Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-05-21
union PROPOSAL IS
BEFORE PRESBYTERY;
RESULT OF WIDE STUDY
Retiring Moderator Hopes For
Spirit Of Unity.


made to the General Assembly of
the Presbyterian church in the Uni
ted States tSouthern). which open
ed here today.
The proposal Is the result Of
three years of conferences between
committees Of the Presbyterian
| church in the United States. and
committees of other Presbyterian
and Reformed Churches"
The proposition Is titled the Con.
stitution of the Presbyterian Re
formed Churches in America" Tn.
der II each constituent church would
retain its autonomy In creed. gov
eminent and Worship. but would act
ito further the redemptive work of
Christ through THE United As.
sembly of the Presbyterian Reform.
ed Churches in America"
The proposition will be consider.
ed at the respective general as
semhlies OF the various Presbyter-
ian denominations this year, dele.
1ates explain
The work OF the United Assem-.
bly, would include unification of the
work of the missionary, educational
and benevolent agencies OF the vari-
GUS constituent bodies. The propos.
ed assembly would constitute u
bond of union. peace and correspond
ence among all congregations and
iudicatories of the constituent chur-
ches," and would "be the declara.
tive, and administration and Jude.
ial agency OF the United body"
Explaining the administrative
powers of the assembly the consti.
tuition says:
THE United Assembly shall have
power to create and superintend az.
| encies for its work in Foreign Mis-.
sions. Home Missions. Education,
| Publication. Ministerial Relief, the
Evangellzation OF the Negro. stew
| ardship. and other missionary, edu.
cational and benevolent causes.
THE United Assembly. through
| its administrative agencies. shall
study the fields and operations Of
the various missionary, educational
and benevolent agencies, and shall
recommend to the constituent chur.
ehes methods OF unifying their com.
mon work in the interest OF greater
harmony and efficiency.
The United Assembly shall have
authority 10 propose any other &C.
ton In reference 10 the administra.
| tive work of the churches. but such
action shall become binding only
when adopted in the regular way
| by each of the constituent churches.
Touching on the judicial powers,
the constitution says:
The United Assembly shall have
power To formulate rules of comfy
to govern the relations between Sy.
mods, Presbyteries or Glasses wher.
ever their jurisdiction covers the
same territory, and to recommend
them Unfil The Constituent churches
for adoption. Whenever an issue on
/ a question of comfy arises between
| two Of tho constituent churches
which have adopted the comfy rule
proposed by the United Assembly,
the question in issue shall be sub,
mitted TO the United Assembly.
whose decision shall be final and
shall be put into effect through the
courts of the constituent churches 3"
The regular meetings Of the pro.
posed assembly would be biennially
and its officers would include a mod
orator. vice-moderator, stated clerk
and treasurer.
The membership of the proposed
assembly would consist Of eight rep.
resentatiYes from each OF the con-
stituent churches for each 100000
communicates mp to 100000. and
four for each 100000 in excess of
that number. The membership woulI
be half ministers and half elders.
DR.. Palmer's Address
Hope that a spirit OF unity and
goodwill would prevail in desire
to work with other denominations
In facing a common task was ex.
pressed here today by Dr. Samuel
S. Palmer, retiring moderator, be.
fore the General Assembly OF the
Presbyterian church.
DR. Palmer said in part:
we have passed through the
World War. We kept our churches
going at home and for the most
part away from home. The sacrific.
ial spirit Of the missionaries in the
great war has opened doors of
which we did not know. When some
leading men In Asia were asked
what effect the war was having on
moral and religious IDEAS, they re.
ceiyed such answers as these: AN
other religions In Asia must try 10
do something better for brother