The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-20
UNION UNLIKELY
At THIS SESSION
Many Members Of General As
setnbly Strongly Opposed
to Federation.
REPORT RECEIVED 4 y AND READ
Overture From North Carolina
Asks Returnfof Ministerial Re
lief Office to Richmond.
REPORT RE vED AND READ
Especial to The rlmos.Dispatch,

(Special to The Times. DispatchD
FORT WORTH, TEXAS, May 1e.--Thc
announcement of committees to digest
the business before the General Assembly
and the reference Of communications to
these committees took up most of the
session at the Broadway Presbyterian
Church to-day. The chairmen of tho
more Important committees are as fol-
lows: Rey. s. M. Neel, d. D., Committee
on Bills and Overtures; Rev. J. r. Lyons.
D. D.. of the Judicial Committee; Rev.
Alexander Sprrnt, OF the Committee on
Foreign Correspondence, and Rev. j. w.
Rosebro. D.. D.. fredericksburg, Va, of
tho Committee on the State of Religion
In the Churches.
Among the many overturcs to tho
assembly one that excites much inter-
est Is from East Hanover Presbytery,
introduced into that preabytery by Rev
Cecil Russell, p. D. 1t looks to some
far-reaching changes in the formation
of the Church's executive committees
and the election of Its secretaries.
A North Carolina presbyterY overtures
the assembly to reconsider the action of
the assembly last year. which removed
the Committee on Ministerial Relief from
Richmond, Va, to Louisville. Ky. 1t Is !
asked that this important branch of the
Church's work be restored to the hands
of those in Richmond who formerly had
charge Of 1t.
a Texas presbytery overture asks that
tho publications Committee at Richmond
establish branch agency at Fort Worth
for the convenience Of the churches IN
the far West.
The assembly was affected to-day BY
the Introduction to It Of Rev. Angus
Johnson D. D., now In his nnety-sl>;h$
year. and in his SEVENTEEN year of preach
inr This venerable man and his wife
were given seats upon the platform,
inter- he had bestowed his blessing upon
the assembly.
Question Of Union.
me question Of uniting the Reformed
and PRESBYTERIAN Churches still remains
a matter of speculation.
III rus+ before, the close Of to-day's ses-4
sion. the report of the committee on
closer relations was read and circulated
IN printed form on the floor OF the con
yention. The report recommended the
appointment of committee to confer
With similar committees OF other
churches as to the most advisable urse
10 pursue in the premises. On motion
of Rev. DR.. G. B. Stricklers OF Ken
mond Va, the report of the committee
was ordered to be referred !, to a commits.
orator Plunkett. This committee VIII re
port back to the assembly its recomnen-5
dation on the question. 4, n, !. gls 4, s
In speaking of the proposed federat n On
several of the older members Of the
asscnlbl aex pressed themselves as sdecid-
edly opposed 10 union Soma refuse to
give their reasons but say that they
will do SO when the proper time comes.
Tt Is generally believed that there Is
little likelihood OF steps looking to a.
union Of the two churches being taken
by this assembly. 1t Is probable. how
ever. that the question OF closer. rela a,
tionship with the Northern Church will
be taken up, and in the event that this.
is done, 1t is thought that 1t may lead
to final union.
Tho opinion of a great many is that the
report will not be accepted in its entire
ty, and that some changes will be made.
None of the commissioners here will talk
regarding the matter, preferringato wait
until the question is brought before the
assembly.
The prediction is that many spirited
debates will be heard on the question. No
date has been set for the hearing.
Work of the Day.
To-day's sessions of the assembly were
lnrgely attended. The records in the case
of N. D. Thurmand vs. Synod Of Mis-
souri,, and ]. NJ. Wells ct al. VS.. the Synod
of North Carolina, were referred to COM
mittees.
Tho overture to the last assembly on
expressions on the church form of gov
eminent was referred to a committee Of
three to be appointed by the moderator
Next Monday night was set as the time
for the delivery of sermon on cduca-
tional relief and colored evangelization.
Ministerial Relief.
Tho reports Of the Executive Committee
on ministerial relief and colored evange-
Ilization were read.
Riverside Park.