New-York tribune., 1906-05-25
PRESByTERIANS UNITED
cBTyRCH SCHISM ENDS.
Cumberland Branch Ceases to E'r'St
General Assembly RejOices.
Try Tele9raph 10 The Tribune ]

,,....ae 1o1-s Nav 24-'T do soemnly de-
clare and here publicly announce that 1ne 81
of reunion and union is now IN iuH ioice anu
Ca. an6 that the Cumberland Presbyterian Church
- - ,,,,,o6 With the Presbyterian Church in
-to T-,f,ed states Of America. as one Church ana
that the ofcaI records Of the two churches durihs
Tho period Of separation shall be preserved ana
Ia .s r,aktne ND the history Of the one Church y
win this declaration in the General Assembly
-t,s morning by the Rev DR.. Hunter Corbett, the
moderator and similar declaration made before
fbe Cumberland Assembly at Decatur. ILL., the TWO
tosies became one and the Cunberano Presny-
terian Church for nearly ninety years one ol inc
branches OF the Presbyterian Church ceases TO
exist.
HYMNS and prayers and congratulations followed
the announcement that the Cumberland Church
was part OF the parent Church again. Dr. w H.
Roberts as chairman Of the assembly $ committee
on reunion. said that the Cumberland ChurcH'
which he termed "a child Of our loins' Ike a
good daughter was returning home TO the mother
Church ~ l.,,
DR.. W H Black, the chairman OF the Cuilloei
land Assemblys committee was received win an
unusual demonstration. Not only did handkerchleis
Nv in every part Of the house and applause Wen
nigh deafenfng hl the air but scores OF conliiS-
sioners, forgetting their dignity. stamped on me
floor until the combination Of noises resembled the
cavalry charge the army post last SATURDAY 'I'
Black said that the Cumberland Church had taken
the action which had been reported and which
had been confirmed by enc assembly here for the
sake Of blending aagrosy With that OF the Pres
byterisn Church Or FuE=Tton. OF s.. Louis an
other member Of the Cumberland committee said
that Dr. Black and he had come 10 the assembly
10 see their other selves Referring TO his col
league he added that he noted for profundity
Of thought. orotundity Of voice and rotundity Of
body.
DIR. ROBERTS IN HAPPY VEIN.
Dr. Roberts was in his element to-day, for, be-
sides having the Cumberland report adopted by a
rising vote. with only negative votes out of
nearly seven hundred recorded. he obtained the
approval Of the plan of federation adopted by the
interchurch conference held in New York last No
vernber. A plan Of federation among Presbyterian
and reformed churches. or. as the title is now
known. Articles of Agreement" adopted,
and the committee was requested to prepare a plan
for selecting representatives 10 the council Of the
reformed churches in America holding the Pres
byterian system.
Tie committee IS also authorized 10 continue its
negotiations looking toward union with the Re
formed Presbyterian Churchs General Synod while
progress toward closer relations, either federal
organic between the Presbyterian Church and the
Reformed Church of the United States also
reported. The last named church is the largest Of
the churches OF the Presbyterian family, next to
the mother church, having $50 ministers, 1.150
gregations and 64931 communicates.
A part Of the report referring TO the federation
conference in New York. al which there were pres
ent five hundred delegates from thirty Protestant
denominatonal churches, which DR.. Roberts read.
dealt with the Unitarian question and was received
with prolonged applause. 1t this;
An endeavor was made during the conference 10
90 modify the plan OF federation as TO secure the
admission Of representatives Of the Unitarian
churches The proposal had been previously de
ClueQ 10y The executive committee for r.
that invitations to the conference had been limited
70 evangelical churches. After an earnest debate
the conference decided, upon motion made by one
of the delegates from this Church to amend the
preamble TO the plan by inserting the word divine
before the words Lord and Saviour" Further ef-
lortS looking 10 the admission of al
churches received but 4 single afiruz tive vote
therefore those holding doctrines of h5storicaI
ana evangelical Christianity. Not only our own
AHreh' nut an other Christian churches are TO
he congratulated upon this manifestation made ar
the conference Of enthusiastic LOYALTY Ia Jeeus
'hrlst as the one divine Lord and Saviour by the
Tepresentatyes Of an Overwhelming majority of The
tI"iFstant Christians Of the United States Panra-
sening as the conference did eighteen millions ~
church communicates. its witness TO Jesus f,trie-
S"n OF Man and only begGtten Son Of God rbe sec
ohG person q the Trinity, most ENCOURAGING
and inspiring.
AN HISTORICAL CELEBRATION.
The greater part Of the business session NJ the
day was given up 10 historical celebration for
this year marks the 2G1th anniversary Of the or
ganizailon Of the Presbyterian Church in America
Dr Roberts. who made the first address on THE
Period Of Isolated Congregations and the General
Presbytery-l6ll1 declared that the cradle Of
representative repubicanism on tnis continent
was not Independence Hall in Philadelphia but the
1Ist Presbyterian church in that city, where. il
Rev Dr. Henry c, NcC,ook Of Philade phia dis
cussed The Period Of the General Synod-I7-l7sS -
ana the Rev. DR.. Robert F. Coyle, of Denver out
lined The Future OF the Presbyterian Church -