The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-26
PLANS OF THE PRESBYTERIES.
DIR. VAss OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
VIRGINIA MAKES A REPORT.

BetheIs-RepOrts on a Number of
Overtures Submitted and Adopted.
4 Meeting in the Interest of For
cign Missions Held at Might.
Memphis. Tenn. May 25.-This morning
business at the Presbyterian assembly be-
gan in earnest The opening religious
exercises were conducted by Rev. ]. n.
Naff of Virginia, the oldest commissioner
present.
The moderator, in a grateful speech, re
minded the assembly Of the parliamentary
rules of order, which he promised should
be strictly enforced. "A proposition to dis
pense with this afternoons session met
with considerable opposition, but was
adopted.
Dr. Vass, chaplain of the University or
Virginia. rendered a report on theological
seminares. 1t commended the progress
made and approved the election OF Dr..
strickland and Dr.. Kan to chairs in Union
and Columbia seminarles. The report was
DT. Burkett's report from the foreign
spondence committee recommended
Sl50 instead of $3.50, as the annual appro-
priatlon for the Pan Pres byterlan ALI
auce. 1t was hotly debated by Drs. Wood
row. Vance, Hemphlil and others. ErOba-
bly, the best speech of this hot debate was
made by Hon. William Coe, member OF The
tv. who opposed any decrease in the APP
preparations. 1t was nEaily settled thar
The delegates appointed last year 20
attend the coming Glasgow meeting OF
the alliance should ask for an inVestiga-
ton Of the basis Of the representations
and assess ents of the chaplain Of the
New Orleans Seamens' bethel
Rev. P. Il. Steele then addressed the
assembly on the subject of the work
among seamen. He spoke Of the COCA
work being done AT Mobile, Charleston.
ports as well as a New Orleans. His
remarks were brief and received close at
tenUiOn.
The moderator appointed Rev. p. F.
Brown and Elder K. 5. Upton a commit
Zee on the Bethel address.
The committee on bills and overtures,
through the chairman, DR.. Eemphill, re-
ported in regard to the overture from the
presbytery of Memphis, asking THAI regu-
Jar reports be ordered from the churches
regarding their Westminster leagues, and
that the committee on publication be Or
dered TO furnish suitable blanks for this
purpose, and that the committee recon-
mend that the petition be granted. This
was adopted.
DR. Hemphill further reported, recon-
mending that the overture from the same
presuytery, asking Interpretation as TO
whether il be lawful to elect as cOmm-s-
sioner TO the general assembly ruling
elder In active service in a church, under
its jurisdiction, who is not member of
the presbytery at the time of the cleo
ton. be answered thus: That it IS com
a
commissioners TO the general assembly
any ruling elder under its Jurlsdicuon.'
This was adopted.
further reported as 10 the Overtures from
the pres Dytery of South Carolina,
asking amendments to the form
of government that the assembly decline
TO send down to the presbyteries the pro
posed amendments to the book Of church
order. This was adopted
The committee further reporteq as 10 me
overture Of the presbytery of Wilmington,
asking the assembly TO so amend the con-
stitution as TO makait possible for Two or
more weak churches to combine under one
pastoral government that they We're una
bic to frame an amendment TO meet the
case which would not be an infringement
upon the inherent rights of the congreSa-
tons The negative report OF the commit
tee was adopted.
Several oVertures of minor importance
We're then disposed of, without debate.
As to the overture from the presbytery
of South Alabama, asking the assembly
to state whether the government OF the
temporal affairs of the church inheres to
the deacans of the church by virtue or
their ordination, or by special act OF the
church session, the committee recon-
mended that an answer be sent saying
that the administration OF the temporal
affairs of the CHURCH does not lnhere to the
deacons by virtue of their ordination, but
may properly be committed TO them. The
object of this overture was to ascertain
whether in the opinion OF the assembly me
deaconate received its authority over the
temporal affairs of the church from the
session. or because of the ordination" DIR.
Sprague suggested the defining OF what
was meant by temporal AFFAIRS as an
amendment to the motion which had been
made to adopt the committees report
There was some debate and upon the vote
DR. woodrow offered a substitute for
Dr. HemphiNs answer to the overture,
and this precipitated lively little three
cornered fight between DR.. Hemphlli, Or.
Woodrow and DIR. l.. c. Nass, in the course
of which there were two threatened APP
peals from the moderatorS decision, helth-
er of which, however, could get a second
There was evident a little disposition TO
take advantage of the extreme anabllity
of Moderator Mallard, but when ne real
lied that the house was getting into
hopeless tangle through this debate on
points of order, he brought his strong
common sense to bear, brushing away all
the bubbles and summarily choking on
DR.. Woodrow's substitute was lost, ana
the report of the committee was adopted.
1t is understood, however, that this is
not the end of the matter, as one of the
elders Mr. Dean of Opelika, Ala, says he
will move for the appointment OF Spe-
oial committee, to whom this matter may
he referred and an amendment to the
book prepared to be sent to the presbyter-
les for their approval.
After some unimportant announcements,
the assembly look recess at $3.50 until
S O clock.
A mass meeting in favor of foreign mis-
sions was called to order promptly at
nounced some changes in the committees,
owing to the departure of some of the
commissioners.
The first speaker was Rev. ]. p. Smith,
D. D., who spoke feelingly of the mis-
sionaries who have died during the year.
DR. Smith is chairman of the standing
committee on foreign missions, and was
in charge of the meeting.
The next speaker was Rev. John L.
Stuart a missionary from China, who
described the work in that land. The
mission was inaugurated in 1857. 1t now
has i'll stations, 5S7 missionaries, and 235
converts. His address was very interest
ing.
He was followed by Rev. II. P. Price of
Japan, who spoke gratefully of the kind
treatment he and the other missionaries
have always received from the Japanese
government and people. There are now
364 Protestant churches in Japan. Of these
70 abe E=esbyterajn, with ~ ordained
ministers and II. 600 members The inhu-
ence Of Christianity is wonderful in that
country In the first parliament of Japan
there were thirteen Christians, of whom
a Presby terian was chosen speaker.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Prices address
short talks were made by Director Ches-
ter and others. Much interest was mani
tested in this branch oe the church's
work and the closest attention was paid to
each SnpalEer