Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-05-24
APPLICATION FOR INJUNCTION
TO PREVENT PRESBYTERIAN
MERGER is DENIED
DEBATE is EXCITING
Presbyterian General Assembly at Des
Moines at Fever Heat During Dis.
cusslon on "Book Of Forms and cere.
monies"-Rev. Van Dyke Defends
book-MccauIey Leads Opposition.

Decatur, ILL.,, May 23.-The appltca-
ton for an injunction to restain the
union of the Presbyterian churches
was refused today by Judge Johns. He
says the case has no parallel in juris-
prudence in the United States.
He treated the church as voluntary
organization, the acts of whose high
est tribunal are binding on all the
members and will not be interfered
with by the courts If the acts are
fair and honest. He held that courts
OF equity will not pass on doctrinal
matters, the decisions of eccelesiasti-
cal judicaries being binding on civil
courts as to the matters of faith.
Rests With Church.
The decision sets forth various acts
OF the Cumberland general assembly
and says: These actions must be held
to be determination of its right and
power" as to doctrine, the court held
that whether the doctrines of the
Cumberland Presbyterian church are
widely variant from those Of the
Presbyterian church is an ecclesiasti-
cal question solely, upon which, having
been decided by the ecclesiastical
julicatory, the civil court is powerless
to enquire"
"Antls" Protest.
When the judges opinion was
read IN the assembly DR..
Steel introduced a.. resolution
that in entering the union, the Cum.
berland Presbyterians do not surren.
aer any integral part OF their doc.
trine. It was adopted by vote Of 16S
to 81. DR.. w. H. Black, president I'd
Valley college, chairman, read the re.
port of the committee on union.
The anti-unionists filed a protest,
Exchange Greetings.
Des Moines, May -Telegrams OF
greetings were today exchanged be.
tween the Presbyterian General assem-
bly, In session here and the Cumber-
land Presbyterian assembly at Deca-
tur, III. The sentiments expressed in
the dispatches indicate that before the
adjournment of the assemblies a un-
ion of the two churches will be effect
ed.
Would Prohibit Poiygamy.
The assembly today adopted reso.
luton counselling all members Of the
SANASAA w CACAI IlCAI luuuCuC0 10 SO
cure the ratification of the proposed
amendment to the constitution Of the
United States prohibiting polygamy
and polygamous cohabitation.
The resolution offered yesterday
memorializing congress against the an.
preparations of public money for sec.
tartan purposes was turned down by
a small majority.
Debate on Book Of Prayer.
Excitement in the Presbyter.
ian general assembly was at
fever heat yesterday afternoon
when the great debate on the "Book
for Forms and Ceremonies"was staged
The auditorium was crowded and
when the Rev. DR.. Henry Van Dyke
took the platform to defend the book
there was long continued applause.
His eloquence was constant as he at.
tackled the opposition mercilessly.
The Rev. DR.. w. T. McCauley of
Cincinnati. the acknowledge leader Of
the opposition, at once crossed swords
with DR.. Van Dyke. In the opening
of his address he introduced the first
unpleasantness in the assembly by
raising a question of veracity.
Would Not Recede.
Dr.. Herrick Johnson of Chicago
had been furnishing ammunition for