The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-28
DON'T WANT ANY HELP
Or. Smith, Of Richmond, Voted Against
Accepting Any Aid From Virginia.
SOUTHERN PRESBYTERIAAs IN SESSION
A Long Debate on the Establishment
of Brnnch Repositories OF tho At
The Economy of the Executive
Committee Highly Commented.

Memphis, Tenn. May 27.-The Assem-
bly, opened at 9 o'clock with devotional
exercises by Rev. w. II. Palmsr. OF
Trenton. Tenn. After the usual OPEN
ing routine DR.. j. p. Smith, of Rich
mond Va, desired TO record his vote in
the negative on she question of State
aid to the school at Fredericksburg.
Notice was given of u protest on the
same subject.
Rev. DR., L. p. Bowen. of the Com
mttee on Publication, submitted answers
10 overtures In Its hands.
A long debate followed on the eStab-
iishment OF branch repositories Of the
publishing house In Atlanta. Memphis
and other cities. DR.. Hazen. secretary
or the publication, said that 1.-The es-
tablishment of such repositories would
cripple and eventually destroy the pub
iicatio9 work of the church by the di-
vlding and imparring its capital, now
barely sufficient. 1t would be absurd
f.om business standpoint. We do not
object to local repositories If supported
by local capital"
A large majority decided against the
deposHories. The report of the Com
mtttee on Publication was read and
docketed. 1t refers to "the busy demons
or the press" which the church must
fight with their own weapons. commends
uhe work of the Executive Committee
and recommends it's reappontment.
The Bills and Overtures Commt.tee
them reported, clearing their hands of
several unimpor.ant' papers which pass
ed without debate. The foreign mission
report was taken from the docket and
adopted by section. The economy of
the Executive Committee Is commend
ed. the treasury is out OF debt. Regrets
are expressed that 1890 have not given
TO ;he foreign mission and the report
blames the ministers for failure to re-
pont the causes.
Them Assembly then took recess to 3
The ASSEMBLY NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. at
Tex. presented the report of the special
committee on Sabbath schools Reply
ing to an overture. which had been
placed In Its hands. 1t requested that
the Executive Committee of Publication
be Instructed to employ a suitable man
to give his whole time TO developing the
Sunday school work and colportage, as a
missionary agency" Adopted.
A telegram of greeting was received
from the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, in session at Birmingham.
a judicial case involving the question
of color. was then taken up. and the
Assembly was soiemnly constituted a
court to consider the matter. The case
is as follows:
One Reuben James, q colored man. pre-
ssn:ed himself as q candidate for the
ministry before the PresbNtery of Char
lesion, which Is in the black belt OF
South Carolina The Presbytery exam
ined him and was satisfied entirely as
10 his qualifications, but refused to re-
ceive him. solely because he was a negro.
Exercising It's right to review the records
OF the Presbytery, the Synod took eX-
ception TO this action. and ordered that
the Presbytery reconsider Its action and
receive Jams. Elder J. A. Ensloe, of
Westminster Church. ChHIleeton, brings
the matter before the General Assembly
by complaining of the action of the Sy-
nod. The first speaker was Elder En-
cloe. He disclaimed race prejudice and
spoke of his lifelong interest in the re-
ligious training of the negroes. But
the people of Charleston Presbytery do
not deem 1t wise to permit any mingling
of the races. His principal point was
that he book of church order does not
recognize ,Jhe relationship of candidates
to Presbyteries, therefore the Synod had
no right to force upon the Presbytery
a relationship which is unconstitutional.
Elder w. X. Thompson, OF South Caro-
lima. represented the Synod He appeal
ed for the colored race and said that
eve have no right to refuse to license
one of It's mambers 20 carry the gospel
to his own people. There is no fear OF
race aralgamaLlon in South Carolina
These colorcd men will be driven to leave
our church and enter the Northern
church. which is holding out It's arms 10
eceive them"
1 lie greatest speech Oh the session by
far was made by DR. Woodrow Among
other things me said was: II do not rec
ogniZe the right OF the Church to bind
my conscience. If my conscience will
not permit me TO obey te law OF the
Cnu!ch, have a simple remedy. 1 will
not obey ! Will withdraw from the
Church Charleston Presbytery cannot
come up here and say that It has con-
sc!ent.ous reasons for not obeying the
constitution OF TIE Church. II It will
not obey, let 1t withdraw"
The whole afternoon was taken up
by this debate. Most of the speakers
expressed themselves as opposed to the
introduction of the color into the
Caurch courts. especially when there are
cdlored commissioners now on the floor
of the assembly. The debate was still
in progress when the hour for recess
was reached. An effort was made to
have vote tonight and for few mo-
ments there was the utmost 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 Moderate.
solved the question by ordering a re-
cess until p. m.
The Assembly met at 8 p. M, DR..
Rumple presiding. at the request of the
Moderator, Religious services were held
and addresses delivered by DR.. Craig.
Secretary of Home Missions; Silas Ba-
con, full blooded Choctaw Indian, who
is a commissioner to the assembly, and
Rev. ]. P. Gibbons of Indian Territory;
Rev, u, G. Bingham 0f Arkansas. Rev