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18 THE
come under the control of the General
Assembly, 'i he complaint to the Assembly
should nave stopped the movement
to change the charter. It did not. In
fact, the change had been hurried
tnrough, so that it would be said, "It's
iuu mie uuw iu wiKt* u uacitwara siep.
"nut we will make you undo it," declared
the speaker.
Mr. Helm Bruce, representing the Synod
of Kentucky, did not attempt to justify
either the act or the methods of the
Synod of Kentucky. He stated that the
question is. Will or can thi6 Assembly
revise the action of the Synod of Kentucky?
We are member of the Presbyterian
Church, but we are all citizens
of the State of Kentucky. When a corporation
is created it must be respected.
He contended that the Synod of Kentucky
reserved all its legal rights of property
and, therefore, the Assembly could
not interfere. He argued that the contributions
by the Southern Presbyterians to
me fimuw iiJtriu ui tut; uuivcrait} were
comparatively small, and do not constitute
a ground for interference, and that
in the origin of the University, was not
under control of the Synod.
'1 ne case, briefly and broadly stated, is
whether or not this General Assembly
will or can revise the action of the Synod
of Kentucky, in the mattter of the Central
University of Kentucky. He reviewed
facts of the case. Civil and ecclesiastical
law can not be divided in this
case. He. read the resolution of 1868, by
which the Synod of Kentucky was admitted
to the General Assembly. In this,
all legal rights of property in any union
were to be preserved.
When the university was organized, in
the seventies, it was to be under the aus
pices, but not control, of the Alumni Association
of the old Center College, and
the Synod of Kentucky. This proposed
plan was approved by the Synod of Kentucky.
There was no qualification as to
the trustees being members of the Presbyterian
Church, said the speaker. After
reading the act of 1873 he said: "Let me
say that down to this day there has not
been a qualification that trustees should
be members of the Presbyterian Church.'
At the first, the charter did not mean
that the school should be under synodicai
control, but only under the auspices
of the Synod. The trustees and curators
were chosen by the Alumni Association.
The only right the Synod had was to
found a theological school in connection
with the University, and to handle theological
funds and to choose the professor
of ethics. Center College had been
under the control of the Synod, but Central
University never was.
The alleged diversion of funds was discussed.
'There Is nothing in the record
to show what funas were contributed at
any time. But he stated of his own
knowleuge tuat the orginal $150,000 endowment
had .been obtained on the faitu
that the school should be a non-synodtcal
university, it was stated at the time
... at it was not to be an ecclesiastical
institution.
When the consolidation of Center College
and Central University took place,
in 190J, the new Central University funds
amounted to $66,000, the contributions
since the foundation of the old University
having been spent, and a good part
of the original fund for running expenses.
y
PRESBYTERIAN OF THE SOUT
Hence all the sums contributed outside
of the original endowment had been spent
for current expenses, and more besides.
Col. B. H. Young made the closing
speech for the complainants, contending
thar ecclesiastical law can not be annulled
by civil compacts, and that* the Synod has
uniformly recognized and acted upon the
recognition of the Assembly's authority.
x uvr ui&uiueui was ciosea aim mo order
of further procedure by the court was
adopted, to the effect that the members
of the court should have opportunity to
express their opinions, and then the vote
should be taken. It was ordered that all
statements in the complaint which reflected
on individuals be stricken out.
The roll was called end the vote was
announced as follows: To sustain, 80;
Not to sustain, 99; To sustain in part, 3.
Thi3 action recognizes the separation of
the University from Synodical oversight
or control.
Fourth Day?Monday Evening Session.
It was ordered that the place of meeting
of the next Assembly be decided after
reading the minutes tomorrow morning.
On the recommendation of the Stand
ing uomiuiuees, uie records or tUe Synods
ot North Carolina and Arkansas were approved.
The consideration of the Judicial Com- .
mittee's report wa< resumed and discussed
by Ruling Elder, D. S. Henderson,
of South Carolina.
The Calvin Celebration was resumed.
Dr. R. A. Webb, of the Kentucky Theological
Seminary, delivered an able and
pre-eminently logical address on "Calvin's
Doctrine of Infant Salvation."
The thanks of the Assembly were extended
to Dr. Webb.
The time for the report of the Special
Committee on Rvanp-pliKm n-no phoniro.l
to 4 p. to., Wednesday.
The# Assembly adjourned with prayer
until 9:30 a. m., tomorrow.
Fifth Day?Tuesday Morning Session.
The morning session was opened with
devotional exercises at 9:30 a. m. The
minutes of yesterday were approved,
ihe report of the standing committee
on Colored Evangelization, made by the
chairman, Rev. Donald McQueen, placed
on docket.
