NACOGDOCHES,TEXAS, May 18, 1911.

Pursuant to adjournment, the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church (colored), met in its thirty-seventh annual session in the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in the city of Nacogdoches, Texas, on Thursday, May 18, 1911, at 11:00 o'clock a.m. Ruling Elder P. F. Hill, of Nashville, Tenn., Presiding Moderator, called the meeting to order and made the following remarks:

To the commissioners and officers of this the thirty seventh General Assembly of the Colored Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America.--
Greetings:
Dear Brethren: Another General Assembly year having past, therefore we are here according to the adjournment of the thirty-sixth session of our Assembly, to give an account of our stewardship, as to how well we have performed our Christian duties in fostering and elevating the general interests of our denomination.

We note with profound regret and sorrow that death has visited the official ranks of our Assembly, and has summoned to the beyond one of our most estimable brothers and officials, in the person of Rev. C. L. Davis, D.D., Stated Clerk of the General Assembly. In the death of Brother Davis the Assembly has been left in a deplorable dilemma; and in view of this fact, I, as your Acting Moderator, proceeded to make a temporary appointment of a Stated Clerk, in the person of Rev. J. M. W. Deshong, until the sitting of this session of the Assembly.

Also as retiring Moderator I have assumed to appoint Rev. R. H. Goodloe, of Birmingham, Ala., to preach the opening or introductory sermon on this occasion.

Also I do hereby suggest for your consideration a more thorough and permanent organization of our General Assembly, as follows:

1. By the election of a Moderator.
2. By the election of a Stated Clerk.
3. By the election of a Treasurer.
4. By the election of a General Board of Trustees, consisting of five or seven members.
5. The reconstruction of organization of the boards that constitute the departments of the general Church, specifically defining the duties of each department or board, holding the heads or officials of each department responsible for the business transacted by their respective boards or departments.

In conclusion, I must say to you, my brethren, that the crisis is upon us, and unless we as commissioners display our wisdom by acting judiciously in legislating for a general reform in the management of the affairs of our Church, the failure to do so will be a signal to the civilized Christian world of the near future demise of our General Assembly.
     Fraternally submitted,                                 P. F. HILL, Retiring Moderator.

Devotional services were conducted by Rev. M. S. McCauley, of Purchase Presbytery, Kentucky. Scripture reading, Acts 1: 1-14, also Acts 2: 1-8.

Assembly then joined in singing.

Hark! the voice of Jesus crying.
   Who will go and work today?
Fields are white and harvests waiting--
   Who will bear the sheaves away?

Rev. M. S. McCauley offered the constituting prayer.

Rev. R. H. Goodloe, having been previously appointed, proceeded to preach the opening sermon, using as text, Jude 1:3.

Subject for discussion--"Contend for the faith, once delivered to the Saints."

The speaker said:

Mr. Moderator and Commissioners of this the thirty-seventh General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and also to the President and delegates of the fourth session of the National Sunday School Convention of our Church:

I esteem my privilege great indeed to be counted as one of the younger sons of the ministerial bench, who is to voice the prevailing sentiment of gratitude and love for the great and good men, both white and black, dead and living, who have made the Church what it is today, and have given her form of doctrine and government to the world. God be praised!

Mr. Moderator, allow me here in the presence of this splendid audience to declare my unqualified affection and esteem for you, my deep sense of privilege of being here on this occasion, in answer to your request. Therefore I shall cherish this appointment as one of my very highest honors and distinctions. From the beginning of the Christian Church to the era of its alliance with the state, under Constantine it flourished and succeeded greatly, without aid of the civil power. The historian tells us that from the fourth until the fifteenth century was a long night of corruption and disorder. All kinds of forms and ceremonies and evils were multiplied, and the Church, the kingdom of grace, soon became a kingdom of the world, under papal supremacy. The traces of Zion during this time are indistinct. Her purity and simplicity were corrupted; her ministers were bought and controlled by worldly policy and devices. It was then that the Church's system of government was lost sight of.

In the early part of the sixteenth century the Church, like a meteor, burst forth from her fetters, and the aurora of the reformation dawned upon mankind and the world. It was Martin Luther who, under the direction of God's Holy Spirit, and with the assistance of his colaborers, succeeded in the breaking down and overthrow of Roman idolatry and superstition. It is strangely true that the Protestants could not agree among themselves as to what was the primitive form of Church government. However, many believed that it was Presbyterian in form.

