The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-05-27

Mobile. Ala. May 24.-Foilowing il
the report of the committee on closer
relations, submitted to-day before the
general assembly OF Presbyterian
church in the United States. in his
city:
Your committee respectfully states
hat IL has carefully considered the
various oyertures and memorials
from synods and other Presbyterian
churches. asking the appointment OF
committees TO confer with committees
from other churches on the bringing
about OF closer relations and cooper
alton between the various reformed
and Presbyterian churches.
We have also considered q emo
ial from the Presbytery OF Nashville.
asking this assembly TO assure our
sister churches OF our willingness to
confer on the subject of closer reia-
tons whepever such conference would
be likely to r1-clt In closer fellow
ship. We nave !. I'd for-our careful
consideration cvertures from the Pres
byteries of Arkansas and the Red
River. askfn~ he appointment Of q
commit , confer with a commit
tee OF til Presbyterian church In the
United States. looking to closer reia-
IONS Win tnat Cnurch-
WE have considered also n car
munication f. N The IeTJra ! chuEc.s
in America (o@tSh). .xrr-ssug their
Willingness TO center with a commit
tee from our hurch On closer rela-
ions with US: and a 50 o~yertures from
our PresbytS OF purant, Whining
ton. Tuscalcosz and North Alabama.
asking us to appoint a committee OF
confe Re wih :ae 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 for
mer expressions OF their general assem-
blies. rejecting IN the Christian char
acter OF our church, and this. with n
view to remove all obstacles to closer
relations between these two churches
Your committee recognizes that
there Is not only in our church.. but
also i'm other churches holding Pres
byterian reformed Calvinistic systems.
a very general and strong desire TO
closer relations.
I'VE. therefore, recommend that
this assembly, wishing to promote
closer fraternity in a spirit love
and candor, appoint a committee OF
six ministers and three ruling elders.
which committee shall be named by
the moderator, who shall be author
lied and empowered to confer with
&Aot may oG ap-
pointed by other Presbyterian reform
ed churches, when notified hat IL is
the wish of such other churches to
enter into conferences with us.
And the committee appointed by
this assembly is to confer on the SUBJ
tect = Of closer relations with such
churches as enter the conference. with
a view to discover:
q. The real sentiment OF the
churches on this subject.
"2. h leadings OF Gods provi-
dence in the matter.
%. h obstacles that may stand
In the way Of closer fellowship.
"a. Whether Or how such obsta-
Giles can be removed.
%. Whether or what may be the
nature or form Of the relations which
shall best secure effective co-opera-
ton, by federation or otherwise, and
at the same time preserve loyalty to
those great principles for which the
various churches nave been called to
testify.
And this committee shall report
to the next meeting OF the general
assembly the result Of It's confer
ences."
The report was made the special or
der for tomorrow afternoon.
Fort Worth was chosen for the
meeting place next year.