Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1895-04-12
PRRSBYTERY DOlNGS,
The Presbytery OF Bismarck INDUCES
i'll a General Discussion Of
Church Matters.
Passes Resolutions Anent the Posi-
ton of the State in Divorce
Matters,
Commissioner A. II. Laughlin Advises
Farmers to be Careful in Sow
ing Of Flax Seed.
Presbytery of Bismarck.

The presbytery of Bismarck met in
the Presbyterian manse, and chose, after
preliminary calling to order, Rev. P. S.
Davies, Phi. D., Of Mandan, for modera.
tors, and Rev. John Copeland, of Dickln.
son, for temporary clerk.
Among matters considered, was the
"Plan of Federation of all the Presby.
terrain or reformed churches in America
The scheme had two main features:
l. A general council, composed of
four ministers and one elder from each
church in the council; i. g.: Eq ual
representations; not proportional repre-
sentation.
2. The sharing of all expenses in pro
portion to the number of church com.
municants; not in proportion to the
members of the general council.
The presbytery appreciated the spirit
of church unity and brotherly love,
but objected to plans, wishing to have
proportional representation and proper
tional expense; not equal representa-
ton and unequal expense.
Commissioners to the general assembly
at Pittsburg, Penn, meeting next month,
were chosen: Observation-Disclosures, P.
S. Davies; alternate, j. B. Hobart.
Elders-Principal, J. r. Clark, Of Man
dan; alternate, E. Falkenstine, of Bis.
marck.
The overture from the general assem-
bly,, as to a new chapter to the Book of
Discipline" providing the constitutional
empowering Of a committee of prosecu-
ton of complaint to continue through
successive courts of appeal until final
decision was reached, was answered in
the affirmative.
The SELF denial week" TO be observed
in the churches from April 7 to April II,
for contributions to mission work, was
thought inexpedient as all weeks should
be weeks Of self-denial, and the prece-
dent would be for the establishing of
ecclesiastical feast and fast days, against
which the Presbyterian church protests
The churches of the presbytery we're
considered, and Rev. P. S. Davies was ap.
pointed moderator of the church at
Sims in addition to his charge at Man
dan, and Rev. A. Durrie was assigned
pastoral care of the churches of Coal
Harbor, Washburn, Sterling, Steele and
Glencoe, as we'll as the church at Bis
marck. Rev. J. Copeland, of Dickinson,
was directed to inquire into the feasibil-
ity of organization at Taylor.
Owing to the sparseness Of settlement
and inability to provide churches near to
all, it was recommended that those in the
country indemnity themselves with the
nearest church organization, even though
not resident in the church locality.
The question of grouping of churches
was discussed, and it was hoped that
plans would be soon perfected for sup
plying Steele and Sterling, Glencoe and
Williamsport.
The question of divorce, and the posi-
ton of our state in it's laws on this mat
ter, was freely discussed, and the follow
ing resolution was adopted:
Resolved, That the laws of this state
dealing with the marriage and divorce
question are opposed to the letter and
the spirit of our christianity, and we
hereby pledge ourselves to work for their