Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-12-30
PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCHES UNITED
After a Division Of Nearly a Hun.
dred Years They Come
Together.
UNION FORMALLY RATIFIED
Confession of Faith Adoptcd--To Hold
Assembly In f907--IIistory of
The Split.

st, Louis Dec. 29.--After division
Of almost 100 years steps were consum-
mated today in the Joint session OF
general sessions. which, when formally
ratified. will unite the Northern Pres
byterinn church OF the United States
of America and the Cumberland Pres
byterian church. Almost two days
have been consumed by sub commit
tees In arranging details for the union.
Their reports were submitted to the
general committees representing each
church this afternoon,
Within two hours the two general
committees had met In Joint session
and agreed upon basis for the union
of the two UNCONVENTIONAL bodies. This
agreement viii be reported to the gem
eral assembly OF the Presbyterian
church meeting at Des Moines. la. on
May H. 1906, and of the Cumberland
Presbyterian church, meeting in De-
catur. ILL.,, on the same date for formal
ratification by these two executive as
serblies, which will be followed by the
official announcement that the union Of
the two churches has finally been con-
summated.
The general committee of the Cum
berland Presbyterian church had its
full quota OF II members present. the
chairman being Rev, DR.. w. n. Black
of Marshall. Mo. Only 16 OF the 81
members OF the Presbyterian general
committee were present. Rev DR.. w.
II. Roberts OF Philadelphia was chair
man.
The joint session was executive IN
character. II was stated THAT on the
Joint ballot on the question of the pro-
posed union there was but one dissent
ing vote. that being cast by Elder l..
w. Keller OF Knoxville. Tenn, a mem
Der of the Cumberland committee. II
was further stated that when the Cum
berland committee was appointed sew
EN- men known 10 be In opposition to
the proposed union were placed on I've
committee. The vote today indicated
that six had changed their minds dur
ing the deliberations in committee.
The report adopted in the joint ses-
sion OF the Joint committee declares
that the confession of faith of the
Presbyterian church of the United
States of America, as revised In 1903,
and the other doctrina and ecclesiasti-
cal standards of that church have been
constitutionally adopted by the Cum
the joint report prepared by these two
general committees two years ago; that
the reunion and union of the two
churches has been fully agreed to by
both and II IL recommended that i'm
mediately after the foregoing effects OF
the steps thus far taken have been an
nounced the confession OF faith and the
other doctrlnal and ecclesiastical
standards OF the Presbyterian church
OF the United States Of America shall
be binding upon the ministers ruling
elders. deacons, officers, churches adj
Indicators, boards committees and all
other agencies of the Cumberland
Presbyterian church.
II il further provided that when this
announcement has been made by the
moderator OF the general assembly Of
the Cumberland Presbyterian church
and that body shall have adjourned
sine die as separate assemblies and be-
fore the general assembly OF the Pres
byterian church, United States OF
America. shall adjourn sine die the
moderator OF the latter assembly shall
announce that all OF the Presbyterlans
of the two churches shall elect COM
missioners to the united general as
sembly of 1907 on a basis of one minis
ter and one ruling elder for every "a
HlliilSttIS VI iolelN aleipl, AHil ulilh
the new moderator OF the united as
sembly shall be elected the moderator
of the Presbyterian general assembly
shall preside over the united general
assembly OF 1907. and II Is recommend
ed that the moderator of the Cumbcr-
land Presbyterian assembly of 1906
shall preach the opening sermon of the
united general assembly Of 1907, the
stated clerk of the Presbyterian as
sembly. with the state clerk Of the
Cumberland Presbyterian assembly
making up the role Of the united as
sembly.
Finally, that when the foregoing has
all been adopted and official announce
ment of the fact telegraphed by each
of the assemblies to the other the
moderator Of each assembly shall be
empowered to announce that the re-
union and union OF the Northern Pres