Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-05-27
Resolutions Are Adopted Making Simple
Declaration Of Doctrine.
INSTRUMENTATION NOT ALLOWED
Statement Eads to Meet Objections Of
Certain Cumberland Members.
QUESTION or COLOR LINE COMES UP
Proposition to Create New synod
from negro Presbyteries Goes
over After Extended
Debate.

DEs MONIES, Ia, May 26-The 11sth |
Presbyterian general assembly concluded |
its business late this afternoon and ad- |
journed to meet next year at Columbus. !
o. The assembly is considered to have |
been the most important IN the history of
the church because OF the completion Of the
union with the Cumberland church. The
solemn declaration of the contamination
Of the union by the moderator and the
appearance of delegates from the Cumber
land assembly were incidents that will
be remembered long by the men who came
from all parts OF the world to advance
the cause of Christianity.
The declaration of the assembly in favor
of church federation is also considered
an important step and Il is expected that It
will be followed by similaraton on the
uart Of other churches The movement
for union ana federation is believed by
church leaders to be in full swing and
they predict the early union OF all Presby-
terian churches in the United States.
New Statement of Doctrine.
The closing sessions were enlivened by
reveral acrimonious debates, one OF which
came when Rev. DR.. J. D. Moffatt offered
resolutions intended to conciliate objectors
| TO the recent union DR.. William Lowrie
of Bellefont Pa. objected to statements
that the syods and PresbyteriRns OF the
Cumberland church had been added to the
rolls of the Presbyterian church in the
United States OF America, because he said
large number OF Cumberland ministers
are said to be in session in st. Louis
planning to continue the Cumberland
church. DR.. Mofratt flashed back that the
union is fact. The resolutions were then
adopted. They set forth that for fear
some Cumberland Presbyterians may be
reluctant to acquesce in the union because
| Of certain Interpretations which should
be removed the following declarations are
| solemnly made:
First-That IN the Presbyterian church no
| acceptance of doctrine rs required beyond a
/ personal faith in. Jesus Christ as the Son
| Of God and Savior of the world and sincere
! acceptance OF Him as Lord and Master.
second-ThAt ministers, ruling elders and
deacons in expressing approval OF the West
minister confession Of faith are required TO
tablished therein and not 10 every particu-
lar statement. Il is further declared no
longer allowable TO interpret the system Of
doctrine in any fatiistic sense.
4 Third-rhat reunion works no. change in
the relations OF communicates, ruling eld-
| churches. nor, except in few Instances, In
their selections 10 their presbytertes and
synods. The hope is also expressed that al
! may see that greater efficiency In The
church may be achieved by the union.
QuestiOn of Color Line Comes Up.
The color line was sherply drawn and the
negro question came squarely to the surface
in the Presbyterian assembly for the first
time today. The committee on church policy
submitted a report recommending the erec-
tion OF a synod in Alabama to include the
presbyteries Of Birmingham, Leevere and
Rogersville, to be known. as the Synod OF
Chattanooga. The presbyteries in the synod
are French Brood, Holston, Kinston and
Union. The presbyteries OF Birmingham.
Leevere and Rogersville are composed OF
negro churches. The others are composed OF
white churches.
Would Divide Races.
The purpose OF the committee was to
divide the races. No sooner had the
report been submitted when Russell Tay-
lor. negro minister of Leevere and one
of the commissioners of the assembly
from that Presbytery. took the floor He
violently opposed the proposed synod on
the ground that the three presbyteries
specified were not numerically strong
enough or we'll enough versed in church
law to assume the functions and duty OF
a synod.
Members Of the committee spoke for
the erection Of the synod. carefully avoid
| ing the race question and emphasizing
the claim that each of the three presby-
teries had asked such action. After
spirited discussion. in which the colored
commissioner received the majority of
, to refer the whole subject to the as
sembly OF 1907.
Messages FROM other Churches.
The Presbyterian general assembly today
received the telegram from the United
= Presbyterian assembly in session at Rich
: mond Ind, and the Virginia classes of the
Reformed Presbyterian church in the
United States, conEratuiating the assembly
on the Cumberland union.
Chairman A. S. Marshall Of the com
mittee on home missions. read telegram
from the Presbyterian Church. South, say
ing It does not charge the board with
> improper practices. but the active workers
in the field The assembly authorized DR.
Marshall 70 telegraph the southern assem-
bly, that II such practices were being fol-
lowed IL was unknown 10 the assembly.
DR.. William Laurie. one sS the Presby-
: terrain commissioners 10 the assembly ia
session here now who voted against union
with the Cumberland church. caused
another eommotion by opposing a motion
10 require all commissioners TO write tC
u all pastors and elders in their Presbyteries
. asking them to take up collections for th'
. relief OF churches. which suffered from the
: California earthquake and ire.
y Move for Temperance.
The committee on church polity toda,
submitted a report recommending that an!
n member OF the Presbyterian church
II renting his or her property for intemperat,
q uses be disciplined by the church. To tn,
e question Has lawyer. a member OF th'
church right 10 defend violator OF tn
Z temperance law2" no answer was given
n A proposition. to amend the Westministe
II confession OF faith by striking out tn
II words: Cast into eternal torment" wa
rejected by the assembly. A new syno,
. was created composed OF the south AM
e east SYnods of FLORIDA and viii be know