The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-04-30

stated clerk q Columbia Presbytery,
q. S. A:
+ Il is recognized by the Presbytery
assembled that the situation within
our bounds in regard to the legal
status OF property rights occasioned by
the opinion rendered by the Supreme
I Court Of the state in the church union
case, is one Of absorbing interest not
only to the congregations forming the
constituents OF the presbytery. but to
the wider public at large who have
become familiar with the situation
from the reports from time to time
sent abroad through the printed press.
And since this is the first session
OF this presbytery after the publish
ing Of said opinion, II is expected that
after due elaboration the mind and
will Of the body shall be formally
voiced in a public expression, as well
as definite instruction issued to the
constituents of the presbytery as to
action and procedure in the premises.
Therefore, having duly considered
all matters involved as presented in
the present situation, 1t is ordered
that the following record be made of
the sentiment and will of the body.
|. Pale of Jurisdiction.
Since it is possible that many are
~ nifty he hnnndc
braced within the presbytery, it is
stated that the Columbia Presbytery
is that lower court of the Presbyte-
rian Church in the United States Of
America having jurisdiction over the
congregation and ministers located in
the counties of Williamson, Maury,
Giles, Lawrence and Hickman, to
which territory was added by later
action of the Synod of Tennessee, the
counties of Lincoln and Marshall, for
merly belonging to the Elk Presby-
terry.
II. History of the Union Question.
The historic contention of the Cum
berland Presbyterian Church was
protest against certain expressions
found within the Westminster Confess
sion of Faith of the Presbyterian
churches, especially noted in the III
Chapter of the Confession, which if
not teaching, gave ground for the as
sumption that the doctrine of Fatality
might be logically deduced from such
statement. The accusation against
the Confession is an old one and has
had recognition not only by the ON
cial protest and separate life of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church. but
also by many within the membership
of various Presbyterian bodies. One
of these Presbyterian bodies, aud the
largest in America, known as the Pres /!
byterian Church in the United States
of America. in the year 1903 so Off |
cially construed these Objectionable /
statements in the Confession by notes,
and added statements as !
to purge the document of any further !
of teaching the objection
able doctrine This action is now !
Familiarity known as the Revision or
1903"
Immediately as the result of the
action of this large and influential
body Of Presbyterianism there arose
discussion as to whether or not the
action taken by the body, did not an
swer completely the historic conten-
ton of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, and this at once gave voice
to a difference of opinion, part OF the
church feeling that the contention OF
the church had been satisfied, while
others felt that what was done was
not sufficiently satisfactory.
It became apparent at this time that
! number of those constituting the
former Cumberland Presbyterian
1burch would not abide the decision
# the Decatur Assembly, hence short
V thereafter, on petition of those de-
g the jurisdiction of the Assem-
,lv a special meeting of the Column
,ia Presbytery was called to consider
he question of whether or nor the
of the Assembly would be
ftirmed or its jurisdiction declined.
ction having been taken by the ma
nritu Of the nresbytery declining the