The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-20
CHURCHES TO
 BE UNITED Basis Of Agreement at St.
 Louis. IS BYET TO BE RATIFIED Both General Assemblies will
 Meet May i9. rrssyssrians VIII oonvsns at sufsa- 10 and the cumberlands at Dal- las-1,sso ,ooo Members
 VIII Be Affected.
|Is BYET TO BE RATIFIED
prebyterians VIII Convene at Buffa-

St. Louis, Feb. l9.--After conferences extending over the past three days the Committee on Church Cooperation and Union of the Presbyterian Churches of the United States and the Committee on Fraternity and Union of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, unanimously adopt ed an agreement as basis of the union of the two churches.
 It is in the shape of a report to the gen- eral assemblies of the two churches and will have to be fatified by both those bodies before 1t becomes operative. Both general assemblies will meet May ls. the beriand at Dallas. Tex.
 The committees which adopted this re- port were appointed by their respective general assemblies last year and met hero for the first time in last October. In De- cember sub-committees of the two come mittees met in Cincinnati to consider cer- tain details and three days ago the full committees resumed the conference here. After adopting the report tonight the conn mittees adjourned.
 National in Character.
 The action of these committees. if rati- f1ed by the general assemblies will make the Presbyterian Church national in character pith a membership approximat- ing 1.sS0,0oo.
 The report 10 as follows: The Committee on Church Cooperation and Union of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, and the Committee on Fraternity and Union of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, af- ter free and full interchange of views. with continued suppiications for divine guidance. unanimously recommend to their respective General Assemblies for theif Consideration and, if they deem propak for their adoption, the accom- panYfng papers. viE.s
 | eh of reunion and union ef fiae &ufS 4af sfrnk es &s ..slsss s 1as < .a
 q Concurrent declafaki0ns Es be adopt Cd by the respective General Assemblies meeting in 1904
 ( Recommendations
 The Plan of Union.
 | Plan of reunion and union of the two churches: We believe that tho union of Christian churches of substantially similar faith and policy would be to the glory of God, the good of mankind and the strengthening of Christian testimony at home and abroad.
 We believe that the manifest Providen- tial developments and readings in the two churches since their separation. together with present conditions of agreement and fellowship, have been and are such as to Justify their reunion.
 Therefore, we cordially recommend to our respective General Assemblies that the reunion of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America and the Presbyterian Church be ac- as soon as the necessary steps can be taken upon the basis here matter set forth.
 axfn NN1R fss ffaea Ye0af Al States of America. whose General As- sembly met in the ImmanueI Church, Los Angeles. Cal. May 21, 1908. and the Presbyterian Church. whose general assembly met in the First Cum Derland Presbyterian Church Nashville, Tenn, May 21, 1908, shall be united as one ,hurch under the name and style of tho Church in the United States # America. possessing all the legal and corporate rights and powers which the separate churches now possess.
 Doctrinal Basis.
 The union shall be effected on the doc. .rinal basis of the confession of faith of hose in the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America as revised in 903 and of it's other doctriual and eccles@ astical standards.
 Each of the assemblies shall submit the foregoing basis of union to its presbyterieS which will be required to meet on or be- lore April 90. 1905. to express their ap- orovaI or disapproval of the same by a categorical answer to this question:
 Do you approve of the reunion and union of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America and the Cum oerland Presbyterian Church on the fol- owing basis The union shall be effected on the doctrinal basis of the confession Jf faith of the Presbyterian church in the United States of America as revised in 1908 and of it's other doctrinal and eccles- astlcal standards and the scriptures of .he Old and New Testaments shall be &C., as the inspired Word of God. .he only infallibie rule of faith and prae- ice.
 Each presbytery shali before the tenth lay of May, 1906. forward to the stated connected a statement of its vote on the said basis of union.
 Concurrent Declarations.
 Concurrent declaration: The two assem- plies agree to adopt the following con current declarations. as in their Judg- ment proper and equitable arrangements and agreements:
 In adopting the confession of faith of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, as revised in 1908 an basis of union, it is mutually recog- nized that such agreement now exists between the systems of doctrine contain ed in the confession of faith of the two churches as warrant this union-a union honoring alike to both.
 All the ministers and churches includ- ed in the two denominations shall be ad- mitted to the same standing in the Unit ed Church, which they may have held in their respective connections up to the of the reunion.
 The boundaries of the several Presby- teries and Synods shall be adjusted by the general assembly of the United Church.
 The institutions of learning, together with endowment and other property, real and personal. owned by them. which are now under the control of the Cumber- land Presbyterian Church shall remain in charge of and be controlled by the boards of trustees or other managers respec- lively now in charge of such institutions. endowment and property. or by their s,,ccessors similarly anDOinted or elected