The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-28
THE PRESBYTERIANS
CuMBERLANDs DISCUSS QUEST.
 ION OF ORGANIZATION.
Report of Majority of Committee ia Adopted By an Almost Unani- nous Vote--Work at Lexing-
 ton and Los Angeles.

\ Nashville, Tenn. May 27.-The proceed ings of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church were enlivened this morning by the presenta- ton and discussion of majority and mi- nority reports on the question of organ ization. The passage of that feature Of the report recommending organic union was practically unanimous and it's adop- ton was greeted with great applause The only difference between the reports was as to the manner in which the con fere nee delegates should be chosen. The majority reports recommended the ap- pointment of nine delegates to be select ed by the Synods divided into four groups which shall assemble separately and noni- mate to the Assembly for election as members, one minister and one lay mem- Der and that the General Assembly elect a chairman of the committee in the same way as 1t elects a moderator. The pre- snible to the report -eads:
 We note with pleasure a manifest ten- dency toward closer cooperation in the Christian work among all Protestant de- ordinations and particularly a disposi- ton among ecclesiastical families which are allied In doctrine and policy to set saide their minor points of difference and emphasize only things essential. This tendency Is in accord with the spirit of the Master and with the history of the traditions of the Cumberland Presbyte- rian Church, and is certainly calculated to advance the Kingdom of God among men.
 Tt is a matter of devout prayer by the whole church that this tendency may con- tinue in it's growth toward closer af- lection and organic union among the members of the Presbyterian household in the United States until there shall be such removal of the differences in doc Urine, policy and social conditions as will insure the consummation and realization of great and more glorious and united Pfesbyterianism in the United States"
 The report of the minority recommend ed that the selection of delegates be en- trusted to the moderator upon the ground that the method as suggested by the ma tority is unusual and contrary to the usages. precedents and policy of Presby- terian government: that 1t would tend to arouse sectional feelings and engender personal strife; that 1t might unduly scatter the committee and thereby rem der it more expensive and less efficient in its work; that 1t would reflect unwar- ranted and unbecomins lack of conf- dence in the established appointing pow CT of our Assembly; and that it would not produce the beat results and would
 
 So important an undertaking.
 The majority report was adopted by an almost unanimous vote.
 At the afternoon session the Committee on Judiciary reported in connection with the appeal of Rev. MT. Clark against the Tennessee Presbytery. It declared that a Presbytery may dissolve the relation of any congregation to the Presbytery but cannot dissolve the congregation: that if the commission be to dissolve the rela- tion, 1t ought to consist of a majority of the Presbytery.
 The fourth section of the same commit tee. relative to the appeal of the Inde- pendent Porter Presbytery, reported that, by the action of Arkansas Synod. approv- ed by the Assembly or last year, the Por- ter Presbytery was dissolved. Action is therefore preeluded.
 The Committee on Historical Society reported. The Committee on Temperance reported followed by that of the Committee on Missions and then a telegram from the Assembly of the Northern Church at Los Angeles was read. stating that that body had appointed Committee on Comity and Unity.
 The report of the Temperance Commit tee was adopted after being amended so as to cast no reflection upon the family of the saloon keepers.
 The report of the Committee on Over lures No. was considered item by item. The item repeating section 45 of the rules of order was stricken out of the re- port. The amended report was then adopted.