Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-05-20
DIVORCE AIDED BY
CHURCH., SAYS
DR.. B0GCS
Atlanta Delegate Asserts Pres.
byterianS Err in Approving
DeSertion as Just Cause.

BRISTOL, TENN. May 20.-In pre-
sentihg the majority report of the COM
mlttee on marriage and divorce to the
general assembly of the Southern Pres
byterian church, Dr. William E. Boggs,
Of Atlanta, today made an appeal to the
assembly to refer to the presbyteries
the question of marriage and divorce.
adding that the confession of faith was
wrong in authorizing desertion as
cause for divorce He said that the
church by its erroneous position on the
subject was contributing to the greatest
evil in the history of the race. and that
40 per cent of the divorces are for de-
sertion. Dr. Boggs is secretary of the
PRESBYTERIAN church commission with
Headquarters in Atlanta
Dr. Webb. of Louisville. will present
the minority report urging that the
present position of the church is cor
rect
Dr. Finn Makes Report
DR. Richard Orme Finn. of North
Avenue church, Atlanta, today present
ed the detailed report of the committee
on systematic beneicence. which was
considered schedule by schedule and
adopted with minor alterations Elk
ecutive secretaries were elected by the
assembly on recommendation Of DR.
Finn committee as follows:
Christian education and ministerial
relief, DR.. Henry H. Sweets, Louisville;
Sabbath school expenses and publica-
ton, r. Magill; assemblys home mis-
sions. Rev e. L. Morris foreign mis-
sions. Rev. Egbert w Smith. Jr.
The assembly voted to raise during
the next fiscal year amounts as fol-
lows: Foreign missions, $55O,OO0 as
semblys home mission, $4,000;
Christian education and ministerial re-
lief, $129,oOO Sabbath school expenses
and publication. 100000; American
Bible society, $4,000.
The report of the committee on "Ro-
manism as Menace to Christian Lib
erty" was made an order of business
for this afternoon.
Church Union Favored.
On. James l. Vance. of Nashville,
made the report of the committee on
foreign correspondence, submitting for
consideration of the assembly the fol-
lowing recommendations:
we recommend to the assembly the
appointment of committee of confer
ence to confer with a similar committee
which, We trust, may be appointed by
the United Presbyterian assembly; to
ascertain whether a basis of union Of
the churches is practical BILE. and if found
so, to report the saia basis to the re-
spective assemblies for their considera-
ton and action thereon. We nominate
as members of this committee Rev r.
c. Reed Rev S. L. Morris, Rev. John F.
Cannon, Rev Allen G. Hall and Hon
w. f. Buchanan"
Change in representation.
That the report OF the adj interim
committee, to which was referred the
overtures of presbyteries in Texas,
South Carolina and other states, asking
for change in the fundamental law
of the church, SO as to give new
method of selecting representa- ives to
the general assembly, will be adopted,
with amendments. is indicated today.
The report has been made an order of
business for tomorrow and will be dis
cussed al length.
Sinnott Case Coming Up.
Another important matter yet to be
debated before the assembly, the dis
cussion of which will bring up some
nice questions of church government is
the Sinnott case of north Alabama,
which grew out of the action of pres
bytery indorsing proposed prohibit
ton amendment to the state constitu-
ton DR. W l. Sinnott made complaint
to the general assembly against his
presbytery for alleged wrongful and IL
legal interference in civil matters. The
general assemblies at Louisville and
Lewisbure refused to entertain the
complaints The presbytery had harsh
~ censured Dr. Sinnott for his action
in compaining DR.. Sinnott and his
friends are seeking to have the present
aecaphfV rpoDen the case and relfeye