Omaha daily bee., 1906-05-25
Hand Uspping and Cheers Greet the
Announcement Of Moderator.
DELEGATES FROM CUMBERLANOS PRESENT
Assembly at Decatur Finally AdiOurn'
After Exchange Of Telegrams.
TWO VOTES AGAINST THE PROPOSITION
CsnscfentfOus scrup1es OF Commits
siOners from Pennsylvania apd
IuinoIs Cause Them 20 Make
Affair Not Unanimous.

DBs MONIES, Ia, May A.-"I do sol
emnly declare and here publicly announce
that the basis of reunion and union Is
now in full force and effect and that the
Cumberland Presbyterian church is now
reunited with the Presbyterian church In
the United States of America as one
church."
With these words, uttered before the gen
eraI assembly today. Moderator Hunter
Corbett ofhcially established the union OF
the Cumberland church with the Presby-
terian church in the United States of
America.
The big ecclesiastical assemblage burst
into a storm of rejoicing. Hand clapping'
cheers and waving OF handkerchiefs gave
expression to unaIloyed pleasure. The con-
summation, devoutly wished and worked
for through many years, despite many
obstacles had become a reality.
Yesterday telegram was received from
Decatur announcing the adoption Of the
Joint resolution by the Cumberland church.
At the opening session of the Des Moines
assembly similar action was taken and
messages TO that effect dispatched to De-
catur.
Dramatic scene.
The most intensely dramatic scene OF
the ceremonies attending the formal union
OF the churches was the vote against union
by two commissioners. Moderator Hunter
Corbett put the question. which was In
the form OF a resolution, and called for the
Affirmative vote, to be expressed by the
commissioners rising to their feet. In
stantly the assembly hall was converted
into stamping. cheering crowd. AS the
hand cIapping and cheering died down and
Al. thu
moderator said:
"AIl who are of the opinion that the mo-
ton should not prevail please rise
A laugh went around the hail. for II was
believed the request was a mere formality
and would meet with no response. To
the astonishment OF all present two com
rnissioners rose to their feet. Pandemonium
broke loose, and Il was feared for an in
stant that indignity would be offered the
lonely men who opposed the union. One
Of the men was Or. William Laurie Of
BeTlyfontc, Pa, and the other was Rev.
Roger r. Cressey of Jacksonville. III.
Matter of Conscience.
Dr. laurie is a staIwart ecotchman and
mis- personality dominated the convention
Greatly as I dislike to record my vote
against this union, and deeply as feel
the pain of being forced to disagree with
my i9tneTb anu DTOlHeTus Yet L CdHlloN
scientiously vote for this union. 1t Is
purely a question between me and my
God. have to oppose H."
Rev. DIR. Cressey said:
'This is a matter of conscience with me
cannot honestly vote for the union"
A motion was made that the negative
votes be recorded Cries of mo" were
raised DIR. Laurie was on his feet i'm.
mediately. declaring. IT desire that the
negative votes be recorded. never vel
was ashamed to stand by my convictions
The record was duly made
Delegates from Decatur Present.
Immediately after the adoption of tn,
resolution uniting the churches and th'
declaration by the moderator that tn,
union was now consummated. two repre-
sentatives from the Cumberland assembly
were introduced to the assembly, which
came to it's feet and applauded, cheereC
and waved hats and handkerchiefs for nv,
minutes. The Cumberland visitors were
Prof w. II. Black. president of the Mis-
souri, Valley college, Marshall. Mo. and
DIR. b. p Fullerton. pastor of the Lucai
Avenue Presbyterian church, ST. Louis
Mo. Prof. Black was the Cumberland
chairman for the joint committee on churcl
reunion and union.
Both men made speeches to the assem-
bly,, expressing their gratihcation at th'
union and announcing that tomorrow Mod
orator Ira Iandrith and a delegation o
seven others from the Cumberland assem-
bly, would arrive in Des Moines TO recelv
and extend official greetings.
The assembly telegraphed the Cumber
land assembly at Decatur OF the action Ol
the question OF union Immediately afte
the juneture was declared operative an,
received a telegram In reply containing
congratulations. announcing the oficial re
ceipt OF the information and the adjourn
ment OF the Cumberland assembly.
Church Federation Approved.
The proposed federation OF all the Evan
Eeiioal churches OF the country for char
table and humane work was approved a
the Presbyterian general assembly her
today. The report of the committee recon
mending that the Presbyterian church g
into the federation was unanimousl
adopted.
The federation excludes the Unitarian
church by the terms OF It's preamble t
its agreement, the preamble declaring tina
all churches which believe in the divin
Lord and Savior unite in the work Uni
tar1sns. disclaiminE the divinity Of Christ
are thereby excluded.
The branches OF work upon which It
agreed 10 unite are; Marriage and al
vorce. Sabbath desecration. social evil.
child labor. the relations OF labor TO car
ital. problems that are created by for
sisn immigration. the bettering Of the cor
dltions Of the labOring classes and IN
moral and religious training OF the youtl
etc.
Two Hundredth Anniversary.
The afternoon session OF the assembl
was devoted TO a celebration OF the tw
hundredth anniversary OF the church. Il
frst presbytery having been organized 3
"Old Button wood" the home OF the hrs
Presbyterian church OF Philadelphia,
l7O0. The contamination Of church unio
with the Cumberland Presbyterians adde
greatly 10 the rejoicings Of the occasio
and unusual enthusiasm marked all OF n
features Of the program. The church r,
oeived greetings from two foreign del,
gates. Rev. William p. Patterson, d. D.. IL
Icontinued on Second Page)