Birmingham state herald., 1896-05-28
FIGHT ON THE COLOR LINE Southern PresbyterianS Bothered About a Negro Candidate. DR. WOODROW VERY FRANK He Does Not Recognize the Right of the
 Church to Bind His Conscience.
 The Proceedings.

exercise by Rev. w. T. Palmer of Tren- ton, Tenn. After the usual opening routine Dr. J. P. Smith of Richmond, Va, desired to record his vote in the neg ative on the question of state aid to the school at Fredericksburg. Notice was given of a protest on the same subject.
 Rev. pr. L. P. Bowen of the committee on publications submitted answers to overtures in it's hands. The question of young peoples societies. now agtating all churches, cropped out in connection with the request for preparations of doctrinal topics for young peoples meetings. Dr. Parks championed the cause of the young people. The committee opposed prepara- ton of such topics, but the assembly de- cided by large majority in their favor. The assembly decided that it could not interfere with the prices of religious pa pers.
 A long debate followed on the estab- lishment of branch Repositories of the publication house in Atlanta Memphis and other cities. Dr. Hagen, secretary of publication, said that 'the establishment of such Repositories would cripple and eventually destroy the publication work of the church by dividing and impairing its capital, now barely sufficient. It
 
 point. We do not object to local deposi- tories if supported by local capital" A large majority decided against the de- positories
 The report of the committee on pubE- cation was read and docketed. It refers to "the busy demons of the press" which the church must fight with their own weapon comments the work of the ex- ecutiye committee and recommends its reappointment.
 The bills and overtures committee then reported, clearing their hands of several unimportant papers which passed with out debate.
 The foreign missions report was taken from the docket and adopted by section. The economy of the executive committee is commended, the treasury is out of debt. Regrets are expressed that 1889 churches have not given to foreign missions and the report planes the ministers for fail ure to present the cause. Action was taken disposing of mission property in Brazil.
 The assembly then took recess to 3 D. m.
 The assembly was called to order at D. m. Rev. J. s. Moore, D. D., of Sher- man, Tex, presented the report of the special committee on Sabbath school sec retary. Replying to an overture which had been placed in its hands, it recom- mended that the executive committee of publication be instructed to employ suitable man to give his whole time to developing the Sunday school work and colportage as a missionary agency Adopted.
 telegram of greeting was received from the Cumberland Presbyterian as- sembly in session at Birmingham.
 A judicial case involving the question of color was then taken up and the as- sembly was solemnly constituted court to consider the matter. The case is as follows: One Reuben James, colored man, presented himself as candidate for the ministry before the presbytery Of Charleston, which is in the "black belt of South Carolina. The presbytery eX- amined him and was satisfied entirely as to his qualifications, but refused to re- ceive him solely because he was negro. Exercising its right to review the records of the presbytery, the synod took eXcep- tion to this action and ordered that the presbytery reconsider it's action and re- ceive James. Elder J. A. Ensloe of Vest minister church, Charleston, brings the matter before the general assembly by complaining of this action of the synod.
 The first speaker was Elder Ensloe. He disclaimed race prejudice and spoke of his lifelong interest in the religious training of the negroes But the people of Charleston presbytery do not deem it wise to permit any mingling of the races. His point was that the book of the church order does not recognize the relationship
 
 the synod had no right to force upon the presbytery' relationship which is un- constitutional.
 Elder W. K. Thompson of South Caro- lima represented the synod. He appealed for the colored race and said that i've have no right to refuse to license one of its members to carry the gospel to his own people, There is no fear of race amalgamation in South Carolina. These colored men will be driven to leave our churches and enter the northern church, which is holding out its arms to receive them."
 The greatest speech of the session so far was made by Dr. Woodrow. Among other things he said was, T do not rec ognize the right of the church to bind my conscience. If my conscience will not permit me to obey the law of the church I have a simple remedy I will not obey. I will withdraw from the church. The Charleston presbytery can not come up here and say that it has conscientious reasons for not obeying the constitution of our church. If it will not obey let 1t withdraw"
 The whole afternoon was taken up by this debate. Most of the speakers ex- pressed themselves as opposed to the in- troduction of the color line into the church courts, especially when there are colored commissioners now on the floor of the assembly, The debate was still in
  reached.
 An effort was made to have vote then, and for few moments there was the ut most confusion. Motions, to take recess, to go on with the vote and to lay on the table came from all parts of the house. The moderator solved the question by ordering a recess until p. m.
 The assembly met at p .m., pr. Rum pie presiding, at the request of the mod orator. Religious services were held and addresses delivered by Rev. Dr. Craig, secretary of home missions; Silas Bacon, a full blooded Choctaw Indian, who is a commissioner to the assembly, and Rev. J. P. Gibbons of the Indian territory. Rev. E. c. Bingham of Arkansas, Rev. R. Rowbotham of Florida, Rev. s. J. McMurray of Texas and F. W. Merlin, an elder of Plant City Fla, spoke of the work among the Mexicans, Cubans and poor whites of the south. The meeting was very interesting.
 After the mass meeting the, report of the home mission committee was taken up by sections and adopted. Under the head of the invalid fuud Dr. Craig told of