Mr. Calvin first adopted the Presbyterian form, and it became the model for the reform churches in many countries of Europe. Denmark, Germany, Prussia, and Poland soon agreed and adopted the Presbyterian form of discipline.

In 1643 the Westminster Assembly met in Westminster Abbey, England, and adopted the Westminster Confession of Faith, and it became the creed and government for the Presbyterian world. The Presbyterians of the times are, in interpretation of the law of the Church, very much like the brethren in the far-off times. If not before, we need now to understand and agree in the local and general working of our great Church.

The associated ordained ministers of Europe organized the first presbytery in America in 1704. When twelve years had passed by, the first synod was formed, composed of four presbyteries. Ministers of various schools and habits, from various parts of Europe, could not agree upon or concerning the various questions of Church polity and the Presbyterian order. It soon became apparent in the courts of the Church that there was not a uniform system of interpretation of the government of the Church, nor a oneness in its usage. For a want of harmony and agreement, two parties arose--viz.: the old side and the new side. The former advocated the rigid Scottish interpretation of government and a oneness in its usage. The latter interpreted the Westminster Confession and Discipline to suit the circumstances of the new world. With such disagreements, obnoxious misrepresentations, and an extensive and glorious revival of religion under the leadership of Mr. Whitfield on his second visit to this country made the difference so great and each party so far apart that there was not the least hope for any kind of agreement between the two parties.

In 1741 the synod was rent in twain. Brethren, it is human to err and to differ. It is God who alone does right and never errs. Brethren of this the thirty-seventh session of our great Church, let us be men, known to contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints.

After the synod was divided and confused, it took seventeen years to adjust and arrange for a reunion and when the reunion had taken place, the Presbyterian bodies everywhere began to increase, flourish, prosper and to keep pace with sister denominations. Everything was quiet for a number of years among the Presbyterians. When the Church has peace, sweet peace, coming down from above, she is like the dew of the morning upon the grass; she thrives like the green bay tree.

Jesus Christ the Bishop of our souls and the great Head of the Church, after rising from the tomb, with the light of the resurrection, the light and splendor of the heavenly world about him, hailing his disciples, said: "Peace be unto you." "Be thou faithful" is to contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints. The revival of 1800 was of great significance religiously and morally, but the preaching in the Presbyterian Church tended to stiff, technical theology or a dry speculative orthodoxy. This kind of preaching left hearts unmoved and consciences unalarmed.

In these cold, dry formal times in the Church children or young members were permitted to grow into full membership without any personal experience of grace. It was in the time of the great revival that a man arose in a conversation meeting to tell his experience, and he said that he had been a member of the Presbyterian Church for fifteen years, and had heard preaching so long, but had never heard anything advanced in favor of the new birth, or evangelical repentance and saving faith in Jesus the Christ.

Rev. Mr. McGready preached for a number of years in the Presbyterian Church before he had a personal experience of saving grace in Jesus the Christ. He was, in course of time, converted, and became one of the most efficient promoters of the great revival.

Rev. Finis Ewing and his wife were admitted to membership in the Presbyterian Church without confessing any change of heart or of knowing the necessity of it. Many years after this they were converted and gloriously saved by grace. Mr. Ewing became one of the founders of the great Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

It is a conceded fact that the Presbyterian Church at that time was in a deplorable condition spiritually. The revival was a high time, a cloven tongue of fire. This was a time of the Church's extremity in forms and pride, and it became God's opportunity to convert and to save. This was truly a day of salvation and a salvation season, when on all sides could be plainly seen a change in the character of preaching from that cold, dry form to a gospel of repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

The playground of this revival was west of the Cumberland Mountains, in an attractive, healthy, and fertile country, containing that part of Kentucky and Tennessee known as the Cumberland country. Many splendid families of the Presbyterian order had come to live in this section. Among them was Rev. Craighead, who took the lead in Church work. He was a great and powerful preacher, intellectual giant, and a polished shaft in presenting the doctrine of election, predestination to eternal life, foreordination to everlasting death; while but little was said about individual accountability, and still less was said about spiritual regeneration. The ministers who labored in the revival were Revs. McGready, Hodge, McGee, McAdow, and Rankin, all of whom, though at that time members and ministers of the Presbyterian Church, preached Jesus mighty to save, saying:

"Come, sinners, poor and needy, weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you, full of pity, love, and power."

