Birmingham age-herald., 1895-05-28
THE PRESBYTERIANS.
A Crowded Docket in the Last Days
 Session.

Pittsburg, May 27.-The last days ses- sion of the 107th general assembly opened this morning with a crowded docket.
 An overture from the synod of India, asking for a reply to the memorial upon the subject of baptism of polyga- nous converts, was considered. A No hammedan was admitted to the church and allowed to retain both wives in his house. A memorial was presented ask ing the general assembly that final power be given to the synod of India in such cases. A protest against this memorial was filed, and the whole matter was laid before the general assemblys standing committee on church polity. The an swer of the committee was that no ac- ton be taken on the ground that, accord ing to the book of rules, polygamous marriage was forbidden and the church session was constituted an authority to decide upon the admission of persons to sacraments.
 pr Thompson, representing the com mittee. explained that there was no con crete cases before the assmbly and that tn committee was indlsposed to interfere until a judicial case involving the ques- ton of polygamy was before it. The assembly and not the synod was the authority in judicial cases, and special legislation in favor of the synod of India was not necessary. Fr.'
 
 India, urged that that body was eompe- tent to decide on the questions relating to matters affecting customs and prac- tices of India. He held that the recog- nition of polygamous marriages by the church in India was absolutely neces- sary Any other rule, he said, would rule David out of the church. It having been ordered. to take the vote on the answer at the conclusion of the remarks of Dr. Morrison, and the motion to consider this action, so as to permit further debate, having been lost, mo- ton was made to refer the whole matter to the next general assembly.
 This motion caused a spirited debate. and was laid on the table, A resolution was presented by Dr. Johnston of Chicago recommending that the whole matter of polygamous mar riage be left to the discretion of church sessions, in .order to bring, the whole matter properly before the assembly. On motion the whole matter was re- ferred back to the committee on church polity. with instructions to amend Its answer.
 On return from It's consultation the committee recommended the appoint- ment of a committee of three to examine into the whole matter of polygamous marriages, and report to the next gen eral assembly. The resolution was adopted.
 The committee on bills and overtures presented It's amended answer to oVer- lures referring to reduction of assembly assessments from cents to 6 cents a member. This matter was debated on Saturday, and the committee was in- structed to prepare an answer setting forth reasons in detail against the pro posed reduction.
 MT. Mutchmore, chairman of the com mittee, argued that the proposed reduc- tion would drive the assembly to adopt Saratoga as the regular meeting place. He held that rotation of meeting place was of inestimable value to the church. He said that it was necessary that rep resentatives of the church should be cared for in good style at the general as sembly, and that a saving of 1 cent member should not influence commits sioners against such reasons
 The amended answer of the committee retaining the cent rule of assessment was adopted. one vote only being in the negative.