The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-24
DIVORCE MATTER
ST|RS ASSEMBLY
Representatives to 1nterC Church
Conference Appointed After
Long and Lively Debate.
REPORT ON FEDERATION , ::
Is Compromise Measure, Merely
Continuing Work Of Committee
on Closer Relations.

tsn.o,o, - rhs times. DIspatch)

(spec,al 10 The Times. Dspatch)
FORT WORTH, TEN, May % The
General Assembly to-day was stirred by
q discussion Of the subject Marriage and
Divorce" An overture from Montgomery
Presbytery OF Virginia, asked that a com
mittee OF three be appointed to repre-
sent this church In an inter-church con
ference on this subject. 1t was alleged
that In tho United States there were 5o,-
900 divorces during the last year, more
than In all the other civilized countries
of the world. Tho Committee on Bills
and Overtures reported the overture un-
favoraby on the ground that 1T Is not
the province Of the church to suggest To
the State what laws It shall enact any
more than 1t Is the province Of the State
to suggest to the church what laws It
shall enact This negative report OF
the committee was strongly opposed by
many, among them Rev. w. r. Joplin.
Rev. j, G.. Painter md Rev. Eugene
Daniel D. D.. OF the Synod Of Virginia.
Rev. z. c. Gordon, D. D., and Judge
Giles Cook represented the other side
speaking at length Iii favor Of maintain
ing the historic, position Of this church
In regard to athe absolute separation Of
church and State. The report Of the
Bills and Overtures Committee was de-
feated and Or. Daniels's substitute nu-
tthorizng the appointment OF three repre-
sentatives was carried
The report of the special Committee
on Federation, which has been awaited
with 80 much interest was to-day sub
mitted through its chairman, DR. Sum
Your committee to whom was re.
ferred the report of the ad interim
Committee Of conference on closer rela-
tons With ether Presbyterian chIrfnes
1904 with certain overtures from the
S%S;esspssE;e !, ch 4; As Iex,nstsn,
report that it has carefully considered
these. several papers and would recon-
mend to the ASSEMBLY the: following
N''1.--That the assembly commend the
diligence and fidelity Of the committee
on 2a olq1sa r the onsemby continue this
committed, increased as hereinafter pro-
vided, md authorize their conference.
Gh s Should ney Se 5G os1s6
e% tic esSts Of s na %
ence to be submitted to the general as
''3.--That the committee ION closer re-
latons Is instructed to give due con sid
Grafton to all suggestions and scrlttcism
that may be offered by any Of our
church courts or by any Of the officers
and members Of our church.
"4.--That the moderator Of this assem-
bly,. be added to the committee on closer
relations; that he shall by appointment
add to said committee one member from
each synod not represented on said COM
mittee."
This report of the special committee
Is regarded as a compromise measure.
The. consideration, Of tn, matter was
made the first order of the day for to-
morrow. In the report on home mis-
sions made In the afternoon, recon-.
mendation was made that the home mis-
was resisted, but at length was car
rled.
In the afternoon the entire assembly,
with the visitors, We're taken on the
1interurban trolley line to Lake Erie,
a pleasure ground, seven miles from the
city. ~
The home mission meeting tonight
was addressed by DR.. Hemphill