New-York tribune., 1906-05-27
ASSEMBLY CLOSES WORK
PresbyterIans Draw Color Line
Sharply at Last Session.

Des Moines. Iowa, May 2s.-The 18th Presny-
teran General Assembly closed it's business late
this afternoon and adjourned TO meet next year at
Columbus, Ohio. The assembly's important
work the completion OF union with the Cunber-
land Presbyterian Church
Resolutions offered by the Rev. J. D. Moffatt
were adopted to reassure any Cumberland Presby-
terans who may be reluctant 20 acquiesce IN union
with the larger Church To any doubtful persons
the following declarations made:
That in the Presbyterian Church no acceptance OF
a0C4es s+ or i the Chq5Ga rs ed ney0e S & pr ad
fSa sI-io,,r ~ y, ~ T5 40 q s1ea-s sccsnfsnrs ~
Him as Lord and Master.
That ministers ruling elders and deacons. in ex-
pressing approval of the Westminster Confession OF
Faith. required to only 10 the system OF
doctrine established therein. and not to every par
ticular statement it is further declared longer
allowable to interpret the system Of doctrine in
fatalistic
That reunion works no change in relations Of
commandments. ruling elders and deacons to their
own particular churches. nor, except In Few in
stances, In relations to their presbyteries and
synods.
The color line was sharply drawn and the negro
question came squarely TO the surface in the Gen
eral Assembly for the first time to-day. The com
rnittee on church polity submitted report recon-
mending the erection Of synod in Alabama. to in
clude the presbyteries OF Birmingham. Levere and
Rogersvile. to be known the Synod of Chatta-
nooga- The presbyteries included in the
synod are French Broad. Holston, Kingston and
Union.
The presbyteries OF Birmingham, Levere and
Rogersvile are composed Of negro churches. The
others are composed OF white churches. The pUr-
pose Of the committee to divide the races NO
sooner had the report been submitted than Russell
Taylor. negro minister OF Levere and one OF the
commissioners the assembly from that presby-
terry, took the floor He violently opposed the pro-
posed synod, on the ground that the three Presoy-
or well enough versed IN church law TO assume
the functions and duty OF synod. carefully avoid
ing the question and emphasizing the eonten-
ton that each Of the three presbyteries had asked
. such action.
After spirited discussion IN which the colered
commissioner received the majority OF the applause
IL unanimously voted 10 refer the whole SUD
ject TO the assembly Of 1907.
The assembly received a telegram from the
United Presbyterian Assembly. in session at Rich
mond, Ind and the Virginia classis of the Re
formed Presbyterian Church In the United States.
congratulating the assembly on tbs Cumberland
Union.
Chairman A. B. Marshall, of the committee on
home missions read telegram from the Presby-
terian Church South saying 1t does not charge the
board with improper practices. but does so charge
the active workers IN the field. The assembly au-
thorfzed DIT. Marshall TO telegraph the Southern
Assembly that If practices being followed
1t unknown TO the assembly
DR.. W. Laurie, who voted against union Win tne
opposing a motion TO require all commissioners TO
write 10 all pastors and elders in their presbyteries
asking them TO take up collections for the relief Of
churches which suffered from the California earth
quake and fire.
The committee on church polty submitted to-day
a report recommending that any member or the
Presbyterian Church renting his or her property
for Incorporate be disciplined by the Church.
To the question Has a lawyer a member OF the
Church right to defend a violator OF the tenn
perance law?" answer was given
A proposition to amend the Westminster COMES
sion OF Faith by striking out the words cast into
eternal torment rejected by the assembly.
4 new synod was created composed Of the South
and East synods Of Florida, and will be known In
the future the Synod OF Florida The resbytery
| OF Havana was detached from the Synod of New
Jersey and attached the Synod Of Florida
Action taken on the report OF the commit
tee reform approving the declarations In refer
a uniform divorce law that the purity OF
the home calls for the expulsion Of Reed Snoot
from the United States Senatei that the assembly
will cooperate in movement for 6 worlds con-
ference civic government 70 be held IN 1853
that delegates be appointed 10 the national
convention OF the Antt-SalOon League In ST. Louis
IN November, 1906, and that representative on
the board Of the National Ant-Saloon League be
! named.
DR. J G. Carson of xsnia Ohio, objected to the
| Endorsement OF the national Anti-Saloon League,
on the ground that il looks toward union OF
Church and State. There some spirited arsu-
ment and q decided division OF sentiment, but the
Endorsement carried
In the report Of the committee reform a de-
mand is made for the observance OF the Sabbath
at the jamestown Exposition. The next General
Assembly wifi be held at Denver.