The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-06-01
THE PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.
Committee on Church Relations
Makes Report.
The Report Will Come Before Mobile
Assembly for Discussion...Fort
Worth Next Meeting Place.

Mobile, Ala, May 26.-The follow
ing is the report of the committee on
closer relations submitted before the
general assembly of the Presbyterian
church in the United States in this
"Your committee respectfully states
that it has carefully considered the
various overtures and memorials from
synods and other Presbyterian churches
asking the appointment of commit
tees to confer with committees from
other churches on the bringing about
of closer relations and cooperation
between the various reformed and
Prebyterlan churches We have also
considered a memorial from the pres
bytery of Nashville asking this assem-
bly, to assure our sister churches of our
willingness to confer on the subject
of closer relations whenever such con-
ference would be likely to result in
closer fellowship. We have had for
our careful consideration overtures
from the presbyteries Of Arkansas and
the Red River asking the appointment
of a committee to confer with a COM
mittee of the Presbyterian church in
the United States of America looking
to closer relations with that church.
eve have considered also a commu-
nication from the Reformed church in
America (Dutch) expressing their
willingness to confer with a commit
tee from our church on closer relations
with us-and also 'overtures from our
presbyteries of Durant, Wilmington,
Tuscaloosa, and North Alabama, ask
ing US to appoint committee of con-
ference with the Reformed church in
America We have also given due
consideration to the action of the
Presbyterian Church of the United
States of America, resembling all form
er expressions of the general assem-
blies rejecting on the Christian
character of our church, and this,
with a view to remove all obstacles
to closer relations between these two
churches.
"Your committee recognize that
there is not only in our church, but
also in other churches holding Pres
byterian Reformed Calvinistic systems,
very general and strong desire of
closer relations.
"We therefore recommend that this
assembly, wishing to promote closer
fraternity in spirit of love and can
dor, appoint committee of six min
listers and three ruling elders, which
committee shall be named by the mod
orator, who shall be authorized and
empowered to confer with a similar
committee that may be appointed by
other Presbyterian churches to enter
into conference with US.
"And the committee appointed by
this assembly is to confer on the sub
ject of closer relations with such
churches as enter the conference, with
view to discover:
"1-The real sentiment Of the
churches on this subject.
"2-The leadings of Gods provi-
dence in the matter.
"3-The obstacles that may stand in
the way of closer fellowship.
"4-Whether or how such obstacles
can be removed.
"5-Whether or what may be the
nature or form of the relations which
shall best secure effective cooperation,
by federation or otherwise, and at the
same time preserve loyalty to those
great principles for which the vari-
Gus churches have been called to tes-
tify.
"Ano this committee shall report to
the next meeting of the general assem-
bly, the result of it's conferences.
The report was made the special or
Ger for tomorrow afternoon.
Fort Worth was chosen for TIE
meeting place next year.