The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-21
MESSAGE OF
 FRATERNITY Buffalo Assembly to Mo-
 bile Body. RECEIVED WITH CHEERS Three Plans for Amalgama-
 ti0n of Churches. Rev. T. H. Law, on the Seventh Ballot, Is Elected Permanent Secretary.
 Various Reports Read to
 the Assembly.
 


 days session of the Presbyterian Gen. eral Assembly saw the beginning of the actual work which promises to be voiuminous and interesting. The att tendance of commissioners was very large, and many local members of the Presbyterian and other churches were present at the opening hour. At II o'clock the election of a permanent clerk took place. Rev. pr. T. H. Law of Spartanburg. S. C., was chosen. Rev. Henry M. Scudder of Kentucky occu- pied the chair and presided with dig nifty. On suggestion of the stated clerk, Rev. Stonewall Jackson McMur- ray of Fort Worth, Texas, was elected temporary assistant clerk
 Rev. H. S. Allen of the Brazilian Synod. presented his credentials. and was duly enrolled. Rev. S. H. Chester. secretary of the committee on Foreign Missions, read his annual report which proved very interesting. In the report, he stated that the war in the Far East was having no effect on the mission work now going on in Korea and Ja- pan.
 In the selection of permanent secre- tary. the following were nominated and balioted for: T. H. Law, Spartan burg, s. C.; J. N. H. Summerall. Nor- tOihs Nd.B Gs 1ASSAA0s ACAPACs as; c. P. Thompson, Lexington, Ky; P. R. Law, Lumberton, N. C.; William s. Campbell. AshevilIe. N. O.; T. l.. Me- Cue, Jackson. Miss; A. M. Frazier, Staunton, Va
 Rev. T. H. Law on the seventh bal lot received 120 votes against 6s for Mir. Frazier, the other candidates hav- ing been dropped.
 Cheers Are Heard.
 The decorum of the Presbyterian Assembly was disturbed to degree hitherto unknown this afternoon, and 1t Is only within the memory of the oldest members that the dignity of the assembly had ever permitted anything like applause during its councils. The cause os the enthusiasm was the reads ing of the following telegram from the Northern Assembly, which threw the assembly Into the widest excitement, followed by vociferous applause:
 '"rhe General Assembly of the Pres byterian Church of the United States of America In session at Buffalo. have adopted, with only one dissenting vote. the following resolutions:
 "f. Whereas, 1t is known that the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States now in session at Mobile, Ala, has before 1t 
 teries. looking to closer relations with this assembly. and.
 Whereas, We earnestly desire to re- move all obstacles to all such relations, now. therefore, be 1t
 Resolved, That this General Assem- bly of the United States of America hereby removes all aspersions and charges of any and every kind made by previous assemblies reflecting on the Christian character of the Presbyter- ian Church of the United States, and is ready at any time to confer on the subject of closer relations, whenever such conference shall be agreeable, to the General Assembly of the United States.
 ''2. That the moderator and stated clerk be instructed immediately to communicate this action to the Gen eral Assembly of the United States.
 Henry Moderator,
 "W. H. Roberts, Stated Clerk"
 The telegram. after the excitement subsided. was referred to the Commit tee on Foreign Correspondence.
 Plans for AmaIGamatiOn. There are three plans for the amal- gamation of the Presbyteian bodies: First. the union into one organic body, as before the civil war; second, a sys- tenn of cooperation between the North ern and Southern Assemblies; third, a coalition of all the Presbyterian bodies.
 There were a number of overtures presented to the assembly, one from Arkansas asking that sermons be preached against the running of trains on Sunday, and that the President be petitioned to stop the movement of the mails on Sunday.
 One touched upon the scarcity of young ministers, and asked that this matter be taken up from the pulpit. There were a great many overtures for amendments and changes in the laws of the church, among them being an overture from the Chesapeake Presby- tery, denouncing polygamy, and one from Asheville, asking that the churches and assembly pay for the en- tertainment of commissioners to future assemblies. These were all appropri- ately referred.
 Rev. Thomas H. Law. D. D., who was elected minute clerk at the morning session. is a native of South Carolina, residing at Spartanburg. He served for seventeen years as pastor of the church there, and for the last seventeen years has been connected with the work of the American Bible Society. at pres ent being Field Secretary for portion of the South. He was for twenty-eight years stated clerk of the Synod of South Carolina, chaplain during the civil war at Fort Caswell. N. C., and at one time evangelist of the Charleston Presbytery.
 On account of an entertainment in the city for Protestant orphans, thero was no night session.
 Several reports were given out today at the General Assembly of the Presby- i terian Church in the United States. Ministerial Relief. The Executive Committee on Minis terial Relief reported that there have been upon the roll for the past year the | names of 162 beneficiaries, forty-threo ministers and I06 widows and thirteen | orphans. The treasurer's books show | credits to the annual fund of $19,S0331 which Is an increase of $2,787.95 over the credits of the preceding year. and an increase of $s,237.95 over the average annual receipts, not including legacies under the old regime known as the in- valid fund.
 The credits to the endowment fund