The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-05-24

Mobile, Ala, May 20-Severaf re-
ports which will be taken up later
were today given out at the general
assembly Of the Presbyterian church.
me executive committee on home
missions reported hat the third year
OF the present administration closes
the most successful in all the history
OF the church. The contributions ex-
ceeded last years by s28. 795. The
largest part of the home mission fund
Is expended in Arkansas. Florida and
Lexas- Inc committee suggests that
IHe assembly recognize the greater
demands under the new plan of home
missions and ask the Presbyteries to
contrlDute each it's pro-rata share Of
@lOO,OOo, in order to assist the weaker
P~resbyteries.
The repor Of the u commit
zee on colored evangeliZation states
that 10 pastors and evangelists are
mln1stering to eighty-1ve churches.
ON a profession of faith, 1874 members
nave been received. The committee
states that it regards the Sunday
SCHOOLS conducted by white superin-
tendents and teachers as one of the
most efficient evangelistic agencies
among the colored people. Gifts to
this cause for the year were 1852.
At the opening Of today's session,
DR.. H. NJ. Scudder, of Carlisle. XIV,
was called to the chair and prayer was
offered by DR.. II. V. Vetane. of Mount
Airy, N. C.
Rev Stonewall Jackson McMurry.
OF Laredo, Texas. was unanimously
elected temporary clerk of the AS
sembly.
Tine Presoyterians or Augusta, Ga,
where the assembly was first organic.
ed, sent greetings.
Rev. s. H. Chester. secretary of the
executive committee on foreign
missions submitted the rport of
that committee. 1t showed that
the largest gain is that of the African
mission, which reports the addition of
$40 members on profession of faith.
The total number added in all fields
IS 1,55S. The war in the far east has
SO far not interferred with mission
work either in Japan or Korea. The
progress, but the work in Mexico was
retarded by yellow fever. Receipts
from all sources for foreign work dur
ing the Year were 1886, $50.
The report of the committee on
home missions was then read by the
secretary, Rev. s. L. Morris, D. D., OF
Atlanta.
On the seventh ballot. Rev. T. H.
a Of S~partenburg. 6. c., was elect
ed stated clerk of the assembly. The
assembly then adjourned until three
o'clock.
The decorGm of the PRESBYTERIAN
assembly was broker to a degree hith-
erto unknown this afternoon and it Is
only within the memory of the Oldest
members that the dignity of the as
sembly had I'VE permitted anything
like applause during it's counsels. The
cause of the enthusiasm was the read
ing of the following telegram from the
northern assembly. which threw the
into the widest excitement
ollowed by vociferous applause.
THE general assembly of the Pres
byterian church Of the United States
Of America in session at Buffalo has
adopted, with only one dissenting vote
the following resolutions:
Whereas it is known that the gen.
eral assembly of the Presbyterian
churchin the United States now in ses-
sion in Mobile, Ala. has before il
overtures from several of it's Presby.
teries looking to closer relations with
this assembly and, that
Whereas we earnestly desire Il
remove all obstacles. to all such rela,
lions. now, therefore be it re.
sembly of the Presbyterian church
of the United States Of Amear
lea, hereby removes all aspersions and
charges of any kind made by previou.
assemblies rejecting on the ChritiaI
character of the Presbyterian church
of the United states and is now read!
at any time to confer on the subject o
closer relations, whenever such con
ference shall be agreeable to the gen
eral assembly of the United States.
Second. that the moderator an(
stated clerk be instructed immediatel,
to communicate this action to the gen
eral assembly OF the United States.
Hs(Sipnad \ Moderation
". III. ROBERTS, Stated Clerk"
The telegram after the excitemen
subsidized was referred to COMMITTEE
on foreign correspondence. There ar,
three plans for the amalgamation o
the Presbyterian bodies.
L. First the union into one organi
body, as before the civil war.
2. A system OF COOPERATION be
tween the northern and southern as
semblies.
5. A coalition of all the Presbyte
Ran bodies.
There were a number OF overture
presented to the assembly, one from
Arkansas, asking that ermon b
preached against h running OF train
on Sunday. and that the president b
petitioned to stop the movement o
the mails on Sunday. One touchini
upon the scarcity OF young ministers
and asking that this matter be takel
up from the pulpit.
There were a great many overture
for amendments and changes In TN
laws of the church, among them De
ing an overture from the
Presbytery denouncing poiygamy, an
one from Asheville asking that IN
churches and assembly pay for the en-
tertainment of commissioners to III
ture assemblies. These were all appro
priately referred.
Rev. Thomas H. Law, d. d., VIII