The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-05-20
NORTHERN PREsBYTER1ANs.
The Question of Organic Union-The
Heresy Case.

Saratoga, May 19.-The business of the
lO6th Presbyterian assembly was re-
sumed at S:30 o'clock this morning.
| DIR. Craig, Of the committee on bills and
oyertures, presented a partial report from
his committee. This was in effect as fol-
| lows: On the question of coalition, with
| the southern church, the committee rec
ommend that the assembly take action to
! appoint special committee of nine to
confer with a similar committee, if one
should be appointed by the southern
| church, to take into consideration the
whole question of organic union of the
two churches, and to report to the next
general assembly. The resolution was
! greeted with applause, and adopted by a
| unanimous rising vote.
The moderator and stated clerk were
authorized to telegraph the resolution to
the southern church.
The overtures reported for organic
| union of the churches north and south
| were referred to the committee on bills
and overtures
Col. John j. McCook, of the Fifth
avenue church, New York, was appointed
vice moderator.
THE SMITH HEREsY CASE.
The report of the judicial committee on
the Smith heresy case, which was to
| sembly, was suddenly shelved this morn
ing, after hurried conference of the
leading members of the committee,
held in the pulpit, back of the
| moderator. The hour for the reading OF
the report arrived just as the conference
was closed, and the chairman announced
that the committee had decided to with
hold the report until Monday. This was
disappointment to the liberals,
I L.,
privilege of studying the report
over Sunday had the original pro
gramme been followed DIR. Gardner,
chairman of the committee, has the re
port in his possession, and it will be read
at the opening hour on Monday. 1t finds
that the appeal of Dr. Smith, of the Gin
! cinnati Presbytery, is in proper form and
recommends that it be entertained.
This would be a surprise to the comis-
sion as 1t has given out that the finding
would be against its being entertained,
and thus this disagreeable task of listen
ing two hours of heresy debate would
be avoided.
POSITION OF THE COMMITTEE.
The committee takes the position that
the assembly should give the Smith case
fair hearing. On the committee are
several men of large experience in heresy
trials, who went through all the lengths
of tine Briggs case. The assembly
will not have an opportunity to
hear arguments on the judicial
committees report on Monday, for as soon
as it is read, it loses its place in the order
of the day, and the chairman must yield
the floor to the charm an of the special
committee on theological seminaries. 1t
would be put on the calendar for Wednes-
day or Thursday, by which time, the
theological seminary reports will be ott
of the way.
THE sEMINARIEs.
The majority report on the seminaries
question briefly stated, recommends the
creation of trust under which all the
endOwments of seminaries shall be held,
and gives the general assembly
veto power over elections to
the faculties and boards of
trustees. Power is also given for the en-
forcement of the veto and of the terms of
the trusts. The resolutions, if carried,
will not be binding, as the seminaries are
independent of the general assembly and
cannot be forced to change their
charters. The effect of this will be
simply to apprise rich Presbyterians that
money which is given to theological
seminaries refusing to amend their char
ters will be given at the risk of alien
ations from the rules and faith Of the
Presbyterian church. The seminaries
themselves stand practically solid in their
opposition to any interference in their
business by the general assemblies.
Lane Seminary of Cincinnati, which
was cut of from the general assembly at
Washington on account of its relations to
the case of Henry Preserved Smith, to-
day presented through its board of direc-
tors, an overture to be restored to all the
rights and privileges of the church.
1t also asks that1 aid to students,
which was withheld last year by the
board of education, be restored.
Debate on this subject was begun to-
day.
Only one session was held to-day, and
the assemble then adjourned until Mon
daV