Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-05-29
PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH UNITED
important Announcement 10 Made at
the General Assembly Held in
Des Moines, Iowa.
REJOICING OVER THE RESULT
Cheers and Waving Of Handkerchief
Greet the acknowledgement
ton Is Slight.

Des Monies, May 26.-"I do solemn
ly 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 united with the Presby-
terrain church in the United States of
America, as one church"
With these words uttered before the
general assembly today Moderator
Hunter Corbett officially established
the union of the Cumberland Presby-
terrain church with the Presbyterian
church in the United States of Amer.
lea.
The big ecclesiastical assemblage
burst into a storm of rejoicing. Hand
clapping, cheers and waving of hand
kerchiefs gave expressions to unalloy-
ed pleasure. The contamination de-
voutly 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 Cumber-
land church. At the opening session
of the Des Moines assembly similar
action was taken and messages to that
effect were dispatched to Decatur.
The most intensely dramatic scene
Of the ceremonies attending the form
al 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
esolution and called for the affirma-
tive vote to be expressed by the com.
missioners rising to their feet. In
stantly the assembly hall was convert
ed into stamping, cheering crowd.
AS the hand clapping and cheering
died down and the commissioners took
their seats the moderator said:
Cali who are of the opinion that the
motion should not prevail will please
rise.'
Two Commissioners Object.
A laughter went around the hall,
for it was believed the request was
a mere formality and would meet with
no response. To the establishment of
all present two commissioners arose
to their feet. Pandemonium broke
loose and it was feared for an instant
that indignity would be offered the
lonely men who opposed the union.
One of the men was DR.. Willim Lau.
RE, of Bellefonte, Pa, and the other
was Rev. Roger F. Cressey, Of Jack.
sonville, Ill.
DR.. Laurie is stalwart Scotchman
and his personality dominated the
convention.
Greatly as l dislike to record my
vote against this union, and deeply as
feel the pain of being forced to dis
agree with my fathers and brothers
yet I cannot conscientiously vote fol
this union. 1t is purely question be
tween me and my God. l have to op
pose it,
Rev. Mr. Cressey said: "This is q
matter of conscience with me, l can
not honestly vote for the union.''
A motion was made that the mega
tive votes be recorded. Cries of mo
were raised. DR.. Laurie was on his
feet Immediately, declaring: II desire
that the negative votes be recorded
never yet was ashamed to stand by
my convictions" The record was duly
made.
The Cumberland Visitors.
Immediately after the adoption o
the resolution uniting the churches AM
the declaration of the moderator tina
the union was now cOnsummated, tw'
representatives from the Cumberlan,
assembly were. introduced to the as
sembly, which came to it's feet and az
plauded, cheered and waved hats an
handkerchiefs for five minutes. TIL
Cumberland visitors were Prof. W. H
Black, president of the Missouri Va
ley college, Lexington, KY, and DR.. E
F. Fullerton, of st. Louis. Professo
Black was the Cumberland Chairman
of the joint committee on church re
union and union.
Both men made speeches to the as
sembly, expressing their qualification
at the union and announcing that tt
morrow Moderator Landrith and de-
egation of seven others from the Gun
berland assembly would arrive in De
Moines to receive and extend officis
greetings.
The assembly telegraphed the Gun
berland assembly at Decatur of tn
union of the action on the question {
union Immediately after the junctur
was declared operative. and receive
telegram in reply containing col
CALCULATIONS, announcing the informs
oIs 1f ~