The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-21
GREAT GATHERING
OF PRESBYTERIANS

sembly. in addition to what Is regard
eel as the regular business OF each as
sembly. Among tho special questions
of Importance to be considered Is that
with reference to the union of the
United Presbyterian Church with the
Southern Presbyterian Church. and
this question Will be presented In tho
report of tho committee on conference, II
appointed by the assembly OF 1912, II
which committee. In Joint meeting with
General Assembly OF tho United Pres
byterian Church, has prepared basis \
of union for tho two churches, and
this basis of union will be presented
to tho General Assemblies Of both
churches for action. Just what this
basis Of union is has not been made ,
known to others than the members
of the two committees. The basis Of |
union was agreed upon several weeks |
ago, but the two committees OF con-
ference decided that as matter Of
courtesy to the assemblies OF both |
churches 1t should not be given pub
liclty until officially presented to these
two bodies.
Rev. r. c. Reed, D. D.. OF Columbia.
8. c., Is chairman Of the committee |
OF conference for tho Southern Pres
byterian Church, and the following |
named ministers and laymen consti-
tute the other members Of this i'm
portant committee: Rev. s. l. Morris,
4
D. d., of st. Louis; Allen G. Hall, OF
Nashville. and moderator of the as
sembly. of 1906, and w. f. Stevenson,
of Cheraw, S. G. The General Assem-
bly, will await the presentation OF no
! other report with greater degree OF
interest than the report OF the com
| mittee on conference, and there Is no
matter Of greater Importance to come
before the body than the question of
the union of these two churches.
Tho ~ ha 1Ipjtad
Presbyterian Church are the same as
| those held by the Southern Presbyte-
rian Church. and In the same sense
each church accepts rnem. The two
churches possess the same Scotch an
cestry, adhere to the same polity and
administer the affairs OF benevolences
under tho same departments. The dis
tinct point OF difference between the
two churches Is the exclusive use OF
Psalms In the service of praise in the
United Presbyterian Church. and 1T
is around this point, In all proba-
bility. that the greatest discussion will
centre In the consideration of the
union OF the two churches.
Four Other Questions.
There are four other questions TO
come before the General Assembly
that Will constitute outstanding
features-The Federal Council, pro-
posed changes in the form of govern
ment of the church, the elect infant
clause" and the brief popular state
ment of doctrine OF the church
During the assembly of 1912, held
at Bristol, delegates were appointed
to represent the Southern Presbyte
rian Church In the Federal Council Of
the CHURCHES of Christ In America,
which held It's quadrennial meeting
in December at Chicago. The report
of these delegates will be heard with
interest. 1t Is not improbable that
overtures will be presented to the as
sembly urging that 1t Withdraw again
from membership in the council. but
it is likely that second withdrawal
from membership In the council will
be opposed as ably as It Will Le recum-
mended.
Two changes in the form of Low
eminent of the church have been pro-
posed and will be considered blythe
Atlanta assembly. One is with refer
ence to cases of trial In tho church
and the proposed change, which WAS
approved by the Bristol assembly,
would give the synod and the General
? Assembly the power, at their own dis
! erection. to commit any case of trial
! coming before them appeal to the
judgment of q commission. composed
: of others than members OF the court
, from which the case shall come. this
power to apply In all except
those affecting doctrines, and those shall
be tried by the court itself
II The other proposed change is with
reference to the basis OF representa-
, ton in the General Assembly The
basis OF representation at present is
one minister and one ruling elder from
+ every presbytcry. except In those
presbyteries where there more than
a twenty-five ministers and in those,
the representation in the General AS
sembly is two ministers and two ruling
elders, but no addtona1 number OF
= churches increases the representation.
Change is Proposed.
Q The change proposed recommends
!, scented in the General Assembly by
one minister and ono ruling elder and
I that If the commandments of tho
i churches and ministers on the roll
= in the presbytery number more than
I 1000 the presbytery shall be entitled
@ to increase It's representation to the
II assembly with one minister and one
r ruling elder, and that the representa-
: tion shall continue TO increase in like
G proportion with the addition OF every
: 1000 communicates and ministers.
= During the year since tho Bristol
d assembly the presbyterics have taker
r action with regard TO tho PROPOSED
g changes in tho form Of government
Il the answers OF the eighty nino pres.
n byteries will BID tabulatcd during the
atlanta assembly, and IL thrce-fourth.
Of the answers favor the proposed
"a changes. the changes will become law
IT by tho enactment OF the assembly.
q The consideration or Section q
II Chapter ", OF the Confession or Faith
C will not be new work for genera
+ assembly Of this church. The para
u graph noted is Familiarity known a,
- "the elect infant clause" and PROPOSED
,, changes I'm the same have been thor
- oughly discussed and recommended b,
- number Of assemblies. but ~
- change proposed as yet has met TIN
approval OF three-fOurths OF the pres
n byteries The proposed change in th
paragraph, which was approved by TIN
. Bristol assembly, causes the paragraph
to read thus Being elect. all infant
dying in Infancy, are rcgenerated am
saved by Christ through the Spirit
who worketh when. and where, an
tl,n