The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-26
DEBATE GROWING
 VERY EXCITING
Presbyterians at Mobile are
 Discussing Union
TALK OVER ALL THE PHASES
During Excitement Some Statements Were Characterised By Speakers as Untrue, But Were After
 wards Modified.

Mobile. May 25-The sixth days session of the Presbyterian general assembly was about the warmest in the matter of dis cussion of the present session. The morning hours were devoted almost en- tirely to a discussion of the negro ques. ton, which came up on a report of the committe on colored evangelization, the particular section of the report which in- terjected the debate being a statement by the committee that there are many doors open to useful effort which cannot be entered unless more money is put into the hands of the committee and in view of those facts, we recommend that effort be made to raise not less than fifteen thousand dollars during the year"
 The report was made second special order for tomorrow morning
 At the afternoon session the special or der was on the question of the resolution submitted by the committee on bills and overture A day or two ago for the ap- pointment of a special committee to con- sider the telegrap phic message from the northern assembly in the session at Buff falo, and this interjected into the pro- ceedings a discussion of the whole dues- ton of closer relations. the debate being the warmest that has yet characterized the session of this staid body. | Causes Exciting Discussion.
 There was considerable excitement snown by some of the speakers, and l statements made by some of them were l characterized as untrue by others. and afterwards modified, with mutual explan- l ations.
 Among the principal debaters this af- l ternoon were the Rev. J. S. Lyons of Louisville, who may be termed the leader 1 or the forces favorable to a closer rela- l ton with the northern church, the Rev l w. T. Palmer of New Orleans, the leader of the opposition, and the Rev. William Morrison of Lexington, Va, in favor of l closer relations.
 The Rev. J. W. Flynn of Columbia said l in substances:
 There are conditions that make 1t the belief of some commission ITS that a com mttee of conference should not be ap- I pointed at this time Prominent among them are the negotiations now in progress between the Cumberland church and the l Presbyterian church irY the United States l of America. It was uniwise to take a step looking to union with the northern church when that church seems about to assmi- | late to itself or to assimilate itself to a body and a creed so fully and notorious ly American as the Cumberland.
 Tt Is probable that this union between the Cumberland union will be consum- | mated. hence the more need of cautious waiting upon our part.
 Means Organized Union.
 ''We may call the ultimate purpose by what name we choose, but the purpose i. logically union.
 Pause and think what this means fol us It involves the surrender of our dis trict and separate life as southerr church. It means the surrender of tn, name The Southern Presbyterian church, which we always pronounce and alway: think when referring to our splritua mother She is to us and to the world the southern church. Her name Is g power to move our hearts, to fire our zeal and strengthen our loyalty. Shall we I lose the power, shall we surrender the just cause of Christian pride in surren- dering her name and her identity? Many of the traditions and ideals clustered around her name would disappear when the church with which they were en- | twlned has passed away"
 Rev. J. M. Wells of Wilmington, N. O.. said:
 "The appointment of the committee means hurtful agitation the coming year. This is an inopportune time The churches | have been drawing close in heart, why hasten this work and drive them further apart in heart by trying to yoke them together in body? The Northern church
 is considering union with the Cumber- land church. Let us wait until they set tie their question. Why should we enter the negotiations? Why interfere with their plans?
 Union up there Is hanging in the bal anee If they will let see whether the new united church still wants us. If they do not unite, then it Is time to consider this
 "But it Is an. open secret that some of the advocates of this committee want 1t appointed to save the northern church l from union with the Cumberland church. It is trembling in the balance at Buffalo They think that telegram from here hinting that we would take the place oi the Cumberland would prevent that | union