Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1905-05-12
The WOman's Presbyterian Union ami
their PriVileaes.

Nothing that Presbytery did last
week interests the good women and
men more than the endorsement of the
Women's Presbyterian Union and the
safe guards which the Presbytery
throws around these societies and the
church sessions. We publish the ad
| mirable paper in full as reported by
Rev. J. E. Booker's committee.
Your committee to which was referr-
ed the communication of Mrs. Flora
A. Vance and seven other ladies, ex-
ecutive committee of The Lexington
conference of Women's Church soeie
ties, asking Presbytery to permit and
recommend the formation of a "Wo-
mans Presbyterial Union" of all the
wOmen's missionary societies within
the bounds of the Presbytery, would
respectfully report:
l. That to the formation of a union
such as Is proposed in the petition
presented, no valid objection can be
raised, provided constitution shall
be adopted which will guard against
abuses or misconception which might
arise in the workings of such a union
without constitution such as is sug-
gested.
AS no exact copy of the constitution
of the proposed union was submitted
to your committee, it cannot now,
without further light. recommend an
endorsement of the union or the con-
stitution proposed for it. Your com.
mittee would therefore recommend that
Presbytery answer the cOmmunica-
ton as follows:
The Presbytery recognizes the great
work for Emissions done by the Chris.
tian women within it's bounds, and
reinices in this new evidence of their
continued zeal for the work, both in
the home and foreign fields; for it notes
with pleasure that the proposed union
will not confine its efforts to aiding the
work of foreign missions.
Yet Presbytery does not believe that
it has rightful authority either to per.
nit, or to prohibit, the formation of
union such as is proposed, nor can it
control such union or exercise author
ity over it if organized. Presbytery
can only advise. If the union is to be
organized, the Presbytery thinks it
would be wise, and in accordance with
the principles of our church law, to in
sert in the constitution of the union
provisions to the following effect:
llsU. i udb Tic uulOu oAobi hOe OnoA
else, nor attempt to exercise, any au.
thority over the local societies, but
such local societies shall be left subject
only to the sessions OF the respective
churches; nor shall the union collect
or disburse the moneys OF the local So
cieties, but all cOntrl buttons OF the To-
cal societies shall pass through the
local church treasurer to the treasurers
of the respective church causes.
The relation of the union to the local
societies shall be advisory only.
Second: Should the union desire to
organize mission society in church
where there is none, no steps shall be
taken towards that end until the formal
consent of the session of the church
shall have been obtained.
Third: That the PresbYtery shall not
exercise immediate Jurisdiction or con-
troll over the union, but all communl-
cations from the Presbytery to the
union shall be in the way OF advice
and not of command; and reports from
the union to the presbytery shall be
only in the way of Information, and
that in designating the union as a
Presbyterial one, or as OF Lexington
Presbytery, it is not meant to Indicate
a governmental relation but nee ely to
Indicate the location and boundaries
of the union
These suggestions are based upon the
principles that the session of each
church has primary Jurisdiction over
all it's members, and over all movements
and societies in the church; and that
even the Presbytery has no authority
over these except through the session
1t would produce confusion to have
local societies brought under the Jurls,
diction extending beyond the boui ds OF
the local church. 1t would produce
confusion also to bring the local societies
under the Jurisdiction of Presbytery
through the larger association Instead
of through the session.
III making these suggestions the
Proshvtervis satisfied that it is not