The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-05-27
PRESBYTERYADJOURNED
Definite Action Was Had Upon Several
Important Questions.
RULING ELDER MAY DELIVER THE CHARGE
At the Installation OF a Pastor--sn H.
bath Union Question Referred.
Negro Question.

Richmond. ". May 26.---Afer Discus
sion which lasted nearly three hours. the
general assembly OF the Presbyterian
church at It's morning session recommend
ed changes in the book of order so as to
provide that the ruling elder may deliver
the charge to the people at the Installation
OF pastor. Forty-four Of the Presby-
nouneed in favor OF the change. which was
also recommended by the committee on
bills and oycrtures. The vote In favor OF
the report OF the committee stood. Ayes
Il, noes IS, absent rs, excused from vot-
ing 2.
There was an interesting discussion on
the report OF the committee on Bible carse,
which report contained a reference to the
difference in prices charged by the Amer
lean Bible society and It's competitors. The
di1erence was said to be due to some ex :
tent 10 the better quality of the books
OF the society and In part to the fact that
the society has carefully avoided tho
sweatshop principles followed by other
corporations
The assembly concurred In the action OF
tho change In the baptlsmal formula,
from the words Into the name" TO lin
tina name Of
The report of the same committee rec
| ommending ministers to exercise the
greatest caution in performing marriage
ceremonies where doubt exists as to the
consent Of the parents of either OF the
contracting parties who is under age was
also adopted.
{ Tho L., a.
! whether the Sabbath union was cnjoinet
IN the work of legislative reform and con.
| tlnued to merit he recognition OF the
churches to the committee on Sabbath
protest was received from the Minis
! tertal association Of Nashville against tn,
removal OF the committee on foreign mis-
sions from that city to Richmond.
| negative answer was returned to sew
eral overtures, which suggested the in
clusion Of tho English Bible in the lis
| Of subjects tor the examination OF canal
dates for the ministry.
The assembly then tool, a recess.
The report OF the committee on coloret
evangel2ation was considered q lengtl
during tho afternoon session The state
ment contained in II that crime Is on III
increase among tho negro population wa
the chief bone OF contention. The fea
was voiced that in the preseG' indauluabl
oldlS OF tne negro NINA the 0rOmuig1tiO
Of such a statement was H. advised
was, however sunH7rtei nv .he chairman
who, as the result Of his nvess':itior
made the statement that three fourths @
the crime in the South Is committed h
negroes, and the increase OF criuln, par
ticularly among the younger members G
the race, is alarming, Tho report wa
subsequently amended so "a TO rani .ha
statistics show the prevalence OF crime
\ protest, signed by ten commissioner
was presented against the aston OF III
assembly in regard 10 the dig'sJn OF III
Presbytery Of South Alabama. tho conteu
ton being that 1t practically gives th
synod unlimited power
A motion TO reconsider the vote on tn
presiding elder question, disposed IF
the morning session, WIS defeated by
vote OF 81 to 4S.
Tho last session OF the ASSEMBLY va
held today. 1t was for the most part oC
cupied with addresses made upon resolu
tons expressing the app'ec'atiop Of con
mlssioners for hospitality anil c)urtesic
extended them during their visit
A resolution 10 include sunday news
papers and excursions In he list ~ torld
~ amusements, which the pastoral ir;tC
is to be directed against, ftlNd OK aiot
ton, many OF the commissioners Deip
absent from the session ami ii being denr-
ed iNadvisable to reconsider the action
the full assembly.
The assembly was dissolved by the MOI
orator. who, according to the formula. OF
dered the election of another aGBembly
convene in Atlanta, Ga, on tho thir
Thursday OF May, 1900