Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-30
QUESTION OF. UNION
MANY CHURCH MEMBERS AWAIT
GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

One million members of the Presbyterian
Church of the United States of America
and 100000 communicates of the Cumber-
land Presbyterian Church, the southern
branch, are awaiting with interest the
meeting of the general assemblies Of the
two churches, which will settle the question
OF union. The general assembly of the
Presbyterian Church meets May 10 at WI
mona, Ind. The Cumberland Presby terans
meet the same day at Fresno, Cal.
The union is assured, the ma jority of the
Cumberland presbyteries having voted for
the overtures. There never has been seri-
Gus doubt concerning the result in the other
church, and ii seems probable that the vote
in that church Ia favor of union will be
almost ten to one. Apparently the only
serious opposition of the Presbyterians to
the measure was due to the fact that there
was attached to the agreement a condition
providing for separate presbyteres and syn
DDS for negroes But the Presbyterian
Church has adopted the race separation
overture, only majority of the presby-
teries being necessary to make that change.
whereas two-thirds of the presbyteries of
that denomination must favor union.
Powerful protest has been made in some
parts of the Cumberland church. The
Cumberland general assembly at Dallas
last May voted by little more than the
necessary two-thirds to submit the over
lures to the presbyteres. Scarcely half of
the entire ia presbyteries had voted on
the question before the March and April
meetings. AS late as several weeks ago the
anti-unonists were claiming victory. The
vote for union is already fifty-nine, and
may go to sixtyfve or more. The anti
unionsts are making all possible effort TO
secure majority of the commissioners
to the general assembly.
AT one time it was proposed by the anti
unionists that separate church be organ
Of
Fresno, but inasmuch as the union cannot
take place for a year, the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church meanwhile retaining
it's name and identity, 1t is not probable
that disruption will occur.
The Major Portion.
With the list of commissioners already
elected before him, a leader of the union
forces declared that the union ma
jority in the assembly would be larger
than 1t has been in the presbyteres. Sew
eral, of the presbyteries that voted against
union voted at the same time to abide by
the will of the majority.
The name of the united body will be the
Presbyterian Church in the United States
of America. The Westminster confession
of faith revised in 1903 will be the creed.
Much of sectionalism was injected into
the discussion, that many southern
presbyteries voted against union, though
the lines were not clearly drawn, for nu-
merous presbyteries in the south voted for
union, and a few in the north. two of them
in Illinois, voted against it.
1t has also been to some extent a fight
between the pulpits and the pews, the ma
jorty of the ministers favoring union and
many ruling elders opposing it.
Washington Presoy .erians are watching
with intense interest the lovemaking of the
two branches of their denomination For
the most part local pastors and laymen
are anxious to see the union .onsummated
At the meeting of the presbytery of Wash
ington, held in the Westminster Memorial
Church several weeks ago, favorable action
was taken on the overtures from the gen.
eral assembly-one proposing the union
mentioned and the other advocating the
separation of white and colored presby
teries. Rev. DR.. Grimke, the only local
colored minister of this denominat ion,
strongly opposed the ndorsing Of the Sec
ond proposition, but was overruled by the
majority.
There is no Presbyterian church of the
Cumberland branch In Washington. The
stronghold of this organization is In the
southwestern states.