The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-26
ASSEMBLY YSTANDS
FOR PROHIBITION
Supports Alabama Pres
bytery Against Com
planning Minister.
HIS ACTIONS
ARE.CONDEMNED
Presbyterians Declare Liquor
Traffic Moral Rather Than
Political Qucstion-New Ex-
preston on Infant Saliva
ton Sent Down for
Approval.
Especial to The Times.Disnatch

LeWlsburg. w. Va, May 25.-Stand-
Ing by the Presbytery of North Ala
bama in its declaration for the pro-
hibttion amendment to the State Con-
stitution, sending down to the pres
bytcrles for approval new expression
on infant salvation, and in transacting
large amount of other business, the
General Assembly Of the Southern
Presbyterian Church to-day made
great headway. The rapid progress
practically assures adjournment to-
morrow
Only by the shrewdest management
did the assembly escape what would
probably have been bitter debate on
the complaint of the Rev W. l. SIN
mott against the Presbytery of North
Alabama for approving prohibition
amendment at issue in political cam
paign. The commission recorded that
the preshytery acted on the belief
that II was placed in prejudiclal light
By the press of the state announcing
that Mr.. Sinnott. its stated clerk, was
opposed to prohibition.
Your commission in voting not TO
sustain said the majority report,
signed BY fourteen members. did not
mean to reccde from or compromise
the principal OF on-intrusion into civil
affairs or affairs that concerned the
Commonwealth. but to leave our courts
free as to the mode of dealing with
Il gigantic moral evil. which mode. in
this case. was the urging upon our
people in the state of Alabama 20
vote for constitutional prohibition"
unbecoming to Minister.
'ton the other hand" the majority
report concluded. the commission
condemned the action. language and
spirit OF the complainant as highly
unbecoming a. minister of the gospel"
The minority. signed by seven. held
that the presbw;ery should have BEEN
content merely with dsavowing Mr.
Sinndtts views The majority report
was approved.
There was feeling of intense in
terest in the assembly when the re-
port of the judicial committee was
presented. 1t seems that Mr. Snnott
had written a number OF articles for
newspapers and made several speeches
In which. in very strong terms. he de-
nounced the principles OF prohibition.
His language and manner. 1t ts
claimed. were lnbeconing to a min
lister of the gospel. These articles
and speeches were published very ex-
tensively in the antiprohibition pa
pers. which very prominently called
attention to the fact that he was the
stated clerk OF the North Alabama
Presbytery and of the Synod of Ala
bama This gave his utterance>, II
was claimed at least a semiof.,cial
character, though he had no authority
to speak for either body.
Great indignation was raised by his
course. When his presbytery met, 1t
took strong action condemning what
he had done and dsclaiming any re-
sponsibility for his utterances, and,
going still further. the presbytery In
dorsed the constitutional amendment
that was then before the people, and
urged all of the members OF It's church
to vote for it.
1t was against the latter part OIL
this action especially that Mr.. sinnott
complained. anon the ground that 1t
was against the principles of the
Presbyterian Church or any of its
courts to pass Judgment upon any
civil OR political question. The pres.
bytery reported it's position by ths
claim that the prohibition amendment
was a moral issue and was outside OF
politics.
To Higher Court.
Mr.. sinnott took his complaint n
the synod. This body referred 1t to
the General Assembly for action, say
ing that it seemed better to have 1t
tried by the higher court on account
OF the Intense feeling that had been
awakened in the State on the subject.
In such case as this. the matter NAV
be tried by the whole assembly sit.
ting as the court OF Judgment, or 1t
may be referred to judicial commits
sion composed of twenty-seven mem.
oers OF the body, which shall try it
ana whose verdict shall be fnal.
Ihls commission heard evidence and
a, aIsument from both sides, including
me reading OF Mr.. .Sinnott's newsnanar
articles. 1t is said that some of ~ 90
We're OF such character that some of
tne members OF the commission even
protested against their being read
The point complained of and to he
decided upon by the commission was q
TO whether the presbytery had acted
contrary to the law of the church in
the action it had taken, The commits
sion found itself in some embarrass-
ment. for if 1t condemned the presby-
terry there would be some who : wouid
pc inclined to say that the assembly
had sustained Mr.. Sinnott In his course.
AFTER spending the greater part of
three days In considering the matter,
the commission brought In its tudg-
ment this morning. Fourteen voted
not to sustain the complaint, thereby
saying that the presbytery was right
IN It's actions. Seven voted to sustain
and sin did not vote at ALL Those
who voted to sustain the complaint ex-
pressed their disapproval OF the course
OF Mr.. Stnnott.
Confession Amended.
Another matter that awakened a
good deal Of interest was the report
on what ID called tho "elect infant"
clause in the Confession OF Faith. The
following amendment to the confess
sion was adopted and sent down to the
presbyterles for their approval. to be