Birmingham state herald., 1896-05-28
THE GREAT DEBATE WENT ON PIumed Knights Were in the a- Arena Yesterday. 
 e COURTESY WAS THEIR BADGE Keen ThrustS Were Given and Taken in Ap-
 parent Good humor.
ONLY ONCE THE MODERATOR CAUTIONED
Discussion on the Majority and Minority Reports of the Committee on Theo- logical Seminary Continued
 Throughout the Day.

The arguments at the morning session were along the same line as those of last night, and yet the discussion was very interesting. Tne question of the con- firmation of Dr. Mitchell is very impor- tant, and is so considered by the as sembly.
 The general assembly convened this morning at o'clock. One-half hour was devoted to devotional exercises, conduct ed by Rev. W. J. Faust of Lamar, Ark.
 Rev. J. w. Wilson of Star City, Ark, led in prayer and after hymn l.. w. Mad den of Table Grove, H., led in prayer J. M. Brown of Lewisburg, Tenn, also led in prayer. W. A. Clendenning Of Nashville closed the religious exercises.
 Moderator Hawkins commended the Christlike behavior of yesterday and rec commended that the same be continued end the assembly move on with it's bus mess in a vigorous manner.
 Judge H. H. Norman was again hon. ored with a call to the chair and instruct ed delegates to ask permission of the moderator when they wished to change seats.
 The minutes of yesterdays session were read and approved.
 A Plea for the Majority Report.
 F. M. McDavid of Springfield, Mo, made argument for the majority report of the committee on theological semna- ries, which furnished food for last nights eloquence of Chancellor Green. I am sor- ry to see that so much law has crept into the assembly. am not used to so much law in our ecclesiastical councils Judge Green himself admits that the board of trustees were nasty, but he says it is law. If we are bound by the letter of the law the quicker we know 1t and define the law the better.
 MT. McDavid called upon the clerk to reas5 f~ona the minutes of the assembly of 1851 to show the attitude the trustees then occupied to the general assembly, which, he contended, was one of defer- ence and cordial cooperation.
 There is no use to cry peace when there Is no peace. I believe the president of the board of trustees is in a position of hostility to the assembly. CHon. Andrew B. Martin of Lebanon, Tenn, is the gen. tleman referred to)
 I know nothing about theology and speak for no man. l am simply for right and justice as it appears to me.
 Chancellor Green last night read in a low tone that part of the charter which Is opposed to his construction. Why was the faculty not present at the June meeting? Simply because the meeting was held secretly and the faculty knew nothing of it.
 Who should know best the interests of this assembly in the theological seminary the trustees or the board of visitors According to my way of thinking the as- semblys board of visitors is the best qualified
 T1, rr,,hho,+ ha;no questioned stotad that he had not seen any of the trustees about the seminary in three years.
 Dr. Stevens-I have not seen one in the seminary in two years
 Mr McDavid-Now, what do you think of that2 A board of trustees who do not visit the seminary under their charge. Think of that! Most of the trustees are lawyers One is dentist and several are Methodists or of other faiths. I don't believe in homeopathic doses. The trustees have done wrong and l be- lieve in so stating in plain and unequivo- cal language.
 "We Are Running This Thing" MT. McDavid stated that Dr. Martin said: "What in the thunder do we care for the assembly; we are running this seminary"
 MT. McDavid was called down for his speech and apologized to the assembly for mentioning names. He substituted
 
 for ''Dr Martin"
 Let's have nothing done at nght-se- cretly-When the moon is under a cloud We want an emphatic declaration that the trustees have done wrong. Dr. H. c. Yates of Mount Vernon, III. wanted to hear Dr. J. M. Halsell speak and was called out of order pr. G. T. Stainback called for the read ing of the ma jority and minority reports A, vote was taken and lost Dr. Stainback's Note of Warning. pr. Stainback was given the floor. and went on to say: We are treadng upon dangerous ground The interests of the Cumberland Presbyterian church are al stake. I am opposed to setting aside either. pr. Mitchell or pr. Foster They say they can't elect new professor for lack of funds. That Is the sole objection given by the board of visitors. If you can afford to pay B. G. Mitchell, all ob- lection is removed Dr. Mitchell was not elected at a clandestine meeting. Can Nathan Green be supposed to hold a clandestine meeting? Can J. D. Kirkpat- rick. who is now up wonder, be SUD- posed to hold a clandestine meeting Eyeryone with the shadow of a right to be consulted was present at the Septem- her meeting. The trustees had right at inc September meeting to say the cleo tion was "res adjudicata." There is nothing to compel the trustees to have the faculty at meetings of the trustees and make them part of the board of trustees. The trustees had right to elect whom they chose at any time they desired without consulting with anybody. was not J. D. Kirkpatrick present al that June meeting? He was; and he was member of the faculty as well as d member of the board of trustees. They left his name off the roll they called awhile ago. I want 1t on f le roll. What is the matter? The matter Is that pr. Hubbert and pr. Mitchell diff fer about the theory of the atonement and both are obstinate men. I know them. They got crossed about a certain view of the theory of the atonement. That Is all. Dr. Hubbert interrupted the speaker to explain. that he had withdrawn all oppo- sition to Dr. Mitchell, but resisted the action of the trustees on the ground of