Omaha daily bee., 1906-05-23
VANDYKE'S BOOK UNDER FIRE
Presbyterian Assembly Discusses Proposed
Book Of Forms for Two Hours.
MOST INTENSE FEELING is SHOWN
Definite Action Deferred Until Later
in the session-CumberIan
UniOnIsts Win Injunc-
tion suit.

ldlhed ABOUT debate upon the adoption OF
the book Of forms and services" recon-
mended by a special committee of the Pres
| byterisn general assembly materialized late
this afternoon, debate continuing for two
hours. No conclusion was reached and
/ further discussion is to be made a special
order at late session. Not in many years
/ mas assembly been so stirred as It was
I today over this issue. and the most intense
! feeling was shown during the debate. Rev.
/ Or. Robert Johnston of Montreal Ont,
waved a copy of the book in the air as
| he spoke and declared that 1T smells of
! priestcraft" The request was made by
| the moderator that all applause be discon-
| tinued. but when DR.. Johnston, stretching
himself to his full six feet four. waving
] his hand frantically, declared that the book
smelled of priestcraft, applause broke out
! I'm a tremendous roar.
! DIR. Van Dyke, chairman Of the commit
tee. opened with witty allusion to the
psalm Of David, which he said he had been
repeating for what we are about to re-
ceive the Lord make us truly thankful"
| There seems to be two extreme
! opinions" he continued. some want it put
out and strangled under foot Others want
it adopted. Your committee stands where
| two seas meet
He then took up the book and explained
its adaptabilty to the services. He said
that the committee had as best 1t could
| only carried out the instructions of the
general assembly. DIT. William F. Nc
Cauey of Cincinnati was principal speaker
for the opposition. He declared the uues-
tion to be the most important that will
| come before the assembly. He ba sed his
arguments principally on the belief that its
authorization by the general assembly
| would ba inf tod hx- he oh baa
everywhere that the assembly wished its
adoption, although it was not mandatory.
He said that such an authorization might
prevent the union with the Cumberland
church. Mr.. McCauley offered a resolu-
tion excusng the committee from further
work and thanking It and declaring 1t in
| expedient to make any recommendation on
the matter. and that in case editions of
the book of common worship are hereafter
| issued they shall omit any statement OF
authorization by the general assembly This
resolution was referred to the clerk. Rev.
DIR. Edward S. Young Of Pittsburg and DR..
Jesup of the presbytery of New York
spoke for the book and DR.. Johnston and
Rev. Mr.. Galloway of Oregon against IT.
Today's sessions of the general assembly
were devoted largely to home missions
and in adopting the report OF home mis-
sions board. the assembly voted that 81 900. =
900 be set aside for the work next year, an
increase OF 100000. The assembly gave a
vote of endorsement to the Plat bill in the
United States senate for the suppression
of polygamy.
May Consolidate Boards.
The Presbyterian general assembly today
voted to authorize Moderator Hunter Cor
bett to name committee of ten ministers
and eleven elders, one of whom shall be
from the Cumberland Presbyterian church.
in case union is effected to draft a plan
for consolidating all the boards of the
church into one organization, to he divided
into executive, legislative and judicial de-
partments.
A resolution was offered by DR.. E. Trum-
bull Lee of Philadelphia, memorializing
congress to stop appropriations for sec
tartan purposes. This is the outgrowth of
the recent charges in congress that Catho-
lies and Lutherans are receiving substan-
tial assistancefrom the government in their
religious work among the Indians. The
Presbyterian churches maintain lobbyist
in Washington in the person of DIR. Wilbur
F. Crafts and to him will fall the duty of
pressing the memorial in congress The
resolution was referred to the committee
on bills and overtures and it will undoubt-
edly be adopted by the assembly.
The assembly today voted to combine
with the Hungarian Reform church and
the Reform church in the United States
(German) in Hungarian religious work
These organizations were invited to name
committees Of three each, to serve with
similar committee from the general
church in carrying on work About
$4,000 Hungarians come to America
yearly, and the desire is to bring them
into the Presbyterian church.
, After the Next Session.
Representatives Of four cities are here
working for the next meeting of the gem
eral assembly. They are Columbus, Kan
sas City, st. Louis and Denver The
next place OF meeting Will be decided the
last day of the convention.
The assembly has received a telegram
from the Presbyterian church, South
whose assembly is In session at Green
Vile, 5. C, accusing the home board OF
/ the Presbyterian church, North, with
Offering southern churches financial aid
to persuade them TO change their afhlia-
ton The southern church asked that a
committee be appointed for an investi-
) cation. The North church replied by
r telegram that the home board was guilty
p of no such action and refused to appoint
the committee
DR.. Edward s. Young of Pittsbure
stated lhal IN the OHeTlng or many over
lures having to do with benevoIences and
! the support OF members in sickness, he
sees the, ultimate organization and main.
; tenance OF an insurance society whereby
the assessments are made by the church
boards and the distribution OF dement's
and premiums conducted by them The
proposition Will be discussed by the as
sembly.
Increase ia Gifts to Colleges.
The report of the standing committee or
the college board to the Presbyterian gen.
eral assembly shows a large increase In
= the number Of individual givers TO col
! leges and consequently a large increase
4 in amount of gifts. The last year also
P marked an increase in the ordinary offer
D ings OF the church, there being n more
P contributing churches and 2294 more in,
dividual contributors increasing the tota
r OF gifts TO N,lSs.5OO beyond the present year
an unparalleled record. Specially important
was the gift OF 10000 to the endowment
E OF Occidental college IN Los Angeles and
{ similar gift TO Pennsylvania College for
o Women at Pittsburg. Generous offers were
s also received from Andrew Carnegie. The
n recommendations of the committee dea
! largely with increased EFFORT along the
r. line OF organized work in securing gift,