The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-22
AN OVERTURE ON MARRIAGE.
SUBJECT BROUGHT UP IN PREsBY-
TERRAIN ASSEMBLY.

Marriage and Divorce Question and
the Motion to Change the Book of
the Church Wore Docl1eted for
the Confession May Cause a Live
Iy Discussion Several Overtures
Answered IN the Negative.
Atlanta, May 21.-Scarcely a quorum
was present when Modera or Martin open
ed the session of tha fifth day of the thir-
ty-ninth annual session of the Southern
General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church to-day.
Attendant commissioners Were brought
into The auditorium sufficient to make a
quorum and the bus ness of the day was
taken up. Af,er the prelminaries the
question as to Individuals overturng the
assembly was as.in raised. Two overtures
were offered Che from NJ. c. Taylor of
Hioo, Tex. regarding divorces and anoth-
err from Robert C. Osborne of Petersburg,
Va, asking change in the book of
church. The discussion whether these
overtures should be received became gen
eral there tei~ a eat diversity of orin-
ION among the commissioners whether in
dlyiduals should file petitions to the high
er court before the lower court had been
appealed to.
The law of the church on overturlng.
was read, but this was differently con-
strued by the commissioners who made
arguments fer and against the reception
of the over.u es 1t was stated that other
overtures had been received from individ-
uals during the present session, and a mo-
ZION from Elder j. l.. Dean that the over
lures tie received was adopted.
A communication from the Mayor of
assembly to meet in that city in 1901; also
an invitation from the congregation Of
tire First Presbyterian Church of Little
Rock for next years session.
The seui-annual report from the Louis
Vile Theolcg cal Seminary was read
showing that institution to be In a pros
perous condition.
Proposed Change in Greed.
An overture which may later in the ses-
sion preciptate a discussion on the con-
feasion of faith of the church was pre-
serted from the Brazos (Tex.) Presbytery
1t asked that the assembly hand down to
tho Prosbyteries for their vote an amend
mont 10 the confession of faith as fol-
lows
All dying IN infancy are eject INFANTS
and are rcaonerated, etc"
Rev c. N. YanHouten and Rev. G.. A.
blackburn were elected 10 represent Rev.
j. g. Shaw, a Texas minister who filed
complaint against the Synod of Mem
phie.
The committee to which many of the
overtures were referred reported on some
OF them. Among them were the follow
ing:
Overture No. 5, from Joseph K. Rankin,
asking that all Presbyterian distinctions
in our Book of Church Orders between
teaching and ruling elders be abolished.
Answered in the negative. Docketed for
debate.
Overture No. 4, from Charleston Pres
bytery, asking an ''in thesi' deliverance
as to The Scriptural doctrine of the teach
ing and ruling elders. Answer: The Book
of Church Order is sufficiently clear on
this point
Overture No. II, from the Presbytery of
Albermarle asking a change in the be-
ginning of the fiscal year from April l
TO Jan. l. Answered in the negative and
adopted.
Overture No. IL, from the Presbytery
of Enoree, asking the repeal of the action
of the assembly of 1892 stating that The
moderator alone has power to convene a
meeting of presbytery in case of extra
ordinary emergency. Answered in mega
tive and adopted.
Overture No. ~. from Presbytery Of SUI
vance. asking assembly to order a meet
ing of the Synod of Florida TO be held in
the Presbyterian Church at Palatka on
Tuesday before the second Sabbath in
November. 1900 Answered in negative
and adopted.
Before adjournment at 70 o'clock Rev.
Or. r. II. Fleming of the Western All
ance of the Reformed Church addressed
| the assembly.
Negro EvangeIizntiOn.
The evening session of the assembly was
given over 10 the first Of the ~ pu ar meet
| ings which have been arranged for each
| remaining night. negro CHARACTERIZATION in
| tire South came up prominently, and on
this subject the report of the committee
was ad by Dr. Donald Mcqueen of An
nistou, Ala Rev. p. c. Lilly secretary
OF the Stilman Institute for negroes at
ths Tuscaloosa, Ala, spoke earnestly OF
the progress OF the work of evangelical
tim. He emphasized the srowing need of
ths black man in the S,uth, the troubles
81 owing out Of the att mot to give him
knowledge and understanding by legisla-