The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-30

A Resolution Denouncing Lynching.
Humorous Report on the Texas
Synod-Pronouncemens Against Friv.
O1ous A-musemeuts.

tOub AEluSfu1e0k1
Richmond. Va, May 25-A. h morn
ing session Of the Presbyterian general
assembly the following. offered by DR..
Kerr, of this city. was dockesed for
further discussion:
The general assembly takes occasion
to express its strongest condemnation
Of the lawless spirit abroad in h land.
manifesting itself in many ways. but
notably in scenes OF mob violence and
the taking Of human life in cases Of
supposed or proven crime. without due
process Of law, involving the awful
danger of infiicting death upon an In
nocent person, while the real criminal
goes free: tenolpg also 10 cheaper hu-
man lite; TO unrettle the social order.
and to weaken or destroy that rever-
ence for law ard constituted authori-
ty which The Scriptures require all to
uphold.
I'VE. therefore. urge all our people
and ministers in all s~criptural ways, TO
do their utmost toward ~cultivatIng n
maintaining tfat order. and reverence
for authority which are enjoyed by tho
Word Of God"
The standing committee on publica-
ton recommended n approval OF the
publication Of the report, which was
done.
The committee on the records OF the
synod of Texas We're very humoIously
presented and criticised by Chairman
Craig. The report created much
laughter, but at its close Mr.. Weaver,
of Texas, moved that it should be re-
committed as contrary to the dignity
Of the body. 1t was submitted, he said,
in a spirit OF clownishnesS, such as
- 49, - - $780,; +@l - ~ no
the report Of a body of the dignity
of the general assembly.
The motion was voted d. w., bcirg
supported orly by Nj. Weaver and four
other men bcrs. The report was then
adopted, after being amended in some
few particu airs.
The assembly adopted the recon-
lures, that in cases Ct emergency, the
moderator can cell a meeting of a p S.
bytery Without the concurrence OF two
| ministers CT two elders.
The 1eply of the committee to the
| overture from the presbytery of Athens
thai therc is no warrant for the OBJ
~servance of Chli-tmas and Eas er as
| holy days, was adopted unanimously.
The assembly ed in the
| recommendation of the committee that
/ alternates may take the place OF prin-
| cipalS. or VicI versa, after a church
| court has been constituted, and one or
the otner has taken part in the pro-
ceedings.
| The afternoon session of the assem-
bly, was occupied with further consid
Grafton of the report of the committee
on over lures.
The assembly refused to concur in the
rect m~merdation that the reports on
statistics and systematic beneficiaries
should embrace the same amounts.
Tine recommendation that in view OF
the to- ner deliveranccs on the subject
the q -sembly should not issue a pas
toral on the subject of dancing. card
playing and theatre-going, and tn
growth of C~ngodliness, vas met with
an amendment proposed by Mr.. Aud
of Florida He cited cases where ruin
n trouble" has come as a result OF
dancing and he urged the assembly &c
issue a new address on the subject, in
answer to the overture of Fayetteville
~presbytery.
After a long debate the pending
question was called, and Mr.. Aud:
substitute was adopted.
A further motion to amend tn,
amendment in accordance with tn,
, suggestions of Mr.. Price, so as to in
J Guide structures upon the neglect o
private prayer, and public worship. am
the patronage of the Sunday newspa
pers was declared to be out of orde
by the moderator.
DR.. kerr's lynching resolution wa
adopted after being amended by tn
addition of the following words: Will
expressing our adherence of the crime
which have led to these irregularities.
The night session was devoted to dis
cussion of the report on colored evan
~geliZatiOn.