The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-25
Protest to Taft About MissiOn- aries In the Congo is Cause
 of the Trouble
SECRETARY KNOX SENDS
 ANSWER ID QUESTIONS
It Is Learned That the Interests of the American Missionaries In Africa VIII Be Protected Very
 Thoroughly.

Savannah. Ga, May N24-calling by name the three representatives of the synod of Kentucky, the compliments in ths Central University of Kentucky mat ter before the general assembly of the Southern Presbyterian church, in ses- sion here, this afternoon filed a protest to the alleged action of the representa- tives in distributing on Saturday pamphlet giving the institutions side of the case.
 Col Thomas w Bullitt, Helm Bruce and the Rev. E. M. Green, D. D., are named in the protest, which charges that while the assembly and congregation sang "Praise God. From Whom All Bless ings Flow agents employed by the Ken tuckians distributed the pamphlet among the worshipers, the complainants stating they "are bold to affirm that perhaps no such scene was ever witnessed in this general assembly. They pronounce 1t "an unusual and unfair proceeding" and state that heretofore the assembly has placed an emphatic disapproval upon such course.
 The protest contains a set of resolu- tions containing the following:
 Whereas, a pamphlet entitled Dis cussion on Assembly Deliverance, has been addressed to the moderator and members of the body and which pamph- let moreover contains a grossly personal assault on member of the general as- sembly etc.,
 'sReso1ved That in the opinion of the assembly the distribution of books, let ters or pamphlets among the members of the house relative to a case pending before them or which is expected to be submitted to their decision, is an infringe ment upon the prerogatives of the house and ought to be discontinued as an H. legal and improper attempt to bias the Judgment of the members"
 The protest concludes:
 Words of Protest
 of the federal court forms are to be substituted for the simple and practical provisions of the Presbyterian book of church order and the wrangles of law yers over all sorts of legal pleas are to usurp their places, we may soon see ecclesiastical government displaced and gowned judges, marshals and tipstaffs and processes of injunction in place of the spiritual form of government which has been formulated from the revealed Word of God as the proper method of trying church cases. Against such in novation, against such attempt at preju- dicing and prearguing. against the meth- cd adopted in this case of distributing printed arguments days in advance of the hearing of a case as the one now under consideration, while maintaining all dnGir n our protest and our remonstrances as complainants before this reverend court which is constituted under the laws of our Lord Jesus Christ, the heavenly law giver and not under the laws of men. The protest is signed by Bennett H. Young and C. w. Somerville.
 Following motion to admit the pro test to. record, Col. T. w. Bullitt took the floor He declared that the fdta of General Young protesting would cause a smile among those who know him in Kentucky In an instant a protest was filed against .'unparliamentary language Colonel Bullitt said the unknd remarks in the paper just ~Sad caused him to make the remarks.
 The matter had not been cdnNluded when the afternoon session of the as- sembly adjourned.
 Answer From Knox.
 Previous to the ulScuSSlOn the lOlloW ing answer from s Secretary of State Knox was read, replying to the assem- bly's request for government aid for the two American missionaries awaiting trial at Leopo,dville, Congo Free State, to- morrow for libel:
 .'The President directs me to acknowl- edge the receipt of your telegram of May H The department of state on May 8 cabled the minister at Brussels to ask
 Of qnit al net Morrison and Sheppard and to request that their trial be held at some more convenient point.
 'sThe minister, however, was informed that according to the Belgian law the gov ernment of Belgium is incompetent to order a postponment or transfer of civil cases in the Congo and that the only authority competent to postpone or trans fer a case to any judicial district is the court itself upon petition of the defend ants.
 "The minister was further informed that Morrison and Sheppard were already en route to Leopoldvillle with their wit nesses The American consul at BonIl is in close touch with the situation and is instructed to exercise appropriate Jood offices if necessary kNOA
 At tonight's session 1t was voted to receive the majority report of the judic- iary committee which in effect opens for discussion the whole matter of the Central university dispute. The debate will be held tomorrow afternoon. About sV htur and a half is given each to the complain ants and the representatives of the Ken lucky synod and afterward the matter will be open for discussion by other mem- bers of the assembly.
 The majority report leaves the ques- ton for the assembly to determine after the debate The Kentucky synod de- sires that the matter should not be re- opened, considering it settled insofar as the church is concerned,