In full view of tne light before us, your
committee would make the following recommendations:
1. That the existing confusion In the titles
of property concerned in this work be cured
by making the Kxeeutive Committee the trustee
and depository of the titles of all property,
and that they be authorised to take transfers
of all titles to themselves. That the trustees
of the Assembly be nuthorlxed to transfer, by
deed, to the Kxeeutive Committee such titles
as they may now bold; that the trustees of
Htlllman Institute be authorised to transfer
the property now held by them to the Executive
Committee.
2. That the Executive Committee be authorised
to make a special call for $5,000 in
behalf of the Ferguson-Williams College, at
Abbeville, 8. C., which Is in a precarious condition
financially.
3. That In accordance with the recommendation
of the Council of the Reformed
Churches of America holding the Presbyterian
system, we Invite the co-operation of
the Dutch Reformed Church In the prosecution
of tnis great missionary work In the
Houth, and that our Executive Committee be
H.
June 2, 1909.
authorized to take such steps In this direction
ns they may deem necessary, and that
the secretary be directed to visit the General
Synod of that church with this object In
view.
4. That the Assembly hereby calls on the
churches to contribute during the coming year
nt lenst twenty-live cents per member for this
I J1 11 VO Wft 1* f T** A??H 1. ? A- -
... nf?Bioiia 10 present
this mnttor clearly to the people, and
that our ministers again l?e requested to present
the needs of this missionary work to
their congregations.
5. That our ministers preach to the negroes
as opportunities offer, and that efforts
lie made, where practicable, to organise Sablmtli
schools among them, or to provide teachers
In the Sunday schools of colored
churches.
0. We urge this great field of domestic
missions upon the attention of our ladles'
societies ami unions, and recommend that they
give Its consiueratlon a place upon their programs
and. as far as possible, they hear our
secretary on the subject.
7. That the Executive Committee emphasize
toe sustentntion feature of their work, as far
as their funds may permit: lint In response
to the request of the Executive Committee for
some form of co-operation with the Assembly's
Home Mission Committee, we do not at present
sec our way clear to mnke any recommendation
on the subject.
8. That the following members of the Executive
Committee wTTose terms expire at
this time be reappointed for a period of three
years, viz.: Rev. Jno. Van Hear, Rev. Henry
M. Edmonds. Mr. Chns. A. Stlllmnn, Judge
Thos. W. Coleman, anil that Rev. U. D.
Moouey lie appointed In place of Rev. 8. J.
Foster. D. 1?., who has resigned.
Respectfully submitted.
DONALD M QUEEN.
The report of the committee on Publ'cation
was read by the chairman, Dr.
J. M. Rose.
After addresses by Secretary Magill
and Dr. Phillips, of the Sunday school
work, it was adopted.
(Abstract.)
Your committee endorses the recommendation
of the Executive Committee to discontinue
tj>e publication of the "Church Year
Book," for the reason that the Church does
not appreciate the value of the book, and Its
free distribution is too grent a (ax upon the
resource.- of the committee.
Your committee recommends the re-election
of the .members of the Executive Committee
whose term of service expires at tills meeting
of the Assembly, Uev. T. C. Johnson. D. D.,
Rev. S. K. Winn, D. D., Rev. F. T. McFaden,
D. I)., nnd Mr. George Bryan, and the election
of Rev. T. H. Rice, D. !>., to fill the unexpired
term of Rev. J. W. Rosebro, D. D.,
resigned. Your committee recommends that
the Assembly endorses the recommendations
of the Executive Committee that our
entireties, sannatn senoois, soeieties nn-i individuals
be asked to give as n miu'inum
offering to this enuse this year the sum of
$33,000, and that the Executive Committee
be empowered to suggest to the Presoyleries
the pro rata each should raise. This estimate
is based upou the past experience of the
committee's knowledge of the need of this
sum for an enlarged work.
To your committee has also been referred
the question of the publication of the Calvin
Memorial A-dresses.
We recommend the following action:
That the Assembly - most earnestly request
the distinguished authors of these splendid
addresses at their earliest convenience iO
furnish our Committee .of Publication with n
copy of their addresses, and that the Committee
of Publication be directed to publish
them In one volume In the order in which
they appear in the original program, when a
sufficient number of advance subscriptions has
bejn obtained to pay the actual cost of pub.Ication.
The records of the Executive Coninil.tee
have been carefully examined and found neat'v
and correctly kept and their approval is
recommended.
SABBATFI SCHOOL WORK.
The Assembly would recommend the Committee
of Publication to use their best efforts
In securing active and aggressive computation
on the part of churches. Presbyter! m and
Synods for the most thorough organist 'on
possible; to reach those who are out of the \
Sabtfeth school, until all. old and yaung alike.
in every cnuren, an wen as in tne destitute
sections, shall enjoy the privileges of systematic
Bible study.
We would nrge the organization of a teachers'
training class In every church and,
wherever possible and practicable, to use our
own hook, the Westminster Course," as we
believe It to he the best published, that our