The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-05-21
There Are Now Three in
Session
SHALL 1T BE UNION !?
The Cumberland Assembly Takes a
Step Toward 1t in the Election of
Its Moderator, Possible Admis-
sion of Negroes a Stumb-
ling Block.
(By the Associated Press.)

Mobile, Ala, May 19.-The forty
fourth general assembly of the South
ern Presbyterian church. convened to-
day in the Government Street Presby-
terrain church. Several hundred
delegates are in attendance. After a
sermon by the retiring moderator, Dr.
A c. Hopkins, of the First Presby-
terrain church of Charleston, W.. Va,
the assembly was called together and
DIR. w. A. Alexander read the roll
call of commissioners appointed. The
most important matter to come before
the assembly in the proposed union of
the Northern and Southern churches.
The question of union with the Dutch
Reform church will also be consid-
cred.
The States of Alabama, Arkansas,
Florida, Georgia, Kentucky Louisiana,
Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and
Virginia are embraced in the general
assembly and delegates are present
from all. Two negro delegates, both
from Alabama, are in attendance
The conference begun last night by
the representatives of five theological
seminaries supported by the church,
was continued today.
The work of the conference is to
prepare for the general assembly pa
perS dealing with the management of
educational institutions, at which
young men are prepared for the min
istry. The general assembly will be
in session two days.
eel Elected Moderator.
emily was called to order at
loon session by the retiring
Z, Rev. A. c.. Hopkins, the
of business being the cleo
new moderator. The candi-
sented to the assembly were
E. Boggs, Jacksonville, Fla;
McNeilly, Nashville. Tenn;
rev. j. Is. French, Fort Worth, Texas,
and Rev. S. M. Neel, Kansas City, Mo.
On the third ballot DR.. Neel was
elected.
He was conducted to the chair and
congratulated by the retiring moder-
ator, making a suitable response.
Upon taking the chair the modera-
tor announced the election of minute
clerk as the first business. The. re-
firing moderator, Rev. A. G. Hopkins,
moved the election be made special or
der for Monday at 4 p. m. This precip7
itated a lengthy debate, the older
members of the assembly clamoring
for delay, while the younger urged inn
mediate action. The matter resulted
in the nomination of several candl-
dates and making the election the
special order for IL a. m. tomorrow
Rev. A. F. c. Carr presented the
moderator with a gavel from a piece
of the first wharf built by Bienville,
at Mobile, in 10, recently excavated,
it's authenticity being proved by old
maps found in France.
DIR. S. III. Neel the new moder-
ator, is pastor of the Central Presby-
terrain church, Kansas City, Mo. He
is of the Mecklenburg, North Carolina
stock, and was educated at LAGRANGE
college, Tennessee, which persisted
during the Civil war. He practiced
law in Memphis in his younger days,
was a soldier in the Confederate army
and at the close of the war studied
theology i'm Columbia, S. c., and Edin-
borough, Scotland. From 1872 to 1875
he was pastor at Oxford, Miss, thence
went to Shelbyville, KY, from which
place he went to his present charge.