The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-22
DEBATE IS
CONTINUOUS
Presbyterians Discuss
Agreement Articles.
ORGANIC UNION IS FEARED
Southern Church Might Lose Many
Of Calvanistic Principals.
Arguments viii Continue For Several
Days and are the Special Order
Young Peoples Meeting n
Feature.


ticles Of agreement took up the greater
part of the two business sessions OF the
Southern Presbyterian general sessions
today, closing the five hours allotted to
the debaters on each side with exhaus-
tive addresses.
The question is the order for all of
tomorrow and it is hoped that by night
a vote will be reached. W. S. Fleming,
of Columbia, Tenn, opened the debate
against the adoption of the articles, and
was followed by Egbert w. Smith, of
Louisville, KY. He said the arguments
against the articles were based on un-
constitutionality coming from suspicion
of the Northern Church. from seif-com-
placency and from fear. all of which
were in his opinion -unwarranted, as he
believed the Northern church safe, sane
and more advanced in many teachings
than the Southern.
T. B. Frazier, from Harmony Presby-
terry, S. c.. said that the question was
one of life or death of the church of
the living Cod and in closing. dra-
matically crushed the copy of the ar
ticles which he held in his hand and
flung 1t to the floor. DIR. w. M. Alex
ander of New Orleans, who was a
member of the Charlotte conference
which drew up the articles, claimed that
his purpose in favoring adoption was
that the article would erect a barrier,
pull up the drawbridge between the
Southern church and organic union,
that as long as the articles are in
force, no union with other churches
would be possible, and ct consider or
ganic union a crime until we have
light"
Articles Absolutely Useless.
DR.. Russell Cecil. of Richmond Va,
based his argument upon the ground
that the articles were absolutely use
H.. e. l-ly. s-n.-
about the desired purpose of unity and
cooperation, since the pan Presbyterian
alliance fills that function already He
said the articles are dangerous because
indefinite, mere non descript born
into the world, dangerous because de-
visive on dissention and because they
tend to foreign entanglements which
might result in organic union. Then
discussing organic union he said the
Northern church is divided into two
parties. a comprehensive party, which
wants a big church and Is loose in the
confession of faith, and conservative
party which wants union with the
Southern church in order to strengthen
fits ranks.
For these reasons he did not believe
that the Southern church could ever
unite with the Northern church and
continue to be loyal to the calvanistic
doctrines of its faith. = Asfs -
Allen G. Hall, of the Vanderbilt Uni
versity. very infinitely discussed the
constitutionality of the articles. claim
ing that the constitution authorized
their adoption
Prior to the discussion devotional SER
vices were lead by Rev. J, N. Vande-
venter. of Fort Defiance, Va. The re-
port of womens societies, submitted by
Rev. Joseph Remios showed a.. total
membership of 44.362 and that $3.50, ssl
had been raised during the year for all
causes.
DIR. Anderson I'm Chair.
At II o'clock the debate was inter-
rupted by popular meeting under the
auspices of the committee on publica-
tion,, Sabbath school work and young
peoples societies, DIR. Neal l.. Anderson
occupying the moderator's chair. Ad-
dresses were made by Rev. A. o.
Brown, Rev. williamson Meggienson of
Nashville and Rev. NJ. B. Porter, of
Charlotte, N. c.
Argument on the articles of agree
ment was resumed at noon, DR.. E. w.
Smith. OF Loui.yille, speaking in favor
of the adoption of the majority report;
T. B. Frazer of sumter. S. c., follow
ed fo~ the minority
Tonight the formal report on home
missions was made which Incorporated
recon endatior that 800 900 be rails
ed for this work during the coming year
An ADDRESS was MADE by Dr. 3. l.. Nor
RS of Atlanta on the subject In the
course of which he said that the South
ern Presbyterian church W, far behind
the Northern Presbyterian church in en-
thusiasm on the subject of home mis-
sions and he added that If the proper in
terest in this subject could be aroused
in the south the church would soon be
in the proud position 1t occupied In the
days gone by. During the evening an
address was made by Silas Cole, an In
dian, in the Choctaw language.
Rev. william States Jacobs of Hous-
ton Texas pastor of the largest church
in that state, arrived N Birmingham to-
day to urge the claims of Houston for
next session of the general assembly.
The contest for the honor is between
Houston and Louisville with the indica-
lions pointing to Houston as the sue
cessful aspirant.