The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-23
Independent Presbyterian
 Church With Dr. H. M.
 EdmOnds as Pastor Formed

Cnurcn W1Cn LIT. Il. M.
 EdmOnds as Pastor Formed (Continued from Page one)
 resolution. They thought it was a state
 ment of his innocence.
 Trival Question of Difference The question of difference has seemed to me trivial in the extreme. The purest religion I ever heard fall from the lips of mortal man fell from the lips Of Henry Edmonds in his talk to the North Alabama presbytery. I come to you to night with my mind made up. In the name of the great history of our great organization. I appeal to you for an assertion of liberty that will permit our preachers to preach from their pulpits ttat which their hearts testify. MT. Bowie was applauded several min utes, and it was evident that he had caught the spirit of the crowd
 Burr Wants More Time Borden Burr who also was member of the Birmingham delegation to Fayette, was next called upon. MT. Burr stated that he believed the entire action of the presbytery, the action of the session of the South Highlands church and the ac- ton of the Birmingham friends of Dr. Edmonds in calling last nights meeting too nasty. He said he would not sub scribe to the movement for new church until he had thought over the matter calmly. prayerfully, and that when he had made his final decision he would make it known to all the people.
 Will Denson, another member of tn, Birmingham party, was the next speaker
 He paid a high tribute to Dr. Edmonds and closed his address thus: Shall we follow the inspired word of God as it has been revealed to us as never before by the present pastor of the South High lands Presbyterian church. or shall we follow these old rams? As for me and my house, we follow Henry NJ. Ed monds.'
 Dr. EdmOndS Called Forward
 Dr. Edmonds was called from the baca of the auditorium, and his progress down the aisle to the platform was a continu. ous cheer. The entire crowd arose and stood at attention, wildly cheering, until he had gained the platform and was ready to address them. A hush came over the audience, everyone leaned forward ex- pectantly. It was a tense moment.
 Dr. Edmonds, in his address, expressed the highest appreciation of the Intense loyalty of his friends in his crisis. He told how he wanted to resign six months ago from the church, and had become SohNiiSto tHdt tHo piOPCi tiiiie u No was to face the matter and have it clari- fled. After an expression of his appre- citation, he appealed to those present not to desert the South Highlands church.
 "1f you think it Is a wise and peace. able and Christ-like thing to do to go back and worship in the South Highlands church, do so,' said he. "As far as your loyalty to me is concerned, you have piled up debt I can never repay You have paid your debt. I dismiss you now You go back to your church. l can SC, out of town next week and immediately go to work elsewhere. That is all came to say'
 BOwie's Resolution Presented
 The applause that greeted him at the completion of his address was deafening, and Dr. Edmonds was motioned to seat near the platform. where he remained until the close of the meeting. MT. Bowie's resolution then was introduced, the reading of it being done by MT Bowie himself. It was passed without a dissenting vote. and petitions were cir culated in the audience, one of them be- ing resignation from the South High lands Presbyterian church, the other be- ing enrolment as a member of the h. dependent Presbyterian church of Bir- mingham. Almost 200 names were secured in a very short space of time. One of tiit nOldDlc eNcItS OcCuITeu uuT11B tnlS registration In the words of E. P. Quig- ley, as he signed the enrolment blank of the new church: 'I have been in Birmingham 25 years without joining any church. I cannot overlook this oppor- tunity. I join tonight
 While the signing of the blanks was in progress the chairman called upon many in the audience for an expression of their views, among them being ex-Gov. Emmet ONeal. who said he subscribed heartily to everything that had been done at the
 meeting. l.. Sevier said he was in hearty sympathy with what had been done, as did Henry l.. Badham, Eugene l.. Brown, Mrs. c. P. Orr, Mrs. Solon Jacobs Mrs. 1 w. l.. Murdoch and several others. Montgomery Man Present Virgil Griffin of Montgomery was pres | ent and made short talk indorsng everything that had been done and say ing that he had discovered that Dr. Ed l nbnds had almost as many friends in Birmingham as he had in Montgomery V. s. Gage, an elder in the South High lands church, who signed the resigna- ton blank and enrolled in the new church, also spoke a few words, subscribing to Dr. Edmonds views
 Dr. Edmonds Closes Meeting Dr. Edmonds closed the meeting: We go into an independent church." said he. Tt may be that the Northern Presby- terian church will invite us into their communion. If they do, in less than 15 years we will all be together again. The whole tendency is towards union of the Presbyterian bodies, and the forward men of the southern church are contending for a union, not only of the Presbyterian bodies, but of all ecclesiastical bodies, and the lines are going toward such a union.
 Let the other people do all the criticiz- l ing. We needn't add our mite; what they will do for me will be sufficient. But whatever they do to me or to you, smile
 don't resent it. Everything they say