The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-24
TOUCHING UNION

The assembly has under consider ation three papers touching the pro- posed union of the Presbyterian Church in the United States with the Pres byterian Church in the United States of America The first of these is the report of the special committee on re- 1 lations of the two churches. After a preamble of some length this report | in it's answer to the telegram received l from the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., declines | to consider the union of the two 1 churches for three reasons especially, | and does not recommend the appoint ment of the committee on conference requested:
 "1 Because there is no general de- | mand in the southern Presbyterian
 church for this union. only six of the | S5 presbyteries of the assembly hav- l ing expressed desire for such union. | "2 Because of certain cases of frlc- tion between the two churches which have not been adjusted by the lower l courts of the two assemblies. "3 Because the presbytery of New York, in the Presbyterian Church, U. l S. A., is reported to have persistently 1 licensed and ordained men to the min istry who have expressed doubt Of l and in some cases disbelief in points ' of doctrine surely believed among us."
 MINORITY REPORT
 The minority report submitted was l signed by three of the IT members of l the committee. and is as follows: | We the undersgn members of | the committee to which was referred
 the overtures from Meridian, Ar 1 kansas, Louisiana, upper Missouri, Sa- vannah. eastern Texas. Concord, Meek : {! lenburg, Suwanee and Oklahoma pres 1 inc xt,ith l Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. respectfully dissent l from the proposed action of the com :
 mittee touching this matter We are moved to present this minority re- port
 "l Because of the evident desire of
 many in our church for the consider alton of such union.
 "2 Because we believe the frank discussion of and conference upon this questionx by representative commit ! tee from our assembly with similar 1 committee or commission of the Pres- | byterian Church in the United States l of America cannot fail to accomplish
 most beneficial results.
 s'3 Because not to appoint such a committee of conference loads our as- sembly with the burden of failure 1 properly to meet courteous and sin l cere approach from the assembly now 1 in session at Dallas.
 | "We. therefore. recommend that this | assembly appoint representative com mittee of conference to meet with a I similar committee or commission from the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. said committee tc safeguard the historical doctrinal po- sition of our church and thus to as- certian the possible grounds upor which union may be effected said committees to report their work tc the next general assembly of oul church"
 SUBSTITUTE OFFERED
 1 As a substitute to both the majorit, and minority reports, Rev. Thornton L Whaling, D. D., submitted the followin, paper;
 "While this assembly does not regar, organic union as practicapie, yet it hereb, appoints the committee of conference ol union asked for by the assembly of tn Presbyterian Church in the United State tof America, and recommends to the pro posed conference the consideration of tn l federation of all the Presbyteria, lchurches of our country upon some prac ticaI and effective basis.''