The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-31
ALABAMA SYNOD IS
 SPLIT ON UNION The Cumberland Presbyterians Withdraw from the Union HAD TWO MODERATORS Meeting at East Lake Was Crisis In History of the church-Temper-
 ance Address By H. F.
 Farris Tonight.
HAD TWO MODERATORS

The first meeting of the United Synod of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and the Presbyterian church in the United States of America, commonly Known as the Northern Presbyterian church. which took place last night at East Lake, re- suited in an abrupt division, and the for nation of two separate synods.
 With the words, While you are a unionst, and l am an anti-unlonist, yet we are sti1l for the Lord" the modera- tors of the two churches extended each other the right hand of fellowship, amid the "amens'' of the delegates. Ience- forth there will be three seperate Pres byterian bodies in Alabama-the South ern, the Presbyterian church in the United States of America, and the Cum berland-whereas before this time, there have been only two.
 Pursuant to their last adjournment, the delegates met in the East Lake church last night at 7:30 o'clock. When all were in their seats, the Rev. W. B. Wither- spoon stated clerk took the platform and said: Brethren, the hour has now ar- rived for the meeting of the United SAilOu u llit IItSDy ltlldl tilui1lli anu eio the moderator of the last meeting, M M. Russell, is not eligible to preside over Presbyterian synod, l officially call the Rev. w. M. Crawford, who was the moderator two years ago, to the chair.
 While MT. Crawford was approaching the pulpit. Rev. M. M. Russell also stepped upon the rostrum and said; "The time has now arrived for the meeting of the Synod of the Cumberland Presbyte- rian church; I call you to order, and ask the Rev NJ. J. Miligan to lead in pryer" {"
 Two Moderators.
 After an earnest prayer and song, both moderators attempted to assume control of the meeting and half hour of parliamentary tactics ensued, in which it was developed that the union could not possibly exist. The bone of conten- tion, however. was the question of which synod should occupy the East Lake church. The Rev. J. M. Alexander stated that he as pastor offered the use of the building to the Presbyterian Synod, Y. S. A., but J. R. Sadler, an elder and trustee, contradicted him. claiming that the majority of the elders and the trus- tees invited the Cumberland synod
 So the matter hung for some time until the Rev. MT. Witherspoon rose to point of personal privilege, and set forth the condition as it stood, saying that he had foreseen the trouble which had occurred. and had done all In his power to have the synods meet sepa- rately, but without success, and that he was still willing to separate then if both would agree to find other meeting places and neither attempt to use the Cumber- land church, leaving it's members to set tie their own disputes
 This suggestion was agreed to by both moderators, and the congregation in gen. eral, and it was decided to adjourn inn medately The Rev. A. II. Manly made prayer in which he pleaded for har- mony to exist between the two churches and for blessings upon them in all their undertakings After the benediction was pronounced by Rev. R. D. Shook, one Of the oldest ministers in the state, the con- gregation disbanded without having at- tended to any business.
 Cause of Trouble.
 The general assembly Is the highest gov erning body in the church and the Synods and Presbyteries rank respectively in or 1 der. IL will be remembered that in May of this year the general assemblies of l the Northern and Cumberland churches l passed articles of union. which were sup | posed to have bound them together in- seperably but since that time all the l Cumberland Presbyteries in Alabama. namely the Birmingham, MeGrady Rob- 1 ert Donnall, Springville and Taladega, | have met and in each one q split has 1 cured similar to that in the synod last l night. Both the divisions, however, chose l delegates to the synod, and as only one time and one place had been chosen the | mix up' tonight was inevitable.
 1 In the local church at East Lake the | breach is said to be wide as it is throughout the state. The Rev. MT. Alex ander the pastor, is a unlonist, but the elders are equally divided, and the trus- tees are all anti-unionists. It was their ] dissention which caused both synods to | leave the building in order that the mem ! bers might have it out among themselves, | -------------