The Presbyterian of the South : [combining the] Southwestern Presbyterian, Central Presbyterian, Southern Presbyterian. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1909-1931, June 02, 1909, Page 16, Image 16

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

*6 THE Proceeding Fourth Day?Monday Morning. The proceedings of Monday morning were printed last week from a telegraphic report. To this we now add some details. Alter the devotional exercises, led by Rev. B. B. Knapp, the Minutes were read- and approved, and the telegram from the Northern General Assembly was received. A message of sympathy was received from the Methodist Episcopal Church, through its Board of Missions, in the case of the accusations against our own African missionaries, Messrs. Morrison and Sheppard. Whereas, it has come to our attention .that two missionaries, Messrs. Morrison and Sheppard, representatives of the Presbyterian Church in the United States in the Congo Free State' have been cited to trial by the Belgian Government for certain exposures of tilleged cruelties practiced 011 the untlves; And ii iii-n-un, im- qumiuua lurumni are ui general concern, affecting the rights and privileges of missionaries in all lands in their relation to the people among whom they labor; and Whereas, the alleged statements that "have given offense to the Belgian authorities are matters of common report from many reliable sources, including that of American consuls; therefore be it Resolved by this Board, That we join in a protest against any such effort to silence the righteous and proper criticism of missionaries against wrongs and cruelties practiced ou the people they serve, as long as such protests arc based on established facts. Resolved further. That in such cases the dictates of civilization should guarantee to the accused persons the fullest opportunity to establish the truth of their assertions nnd the Justice of their criticisms. Resolved. That this Board urge upon the authorities at Washington that they look into this question and use nil proper endeavor to see that nothing short of exact Justice lie accorded these worthy citizens of our country. and that their work lie not needlessly hindered. A commission was appointed to try the complaint of Rev. W. H. Mills vs. the *jjnuu ui ouuu \_aroiina. Ministers, K. M. Hall, chairman, T. S. Knox, W. J. Caldwell, J. H. Henderlite. T. H. Watklns, "T. C. Croker, P. C. Irwin, C. E. Robertson, P. L. Bruce, C. D Gllkeson, M. W. Doggett, F. W. Thompson, Clyde Johnson, x-.. Li. Wilson; Elders, J. P. Carmlchael, R. T. Dunlap, vj. M. Hanna, R. L. J. Smith, it. w. McDonald, Thos. L Tate, B. F. Hunt. W. T. Williams, J. R. Forgey, J. W. Butler, M. E. Gilmore, W. F. Murphy, G. B. Pattersbn. This complaint concerns the question of receiving into the Church in Africa or China, a man who while an idolater, had married two wives The commission did not sustain the complaint; nine members dissenting. Another Commission was appointed to try the complaint of W. H. Sorey and J. B. Long vs. the Presbytery of Eastern Texas. Ministers, W. H. Fraser, chair man, rxaiiK u. nartman, u. 1. Staoy, J. E. Wylle, JJ. B. Knapp, Luther Link, F. K. Sims, L. Humphreys, H. W. Burwell, Wm. A. Holle, Newton Smith, F, M. Eversole, W. M. Walsh, A. G. Wardlaw; Elders. Jno. T. Owen, W. M. Elliott, Job Going, T. E. Hammock, H. K. White, P. Pelham, Chas. C. Fox, J. B. Chambers, Henry Gln der, S. M. Vaughn, J. B. Gracey, H. H. Lewis, E. G. Richard. ? Y PRESBYTERIAN OF THE SOUT1 of General It. questioned the right of a Presbytery to dismiss a church to another denomination. The decision of the Commission is iiraL in iiiv iiiitnur 01 me complaint of H. Sorey and J. B. Long vs. the Presbytery of Eastern Texas, the commission sustain the complaint for the following reason: A Presbytery has the constitutional right to dismiss a church to another Presbytery, and when the Presbytery of Eastern Texas dismissed the Jacksonville church to the Presbytery of Trinity, LT. S. A., and received notice of its reception and enrollment irom the stated clerk of TrinityPresbytery, U. S. A., the said church became a member of the Trinity Presbytery, U. S. A., and passed from the jurisdiction of the Eastern Texas Presbytery. The effect of this judgment is that the church of Jacksonville is and has been since the acceptance of its letters by the Presbytery of Trinity, U. S A., a member of the Trinity Presbytery, U. S. A., and therefore, not within the jurisdiction of the Presbytery of Eastern Texas. The committee ad interim, appointed to formulate a law as to Church property, and also to devise a plan for securina the property of our educational institutions so as to guarantee donors that their donations will, not pass out of the control of the Church, requested the Assembly to give to the committee additional time. The committee believe they can, within the next year, submit a plan on both subjects which will meet the approval of the Church. 'i ne request was granted. The overture from Abingdon Presbytery relative to the founding of a Calvin Memorial University was referred to the committee on schools and colleges. A telegraphic message was received from the Cumberland Presbyterian Assembly, extending their greetings and referring to I John 4:1, "Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they A rftnlv to tho ta1 ???