The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-21
LIVELY DEBATE
 | OVER RESOLUTION
To Prepare Statement of
 Presbyterian Faith
TO CONFER ON UNION
Consider a Proposed Amendment to Elect Infant Clause-Adopt Mi- nority Report of Committee
 on Divorce and Marriage

Bristol, Tenn, May 2O.-The adoption of a resolution to appoint an ad interim com mittee to prepare a brief popular state ment of the doctrines of the church, which was adopted by a narrow majority and after a lively debate, featured today s session of the Southern Presbyterian as- sembly. Other matters of importance were the passage of a resolution to ap- point a committee to confer with the United Presbyterian church on the sub ject of union with that organization, the report of the committee on church societies, recommending the appointment of woman secretary, the consideration of a proposed amendment, to the elect in- fant clause of the confession of faith, to be submitted to the presbyteries and the adoption of the minority report of the committee on marriage and divorce, re- fusing to submit to the presbyteries the matter of a revision of the confession in this respect.
 The contest over the preparation of a popular statement embodying the doc trines of the church was precipitated by requests from missionaries and oyertures from the presbyteries asking it on ac- count of the prejudice of the church, be- cause it is charged by its enemies with believing in infant damnation and pre- destination of their souls to hell. It de- Yeloped fight between the progressive and conservatives, and the tormer led by Dr. James 1. Vance of Nashville, won by d vote of 96 to S3.
 Dr. Vance pleaded for the assembly ito put in twentieth century terms. the truths of our confession" pr. r. M. Wood of N est Virginia said that the criticism was net against the confession, but really aseinst the word of God. Dr. C. F. Reed, dtc,ared Ill speaking on the subject that there was no use in talking of union with the United Presbyterian, If we are going to discredit our confession. Strong spe5 ches were made against it, but the advocates urged that the statement Was not to compromise any of the teachings in the confession, but to explain them. The resolution to appoint the committee was carried by vote of 9G to s.
 Dr. W. E. Boggs of Atlanta, pleaded for a change in the confession so as to au- thurlze only one ground of divoree-im- purity He los- by the adoption of a re- pors of the majority of his committee.
 There was much debate on the subject of the elect infant clause and majority and minority reports came from the com  mittee on this subject pr. Webb of L, uisville presented the majority report. which proposes that the confession shall be amended so as to provide specifically taat all infants are elected and regen- era ted The minority report, presented by Dr. l. 6. McElroy of Macon, Ga, con t;,lr ed practically the same expression in a different form. The consideration of this matter was deferred. All speakers said that the confession as it stands does not teach infant damnation, out that it IVES capable of that construction.
 The report of the committee on sys- tenatic beneficence was adopted with sl ght amendments. The chief feature IS the appropriation of $550,000 for foreign ms sions and $l29,OOO for assembly's home miss ions.
 he report of the committee on Roman isIn will be made tomorrow afternoon, a'ie will be one of the important events O. the assembly meeting.