The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-26
The General ASSembly'S
Declaration On ,
CHRISTMAS and EASTER
Thei Observance Coademned-Ov~r~
ture from Woman's Christian Tess
peranee Union Decun~d-RenuSsi 90
Reconsider FORMER Action ~ 20
Hymnbook-Thc Question OF schools.
Northern Assembly Dceiare. Against
Any Attempts at Union with the
Southern Church.

Richmond, Va, May 23.-At tho
morning session 81 the Presbyterian
general assembly today the body de-
clined 10 recommend the amendment
proposed by the presbytery OF North
Alabama. that the p~resbytery shall
meet at least once a year instead of
twice.
The committee on overeures reported
among other things. declining To re-
consider the action OF the last assem-
bly, in regard &c the preparation OF n
~hymnbook. A motion to adopt the re-
port was made and seconded but met
with some opposition and went TO the
docket for discussion at some future
time. The offer # the Century Conn
pany OF a hymnbook already printed
was referred to the a~Ssembly's commit
tee on hymnbook. The overture ask
ing that a sharp-note cation be pre-
pared was referred TO the same com
mittee.
The assembly declined To- consider the
overture OF the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union, asking for the OBJ
servance Of the fourth Sunday in No
vember as temperance day, an answer
having been given TO 1t by the last as
sembly.
The following report Of the commit
tee on overtures vas docketed:
The General Assembly, in response
to the overture from the p~resbytery OF
Athens, touching the observance Of
Christmas and Easter as religious days,
would make the following deliverance:
That there is no warrant in tho
scriptures for the observance OF these
days as holy days, brt on the contrary
(see Galatians iv., iX-ii and Collossians
ii, xvi, 2l) that such observance Is con-
trary TO the principles of the reformed
faith, conductive to the will worship
and not in harmony with the SIMPLE
ity of the Gospel OF Jesus Christ"
The amendment TO the confession Of
faith, proposed by the presbytery OF
Central Texas, and providing for h
substitution Of the words "by way OF
solemn protest" for by way OF humble
petition" when their rightful preroga-
tives are invaded, was deemed inexpe-
dent by the assembly.
The special order OF the day, the re-
port OF the standing committee on edu-
cation, was discussed and after a few
unimportant amendments had been
! made, were adopted
The assembly then took a recess until
1870 p. m.
At the afternoon session the report
Of the al interim committee on paro-
chial schools was taken up and dis
cussed at length. This report recon-
mends the establishment Of schools OF
the primary grade under the supervi-
sion of the church. The report was
| adopted by a good majority.
The night session Of the general as
| sembly was consumed in hearing adj
dresses on home missions receiv-
ing reports from the various fields. and
a collection was taken up for the fur
therance Of the cause.
THE NORTHERN ASSEMBLY.
Minneapolis, Mimi, May 23.-This
was d quiet day with the presbyterian
general assembly. II transacted a deal
of routine business without any friction
and adjourned early in the afternoon
Much surprise was manifested when
the assembly, without a dissenting
vote, accepted the report OF the com
mittee on bills and o%vertures In favor
of making no attempt This year at
union with the church south. More
than sixty overtures have been receiv-
ed from the presbyteries requesting That
some action in the direction Of unioa be
taken. 1t ppear that the church
north has decided TO hold back until
the church south gives some signs OF
reciprocating in the reunion sentiment
which Is so strong in the north.