Birmingham state herald., 1896-05-29
.OR PHILLIPS INDORSED
A Vigorous Attack on Himself
 and Committee Failed
AND BOTH WERE REELECTED
A Message From the Prohibitionists Was Re- ceiyed in SiIence-A Protest Put
 on File.

Memphis, Tenn, May 2S.-The South ern Presbyterian assembly held a heat ed session this morning. pr. Praig of Tuskaloosas Ala, made a strong effort to have the executive committee of col ored evangeliza ton abolished and the work placed in the hands of the secretary of home missions. He said that when 1t was under Dr. Craig there was a steady increase in the receipts, but under pr. Phillips, the present secretary. there had been great decrease during the last year, while the expenss bear a larger proportion to the receipts than any other branch of the work. The expenses of the foreign office missions were 5 S-10 per cent and of the home missions per cent of receipts, while the colored evangelistic work absorbed 10 per cent of the receipts. One hundred and thirty-six dollars goes to the secretary for salary and expenses for every $100 divided among the forty or forty-five colored preachers. He said that there would be saving to the church of $2400 per annum if his substi- ute prevailed. He gave facts and fig ures for all his statements. Drs Hemp hill and James I. Vance attempted to si- lence MT. Praig by fiibustering tactics, but by two-thirds vote he was permit ted to proceed. His substitute was }est by large majority. The committee and secretary were reelected.
 Prayer was offered by the moderator at the opening of the session by order of the assembly for stricken St. Louis
 A protest signed by thirtyfour com missioners was recorded without an- swer against the assembly's action on the home and school.
 Rev. Paul r. Brown reported a strong paper on the address of Rev. R. D. Steele, chaplain of the New Orleans sea- mems bethel.
 At 12 o'clock the assembly took vote on the judicial case of the synod of South Carolina, which was decided by vote of 118 to sustain the synod and 20 to sus- tain the presbytery, nine voting to sus- tain in part.
 The protest filed this morning was as follows:
 The undersigned do solemnly protest against the action of the assembly in adopting the answer of the standing committee on the assembly's home and school to the overture of the presbytery of St. Louis and we base our protest upon the following grounds:
 l. That we believe 1t to be in direct vio- lation of our time-honored principles and a departure from an unbroken custom in refusing to accept state aid in support of denominational and religious work.
 2. That 1t is inexpedlent, proving a con- stant menace to our peace, likelihood of frequent embarrassment and expense in defending suits at law liable to arise un- der the peculiar nature of the contract and in jeopardizing the interests of the home and school before the church and world.
 3. That it will be source of grief and regret to a large constituency in our church, furnish occasion to our enemies to taunt us with inconsistency and thus aftix stigma upon the fair name of the bride of Christ, whose reputation no less than a cha rfRr SbOu16 ha wi or wrinkle or any such thing"
 Signed by Lambdin, Ryland, Brannon, Praig, Tidball, Duncan, Green, Tren- holm, Mccain, Wlggns, Cameron. Brown, Jones. Carson, Glenn, Engle. Telford, Kesler. Bocock, Holt, Tate, Rensford, Craig, Woodrow. Woodbridge. Vanlear Powell. Kennedy, Miller, Me- Alpine and others.
 It was answered later in the day by admitting copy of the contract also to the minutes.
 The afternoon session was unimpor- tant. several answers to overtures inter preting the constitution of the church were adopted. Among the answers to overtures were the following:
 The installation of pastor must be by a preSbytery or commission of presby- tery.
 When a church has only one elder he does not constitute session and can not act as such. This was warmly de- bated, but the answer was adopted and the assembly took up a judicial ques- ton against the synod of Memphis. Ar gument was still pending when the as- sembly took recess at 6 o'clock to meet again at 8 D. m.
 The time-honored custom of the Pres byteran church of the south Is to have no dealings with political parties. The following telegram. received just after the assembly came to order, was not mo- tlced in any way:
 'Pittsburg, Pa, May 2S. "To the Southern Presbyterian Assem- bly, Memphis, Tenn
 'The prohibition party gives assur- ance that 1t will take no backward step in it's relentless war against the arch enemy of God and humanity, the licensed liquor traffic.
 ID. o. w. STEWART,
 Chairman.
 "A. E. WILSON
 ASecrptary"