The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-26
%PRESBYIE2|ANS
Business Transacted by
the Assembly.
COLORBD SYNOD DELEGATE


shfp-Received by the Commissioners
Standing-Kepori Of h Committee
on Foreign Missions-A DeliverAnce
on Question of Ministers Marrying
bath Schools.
Richmond, Va, May 24.-The morn
lug session Of the Presbyterian general
assembly witnessed the transaction OF
a great amount of business. A notable
incident was the according of the
rights of associate membership to Rev.
T. W. Williams, the delegate from the
INDEPENDENT colored synod, who comes
to speak upon the question of colored
CHARACTERIZATION. After the assembly a
decided to accord these privileges, the
moderator extended the welcome of
the assembly in a few well-chosen
words, the commissioners all standing.
Rev. Williams responded briefly.
A communication was received from
the association Of ministers of Rich
mond and Manchester endorsing the
proposition to remove the headquarters
of the foreign mission committee to
this city. 1t was docketed.
REPORT ON FOREIGN MISSIONS.
The report of the committee on for
eign missions was called up and
adopted. The report says, among 9th.
er things:
The net receipts for the year were
$144, 99O.10. We regret to record the
net receipts for h previous year. The
year, however, closed April 1, 1895,
without debt, and with a balance of
$54.10 in the treasury. Touching this
matter and in reference to Overtures
from the presbyteries of Enoree, Ark
Kansas, asking the general assembly to
take proper steps to signalize the open
ing of the twentieth century by a spe-
cial effort to raise not less than 5000, 900
for the cause of foreign missions in the
year endir March 81, 1900, we recon-
mend that these overtures be answered
in the affirmative. and that our peo-
pie be urged to make the minimum of
their contributions this year 81 each.'
The report or home missions was
presented by the chairman of the
standing committee and was adopted,
as was the report on theological semi
naries.
THE MARRIAGE OF RUNAWAY
COUPLES.
In answer to the overtures about
Alidfi Ing Ioll-dWdy Couples,
the assembly made the following deliv-
erance:
The assembly is Of the opinion h
it would be both unwise and inexpedi-
emit to attempt to lay down any inflex-
IDLE rule for the guidance of it's min
1stry in relation to the performance of
this c~eremony-the great bond of So
clety. 1t believes that an enlightened
conscience and the laws of the land
are, as a rule, the safest and only
! guides to be followed in such cases;
but the assembly cannot forbear to ex-
press the opinion that in the cases de-
scribed in the overture the greatest
prudence and caution should be exec-
cised by the minister; that he should
exert his influence, as far as he can
properly and prudently do so, to pre-
vent such marriages, and only consent
to perform the ceremony in those cases
where he is satisfied from all the cir
cumstances that the best interest of all
the parties ~Cncluding the parent or
parents) will be subserved by his so
doing"
SABBATH SCHOOLS.
The report of Sabbath schools and
young peoples societies was received
ana adopted. The paper gives the fol-
lowing interesting statistics: The re-
ports Of 1850 Sunday schools are sum-
married with an enrolment Of Is, 03S
oflcers and teachers, and 1873, 557 schol-
ars, showing an increase Of s schools,
IL officers and cache and 4,241 schol-
ars. The contributions amounted TO
$44,5Zi, showing a decrease of $4,15S.
For other objects $24, 999 was contribu.-
ed, $3.50 less than last year.
reports have been summarized from
tWenty-eight presbyteries, showing 331
young peoples societies. with a mem
bership of 1892, contributing s9,S78.9S
Special mention is made OF the organi-
eaton OF the ~covenanters' socities.
The assembly then took a recess.
The afternoon session was largely
taken up with a debate upon the mo-
ton to adopt the report of the COM
mlttee on records Of the synod of Ala
bama. The point of difference was
that part of the report which has ref
erence to the division Of the ~presbytery
or South Alabama. A petition of sew
eraI ministers complaining abainst the
action or the synod in making this di-
vision was answered by the commit
tee with the assertion that the synod
is vested with authority to unite or di-
Vlde presbyteries at will, and that this
authority is unlimited by the constitu-
ton. The report was sustained after a
long discussion by an overwhelming
majority.
The following committee was ap-
pointed to attend the unwilling Of the
monument to be erected in Old Scots
burial ground in Monmouth county.
New Jersey: Rev. DR.. r. p. Kerr. Rev.
Joseph A.Vance, Rev. Parke p. Flourn-
cry and Ruling Elders 7. p. Graham
n William Writ Henry.
The overture presented to the assem-
bly, In behalf of the alliance of the re-
formed churches was favorably re-
ported by the committee on foreign re-
lations. The committee recommends
the appropriation of $3.50 as the pro
rata Of the expense of the alliance, and
closes with the following:
Since the, peace conference of the
accredited representative OF the ma
tons, looking forw ard to the disarma-
ment Of the several armies and navies
OF n nations, is now in session at The
Hague. Holland, the assembly, at the
adoption of this report, be led in