Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-25
THE pRESBYTERIANS.
Protest at Nashville Against Refusal TO
Consider. Union.
SMITH HEREsY CASE.
II IL Formally Opened mt Saratoga
Charges Against the Professor
Sadie Means Matter.

!. NASHVILLE. TENN. May H-The
| General Assembly OF the Southern Pres
byterian Church upon reassemblins ~
day received the report OF the Commit
tee on Narrative. This report. which II
very encourag ing one. says there l.
steady growth In the churches. The vote
3 ON the organic union matter taken yes
ter,iay was corrected. and found to be
ayes. 81; nays. 81. A formal protest was
offered by DIR. Elwanger and others
against the action Of the assembly yester-
day In refusing to appoint q committee on
organic union. The protest will be an
swered by a committee to be appointed
for that purpose.
The report OF the Committee on IL
censure was taken up. and DR.. Converse
held the floor in favor Of the majority
report when the assembly adjourned Tor
the morning
The Moderator announced the following
committee To answer the protest OF the
morning: Revs George Sunny and Eu-
gene Daniel, and Elder White. or South
Carolina.
The discussion Of the llcensure report
was then resumed by DIR. Converse In
favor of the majority report. Dr. Story
/ followed, and argued for the adoption
OF the minority report. which would har-
monte divergent views.
DIR. McPheeters argued that II was ne
cessary to maintain high standard OF
scholarship IN the Church. and there
should be a change In the law OF licensure,
and that the matter should m some
way be submitted TO the presbyteries.
The question would not down, and she
existing laws should be changed. DIR.
Daniel said the Church had a definite
doctrine as 10 the call to the ministry.
and the question to be settled was: Was
the called OF God to preach the Gospel?
He argued in favor OF the Mecklenburg
paper. DR.. McCutcheon said the question
was how to bring the law and the prac-
tice under the law together. 1t could
and should be done, and the presby'cries
should exercise their power.
DR. Rosebro wanted both reports, and
offered an amendment harmonizing them.
Dr. Converse gave notice that II the mi
nority was defeated he would move TO
adopt Brother ROsebro's amendment. n
vote was taken on the minority report, |
and it was rejected. The majority report
was then adopted. Dr. Converse moved
that the language OF the MeckIenburg
overture be sent down to the presby-
teries. Dr. Harrison opposed the motion,
and IL was referred 10 committee com
posed OF Drs. McCutcheon, Rosebro. and
Lyttle.
II was then agreed 10 take up the Sadie
Means case tonight, and a recess was
taken until l.. NJ.
EDUCATION.
The Committee on Education reported
that 2i2 candidates had been admitted
that the total receipts had been over $1,000; |
that the $4,000 debt be paid as soon a.
possible that not more than 500 be allow
ed each candidate. and that this be con-
ditioned on ability 10 pay and not be
considered a debt; that $4,000 be raised
next year TO be apportioned among the
presbyteries.
II was recommended that churches and
presbyterios undertake the education OF
special candidates for the ministry.
Lengthy recommendation were made "a
to the general supervision OF candidates
during thSy collegiate course. The report
will be considered tomorrow.
The report Of the Committee on TheO-
logical Semnaries showed that these In
situations were all in good condition, and
II was recommended that the seminary
course be extended to four years, with
six months study. The report was dock
eted
The report Of the Committee on Mar
ratives showed that seventy-two narra-
tives had come into their hands: that
there seems TO be "A steady growth in
the churches; that last year the average
addition to each church was something
over seven. The report further says
that the committee is fearful from the
tone Of these narratives that the Pres
byteries are in danger of teaching that
a special outpourng OF the Holy Ghost
is only in proportion as there are access
sions TO the churches. Your committee, IS
fearful that this greed for more MEM
bers is dangerous menace to the truth,
and would respectfully remind the
churches that the true prosperity of the
church does not consist in the mere ag-
gregate Of the roll. but in the purity
OF the Gospel preached.
The only complaints uttered as TO lax
ity refer to riding on street-cars on
Sunday. and the reading OF Sunday news
papers. PresbyterIes seem to be almost
entirely free from intemperance, Wild
ness and questionable amusements. Fam |
lily worship is sadly neglected. and Sab
bath-school instruction has almost en-
tlrely ursurped the place OF parental
fidelity.
The Northern Assembly.
SARATOGA. May 2i.-In the Presby- |
terrain General Assembly this morning |
ex-Moderator Craig announced the re-
ceipt of advices from Nashville to the |
effect that the Southern Church, by |
vote of "a 10 63, had declined to appoint a
committee of conference ON reunion with |
the Northern Church.
The Smith heresy case was the order Of |
business for the day. and 1t was promptly |
begun and occupied the entire day. lol- |
lowing are the charges on which Mr. |
Smith is being tried:
First. The Presbyterian Church in the |
United States OF America charges me |
Rev. Henry Preserved Smith, -. d.. be- |
ing a minister In said Church. and "A |
member Of the Presbytery Of Cincinnati, |
with teaching in pamphlet entitled |
Biblical Scholarship and Inspiration" |
contrary To fundamental doctrine OF TIC !
Word OF God and the Confession OF Faith |
that the Holy Spirit did not so con /
troll the inspired writers In their
composition OF the Holy Scriptures
as 10 make their utterances abso- /
lutely truthful. e. free from error
when Interpreted In their natural and in /
tended sense. The above charge is sup |
ported by eleven specifications, each |
giving references to the pamphlet
Second. The Presbyterian Church In the
United States OF America charges the |
Rev. Henry Preserved Smith. ID. d.. a ,
minister In said Church, and a member
Of the Presbytery of Cincinnati. I'm a |
pamphlet entitled. Biblical Scholarship |
and Inspiration with alleging that the |
Holy Scriptures are not an Inspired and |
infallible root Of faith and practice. with |
denying In fact their Inspiration in the |
sense in which inspiration is attributed |
TO the Holy Scriptures by the Holy Scrip
lures themselves. and by the Confession OF /
Faith.