The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-05-19
OBSTACLE TO
CHURCH UNION
Awkward Question Makes Its
Appearance in PreSbyte-
Tian General Assembly.
REPORTS OF EIGHT BOARDS
CHAIRMEN OF STANDING CON-
MITTEEs.

Des Moines, IA. Nay IS.-The feature Of
today's session of the Presbyterian gen
eraI assembly was the unexpected appear
ance of an obstacle to the union between
the assembly in this city and that of the
Cumberland Presbyterian church 1t
came up in connection with a request
from the Cum beTland assembly, in Sos
sion at Decatur, Ill, that the Des Moines
assembly interpret its action on certain
amendments to the original agreement
for union so as to upset the pleas made
by a minority of the Cumberland church
in the suit asking for an injunction
against the union between the two bodies.
This request brought on a debate which
showed the commissioners to be quite
seriously divided in opinion as to the
proper Interpretation The plea made by
the Cumberland church is that certain
amendments were adopted by the Pres
commissions which are an addition to the
basis Of union decided on at Buffalo in
1904
Are Null and Void.
The assembly today by a large major
ity declared that the amendments, while
evidently carried by the Presbyteries, had
not yet been reported to the assembly
or declared a part of the constitution of
the church by the assembly that they
were not a part of the constitution and
would not be until declared adopted and
are now consequently null and void. DR..
W. H Roberts. stated clerk, made an eX-
tended explanation and argument in IA
vOT of the action taken and said that the
resolution offered by him would furnish a
valuable suggestion to the court now
considering the injunction. If the court
takes the Des MONIES assembly views the
grounds for the injunction are removed.
Approval Voted.
Although there has been quiet criticism
Of the assembly's special committee on
evangelism during the past year this did
not crop out in tOday's consideration Of
the report Of that committee On the
contrary. the assembly voted its apprO-
val of the work and continued il by the
reappOintment of the committee with
Moderator MOffatt as chairman John II.
Converse, president Of the Baldwin Lo-
connective works. and chairman of last
years committee, presented a report
showing notable evangelistic success last
year in New York. Chicago and else
where. Mr.. Wilbur ". Chapman, a noted
evangelist, also spoke.
This evenings popular meeting was
given up TO a consideration of the Sun
day school work Of the church
Reports of Boards.
The eight boards of the Presbyterian
church report to the assembly a total in
come for the past year OF s., 49S,3S4. the
largest income in the history of the
church. One quarter of this amount was
derived from the regular church offer
iugs of the church and about one-tenth
Of the total income has been received
through legaCies. The income Of the COL
lege board for the past wear was Sf.504,00o.
Foreign missions. N.145.239: home missions.
1911 .794. ministerial relief, $3.50, 7S5; fresh
mems aid. s20l. 045; board OF education,
S131 $50: church erection. Sis 23S; Sunday
school work. S1O5.J02. The church offer
ings the past year exceeded those of the
previous year by SiS.J69.
Chairmen of Committees.
The general assembly today elected
ChaiTmen Of standing committees Among
the committees are the following
On vice moderator. W 3. Richards. D.
D. Of New York City: on church policy.
John W. DinsmOre Of san Jose. Cal, on
church erection. S b WishaTd. Salt Lake