The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-29
SOUTHERN PRESBYTERIANS
The General Assembly Takes Up and
Answers Sewers Overtures.

Atlanta, Ga, May 23.-Little Rock,
Ark, was chosen today as the 1901
meeting place of the Southern general
Two other cities invited the assembly.
They were Fort Worth, Texas, and
Greensboro, Ky. On the first ballot Lit
tie Rock received Sc, Greensboro As,
and Fort Worth Al. On the second bal
lot Fort Worth was withdrawn and
Little Rock received 112 and Ownesboro
so. The regular time for the annual ses-
sions of the assembly is the third
Thursday in May.
No discussion on a revision of the
confession of faith of the Presbyte-
rlan church will arise in the present
session Of the assembly. The over
ture from Brazos (Texas) presbytery,
asking a change regarding the death
of infants, was today reported mega
lively by the committee to which it
had been referred and the report was
adopted by the assembly, precluding
the possibility Of a discussion over the
confession.
Several important reports were re-
ceived during today's ession.
The judicial committee reported
among other things, that the COM
plant against the synod of Memphis,
brought by w. H. Dunlap, F. L. Cline,
R. w. McGinnis and others, be dis
missed for the lack of prosecution.
Regarding the memorial from R. J.
Shaw, in which he recites numerous
alleged wrongs done him by the pres
bytery of North Mississippi, the COM
mittee says the ASSEMBLY has no means
Of affording the opportunity Of appeals
for which he prays.
The action Of the synod Of Men
dismissing R ]. Shaw from the minis
try, was sustained.
Relative to the overtures from the
synod of Alabama and presbyteries of
Memphis and Norfolk, regarding the
re-marriage of Divorces, ministers
were admonished to be careful of the
purity Of the home, but no change in
the church was recommended. The
answer to the overture was docketed
for debate.
The overture from the presbytery of
Nashville, asking the assembly to
from its executive commit
tee the right to fix salaries of secreta-
ries and that the assembly itself fix
these salaries, was answered in the
negative and docketed for debate.
The following overtures were also
considered:
From the synod Of North Carolina,
asking the general assembly to inter-
pref whether or not members of the
church may vote by proxy.
Answer-Voting by proxy is not al
lowed. Adopted.
From h presbytery of Florida, from
Suwanee and from the presbytery of
st. John, asking hat a quorum of a
synod shall be representatives from
two presbyteries instead of three, as
at present.
Answer-We recommend the general
assembly send down to the presbyte-
ries for approval the following amend
ment to the book of church order so
hat paragraph 50, last clause, shall
read as follows: provided this num-
Der include representatives from a ma
jority of h presbyteries constituting
the synod" adopted.
From the presbytery of Norfolk,
asking the assembly to direct the for
eign mission committee to publish a
detailed expense account in The Mis-
sionary and hat each of the other
committees publish a similar state
ment in one Of the church papers.
Answered in the negative for the
eason that the information desired is
ports of the committees. Docketed for
debate.
DR.. Osborne, of Petersburg, Va,
praying an amendment to the book of
church order, paragraph 104, requesting
election by ballot under given condi-
lions.
Answered in the negative. Adopted.
The report Of the committee on home
missions was received and it showed
the field to be in a good condition.