The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-29
.PRESBYTER|ANS TO VOTE
ON QUESTION OF UNION
If Two-Thirds Approve the Plan
All Denominations Will Be
Partly United.
CLOSE OF THE ASSEMBLY

BUFFALO, N. Y, May 2s.-Tho Presby-
terrain General Assembly brought its ses-
sions to a close tonight. The sessions, ii
is believed. are the prelude to union OF all
branches of the Presbyterian denomina-
ton in the United States The question of
union will now be submitted to the presby-
teries and on approval by two-thirds, the
plans of the union will be consummated. The
relations between the mother church and
the Presbyterian Church South and the
United Presbyterians also tend toward
unity. Votes of thanks to the officers of
the assembly and the various committees
were adopted and the closing session ended
with the singing of God be With You till
we Meet Again" the reading of the final
minutes and a farewell prayer.
During the day the report of the COM
mittee on vacancy and supply was read
by the chairman, DR.. William H. Roberts.
The committee recommended that the
board of education be charged to inquire
into conditions prevalent in the church
as to candidates for the ministry and the
methods which should be adopted to in
crease their number; that the stated clerk
be authorized to communicate with the
presbyteries with view to presenting to
the next assembly definite statements set
ting forth Presbyterian methods of dealing
with vacant churches and of securing en-
ployment for unemployed preachers, and
finally that the committe on vacancy and
supply be discharged.
DR.. Johnson, in a minority report, object
ed to the stated clerks being authorized to
communi cate with the presbyteries con-
corning their methods of dealing with va
cant churches and of securing employment
for unen oloyed ministers.
The members of the committee got to-
gether again and it was agreed that a COM
mittee of five ministers and four laymen be
appointed to Investigate and report the
whole subject. This was offered an
amendment and the majority report was
A resolution in favor of the reading of
the Bible in public schools was adopted.
The Joint committee on the American and
the Canadian churches reported progress in
the preparation or a uniform version OF
psalms in meter.
An incident occurring during the after
noon indicated that the colored commits
sioners are not altogether reconciled to the
action of the assembly in regard to sepa-
rate presbyteries whereby a separate
church can be established by the white in
habitants of the Southern States in regions
where they are in the minority.
The stated clerk read a communication
from President Saunders of Biddle Univer-
sity. of Charlotte, n. c., saying that in
view of the guarantees which had been
given by the leaders of the church who had
the past, 1.-The colored commissioners. will
continue TO trust the Presbyterian Church
and are prepared to go forward with their
work seeking for those things which make
for peace and prosperity.
That's one of the noblest papers I have
ever heard in this assembly" remarked the
moderator.
A motion by a colored commissioner to
table the communication had the support
of only few votes. 1t failed to go on the
records, however. on a technical objection
raised as TO the status of the letter before
the assembly, President Saunders not being
a commissioner