Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-27
presbyterian naaembly.
Reports Of Various Committees the General Body Of the De-
nomination at Des Mones, Iowa, Last Week.

DIES MONIES, Iowa. May 26-The gem
eral assembly Of the Presbyterian Church
of the United States. which has been in
session here this week, considered a mass
of reports from various special and stand
ing committees. Some of these were very
interesting showing the condition and
trend of the church today.
The following is the verbatim resolution
reported to the body by the special COM
mittee on forms and services:
Resolved, That the general assembly
hereby calls attention OF its ministers and
congregations to the historic position OF
the Presbyterian Church in the United
States of America in regard to the liberty
in the conduct of public worship The
minister Is not confined to any set form of
service, nor is he prohibited from using
such forms, In harmony with the doctrine
of this church. as may seem to him con-
Venient and appropriate. The directory or
worship refers frequently to the discretion
of the minister, the prudence of the min
ister, the Judgment and fidelity of the
pastor, in the arrangement and proportion
of the different parts of the service The
assembly of 1852 asserted the liberty which
belongs to each minister to avail himself
OF the Calvinistic or other ancient devo-
tional ~forms Of the reformed church
far as may seem to him for edification:'
the general assembly of 1884 reaffirmed the
action of two previous assemblies to the
effect that the whole internal arrangement
of a church as to worship and order is
committed to the minister and seSsion-alI
of which this assembly reaffirms
Resolved, That the general assembly calls
attention to the fact that IL has no power
or authority to impose any particular forms
of conducting worship, or any obligatory
liturgy, upon the church: and that the eX-
listing liberty of worship is safeguarded by
the constitution, which requires that any
amendment to the directory for worship
must be submitted to the presbyteries
and receive affirmative vote OF a ma
Jority OF them, benefit can become effective
Resolved, That the general assembly rec
ognizes that the committee appointed by
the assembly of 1903, to prepare In har-
mony with the directory for worship, a
book of simple forms and service. which
shall be proper and helpful for voluntary
use in Presbyterian churches, in the cele-
bration of the sacraments in marriages
and funerals and In the conduct of public
worship, have reached definite and salts
factory completion of their work, in ac-
cordance with the instructions given by the
assemblies of 1904 and 1906 and that the
book of common worship is now published
by the board of publication containing
helpful forms. in harmony with the doctrine
of our church and proper for voluntary
use"
The special committee on church cooper
alton and union, which submitted plan
for reunion and union with the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church, closed its report as
follows:
The committee places on record Its graf
ification over the increasing ackHowledg
ment in all churches, and especially in the
churches of the Presbyterian family, of
the spiritual unity of the universal church
of Jesus Christ and the obligations of
Christian brotherhood. The historic posi-
ton of our own church from its establish
ment has been clear as to church unity. We
have always maintained that the visible
tnb oil thn1i rarNft-
under the gospel mot confined to na-
ton. as before, under the law. consists of
all those throughout the world that profess
the true religion. together with their chill
dren: and is the kingdom of the Lord
Jesus Christ. the house and family of God
Expressing the hope that there may be in
creasing acknowledgment by all Christians
OF the true nature OF the church universal
and action in accordance herewith, your
committee respectfully asks to be contin-
ued. with view to rendering further serV-
ice to the great Head of the church, in the
realization of His desire for His people
that they all may be one.
The Presbyterian General Assembly today
received a telegram from the United Pres