Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-25
CENTRAL CHURCH PLAN
PROJECT OF TRUSTEE HARLAN
ADOPTED BY PREsBYTERIANs.
Incident of Yesterdays Session in
Indiana Committee to Advise
With Washington Presbytery.

The Presbyterian general assembly at
Winona Lake, Ind. by an almost unan-
imous vote decided to investigate the prof.
ect of Justice Harlan for a Presbyterian
minister OF central church at Washington,
ID. c. The following resolutions, presented
by the majority of the committee on bills
and overtures, were adopted, after an at
tempt to refer the matter to the Washing
ton presbytery hal been defeated:
Whereas the national capital Is field
of commanding and strategic Importance
for the assertion and vindication of the
doctrines and mission of the church of
Christ; and
Whereas 1t is the high duty and priv
ilege of the Presbyterian Church in the
United States of America to do its full
share in the effort to seize and sanctify the
opportunity offered at the seat of the ma
tional government for a larger evangelism
and for the more secure building up of the
church and state. therefore,
Resolved, That while recognizing that
the whole matter presented for the action
of the assembly in the memorial of Mr..
Justice Harlan. in which he proposes plan
for establishing a church large enough and
sufficiently endowed to enable it in the
name of our common Presby terianism to do
full share of the work of influencing and
guiding the life of the nation at its gov
eminent center, properly belongs in its
origin and development to the presbytery
of Washington city. this assembly. without
in any wise committing itself in advance,
does appoint a committee, consisting of
three ministers and three elders. who shall
be authorized to advise with the presbytery
of Washington city. and in the event of
that presbyterys favorable consideration
of the whole movement to define more
clearly and to develop more fully what is
desired in a report which it shall make
to the assembly of 1906 for its approval or
dlsapproval."
Rev. DIR. ]. w. Cloakey of Troy, Ohio. for
the minority of the convention, offered the
following substitute:
Resolved, That the whole matter con-
tanned in the Harlan memorial be referred
for consideration by the pres5ytery OF
Washington city"
In urging the adoption of the minority
report DIR. Cloakey declared that the WASH
ington presbytery should have taken the in
itiative in the matter. He opposed the idea
ii seemed to be i'll line with the new
movement in the church toward Journalism
in the service.
Justice Harlan's Position.
Justice Harlan replied TO DR.. Cloakey in
an animated and well-tempered address, OPP
posing the substitute and advocating the re-
port of the committee. His remarks were
received with general and frequent APP
plause. AS to the matter being brought to
the attention of the Washington presbytery,
Justice Harlan said:
Il never thought of anything else than
that after the assembly's action, whatever
that might be. the subject would be brought
to the attention of the presbytery.
The justice declared further that If the
pIesbytery of Washington city on full con-
sideration disapproved of the scheme for
new Presbyterian church in Washington and
the general plan he suggested, he would
drop the whole matter and the RESPONSE
bility for the failure would not rest upon
him.
Justice Harlan said he did not have to
consult the Washington presbytery before
sembly, and he had not consulted that pres
bytery because he did not desire to disturb
the quiet of certain members of 1t. but he
had consulted the Presbyterian mind of the
country he said, and had brought with him
over 100 letters from prominent members Of
the church indorsing the movement.
At this point a motion was made to defer
definite time, and it was Immediately voted
down by immense majority. The vote
was then taken on the substitute. and 1t re-
ceived but six seven votes. The majority
report of the committee was then adopted
by an overwhelming vote, and the an
nouncement of the result was followed by
ong-continued applause. Justice Harlan re-
ceiyed numerous congratulations.
w. G. Alexander said he and the other two
commissioners from the Washington pres
bytery favored Justice Harlan's project.
Local Presbyterian ministers are not will
ing to express themselves on the PROPOSE
ton advanced by Justice Harlan. They
prefer to await the time when the mat
ter will come officially before the local
presbytery. 1t is understood that the lay
men In general favor the plan, and II is
the hone of these that the preSDytery Will
indorse it at the proper time.