The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-23
MODERATORUSES
"STEAM ROLLER"
IS CHARGE MADE
Dramatic Scene Follows
Accusation by DR..
McPheeters.
ASKS PERMISSION
TO LEAVE FLOOR
Later Matter Is Amicably Settled,
and Body Votes Against With
drawal From Federal Council
of Churches of Christ-Cal-
endar Entirely Cleared and
Adjournment Taken.
BY MAMIE BAYS.

Atlanta. Ga. May 22-Using these
"oros IN observances of the Book of
cnurch order. Rev. J. s. Lyons. mode
rator dissolved the ffty-third General
Assembly OF tho Southern Presbyterian
Church at O'Clock this evening: by
virtue o. the authority delegated to
me ny the church. let this general as
senoiE be dissolved. ] do hereby dis
So So ~ ana require another general
ASSEMBLY chosen In the same manner to
meet at the Central Presbyterian
church, Kansas City. Mo. on the 2lst
oay or May. Ammo Domin 1914"
AIter these words Dr. Lyons led the
hasenpiy aa IN PRAYER, closing with the
solved ""' uis
That which was in the true sense of
the "ord the storm" of the assembly
came about II o'clock this morning in
cohhecuon with the taking OF the vote
on the minority report and rho ma
)ority report OF the standing cornn,ittao
on foreign correspondence. the Item, ~
'he report under considerable heinz
whether the Southern Presbvteri.n
CnuIch shail retain membership in the
nusi rn council OF the Churches of
Chfist in America. The majority re-.
port recommended that membership
should be retained and the minority re-
iort recommended withdrawal After
'he question had been discussed thor
oushiE from the standpoint of both re-
~ ga ior inc question was re-
coehized and the modera tor stated thar
the vote would be taken ers, an ~
minority. and then on the rnatority va
port re-
Confusion PrecipItated.
ht me minority report was lost. and
majority report Rev. w. ~ McPbee-
'ers arose 10 offer substitute to the
majority report Immediately how-
.he moderator ruled that DR.. Nc
hee,ers was out OF order and refused
70 allow him TO offer the suhs,it,,to
Confusion in the assembly tute. roor, ute
Precipitated. At once there vas oI,,.,
or on the part OF some of tho con,
missioners for DR. McPheeters m he
heard and upon the part of others for
,alned. " oe sus
DR.. McPheeters was emphatic Qua
persistent in his determination 70 nre-
sent ms substitute. while the modera
tor was just as emphatic and persist
eht TO have his ruling sustained Tha
iiooerator stated that when he recoc
nlzed the call for the question he sta,
ed that the vote would he ,.la, a.,
on the minority and then on tho mo
JoritN report, and that no s,Ibsti,u,o
would be considered. and said that he
recognized he had made mistake IN
aio"inS a substitute to he considered
In similar instance in forn,ar CO..
NJ
hev. @. b. Striclsler was requested in
.his connection, and he stated that -
is "lthln constitutional right in
church court for a substitute to q ma,
Jority report TO be submitted after Tho
.o.e on tne minority report has been
taken and lost The moderator insist
ed that he would adhere to his r,,iin.
ana mat he would not permit the
substitute to be considered A.a;s
tne,e was clamor. and one commissioner
cai!ed out L appeal to DR.. StrickIer"
Snereupon the moderator replied: "Dr
Strickler Is not in the chair"
Confusion continued, and tho noa
tor inquired If DR. McPheeters desired
10 appeal from the decision Of .tha
chair' rms DR.. McPhceters did nor do
but another commissioner fool. ~ ~
appeal ana when the vote was takan
me me assembly sustained the ruling of
the moderator. Some in the roo,, -
ever could not recall that the modaro
Tor made 1t clear that he u,o,1d 20.
entertain substitute in this cna,
tion hut the vote of the assemhlY, a',s,
ported the moderator and rendered hIs
rullng constitutional ms
Crisis of Occurrence
The crisis of the occurrence COW,
meoiateiy DIR. McPheeters smoke 70
question OF personal priviIego
stated that he had received the hon %,,n
rom the moderator of appointment y
CHAIRMAN OF the standing committee "n
= .t ana sabbath school work
uhu 'ha' ne now desired to resign f,o,,
that committee and to wIthd,n s slolli
'ne assembly. as the moderator - 9.'
cloed 10 run the assembIv viii
steam roller" as If 1t were !, noi;t,,
convention He said further tbnt a.
a aeaii~ea the seriousness of this action
60, ne must account for the
same TO MS presbytery, but that he ha
ileVed he was justified in tal.inn ,,
step. III taxing the
Rev. T. S. Clyce made motion +,.
lne request of Dr.. McPheeters no nrant
ed' put the action of the assan,IS,,. "'
,,nor 'oon soro, was deferred to the after
80 ssioh. During the interim be-
,.' ,"e morning and afternoon ses-
sions the late unpleasantness" -, Is
was the prfncipa1 ton;o 80
conversation among manv commit
slohers and regret for the Occurrences
81. wra eApressed and the hope that its
erect would be effaced.
early In the afternoon soseio H.
hePheeters. speaking to a question ~
personal privilege, stated to tho os-
sempiy that after careful consider,tio,, |
ne had decided to Withdraw his request |
TO resign as chairman of the stand |
ns committee on publication and Sab
n rro,,, stnooi work, and to withdraw |
rom tne assembly. This decision. he |
said, he had reached as the result of |
Two forces, which were that n had |
been brought to his attention that If |
ne persisted in his request of the |
morning session his action would be !
said to be an impeachment of the ac-
hon OF the moderator. and also that it
would be construed that he was taking
me step In spirit of personal piquc,
md that he was unwilling for either
Impression to pi evail regarding his ac-
ion.
He still held, he said, that the ruling
Continued on Second ia ne 4 -