The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-28
POLYGAMoUs PREsBYrERIANs.
The Assembly Called on to Decide n
Case I'm India


Pitisburg. May Z7.-The last days ses-
sion Of the one hundred and seventh gen
eral assembly Of the Presbyterian church
opened this morning with a crowded
docket
An overture from the synod OF India.
asking for reply TO a memorial upon the
subject of the baptism OF polygamous con
verts was considered. a Mohammedan
was admitted to the church and allowed 10
retain both wives within his house.
A memorial was presented asking the
general assembly thai final power be given
20 the synod of India in such cases. 4 pro-
test against this memorial was filed and
me whole matter was laid before the as
sembiy's standing committee on church
ponty- The answer of the committee was
tnat no action be taken on the ground that
according to the book OF rules. poIygamous
marriage was forbidden and the church
session was the constituted authority TO
decide upon the admission Of persons to
the sacraments.
Or. Thompson, representing the commit
tee, explained thai there was no concrete
case before the assembly and that the com
mlttee was indispOsed 20 interfere until a
Judicial case involving the question. of
polySamy was before IL; the assembly and
not the synod was the authority in judi
car cases. and that its special legislation
IN favor OF the synod was not necessary.
DR.. Morrison, representing the synod of
India, urged that that body was COM
petent TO decide on questions relating 70
the customs and practices of India. lie
held that recognition OF polygamous mar
rlages by ;he church in India was absolute
~ necessary. Any other rule, he said.
would rule David out of the church.
4 -.
taken on the answer at the conclusion of
the remarks of Dr. Morrison, and a mo-
tlon TO reconsider this action so as 20 per-
NIT further debate having been lost, a mo-
ton was male TO refer the whole matter
TO the next general assembly. This motion
caused spirited debate, and was laid on
the table. \ resolution was presented by
DR.. Johnston Of Chicago, recommending
that the whole matter of polygamous mar
riage be left 70 tho discretion of the
church sessions. in order to bring the mat
ter properly before the assembly in the
form of a judicial case.
On motion the whole subject. was sent
back to the committee on church polity
with instructions to amend its answer.
on its return from its consultation the
committee recommended the appointment
Of committee of three TO examine into the
whole matter of polygamous maria ges and
report 10 the next general assembly. The
resolution was adopted.
The committee on bills and overturcs
presented its amended answer to the over
lures referring to the reduction of the as
sembly assessments from seven cents TO six
cents a member. This matter was much
debated on Saturday and the committee
was instructed to prepare an answer set
ting forth the reasons in detail against
the proposed reductions.
DR.. Mutchmore chairman of the COM
mittee, argued that the proposed reduction
would drive the assembly to adopt Sara
toga as the next regular meeting place.
He held that rotation of the place was of
inestimable value to the church. He
said that is was a necessity that the rep
resentatives of the church should be cared
for in good style at the general assembly
and that the saving of one cent a member
should not influence the commissioners
against such reasons.
The amended answer of the committee
retaining the seven-cent rule of assessment
was adopted, one vote only being in the
negative.