Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-05-24
PRESBYTER|ANS
WILL NOT QUIT
FEDERAL COUNCIL


terrain church here today rejected
1&6 to 100, a minority committee re-
port favoring withdrawal from the
Federal Council of Churches of
the assembly the majority report of
it's committee which would provide
for remaining in the council and
appropriating funds to cover the
assembly's proportionate share of
expenses.
Prolonged and sharp debate was
participated in by commissioners on
two reports, one a majority opinion
of the committee on foreign CORE
spondence, signed by eleven men,
bers, favoring retaining membership
in the council, and the other signed
by six men, urging support of the
Mecklenburg presbytery, North Car
DINA, overture declaring for imme-
date withdrawal.
In reply to an overture from the
presbytery of St. Louis, the board
of trustees of the training school
for lay workers, Richmond, Va, re-
ported that IAN excellent beginning
had been made in the direction OF
providing trained Bible teachers for
the women of the church, Mrs. Mar
garet T. Russell. Mobile, Ala, hay
ing been elected as field representa-
tive. The terms of five members
of the board expire with this assem-.
bly,. They are Miss katherine II.
Halves, Richmond, Va; Homer Nc
MILAN, Atlanta, Ga; r. f. Magill,
Richmond, Va; S. *. Moore, Rich
mond, Va. and S. K. Phillips, Greer
vile, S. c.
Led by DIR. Russell Cecil, Rich
mond, Va, former moderator, and
DR.. E. W. McCorkle, Rockbridge
Baths, Va, advocates of the major
ity reports, submitted the following
points in support of their stand:
Proponents Views.
!. The world presents an urgent
call for the greatest possible solidar
ity among all church forces.
2. There are many great common
causes in which all the churches
may unite, such as cooperation il
evangelism, unity in securing Chris
tan international life, association in
the Nedr East and the Far East, So
cial service, race relations, publicity
and in communities.
8. The council already has accom-
plished much.
4. The 'perils of association are
less than those of separation" and
church does not approve certain acts
of the council, it should remain
within the body and attempt to guide
its activities and policies as much
as possible. \
5. If the assembly remains in the
council, it should pay a proportion
ate share hof the organizations ex-
penses.
SeparatistS' Points
DR.. A. NJ. Fraser, Staunton, Va,
another former moderator; DR.. ]. G.
Molloy, Columbia, Tenn DR.. w. C.
Alexander, Nashville, Tenn; R. NJ
Hall, Longview, Tex, and w. D. Nc
Elroy, Bowling Green, KY, were
among those fighting for immediate
separation and they advanced the
following points as the basis of their
stand:
THE council has accomplished
nothing of relative value in so far
as the general assembly is con-
cerned.
2EIt frequently delves into poll
tics and is conducting what is viz
tually a lobby in the nations cap
iitol for the injection of the church
into state affairs.
2-ParficiOatiOp in tho activities
of the council is in conflict with the
teachings of the Apostles and sthe
doctrines of the Southern Presby-
terian church.
4-Financial support of the coun-
Gil would be too great and the re-
turns, if any, insufficient.
5-If the assembly does not ap-
prove certain actions and policies
of the council, the best plan for it
TO follow is to withdraw irnmedi-
ately.
Speaks for Council
1.-THE only safety to Professionalism
in America is to have an organi-
cation in Washington to act as a
buffer against the great and I'M
scrupulous power of Roman Cathol
1cism," DIR. McCorkle declared in
urging the assembly not to with
draw from the Federal Council of
Churches of Christ in America.
DR.. r. G. Reed, moderator of the
sixty-second general assembly, de-
clared, however, that the council
has attempted social and industrial
as we'll as political reforms through
the state, and that such a policy
for the Presbyterian church is dan
gerous and not in accordance with
its doctrines.
The tendency Of separation has al
ways brought disaster to the Prot.
estant churches, DR.. McCorkle de-
clared in his defense of the council
and he asserted that it holds in it's
hands the salvation Of European
Professionalism against the danger
and menace of Rome"
The council, DR.. McCorkle lsaid
has accomplished much and he an
nounced that he is in favor of that
body continuing to present the
cause of the Protestant Echurches
through petitions to the government.
r. T. Glasgow, of Lexington, Va,
and w. NJ. Farley, of Ell Paso, Tex,
joined DR.. Reed in urging with
drawal from the(council.
"The Catholic church has always
interfered with governmental af-
fairs" said Mr.. Farley. 1T am OPP
posed to such a policy and we are
STOPPING to the very tools we object
to the Catholics using when we re-
main in the federal council. We
became just IS black as the pot we
condemn"
IrayOr for Guidance
naw1ng consideration of the ques-
t.oa or whether to remain in or with
: draw from the council, the assem-
bly, devoted five minutes to silent
prayer which was closed by the mod
e