The Savannah morning news., 1904-05-21
NORTHERN CHURCH
IS STANDING READY
TO RENEW THE RELATIONS
WITH THE CHURCH OF THE SOUTH
ERN PREsBYTERIANs.

of the Attitude of the Northern
Church-Three Plans for the Res
tOratiOn of Unity for the Two
Branches-WOrk of the General
Assembly and Reports Made to 1t.
Mobile, Ala, May 20.-Several re-
ports, which will be taken up later.
were to-day given out at the General
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church.
The Executive Committee on home
missions reported that the third year
of the present administration closes
the most successful in all the history
of the church. The contributions ex-
ceeded last years by $685. The
largest part of the home mission fund
is expended in Arkansas, Florida and
Texas.
The committee suggests that the as
sembly recognize the greater demands
under the new plan of home missions
and asks the presbyteries to contribute
each its pro rata share of 100000 in
order to assist the weaker presby-
teries.
The report of the Executive Com
nnittee of colored evangelization states
that thirty pastors and evangelists are
ministering to eighty-five churches. On
a profession of faith 1874 members have
been received. The committee states
that it regards the Sunday schools
conducted by white superintendent
and teachers as one of the most eff
cient evangelistic agencies among the
colored people. Gifts to the cause for
the wear were $S,612.
At the opening of to-day's session
DR.. H. NJ. Scudder of Carlisle, KY,
was called to the chair and prayer
was offered by DIR. H. V. Vetane of
Mount Airy, N. c.
Rev. Stonewall Jackson McMurry of
Laredo, Tex, was unanimously elect
ed temporary clerk of the assembly.
The Presbyterians of Augusta, Ca,
where the assembly was first organized,
sent greetings.
War Hasn't Interfered.
Rev. S. H. Chester, secretary of the
Executive Committee on Foreign Mis-
sions, submitted the report of that
committee. 1t showed that rhe larg-
est gain is that of the African mis-
sion. which reports the addition of $40
members on profession of faith. The
total number added in all fields is 1853.
The war in the Far East has so far
not interfered with mission work,
either in Japan or Korea. The Cuban
mission has made substantial progress,
but the work in Mexico was retarded
by yellow fever.
Receipts from all sources for foreign
work during the year were $236,528.
The report of the Committee on
Home Missions was then read by the
secretary, Rev. S. L. Norris, D. D.,
of Atlanta.
On the seventh ballot Rev. T. H.
Law of Spartanburg, S. c., was elected
stated clerk of the assembly.
From Northern Church.
The deeorum of the General Assembly
was broken to a degree hitherto I'M
known this afternoon, and 1t is only
within the memory of the oldest mem
befs that the dignity of the assembly
had ever permitted anything like ap-
plause during it's councils.
The cause of the enthusiasm was the
reading of a telegram from the North
ern assembly, which threw the assem-
bly, into the widest excitement, follow
ed by vociferous applause.
THE General Assembly of the Pres
byterian Church of the United States
of America in session at Buffalo has
adopted, with only one dissenting vote,
the following resolutions:
First, whereas, it is known that
the General Assembly of the Presbyte-
rian Church in the United States now
in session at Mobile, Ala, has before
it overtures from several of its presby
teries, looking to closer relations with
this assembly, and
Whereas, we earnestly desire to
remove all obstacles to all such rela-
tons, now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That this General As
sembly of the Presbyterian Church in
the United States of America hereby
oil charges
any and every kind made by previous
assemblies rejecting on the Christian
character of the Presbyterian Church
of the United States and is ready at
any time to confer on the subject of
closer relat tons whenever such confer
ence shall be agreeable to the General
Assembly of the United States.
Second. That the moderator and
stated clerk be instructed Immediately
to communicate this action to the Cen
eral Assembly of the United States.
(SigneO
Henry, Moderator.
"'W. H. Roberts, Stated Clerk
Three Plans Are Considered.
The telegram, after the excitement
subsidized, was referred to the Commit
tee on Foreign Correspondence.
There are three plans for the ANAL
gamaton of the Presbyterian bodies:
as before the Civil War; second, sys-
tenn of cooperation between the North
ern and Southern assemblies; third,
coalition of all the Presbyterian bodies.
There were a number OF overtures
presented to the assembly, one from
Arkansas. asking that sermons be
preached against the running of trains
on Sunday. and that the President be
pctitioned to stop the movement OF the
mails on Sunday. One touching upon
the scarcity of young ministers, and
asking that this matter be taken up
from the pulpit.
There were a great many overtures
urging amendments and changes iC
the laws of the church. among them
being an overture from the Chesa
peake Presbytery, denouncing polyg~
amy, and one from Asheville, asking
that the churches and assembly pay for
the entertainment of commissioners 10
future assemblies. These were all ap-
propriately referred.
Rev Thomas H. Law. y. D., who
was elected minute clerk at the morning
session, is a native of South Carolina,
residing at Spartanburg. EIe served Tor
seventeen years as pastor OF the church
there, and for the last seventeen years,
has been connected with the work OF
the American Bible Society. at present
being field secretary for a portion OF
the South. He was for tWenty-elght
years stated clerk Of the synod OF
South Carolina chaplain curing thu
Civil War at Fort Caswell, N. G.. and