The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-05-16
AN ELDER WHO WAS AT FORT WORTH.

THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN and Christian OBJ
SerUer for years. l take great delight in reading
these papers but it has panied little to
1T repeatedly stated in the Christian Observer that
at the last meeting of the General Assembly at
Fort Worth, Texas, the vote was overwh elmingly
in favor of considering the plan of federation in
favor of federation against cooperation.
l have the highest regard for the brethren who
have been leaders in the movement for federation.
would not knowingly do these brethren particle
of harm, misquote them, and yet l must say
some of them have not been careful they
might have been in presenting this great question
of federation cooperation to people.
If you will refer to The Observer of June Z 1905,
you will how the vote of the Assembly stood.
No person except those who present during
the debates can appreciate the pressure that
brought to bear by the advocates of federation for
the vote for what they seemed to consider a step
forward.
AS far as it is in me I endeavor to practice a
spirit of charity and proper regard for my brethren
and would not discredit by vote or thought any of
our brethren who belong to the Presbyterian
Church of the North. You will observe by refer
ence to the issue of The Observer cited, just after
the vote is given it is said: Tho unable to APP
prove the plan of federation as submitted the AS
sembly refused to disapprove it. The Uote as here
presented indicates the sentiment on this subject
in the different parts of the Church."
The inference that the editor desires the public to
draw from this statement is that the Assembly
thing and so nearly persuaded that it refused to
disapprove the plan presented.
want to say that in my judgment and in view
of my observation this construction of the vote
does not in any sense indicate the true sentiment
of the Church this subject I attended every
session of the meeting at Fort Worth. I was inter-
ested and sat close up to the front and of
good brethren whose zeal is great for federation
talked so bewitchingly and so persuasively that
poor elders less affected. Those
speakers who favored federation stated plainly to
the Assembly time and time again that the vote
which about to be taken did not bind the AS
sembly to anything. They pleaded that the com
mittee be continued and enlarged, and be given
authority to confer again with the Northern Com
mittee, then report to the Greenvle Assembly the
recommendations that seemed proper, which the
Greenville Assembly could adopt or reject. These
advocates of federation also pleaded that the Forth
Worth Assembly would please not tie their hands.
do any act that would in any manner discredt
them when the time came to confer again with the
Northern Assembly.
The proposition Ga substitute for an amendment
expressing the Assembly's inability under all the
conditions, to approve the plan of federation sub
mitted through the committee of the Pittsburg
Conference" was defeated by a vote of 80 ayes to
SO nays Many of us found before we left Fort
Worth that we had made a mistake in voting mo"
and being of the 80 instead of voting Eyes" and
being one of the 81. We the thing was going
to be twisted, misunderstood and misconstrued
and it likely would be presented to our people
through the papers in different light altogether
from that which meant when the UOte was
taken. know of eighteen twenty elders all
of whom ! came in personal contact with at Fort
Worth after the vote taken, who stated most
positively they opposed to federation I'm any
form, but they voted mo" according to the record
believing that was the proper thing to do i'm order
to show to Northern brethren that we were not
had ofod q