Evening star., 1920-05-24
SOUTHERN Church
FAVORS THE UNION
OF FPRESBYTER|ANS
Unanimous Action at Char
lotte Today-Northern
Body Yet to Act.
By the Associated Press.

CHARLOTTE. N. c.. May 24-The
plan OF union proposed by the joint
committee on closer relations Of the
assemblies OF the Southern and
Northern Presbyterian churches was
adopted without a dissenting vote at
the session of the Southern Assembly
here today. This issue was presented
by the moderator at the opening of
the morning session as unfinished
business. and when he called for de-
bate none developed and the ques-
ton was passed with unanimity.
The Northen Assembly has not not act
ed on the plan of union proposed, but
VIII take some action on it at the
assembly meetings in Philadelphia.
now being held.
Organic Union Claims Victory.
Friends Of organic union of the two
mously adopted by the assembly today
is decisively victorious for them.
while those opposing organic union
are equally insistent that the plan
proposed means no more than a mere
federation: that relations between the
two bodies will be closer. but that
the mergence Of the two bodies into
single denomination will not have
been brought about.
1t is proposed in the plan that the
united assembly, which shall be form
ed from those Presbyterian churches
coming into the agreement, shall be
known as the United Assembly of the
Presbyterian and Reformed Churches
in the United States Of America and
shall represent in the body all the
churches uniting in the union. this
united assembly to be the declarative.
executive. administrative and judicial
agency of the united churches.
The United Assembly shall consist
of eight representatives from each of
the constituent denominations from
ton thereof up to 100000. and when
any single denomination has more
than SOC. 900 communicates then eight
representatives for each additional
200, 900 communicates or major frac-
tion thereof shall be added. the rep
Gospel and ruling elders in equal
numbers, and shall be chosen togeth-
er with their alternates under the
direction Of their respective churches
and in such manner as their respec-
tive churches shall determine.
individuality Retained.
The plan declares that every church
entering into this union shall retain
its distinct individuality, its own creed
and government and worship. as well
as every power. Jurisdiction and right.
By this clause opponents Of organic
union in Southern Assembly churches
will be protected from losing their
corporate identity.
It is understood and SO stated in the
articles Of agreement contained in the
plan that the Southern Presbyterian
Church, as an organization, must sur
vive the proposed merger; that it will
retain its own constitutional func-
tions as relating to it's own synods,
presbyteries and congregations and
that the United Assembly shall have
supervision Of and control over the
larger matters appertaining to their
common work. The principle. for in
stance, Of denominational control in
home missions as at present existent
shall be continued and direct admin
istration shall be confined to the in
dividual constituent churches, only
the general control OF home and for
eign missions coming within the pur,
vey Of the power of the United
SChurch.