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4 THE PRESBYTERIA
THE COUNCIL OF REFORMED CHURCHES.
The "Council of Reformed Churches Holding the
Presbyterian System" met in the Prytania Street
Church, New Orleans, in adjourned session, on Thursday,
March ii, at n a. in. Only four of the original
seven bodies entering into the organization were represented,
and the total attendance was less than half
the membership.
The following were present: from the Northern
Prf?Kvtr>rinti WTZMl tt i-. '
.... .wh.ii, uiiimiii nenry K.ooerts, John
Gray Bolton, John Balcom Shaw, Walter A. Brooks,
S. S. Palmer, W. H. Black, J. E. Clarke. Win. J. Darby,
John B. Laird, B. P. Fullerton, T. H. Perrin, Lonis A.
Bowman, J. L. Twaddell, E. R. Perkins and Foster
Copeland; from the Southern Presbyterian Church, W.
McF. Alexander, W. T. Hall, J. F. Cannon, J. S. Lyons,
J. R. Howerton, Russell Cecil, T. C. McRae, Thos. H.
Somerville and R. T. Simpson; from the Dutch Reformed
Church, J. Preston Searle and J. W. Beardslee;
from the German Reformed Church, Frank Grether.
Dr. Searle was nresident Fir J r^v
r .. , 4WUVI u, v_n_l l\, <111U IJT.
Brooks, recording secretary. The opening prayer was
made by Hon. Thos. H. Somerville.
Tlve various committees were filled out by the appointment
on them of those present. The committees
were on Foreign Missions, Dr. Cannon, chairman;
Home Missions, Dr. Shaw, chairman; Work Among
the Colored People, Dr. Howerton, chairman; Christian
Education, Dr. Lyons, chairman; Correspondence, Mr.
Bowman, chairman, and Finance, Mr. Perkins, chairman.
A special committee was appointed to draft a me^^^^kmorial
to Messrs. George E. Stcrry and Darwin R.
Hhrmes, members of the council who have died since the
^|^Hast meeting.
Provision was mafic fr>r tii/-*.-. ?
...uiuiiig auu ciiicinuon sessions,
the afternoons after the first day to be devoted
to hospitalities and courtesies of excursions tendered
the members. Luncheon was served the first day at the
Hotel Denechaud.
The Home Mission Committee presented a report at
the afternoon session. There were in it four main
recommendations. The fourth was that a conference
he called between the executive officers of the council
and representatives of the various boards or executive
agencies of the Church. In the discussion the point
was made that this council could make its requests
only to the original bodies appointing it. I?r. Roberts
and Dr. Lyons held this position. This provision of
the report was withdrawn for revision.
The evening session was of the nature of a popular
meeting, following a sermon. Dr. Searle preached an
admirable sermon on Paul's phrase, "A Servant of Je
sus v_nrist, stressing the Master, the bondman, and the
service. It was a wholesome, strong, suggestive discourse.
Following this Dr. George Summey was in.
troduced to make a welcoming address in behalf of the
Presbyterians of New Orleans. For the members' own
sakes they were welcome, for the Churches they represent
they were twice welcome. For the cardinal
principles for which they and their Churches stand as
witnesses they were thrice welcome. He laid special
emphasis upon the Church's duty as a witness.
y
N OF THE SOUTH. March 24, 1909.
Dr. William Henry Roberts responded. After a
graceful introduction, drawing attention to the fact
that John Calvin was of a Latin race, and after defending
the recent Federation of Churches concerning which
Dr. Summey expressed a fear that such words as
"plenary inspiration," "vicarious atonement," if uttered,
might have stampeded it, he devoted himself eloquently
to the five "sovereignties," the sovereignty of God in
the universe, of the Bible in authority, of Christ in redemption,
of Christ in headship over the Church, and
of the principle of service. Upon the latter point he
gave an argument hut with no purpose of discussing
the topic, and disclaiming such a design, in favor of
organic union.
Only the morning of the second dav was devoted to
business. Reports were presented on the subjects of
Education and Colored Evangelization. Both were discussed
at length and withdrawn by the committees for
further consideration and amendment. The knotty
problem which Mr. Carnegie has made was to the fore,
and the pensioning of the professors who are in denominational
institutions was more or less adverted to.
One speaker characterized the seeking of pensions by
surrendering the church schools as selling the Saviour
for thirty pieces of money. Drs. Roberts, Howerton.
Hall. Bolton, Black, Perrin, Laird, Bowman, Searle,
Palmer, Shaw, McRae and Grether took part in the discussion.
Pending the consideration of the report on Colored
nvangenzaiion, ur. j. u. ^nedecor, of Alabama, secretary
of the Southern church's committee, was invited
to address the council. At i o'clock a beautiful luncheon
was given, in the %social rooms of the church, by the
ladies of Prytania Street Church. In the afternoon a
trip was made on the river, by invitation of the Texas
and Morgan Steamship Company, giving the council's
members an opportunity to inspect the harbor of their
great southern metropolis. In the evening a sermon
was preached by Dr. J. Balcom Shaw, of Chicago, on
the text, i Cor. 12:12, "So also is Christ."
The third day's proceedings were most interesting.
They must be reserved for a time when a fuller account
can be given. A paper was finally adopted on
education, with reference to denominational professors
getting on the Carnegie pension fund stricken out. The
discussion was lively, the participants being Drs. Roberts,
Lyons, Alexander, Palmer, Hall and Black. Dr.
Lyons, the chairman of the committee, consented to
the striking out of the objectionable clause, but was
convinced that it was just and right. He knew and
commended Dr. Pritchett, the administrator of the Carnegie
fund:
The report of the committee on Foreign Missions,
Dr. Cannon, chairman, was adopted. A hearty resolu
tion of thanks was passed. Louisville, Ky., and March,
1910, were chosen as the place and time of the next
meeting. Measures were taken looking towards a conference
of the Churches on the colored work. Another
beautiful luncheon was served by the ladies of the
Prytania Street Church. In the afternoon a trolley
ride, covering most of the leading streets of the city,
was enjoyed.