Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-23
THE NORTHERN pREsBYTERIANs.
Color-Lino Questions-Lynch law In
the south.

| fore the Presbyterian General Assembly
to-day Rev. ". II. Franklin. a colored
| minister, Of Rogcryille. Tenn. read an ex-
cerpt from local paper which said that
no colOred member of the assembly had
yet spoken in the debates, on account or
the fear inspired by the recent outrages
in the South, not knowing but they
might be held to painful account when
they return. Franklin stated that the
article was without foundation, and that
IN justice to the colored members of the
assembly and the people of presbyteries
which had returned colored commission
ers. there should be a public denial.
lie explained that in the pres
bytcries of HolstOn and French Broad,
from which he comes, there are x
white and 5 colored ministers, and 600
white and 1000 colored communicates.
yet this overwhelming white majority
had sent him as one of the two ministers
who represent them. He then offered
resolutions refuting the published state
ment. and explaining that the colored
commissioners were not restrained from
debate because of fear.
Synodical committees were announced.
and the report Of the Committee on
Freedmen was read. After the report,
which was highly congratvlatory OF the
Freedmen's board, even though it had
ended the year $4,000 in debt. instead of
free from debt, as the other boards are,
the roll was called on the apportionment
Of funds 10 be raised to cancel the debt.
Some Of the presbyteries were assessed
nearly 5000.
LYNCHlNGs IN THE SOUTH.
The Freedmen's report would have been
adopted without delay had it not been
Tor one section of II, which refers to The
recent lynching-law outrages In the
South. The case of the negro is spoken
Of as one that appeals to us with i'm
perious insistence. because of the ma
lefc prejudice and barbaric caste spirit
that are to-day devising new tortures for
the negro's body and new terrors for his
soul. We Join heartily with our fellow
citizens and fellowChristians Of the
South in horror Of these dreadful mani
festations."
one commissioner expressed a fear that
while it was indisputable that the com
mttee had mentioned nothing but well
known facts in referring TO the Outrages,
it might not be wise to let that portion
OF the report 90 out as the pronounce
ment of the assembly, until it had been
debated. 1t might be unwise to tee any
notice OF the outrages. for fear Of agra
waiting race and sectional differences. The
question was taken up later as d special
order.
Rev. Graham c. Campbell, OF Burke
Vile. Va, warned Presbyterians against
giving money to Booker Washington. lie
said Washington was doing a grand
work But who would carry 1t on, he
asked. after Washington had gone? In
many regions it had been found that
Washington's young men had taken from
presbyterians all their money for the
Freedmens board. The board could
spend the money to just as good advan-
tase as Washington, and was a perpetual
organization.
NO REDUCTION OF MEMBERSHIP.
Democracy asserted itself In the assem-
bly, this afternoon. With shout the
assembly voted down two carefuliy-con-
sidered and prepared plans TO reduce the
membership, one by third and the other
by more than a half. The Committee
on Reduced Representation, appointed q
year ago, was scarcely given courteous
treatment, so pronounced was the feel
ing against getting farther away from
the people
Two members of the committee pre-
sented the two proposed plans, one max
ing the basis of representation 5000 COM
basis SO ministers in the presbyteries. in
stead of "A, as at present Colonel +. l..
Hitchcock. of the committee, argued for
representation by synods according 20
membership, and declared that there was
no doubt that 672, the present member
SKIP of the assembly, was far too large.
1t was plain from the Interruptions that
Colonel Hitchcock was on the unpopular
side. and when he sat down expressions
of the democratic spirit came out strong
ly and profusely.
They call this mob" said DIR. Page,
of Topeka. "If it is a mob God grant
that there may be more such. God pity
the Presbyterian Church with the bulk
of the wealth of the United States in its
Golfers, Il it cannot afford large assem-
bly,"
SHOULD KEEP NEAR THE PEOPLE.
THE time has not come to reduce the
assembly, and l hope it never will come"
cried DIR. George w. j. Birch, OF New
York I'VE ought to keep as near the
people as we can. The backwoods pres
bytories now hold the balance of power.
l do not know what we would do With
out them. they hold the balance so true"
Impressed by the strength Of the oppo-
sition, a friend of reduced representation
proposed to send an overture down 10
the presbyteries, asking their advice The
motion was laid on the table with great
alacrity.
Or. John w. Dinsmore, Of San Jose Of
fered a sub-motion, thanking and dis
charging the committee, and indefinitely
deferring the question of reduced repre-
sentation. When the vote came there
was a mighty Yes and a feeble mo"
NO MAKING PRESBYTERIES SMALL.
The decision against another part Of
the committees report was closer. BY
vote OF 1M 10 1913. the assembly decided
not to increase from five to ten the num-
Der OF ministers necessary TO constitute
a presbytery.
DR. w. II. Kirkwood, Of Emporia, Kan,
presented the report OF the Commit
tee on the Board of Education. The re-
port held that the expense of the board
was not undue and that it could not be
reduced without consolidation of
boards. which was not wise. The report
was adopted intact.
The denunciatiOn of recent mob out
RACES in the South, made in the report
OF the Committee on Freedmen, was finai-
ly referred to that committee for re-
consideration.
1900" - -