The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-21
Presbyterians Seek to
Remove Existing
Prejudice.
COMMITTEE WILL
MAKE STATEMENT
Question of Union With North
ern Branch Is Referred for Re-
port at Next Assembly.
Amendment Proposed to
Elect Infant Clause of
Confession of Faith.
Especial to The T,mes-pispatch.

Especial to The Times Dispatch
Bristol Va, May 20.-The adoption
Of resolution to appoint an ad in
terlm committee 10 prepare brief
popular statement of inc doctrines Of
the church. which WAS adopted BY a
marrow majority and after "A lively de-
bate; the passage OF a resolution TO
appoint committee 10 confer with
tho United Presbyterian Church on
Inc subject of a union with that or
ganization. the rcpor; OF the COM
in!ttcc OH church societies, recommend
ing the appointment of a woman sec
Rotary. the consideration Of a propos-
cd amendment TO the clcct-infant clause
or the Confession of Faith, to be sub
United to the prcshyterlcs, and the
adoption Of the minority report OF the
committee on marriage and divorce
refusing TO submit to tiic prcsbyterics
the matter of "A revision OF the Con-
fcssion in this respect. were the prln-
cIpal dosngs OF the day in the General
Assembly OF the Southern Prcsbytcr-
ian Church.
The contest over the preparation Of
popular statement ombodying the
doctrines ct the church was precipi-
tated by requests from missionaries
and overtures from prcsbyteries ask
ing this Oh account OF the prejudice
against the church because 1t is
=
In Infant damna;ion ana predestinatlo
OF souls to hell. 1t developed a night
between the proEressiycs and oonscr-
vatives. and the former, led by Dr..
James l. Vance. of Nashville, Won by
IA vote of os to SO. Or Vance plead
for the assembly 10 "pu: in twentieth
century terms. the truths OF our Con-
fcssion.'
Dr. f. NJ. wood. of West Virginia,
said that the criticism was no,
against the Confession, but really
against the Word OF God. Dr.. c. r.
Reed. declared In speaking on the sub
ject that there was no use in talking
oi union with the United Presbyter an
III We are going TO discredit our Con-
fession.'
To Explain Doctrines.
strong speeches were made against
H. but the advocates urged that the
statement was not to compromise any
Of the teachings In the Confession.
but 10 explain them.
Dr. w. L. Boggs. of Atlanta. plead
for change IN the Confession so as
10 authorize only one ground OF
divorce-!inpurity He lost by the
adoption OF the report OF the majority
OF mis- committee.
There WAS much debate on the sub
jcct OF the elect infant clause, and
from the committee on this subject.
Dr, Webb, OF Louisville. presented the
majority report. which proposed that
the Confession shall he amended so
as 10 provide specifically that all in
fants ar. elected and regenerated.
The minority report. presented by DR..
] > McElroy. OF Macon. Ca. contained
practically the same expression in
different form. The consideration of
"a.
ers said that the Confession as IL
stands does not teach infant damna-
ton, but that il was capable OF that
construction.
The report OF the COMMITTEES on sys-
tomato benefcence was adopted with
slight amendments. The CHIEF feature
is the appropriation of $3.50. J0J for
foreign missions and $4,000 for as
semioly's home missions.
The report OF the committee on Ro-
manism will be made tomorrow az
iant events Of the assembly meeting
Woman Secretary.
Contrary to expectations upon The
part OF good many OF the commis-
sioners. the General Assembly to-day
adopted that item OF the report OF the
standing c.mmitte on church societies
which recommended the apo ntment
Of a woman secretary. When the rec
concentration was put to the house ii
was adopted without dissenting vote
This report recommended that the
four executive committees be directed
20 select woHta N possessing suitable
gifts as secretary. who shall devote
her entire time TO the work OF organ
izing the women into synodical and
presbyterial unions and local societies
under control of synods, presbyte ries
and sessions. and coordnating wo-
mems and young peoples societies now
organized. During the past year tina
wom'n's societies have contributed to
foreign missions Sio+2o4: to home mis-
sions. S5?,isl to local causes. sls5.1s5:
to other causes. s62.l7s: giving total
of s3S3,l76. Thu membership OF the
women's societies is 6o,414 The young
peoples societies. with a membersh hip
of 26.S06. contributed total OF s36S2S
to al CARES the past year.
y committee consisting OF Rev r. c..
Eec... Rev. S. G. Morris. Rev. John f.
Cannon, Hon Allen q. Hall and Hon.
w. +. Stevenson. was appointed TO
confer with similar committee from
the United Presbyterian Church to
ascertain whether basis of union Of
the two churches is practicable.
DR.. Smith Expresses Regret.
soon after the opening OF the ses-
sion of the assembly this morning
Rev Egbcrt ". Smith rose to a point
OF personal privilege and said that he
his regret for having used a word that
he used on Saturday morning with
reference to the circulation of certain
scdhudlous rumorS ne had heard
Another commissioner said that he
hoped the representatives of the press
would not give out the features OF the
proceedings OF the assembly as that
referred to by DIR. Smith such promi-
hence in the headlines, and another
commissioner said that in view OF
the fact that this prominence had been
given In the papers. he hoped the en-
PLANTATION of Dr. Smith to-day would
appear in "boxcar letters"
1t Is predicted by some that the
membership OF the assembly VIII be
higher two years from now II three