The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-23
NORTHERN CHURCH.
. VOTES. FOR UNION NJ
Commissioners Vote, Unanimous.
~ to Reunite With Climber
land Presbyterian Body
SPEAKERS DEFEND NEGROES
Philadelphia Man Says It Will.
be Possible for Them to Be
come Peers Of Whites.
nv Associated press,

. r. -
W1NoNA LAKE, IND May 22--Amld
n storm OF applause, without debate or
dissenting voice, the General Assem-
bly, of the Presbyterian Church to-day
voted to reunite with the Cumberland
Presbyterian body, which withdrew from
the original denomination on February
A, 1910, thereby, SO far as the main
church Is concerned, bringing together the
two oldest branches OF the Presbyterian
faith. The Cumberland Conference now
In session at Fresno, California, has not
yet decided as to union
BY the adoption in Its entirity OF the
report OF the special canvassng COM
mittee. the Assembly ordered that tho
question as 1t now stands be referred
TO the Committee on Cooperation, with
the provision that 1t have power to con-
fer with a committee from the Cumber-
land body to the end that details Of the
consolidation may be worked out In
report to tho next General Assembly.
Tho special committee in Its report on
consolidation, canynsscd the vote by Pres
-byteries, showing ia yeas and 80 nays.
Dissenters from the East and tho South.
who apparently made no concerted CT
fort outside Of secret committee meet
ings to defeat consolidation, tonight de-
clnred that the General Assembly OPEN
ed the avenue to defeat by referring to q
committee the work OF arranging the de-
tails OF consolidation. It is int.matcd
that tho opposition Will take Tie ques-
ton back to the Presbyteries Of the Cum
5berland Church and ask that 1t be re-
considered before the Committee on CO.
operation makes its report In 1906 An
official telegram was read by Stated
Clerk Roberts from the Colored Cunlber-
land Assembly, in session at Huntsville,
Ala saying q committee OF seven had
been appointed to consider union with
the Presbyterian Church and asked that
d similar committee DO named by the
Assembly here. 1t was referred to the
Committee on Bills and Overtures.
Defend Negroes.
The proposition to allow separate Pres
byteries in the boundaries Of old Pres
byteries was adopted with but one dis
senting voice This Is to allow separate
Presbyteries for negroes and foreigners.
The Board OF Missions for freedmen subs
mitted Its report through DIR. z. J. 1n-
glis. Of Newark, N j.
Discussing the report on freedmen, DR..
r. D. Breed Of Philadelphia. said 1t was
possible for the negro to rise In attain
ment until his race will be tho peer OF
the whites. Rev. w. a. Alexander (col-
ored) .fof Brooklyn, spoke on -e alleged
| criminal tendency OF the negro. Much OF
! the criminality among negroes. he said,
| IL due to taking them into police courts
and prisons for trivial offenses.
Justice John M. Harlan said the glib
talk about growing criminality among
negroes comes from people who want to
keep up race prejudice. In proportion
to numbers, he said, there are no more
negro criminals than white.
"Let us find nowhere in the reports or
/ 81 ~ <to,, ~. Soy,nV
anything Of the criminality Of the me-;
gro ~ he said. The resolutions OF tho
committee were adopted with no refer-
fence to negro criminality.
Among the speakers at "a popular meet
/ Ing held tonight In the interest OF
freedmen were Rev. F. l.. Brodie. Of
Davids College, North Carolina; Rev.
Il. B. Bascomb. OF Birmingham. Ala. and
Rev. j. D. J. Sanders. president Of the
| Biddle University. North Carolina