The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-05-27
TO CONSIDER All ovERTUREs,
Committee Appointed by Moderator
Neel-Reports OF Different Commit
tees, With the Actions Taken.


Mobile, Ala. May 23.-The general
assembly of the Presbyterian church in
the United States began their fourth
days session with prayer by the Rev.
w. b. Arrowood, of South Carolina.
Moderator Neel announced the follow
ing committee to consider a.. overture;
from the churches of other Calvinistic
creeds:
Dr.. w. E. B6ggs. Jacksonville, Fla,
chairman; DR.. j. s. Lyons, Kentucky;
DR.. j. H. McNeilly, Tennessee; DIR. T.
b. English, Virginia; DIR. J. D. Leslie,
Texas; DR.. A. W. Mister. Arkansas;
DIR. ]. Y. Farra, Georgia.; DR.. G.. g.
Windbridge. louisiana; DR.. w. NJ.
Langley, Missouri; DIR. B. w. Wfbane
North Carolina: Elder f. p. Glass,Ala
bama; Elder J. c. Scott, South Carroll
ma; Elder S. M. Shelton, Mississippi.
The matter of selecting a place for the
next meeting OF the assembly was made
the order of the cay for tomorrow's
meeting. After much discussion, the
report of the COMMITTEE on commissions
was ordered printed. TIE report of the
committee on the twentieth century
fund for the cause of Chr stan educa-
ton was read and referred.
II COililllttce OIk DlllS dIid ONcTluTSS
made a partial report which was adop-
ted. Most CT the overtures relate to the
construction of the laws of the assem-
bly,. In answer to he overture of the
Pine Bluff Presbytery, asking the as
sembly to enjoin the committee of plb-
LEGATION from printing in catechisms
and on Sunday school literature what
is commonly called the apostles creed,
the committee reported that such re-
quest be denied. The same action was
taken with regard to the overture from
the Presbytery Of Asheville. asking that
the expenses of entertaining commits
| sioners at meetings of the general as
sembly be borne by the general assem-
| bly,.
The following special order was
| made: Thursday s p. m. foreign mis-
| siOns.
The standing committee on home
| assembly of 1903 an overture from the
Green Brier Presbytery as to ministers
! without charges and vacant churches,
made a lengthy report upop the subject,
showing that the whole number OF
churches reported to the presbytery OF
1903 was 3,044, of which 20 per cent
are marked as vacant due to various
! causes. With regard to the number OF
ministers without charges. it finds
4 three causes, 'QlSedSe, llllTlfllry-3IU
| in transita." OF 1857 ministers in the
assembly reports of 1893, 6 per cent
| were without charge.
At the night session the special order,
ministerial relief, was taken up. The
| meeting was called to order by Rev,
DIR. McElroy, secretary Of the com
| mittee On ministerial relief and strong
addresses were made by Judge S. N
| Shelton, of Vicksburg, and DR.. II. @
{ Hill, OF MaXton, N. c. The making o.
annual collection for this branch Of the
work and endowment fund was strong
ly urged.
The assembly then adjourned till 8
| O'Clock tomorrow morning.
| CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIANS w
Dallas, Texas, May 23.-Only one
| session was held today by the general
assembly of the Cumberland .Presby-
terian church, that being the forenoon
| gathering, at which one of the mosi
| important events was the decision to
| hold the mex annua general assembly
| at Fresno, Gala. This was accomplished
after nearly two our of speech max
ing on the part of those favoring differ
ent cities. Decatur, Illinois and Column
bus, o., were in the race, but We e
| beaten on the first ballot.