The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-05-30
ORGANIC UNION
NOT THE OBJECT
OF RESOLUTION PASSED
BY GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF SOUTH
ERN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Federation of Work Is what il Plan
ned, Snys DR.. Fair, who ias Re-
turned from AssembIy-Federa-
tion is First step Toward Organic
Union, But Union Itself N Matter
for Future-TO Cooperate IN
Three Principal Lines of Work.
Federation of work, rather than
organic union of the churches, was the
object of the general assembly at Mo
bile. Ala" said DR.. James Y. Fair
pastor of the Independent Presbyterian
Church, yesterday, in speaking of the
great Presbyterian gathering which
has just adjourned. Il do not believe
that the time has yet come for organic
union, though 1 hope that in the course
Of time such a condition of affairs will
be brought about.
Organic union is not yet practica-
BILE. Federation, or cooperation in
work, if you choose to cali II that, is
not only extremely practicable. but
would be a great benefit to Presbyte-
rianism throughout the world.
AT present there are six great Pres
byterian churches in this country: the
Northern church, the Southern church,
the Cumberland church, the Dutch Re
formed church, the United Presbyte-
rians and the Scottish Presbyterians.
All have been working separately and
without regard to one another though
there has been the closest sympathy
between them.
Best to Cooperate.
The General Assembly decided that
it would be best for all concerned to CO.
operate, especially in the foreign mis-
sionary field, the home missionary held,
and in the publication department. Tn
der the present arrangement there may
be churches of all branches in one To-
cality, all poor and struggling, whereas
one strong church could be made.
Should there be a federation of work,
and a general committee appointed to
manage the affairs, such occurrences
would be obviated Where one branch
was already at work, the others would
hold off. Few churches would be the
result in some communications, but
the churches would be very much
stronger numerically, financially, and
spiritually. The same thing applies to
the publication department, one large
department being fully capable to care
Tor it all.
Working for Organic Union.
The resolution adopted by the as
sembly shows on its face that organic
union is not yet contemplated, though
we are looking In that direction. The
forming OF a federation is the first
step toward organic union, toward the
union of the PRESBYTERIAN churches of
the world, toward the General Assem-
bly, of the world.
The resolution read that a COM
mittee be appointed to meet a similar
committee from the various other Pres
byterian bodies to confer in regard to
cooperation in our work, and also TO
ascertain what barriers exist to pre-
vent organic union and whether it is
practicable to remove these Thus,
you see. organic union is stu regard
ed as a thing of the future, though
we are working in that direction.
The churches cannot be lacked up
and put together like a railroad. The
growth. to be strong, healthy and en-
during, must be natural. We must
advance by easy stages to the great
goal which is the desire of all
4 Magnificent Gathering.
The General Assembly was one of
the grandest gatherings that l have
ever attended" continued DR.. Fair.
The brainiest and best men of the
Southern Presbyterian Church were in
attendance and the debates were high
ly interesting. Knowing that this
great question of federation was COM
ing up, each presbytery sent its best
men. and all were thoroughly prepared
on the subject.
"A fact that impressed me deeply
was the conciliatory attitude of the
old Confederate veterans. One of the
best and sweetest pleas for unity was
made by an old, gray-halred veteran,
who pleaded for a laying aside of the
anger and political differences of forty
years ago and to unite under the Great
Captain. The plea swayed the audi
ence as the speaker wished.
started in Foreign Field.
"A beautiful fact about The entire
movement IS that Il started in the
foreign field. Three missionaries. from
three of the great branches. found
themselves Isolated in a foreign coun-
try without moral support. and facing
the great problems of heathenism.
They learned to know each other and,
themselves drawn into close union, they
began working for a union of their
head bodies
DR.. Fair spoke in the highest terms
of the hospitality OF the people of
Mobile. Boat-rides down the bay and
social receptions on a grand scale mark
ed the entertainment provided. 1T
was magnificent hospitality" he said,
land / shall never forget the people
of Mobile. They did their utmost to
make us contented. and everything for
our comfort and pleasure was arrang-
ed +"