speak in the churches 0. Corinthians w.,
34). or III any way falling TO observe that
relative subordlnation to men that Is
taught IN L.CorInthians XII, Is, and other
places"
FOREIGN MISSIONS.
The evening session was taken up with
the consideration Of the report of the
standing Committee on Foreign Missions.
Ii spoke in encouraging terms OF the work
of foreign missions. but called attention
TO tho fact that there had been slight
falling off in the contributions TO this
cause. The whole amount of the collection
was Sl27,Sll 1t was decided that 1t Is not
advisable at this time to establish a train-
ing-school at Using -kilng-Pu. China. The
request of the Greek Evangelical
Ch,lrcb that the assembly turn over
the property owned at Nalos was
not granted. as it was not. deemed to
be for the best interests OF the Greek
Church itself TO do so. The assembly re-
commends that prayer be made III behalf OF
the Chinese IN this country. that all their
rights may be protected and that the le-
gislation touching these delicate matters
may be so guided and overruled that no
wrong may be acted upon the Chinese in
our own land and that our mission work
In China may not be interrupted nor en-.
dansered. Pending the consideration OF
this report. which called forth great deal
of discussion, the assembly adjourned
until tomorrow.