The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-25
PRESBYTER|ANS END WORK AND ADJOURN ID MEET IN DURANT Animated Discussion Re- .newed Yesterday on Plan
 for Organic Union
 THANKS RENDERED FOR COURTESIES
Warm Gratitude Expressed by Ris- ing Vote for Many Kindnesses Shown Commissioners While
 in Birmingham
By MAMIE BAYS

The docket having been cleared and the business of the body thus having been completed, at the close of the afternoon session on yesterday the fifty-seventh general assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States was dis solved, following these words from the moderator prescribed in the form of gov ernment in the book of church order.
 By virtue of the authority delegated to me by the church, let this general assembly be dissolved, and I do here by dissolve it, and require another gan- eral assembly, chosen in the same man. ner, to meet at Durant, Okla, on the 18th day of May. 191s'
 Following these words. the assembly united in singing the hymn entitled "Blest Be the Tie That Binds" and Dr. Wells then led the prayer and pronounced the benediction.
 CROWDED WITH BUSINESS
 The two sessions of yesterday were crowded with business, but before recess was taken for lunch the assembly had completed it's discussion of the question of the appointment of the committee on organic union requested by the general assembly of the Presbyterian church. U S. A., and had adopted the paper of the Rev. Thornton Whaling, which was of- fered on Wednesday, as the action of the assembly i'll this matter the paper hav- ing first been substituted for the minority report of the special committee. which was also presented on Wedensday at the same time with the majority report of the committed
 When this substitution had been effect ed the vote was taken between the ma jority report and the substitute offered by Dr. Whaling and the latter was adopt ed by vote of Al to 42
 REPORT AS ADOPTED
 The report as adopted reads as follows:
 While this assembly does not regard organic union as practicable, yet it hereby appoints the committee of conference on union asked for by the assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, and recommends to the pro- posed conference the consideration of the federation of, all the Presbyterian churches of our country upon some prac- tical and effective basis"
 The discussion of this question was taken up as unfinished business and many of the commissioners took part in the same, some speaking to the major ity report, some to the minority and others to the substitute which was adopt ed. Two other substitutes were sub mitted during the discussion, one of these being presented by the Rev. E. R. Ley burn, D. D., and the other by the Rev c. W. Grafton, D. D., but the vote of the assembly was adverse to both papers.
 Later in the day motion was carried that a telegram be sent to the general assembly of the Presbyterian church, U. S. A., informing that body of the action of this assembly. The committee of seven members appointed from this as- sembly to confer with a like committee from the general assembly of the Presby- terian church. U. s. A., consists of the following named: The Rev. J M. Wells D. D., the Rev. Thornton Whaling, D. D., the Rev. A. B. Curry D. D., the Rev. w. R. Dobyns. D. D.. the Rev. J. B. Hutton, D. D., the Rev. Homes Me Milan, D. D., and the Rev. A. NJ. Fra ger, D. D. Dr. Wells will act as chair man of the committee. The assembly voted also to defray the expense of the committee necessary to its work.
 DISCUSSION IS ANIMATED
 The discussion which preceded the adoption of the paper which becomes the voice of the assembly this subject was animated throughout the speakers for each paper before the assembly pre- senting strong argument In favor of the stand taken. The charge of inconsist- ency in the wording of the paper adopt Su was iidue, III NlcW ol lHe Idcl that it begins with the statement that the assembly believes organic union is not practicable at this time, and then rec- ommends the appointment of commit tee on organic union.
 Plea was made on the floor that if the assembly believes organic union is not practicable that 1t should say fiatly that it believes this and refuse positively to appoint such committee as that desired Argument was presented also in favor of the appointment of a committee to confer with other Presbyterian bodies