The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-25
uhDE AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER.
.o,oRED DELEGATE RECEIVED by
PREsBYTERIANS.

scut About S14O,OOO on Foreign
,....ioos During the Year-Presby-
ton Rules for Marrying Runa-
nv CONVERSATIONAL Consult Best
interests of All.
8t.br,ond. Va, May 24.-The morning
..-s;oo Of the Presbyterian general as
.r,,n,v Witnessed the transaction Of a
mn amount of business.
notable incident was the according OF
,ts rights of associate membership 10 Rev
- " Williams, the delegate from the IN
l.,srdent CoIored Synod, who comes to
-. mon the question of colored evan
,f,sr the assembly had voted TO accord
,,.sa privileges the moderator extended
d., welcome of the assembly in few
nell chosen words, the members all stand
,og Rev. Williams responded briefly.
communication was received from the
..-e.i,tton Of ministers of Richmond and
manchester endorsing the proposition 10
remove the headquarters of the foreign
mission committee to this city. 1t was
doeketed.
Foreign Missionary Work.
The report of the committee ON foreign
,,issiors was called up and adopted The
rsnort says, among other things:
Tile net receipts for the year were
e,,iqq11O. We regret TO record the fact
mar tnis is 81 O5S.S1 less than the net re-
o.f,ts for the previous year. The year,
however closed April l, 1899. without debt
ood with a balance of $54.1O in the treas
ury.
touching this matter, and in reference
% overures from the Presbyteries of
Enoree and Arkansas, asking the general
assembly TO take proper steps to signalize
the opening of the twentieth century by
o snecial effort, to raise not less than $780,,
oN for the cause of foreign missions in
the year ending March 81, 1900, we rec
ommend that the overtures be answered
in the affirmative, and that our people
he urged 10 make the minimum of their
contributions this year 81 each.'
The report on home missions was pre-
s4nted by the chairman of the standing
committee and was adopted as was the
report on theological seminaries.
Runaway Marriages.
In answer to the overture about minis
tiers marrying runaway couples, the as
sembly made the following deliverance:
"The assembly is of the opinion that
It would be both unwise and inexpedient
n 10 attempt to lay down any mf1eXible rule
for the guidance of Its ministry in rela-
ton to the performance of this ceremony
the great bond of society 1t believes
that an enlightened conscience and the
laws of the land are, as a rule, the safest
and only guide TO be followed in such
cases But the assembly cannot forbear
n to express the opinion that in the cases
described in the overture the greatest
prudence and caution should be exercis-
cd by the minister; that he should exert
IA his influence as far as he can properly
81 ana prudently do so, to prevent such
marriages, and only consent to perform
the ceremony in those cases where he
II is satisfied from all the circumstances
that the best interest of all the parties
I'll Including the parents or parent will be
subserved by his so doing"
Sunday school Statistics.
The report of Sabbath schools and
n" SNuho bSOI)ie , SoCletleS WAS received ana
adopted. The paper gives the following
Ri interesting statistics:
M The report of 1850 Sunday schools are
B summarized, with an enrolment of 1905
n officers and teachers and 13S,557 scholars
showing an increase of eight schools
h eighteen officers and teachers, and 4,241
scholars. The contributions amounted to
%+3Z1, showing a decrease of $415S.
4 For other Objects $24 ,999 was contribut-
Cd $3.50 less than last year.
q reports have been summarized from
tWenly-eignt presbyteries, showing S31
young peoples societies, with a member
snip OF $3.50 contributing $9,S7S9S. Special
mention is made of the organization of the
coYenanters societies. The assembly Their
took recess
An Alabama Report.
Inc afternoon session was largely taken
up with debate on the motion to adopt
''e report of the committee on records OF
.Ae synod of Alabama. The point of diff.
ference was that part of the report which
mas reference to the division of the Pres
pylery OF South Alabama. A petition OF
several ministers, complaining against the
ACTON oil the synod in making this division
was answered by the committee with the
assertion that the synod is vested with au.
1aoI"y TO unite or divide presbyteries al
".-' ana that this authority is unlimited
famed after long discussion. by an over.
"neimlnS majority.
Inc following committee was appointed
:" attend the unveLing of the monument
DC erected in Old SCOTS burial ground ir
p''Iihouth county, New Jersey: Rev. DR.
D. herr, Rev. Joseph A. Vance, Rev
, at me r Tourney, and Ruling Elders T.
NI@Nam and William Writ Henry.
ff"yer for Peace Conference.
ne overture presented to the assembly
- DenalI of the alliance of the Reformed
churches was favorably reported by tn,
+.Hi'lee on foreign relations. The com
sc ieeommends the appropriation O
2 as The pro rata of the expenses of tn.
'4aHee' and closes with the following:
since the peace conference of the ac
Sepled representatives of the nations
lang forward to the disarmament o
several armies and navies of the ma
H.m Is now in session at The Hague
IiaAd that the assembly, at the adop
,b o1 OF this report, be led in prayer FOL