*? ? vw vi*v .ivicgi am tU liiC ri CBI" dent, relative to tbe trial of Messrs. Morrison and Sheppard, was read as follows: Washington. I). C.. May 24, 1000. W. A. Alexander, Stated Clerk of General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, U. S., Savannah. Georgia. The President directs me to acknowledge your telegram of May 21st. The Department of State on May third cabled Its minister at Krussels to ask postponement of the libel suit against the American missionaries, Morrison nnd Sheppard. and to renuest trial at some more convenient point. The minister, however, was Informed that according to ltelglan law, the Belgian Government Is Incompetent to order post|>onenient or transfer of civil cnses In the Congo, nnd that the only authority competent to postpone or transfer a case to nnotlier Judicial district Is the court Itself upon petition of defendants. The minister was further Informed that Morrison nnd Slieppnrd were already en-route to Is'opoldvllle with their witnesses. The American consul at Roma Is In clone touch with the elf nntlnn anil In inofan/itod prlntc Rood offices If necessary. KNOX. i ae following reply was sent: Hon. i?. (', Kp?x. Secretary of State. Dear Sir: 'rtils In to acknowledge the receipt of your telegraphic reply of this morning to the communication of th?? Cleneral Assembly of the Presbyterian Church In the United States to tue President on Mnv 24tii, inching the matter of the missionaries, Mor 1 ri. June 2, 1909. Assembly rlson ami Sheppard. The General Assembly direrU me to convey to^you nml to tils Excellency, the President, Its thanks for your active interest III behalf of these gentlemen ntul to express the hope that you will continue to use your good ottiees for their protection, as their further needs tuny require. Ke.qiei titilly, W. A. ALKXANDEU, Stated Clerk. Report of Permanent Committee on Evangelistic Work. Fathers and Brethren: lu undertaking the work assigned It by the Greensboro Assembly your Permanent Committee of Kvnngelistlc Work found Itself embarrassed in the very beginning of its task by the liberality of the resolution calling for its creation. This committee was appointed "to organize and direct the distinctively evangelistic work of our Church," under which instruction, we were given authority to tuke any step, execute any plan, which might be Included in the idea of organization and dlrectlou. Your committee has striven earnestly to show its appreciation of the confidence reposed in it by giving the Church a faithful, careful uud conservative administration of the trust, conducting its work along lines which we" believed the whole Church would approve. We were aware of the fact mat in every section of our Church, there was a growing conviction that the time had come when evangelistic effort, that of seeking the sulvatloii of souls, should receive more emphusis, uud tlnlt iu some parts of our territory this couviction hud expressed itself iu a demand that our Chureh lead out in an aggressive evangelistic effort commensurate with her opportunity and responsibility. We were aware on the other hand of the fact that as to the method according to which this evangelistic effort was to be directed, there was no unanimity of conviction, but that every school of methods known to modern evangelistic work had its advocates. With these facts before us, we felt that our tusk was largely educational aud Inspirational, and that through the first year's work the Chureh should be led up to the point where she wou.d arise in her might, and place the evangelist, and the work of the evaugclist, where we believe God Intended it should be, in the lea*.. We adopted a plan In which no radical chauges were advocated, but which was sutBclentluy elastic to lit into local conditions and convictions. That plan is as follows: 1. IN THE PASTORATE. We recognize the pastorate as the most important office in the church, and we believe ihat the pastor holds the key to the situation. This being true, we s^?.. seek to cultivate the evangelistic spirit in every pastorate and thereby encourage evungellstic preaching and effort. 2. IN THE PRESBYTERY, (a) Procure In each Presbytery a Corresponding Member, who shall be nominated by the chairman of the Local Home Missions Committee of that 11... ?ami whn sliull vvni'L' ' miilor directum "or the Local Home Missions Committee. Tills Corresponding Member Is to represent the Assembly's Committee in that Presbytery. (b) Hold evangelistic conferences wherever the way may be clear, iu all the Presbyteries and Synods within the bounds of our Church this committee to do Its work through the Corresponding Member. (c) Seek to procure the election of one or more evangelists in .every Presbytery, and organize evangelistic campaigns to reach the weakest churches through the appointment of pnstors to conduct one or more ppeciul series of services. 3. IN THE CHURCH AT LARGE, (a) Encourage, and, where possible, organize evangelistic campaigns In churches, simultaneous evangelistic campaigns in cities. Presbyteries and Synods. (b) Recommend and disseminate literature approved by the committee, Rev. C. R. Hemphill, D.- D., being chairman of the Literature Committee and the one to pass upon all literature to be endorsed. We feel that we have done our best service ~ ?ltA ll.nohetni-lna n ...T It* intr UUUM II Iiinnifiii IHC a n OWJ ICI irn, auu the way moat of the Corresponding Members have taken np the work lead ns to expect the best results from tnls part of the plan. In the prosecution of the work as here out- .1 . llnede the committee solicited funds Trora Individuals, receiving the sum of $4(V2.25, and disbursed same ns shown by the report of the trensurer, Mr. W. II. Raymond, hereto attached, nnd -marked Appendix "A." The first General Conference was held nt Montrent, N. C., last August, when for three dnys representative men from nil over our Church gathered to discuss questions of vital lm|>ortance to this work, ns can be ^seen by reference to a copy of the progrnift hereto attached. Since this conference, onr main effort has