Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-05-24
Moderator Corbett Officially An
nounCes ConSummation Of
The Union.
TWO COMMISSIONERS OPPOSE
Pandcmonium Broke Loose; ~ First
Feared indignity Might be
offered Them.

p'S AhNilfof luNd, MdN a. 90
solemny declare and here publicly an
nounce that the basis OF reunion and
union Is now in full force and effect
and that the Cumberland Presbyterian
church is now reunited with the Pres
byterian church in the United States
OF America as one church
With these words uttered before the
general assembly today Moderator
Hunter Corbett Officially established
the union of the Cumberland church
with the Presbyterian church In the
United states OF America.
The big ecclesiastical assemblage
burst INTO storm of ne joiciug. Hand
clapping, cheers and waving of hand
kerchlefs gave expression to unalloyed
pleasure. The contamination devout-
~ wished and worked for through
many years, despite many obstacles,
had become a reality.
Yesterday a telegram was received
from Decatur announcing the adoption
or the joint resolution by the Cumber-
land church. At the opening session
OF the Des Moines assembly similar
action was taken and messages to that
effect dispatched to Decatur.
The most intensely dramatic scene
OF the ceremonies attending the formal
union of the churches was the vote
against union by two commissioners.
Moderator Hunter Corbett put the
| question, which was In the form OF a
resolution and called for the attirma-
tive vote, 10 be expressed by the COM
mlssiohers rising to their feet In
stanuy the assembly han was convert
ed into stamping cheering crowd.
As the handclapping and cheering died
down and the commissioners took their
seats the moderator said
IAN who are Of the opinion that the
motion should not prevail will please
rise"
\ laughter went around the hall. for
II was believed the request was a mere
formality and would meet with no re-
Spouse. To the astonishment OF an pres
ent two commissioners rose 10 their
feet. Pandemonium broke loose, and
Il was feared for an instant that indig-
nifty would be offered the lonely men
who opposed the union One of the
men was Dr.. William Laurie Of Belle
fonta, Pa, and the other was Rev.
Roger +, Cressey OF Jacksonville. III
DR.. Laurie Is a stalwart Scotchmau
| and his personality dominated the con-
| vention.
Greatly as ] dislike 70 record my
| vote against this union, and deeply a.
| feel the pain OF being forced to lis.
! agree with my fathers and brothers
| yet | cannot conscientiously vote fot
this union. II IL purely a question be-
tween me and my God | haze to op-
pose IL.
Rev. Mr. Cressey said:
This Is matter Of conscience with
me. | cannot honestly vote for the
union
A motion was made that the negative
votes he recorded. Cries of NO We're
raised. DR.. Laurie was on his feet I'M
mediately, declaring:
II desire that the negative votes be
recorded. I never yet was ashamed
TO stand by my convictions"
The record was duly made.
Immediately after the adoption of the
resolution uniting the churches and the
declaration by the moderator that the
union was now consummated, two rep.
resontatives from the Cumberland as-
sembly were introduced to the assem-
bly,, which came 10 its feet and APP
plauded, cheered and waved hats and
handkerchiefs for five minutes The
Cumberland visitors were Prot. w.
II. Black president Of the Missouri
Valley college. Lexington, Ky, ana Or
II. Z. Fullerton or ~, Louis, Prof,
Black was the Cumberland chairman OF
the Joint committee on church reunion
and union.
Both men made speeches 10 the as
sembly. expressing their qualification
at the union. and announcing that to-
morrow Moderator Ira Landrth and
delegation OF seven others from the
Cumberland assembly would arrive Ia
Des Moines 10 receive and extend Off
clal greetings.
The assembly telegraphed the Cum
berland assembly az Decatur Of the ac-
ton on the question OF union immedi-
ately after the juncture was declared
operative. and received 2 telegram in
reply. containing congratulations, an
nouncing tho official receipt Of the in
formation and the adjournment Of the
Cumberland assembly.