The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-05-23
..FoHsls AND snRyIcEs.v
Question of It's Adsptien Causes Hot
 Debnte at Dea Moines.

Question of It's Adsptien Causea Hot
 Debmte at UeS M0ines.
 Des Moines. Iowa, May ae.-The ques- ton of the adoption of the book on Forms and Services recommended by a special committee of the Presby- terian General Assembly. came up this afternoon, and after heated debate of several hours, the matter went over to later session of the General Assembly.
 Not in many years has an Assembly been sos stirred as 1t was today over this issue and the argument became heated from Its very beginning. Dr. Henry Van Dyke. chairman of the com mittee. maintained his usual calm de- meanor as he made his address in pre- senting the report.
 The most intense feeling was evident In the debate at times. bordering on discourtesy, despite the exhortations of some of the more dignified commis- sioners that the matter be approached and debated in an attitude of prayer. The request was made by the Modera- tor that all applause be discontinued. but when the dramatic, tall. dark haired pr. Johnston of Montreal stretching himself to his full six feet, four. waving his hands frantically, de- clared that it smelled of priestcraft, applause broke out in tremendous roar.
  be two extreme opinions. Some, he said. want it put out and strangled under foot. Others want 1t adopted. Our committee stands where the two seas meet"
 He said that there was just one point on which he would fight. and that was against having it called Dr. Van Dykes report, for Dr. Moffat and Dr. Hill and John Converse and many others were as much a part of 1t as he. He then took up the book and explained its adaptabiifty to themselves. He said that the committee had as best it could only carried out the instructions of the General Assembly.
 Dr. William P. McCauley of Cincin- nati was the principal speaker for the opposition. He based his arguments principally on the belief that It's au- fhorization by the General Assembly would be interpreted by the churches everywhere that the Assembly wished It's adoption. although it was not man. datory. He said that such an authori. zation might prevent the union with the Cumberland Church. Dr. McCauley of fered a resolution excusing the commit tee from further work and thanking it. and declaring it inexpedient to make any recommendation on the matter, and that In case editions of the book of common worship are here after issued, they shall omit any statement or au- thorization by the General Assembly. This resolution was referred to the clerk.
 Today's sessions were devoted large ly to home missions and in adopting a report of the home mission board, the assembly voted that $1,0O0,O00 he set aside for work next year, an in- crease of S100,OO0.
 The assembly gave vote of endorse nent to the Platt bill in the United States Senate for the suppression of polygamy.
 The report of the standing commit tee on the college board to the Presby- terian general assembly shows large increase in the number of in- dividuaI givers to colleges and conse- auently a large increase in the amount of gifts The past year also marked an Increase in the ordinary offerings of the church. there being 271 more con tributing churches and 2,294 more indi- vidual contributors, increasing the to- tai of gifts to $1.1Ss,1O0 beyond the preceding year, an unparalleled re- cord.