The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-05-21
REVISION OF CHURCH LAW
Two Reports Considered by Southern
Presbyterian Assembly.
WORK OF THE COMMITTEE on SABBATH
Proposal to Change Name OF Cumber-
land Presbyterans Tabled by the
General Assembly.

Little Rock, Ark, May 20.--Conslderation
of two separate reports from the ad In
term committee on revision of the church
law as to ecclesiastical commissions be-
gan In the Southern Presbyterian general
assembly today and caused an extended
discussion, four hours being devoted to
1t. The report signed by Hon. Joseph
w. Martin, LII. D., OF Little Rock; Chief
Justice ii G.. Bum of the Arkansas SUI
preme court and Associate Justice J. 4.
Hobson OF the Kentucky supreme court,
makes a clear distinction between commits
sion and committee. commission, nc.
cording to this report, always must have
as many for quorum as is needed 10
make Il quorum OF the body wnieh ap
points II. In the separate report maze
by X. G.. Reed OF Columbia, s. c.; j r..
Cannon and q. w. Finley, the number 10
make a quorum Is not specified except IN
the ordination of ministers, which always
required quorum of the presbyteries. 1t
allows greater powers to commission
than Judge Martins report. Judge Mar
tins report requires addition amendments
To the Book of Church Order. Dr. Reed S
requires no other amendment. After b.
Ing amended so us to make n commission
"A uouy OF presbyteries in lieu of body
of church officers, the Martin report was
finally adopted by the assembly.
At this mornings session the report OF
the board of directors of the Louisville
Presbyterian Theological seminary was
read together with copy of the agree
ment for consideration Of the theological
Summaries at Danyllle and Louisville. Ky.
Both were referred to the committee on
theological seminaries.
A report In reference to encouraging the
Austin CTeXasJ Theological seminary was
similarly referred.
The assembly voted to send Dr.. s. II.
Chester, secretary of foreign missions, 10
Brazil at once to examine the Preshy
terlan work there. Dr Chester will leave
ior Brazil tomorrow night.
The report OF the permanent committee
teresting papers Of the day. 1t says,
among other things: AS long as the
Nation continues to set aside the divine
mail. thus requiring Its army of en-
ployes to work ON the Lords day; as long
rs It continues by is own example "a
disregard the authority of the Lord In
continuing its business on His day, MS ia
last congress has done. ms long as the diff
| tcrent states allow the running of both
secular newspapers are allowed to pursue
their avocation as on other days, publish
ing and selling their papers for gain, It
must be difficult, Ii not impossible 10 in.
huence the masses TO maintain Il decent
respect for the Lords day. Yet. noiwith-
standing, and In. the face of all these nm
toward circumstances. the church of God
| must not ana can not let go It's firm grasp
! upon this divine institution, the very eta
del Of It's life MS well as great tower or
strength"
| The report mentions that the Presbytery
| Of Norfolk reports the discontnuance III
| sunday newspapers hy some members as
the result Of faithful preaching on thar
| subject; the Presbytery of West Lexington
| reports the closing of saloons In the city
| OF Lexington upon the Lords day and
| tho Presbytcry of Atlanta reports the sue.
| cessfu resisting of opening OF SUNDAY con.
| certs In the city OF Atlanta by the min.
listers Of that city Final action on the
report was deferred.
The nd Interim committee on preparntIon
OF new hymn book reported that the
new book would be out this fall and that
| II would contain ms pages. The report
was received as information and the as
scmhly thanked the committee for faith f,i
discharge OF its duty.
A resolution by Dr. ]. w Primrose pro
testing against desecration of children 4
day was referred 10 the Sabbath school
committee.
The committee on publication roportod
adversely With regard 10 providing 1tera.
turc for the Westminster League
| The report Of the committees on foreign
missions WAS set for consideration Tues,
day afternoon.
The report nc committee on bills and
oNertures was read and the assembly ne.
cllned 10 grant the res1uest of the Brown.
wood tIeNast Presbytcry to eNpunae from
the pastoral letter the words "diHcing'
which Is Innocent"
The report OF the committee on the
million-dolar Twentieth century cduca
tionnl fund showed that some of tho
Preshy teries had exceeded the amounts M.
signed 70 them The committee recon-
mends that new chairman be selected.