New-York tribune., 1906-05-20
OPPOSE SUNDAY BURIAL
Presbyteriaus Believe Funerals
Should Be Held on Other Days.
~ 60 Q 40 -


Des Noines Iowa, May ls.-This was overture day
in the General Assembly and more than three hun
dred papers received from the presbyteries were
reported by Dr. James D. MoHatt. OF washington
and Jefferson College Chairman OF the committee
Many Of them related 70 the subjects. One
presbytery asked the assembly 70 place itself or
record oppoced TO Sunday funerals and called on
all the ministers and members assist IN abolish
Ing the practice. Seventy-seven papers had 70 do
with the removal Of church members from one
town 10 another the design Of the overtUres being
to keep track OF members. and. il possible, ge-
them settled in a church home Seventy-six
called on the assembly 10 appoint committee tC
consider the question Of the consolidation OF the
boards of the Church
The idea is have three great causes-horne mis-
siOns. foreign missions and ministerial indemnity
a system Of activities simple and comprehensive.
readily grasped and appreciated as a whole BY the
rank and file. from whom support must Sly
overtures were marked for deliverance as the
status Of church members and the duty OF church
officers in connection with licenses TO sell intoxi-
eating liquors.
The presbyIery of Westchester. in session a.
Mount Vernon n Y asked to have the form OF
government amended so that any presbytery may
limit its active membership-that is. members hav-
ing right to vote-to the pastors and one elder
from each church within IT'S boundary II being en-
joined that such limitation shall not reduce the
number Of ministers having the right to vote be-
low that Of the number of churches This, in sub
stance is the overture which was adopted BY the
nresbytery of New York at its meeting this week
The presbytery Of Newark overturned the as
senoly express its disapproval OF the effort con-
tenpated by the Society Of Christian Endeavor to
raise S000,O0O for memorial building or perma-
nent fund. large amount Of which would neces-
sarily come from Presbyterian young people These
overtures were referred to the proper committees
and Will be reported next week. together with one
limiting the amount of time which can be used in
nominating moderators it being the opinion OF
many of the commissioners that time worth $3.50
was taken Thursday in hearing beautiful but
unnecessary eulogies Of several candidates.
The action of the assembly yesterday in refer
ence to union with the Cumberland Church has
been met with earnest protest, which VIII be
submitted TO the assembly on Monday by Dr. James
Mcleod. OF Scranton. Penn. The protest declared
that 1t is not within the power or province Of the
assembly enjoin presbyteries and synOds 70 dis
regard the plain provisions OF the constitution II
the General Assembly can do 10 in this case, say
the protestants. why not in some other case or in
any case? While only one or two names have
been signed to the protest so far. it Is probable
that more names will be added before 1t is read.
Opinions vary as to the legality and wisdom Of
the seeming abrogatiOn OF the amendment to the
constitution adopted year ago. 1t is freely adj
mitted all sides that the purpose Of the action
was to aid the Cumberland people In the lawsuit
in which they find themselves in Decatur.
The prayer book report and the prayer book itself
are before the assembly, and the arrival Of DR..
Henry van Dyke this evening is expected 20 clarity
ject is be discussed in the assembly and changes
in sentiment may be brought about in the mean
time which will lead to the adoption Of the report
but a careful inquiry among members Of the as
sembly elicits the fact that there is a strong and
growing opposition TO the book which comes from
two three sources.
The home missionaries outspoken against
the idea of Presbyterans having a prayer book.
It is also said that the elders in the assembly
or, better majority OF them opposed to it.
The strongest ODpOsifiOD so far from
Chicago. from DR.. Herriek Johnson. Of Mccormick
Seminary After commencing the members Of the
committee. Dr. johnson. in an article. discusses
the characteristics Of true worship. which, he
says. should be spirituality. simplicity and adapta-
tion and the features which are to be avoided in
worship formality elaborateness and hXedness
Dr. johnson believes that the multiplication OF out
ward and set forms is straight path to formality.
He criticises also the fact that not prayer OF
Holy Scripture appeared in all the fifty pages de-
voted 10 that subject He commends the manual OF
forms for funerals, marriages. ordinations and the
like but would recommit the prayer section, that it
may be enriched with the devotional treasures con-
tanned in the Bible. Concerning the part OF the
book giving forms for morning and evening ser
vices he believes il to be dvisve measure threat
ening difficulty in many parishes, leading 70 con-
aicts in sessions and between pastors and church
oflcers determining the call of the pastor.
nninorites being insistent their preference even
at the cost of dividing the church Instead Of in
creas,ng uniformity worship" says DR..
johnson, in conclusion. "a new element of variety
is being introduced by a book Of common wor-
shin and beloved Church charged with a
chaotic condition as TO form of service by our
rituaIistic friends is likely to grow better but
rather the worse. by this much heralded remedial
agency"
Three causes were before the assembly this
uaorning-the Board Ministerial Relief the Amer
lean Tract Society and the American Bible Society
All of them highly commended the
churches. sympathy was expressed this morning
with five members Of the assembly who were
Slightly injured while the members OF the assem-
bly were having a photograph taken A platform
fell but no one was seriously hurt. The injured
were George Wills. Mendoza, Ill; the Rev. Will
tam O. David Monongahela w. Va; the Rev. ". s
F3uII Thomas N NJ. the Rev Charles E Luken.
Roswell n NJ. and the Rev. J. NcGaUghey, Chari-
ton Iowa This afternoon the commissioners and
their friends attended a full dress review OF the
troops at Fort Des Moines, In the evening a
popular meeting in the interest Of the evangelistc
committee held.