The San Francisco call., 1905-04-12
CHURCHES SEEK
MITIGATION
Vote of Two to One Favors
Joining of Cumberland
and Presbyterian Bodies
A STALWART OPPOSITION
President J. s. Macintosh
Gives Glowing Account
of Results at Seminary
A STALWART OPPOSITION

The Presbytery of San Francisco held
its spring meeting yesterday at Calvary
Presbyterian Church, the Rev. ]. H.
Laughlin, moderator, in the chair. The
Rev. H. N. Bevier, stated clerk, was
elected treasurer
One Of the matters of Importance was
the adoption of a resolution favoring
the union of the Cumberland Presbyte-
rian and the Presbyterian churches.
DR.. John S. Macintosh, president of the
San Francisco Theological Seminary,
read the overture embodying the prop
osltion. The doctor, however, opposed
the union, as did the Rev. Mr.. Bevier.
President Macintosh in voicing his op
position to the amalgamation pointed
out that he did not wish 1t understood
that he was in any way standing as an
obstacle in the matter or that he was in
opposition with the brethren, with
whom he was in ecclesiastical and per-
sonal sympathy. The aspect of the case
made it impossible for him to assent to
the union. He considered that the Cum
berland church as a church was more
largely against than for union, and
that there would be serious financial
difficulties should a union be effected
The colored brethren were involved in
the outcome. They were almost unan-
imously opposed to union, feeling that
in such an event they would be placed
in an invidious position. President
Macintosh considered the movement
premature and misleading.
In supporting the stand taken by
President Macintosh, Mr.. Bevier de-
clared that church union was a futile
dream, for there was a differentiation
in Christian minds. The glory of pro-
H. = i%r-- 1f
thought.
FAVORS UNITY OF CHURCHES.
The Rev. W. j. Fisher, pastor of
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, was
accorded a hearty welcome, and he
took UP his position for union. The two
churches, he said, stood for the same
doctrines and he could not see why,
with identically the same doctrine and
preaching the same Gospel, they should
not be united.
The Rev. Mr.. Guthrie, the Rev. Mr.
BercoYitz and the Rev. Mr. McElhinney
Joined in thR discussion, which termin-
ated in the session voting for union of
the two bodies. The vote was two to
one in favor.
Committees appointed were: Bills
and overtures-Dr. John S. Macintosh,
Rev. I. NJ. Boyd and Elder A H Mac
Donald; narrative-Rev. Z. K. Strong,
Rev. Richmond Logan and Elder o. II.
wilkins; judicial, DIR. John Hemphill
and Rev. Moses Bercovitz; treasurer
account, Elders Balnaves and White.
The Rev. Mr.. Durand. in reporting
on work among foreigners, made the
statement that there are large num-
Der of Italians and French who do not
attend any church and who are quite
Indifferent to any religion.
1t was resolved to continue the
Hebrew Mission under the pastorate of
the Rev. Moses Bereovitz. with an ad-
visory committee consisting of DR..
Surge, the Rev. F. A. Doane and Will
continued for the support of the
mission.
SUNDAY SCHOOL INCREASE.
The matter of removing Franklin
street Church to a more suitable neigh
borhood was considered and left to a
committee.
a committee consisting of the Rev.
MIR. Bevier and the Rev. Herbert E.
Hayes was appointed to make a re-
port on the French church. 1t was
said that the members mad scattered,
and the proposition to disband the
church will be considered later.
The lev. Richmond Logan reported
that the Sunday schools showed an in
crease of COL. Rev. Mr.. Guthrie reported
that the Young Peoples Society's total
membership was ia and gifts amount
ed to 1854.
on the motion of President Macintosh
il was resolved that the presbytery
meet in January, March, May, Septem-
Der and November.
1t was resolved to call special meet
ing of the presbytery at the First
Church May l for the purpose Of in
cooperating the presbytery of San
Francisco according to the laws Of the
State of California.
President Macintosh gave a glowing
account of the student work at the San
Francisco Theological Seminary 1t was
one of the best reports that ever ema-
mated from the head of the faculty of
the seminary.
=" the motion of the Rev. Mr..
Guthrie a touching vote of sympathy
was adopted to be presented to DR..
Hemphill in his bereavement.