The revival had its opposers, who did what they could to destroy its influence and to put an end to its work; but they could do it no harm, for Jesus the Lord was with the work, and his Spirit was in those gospel heroes, who held up the Man of the cross and pointed men to the Lamb of God.

Revs. Templin and Donnell were tools of Craighead, Balch and Bowman. Such may have done in those days and at that time, but it will not do today. Brethren, we are commissioners for Jesus. Let us be men, and therefore deal fairly with each other, that the Lord may say to us in the last day: "Well done good and faithful servants."

Let each men be honest with himself and the cause he represents.

In 1801 the revival had an intense interest throughout the Transylvania Presbytery. Hence the revival party was on the increase, while the anti-revival party was on the decrease. Also there was a wide difference of opinion between these parties on points of doctrine and Church government.

As the revival progressed, there were many new congregations organized, and it was soon realized that the revival ministers could not supply one-third of their congregations with the means of grace. Rev. David Rice, a most worthy member of the Transylvania Presbytery, came to the scene, and on the side of the revival party saw the results; and, satisfying himself with the genuineness of the work, realized a great demand for public expounders of the gospel, recommended that lay members of intellect and piety prepare written discourses to be read before the presbytery. At this time a number of men had been licensed and ordained to itinerary ministry, who also had been permitted to adopt a Confession of Faith with reservation so far as they deemed it agreed with the Word of God. In this time of the working of the mighty Spirit of God the literary qualification required by the discipline had been dispensed with. The enemies of the revival styled this evangelistic movement and also the licensing and ordination of ministers who objected and refused to acknowledge fatality as divine ordinance in the salvation to man, as given in the Confession of Faith, as an irregularity. The two parties continued to get farther apart, and each day becoming more distant in their views upon the issues. The anti party finding it impossible to suppress the revival and also to amend the differences now existing, sought by strenuous means to quell and to totally destroy, or extinguish and obliterate, the revival, and thereby humiliate those who supported the cause.

At this time all kinds of rumors and reports were circulated about the revival and its leaders. Mr. Moderator and commissioners of this the thirty-seventh session of the General Assembly of our great Church, to me it is very plain that the founders of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church (white) had a hard time in their struggles in giving to the world the sublime doctrines as God helped them to see it in his word; but those dear white brethren continued to preach Jesus mighty to save, saying to the unsaved in the words of their Master: "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Beloved, do the work of an evangelist--contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. The Confession of Faith says that the presbytery has the right to examine and to license men for the holy ministry, also to ordain, install, and judge ministers.

These faithful and anointed of the Lord were cited to the Kentucky Synod for trial before having a regular trial before their presbytery. By decision of some of the courts the newly licensed and ordained brethren were asked to submit to a re-examination. By advice of the older brethren the young men refused to submit.

Ten years had passed, and no adjustment. The young men were praying and crying to God for light and guidance on the way. When summoned to appear for their last trial before the presbytery, they asked for time to meditate and to pray. They were about to be denied, when a clerk of a civil court remarked that he had seen men at the bar and on the gallows, but he had not seen any one denied time to pray.

After the season of prayer, they were called to answer, whereupon they reported that their convictions had not changed. Finis Ewing, Samuel King, Ephraim McLean went from the presbytery with tears in their eyes, not knowing where to go nor what to do but pray.

On the third day of February, 1810, God guided their footsteps to the residence of Samuel McAdow, in Dickson County, Tenn., and there they proposed to him the plan of organizing and constituting a new and independent presbytery. Although they loved the Presbyterian form of government and believed that it was apostolic, yet they must seek another refuge, a home and field of labor among the lost and fallen. Rev. Samuel McAdow, like the good and faithful Elijah, who of old found rest and a place of prayer beneath the shade of a juniper tree, and a place in the mountains where he could talk to his God, sought the grove, and there he prayed until midnight. Realizing that he was confronted by a grave and solemn question, he sought the same place of prayer before daylight, and there he got a decision from heaven of the fearful question. Rev. Samuel McAdow being a minister in good standing in the Presbyterian Church and also in good standing in the Transylvania Presbytery, constituted the first Cumberland presbytery in his home on the fourth day of February, 1810, at nine o'clock a.m., and before leaving the room ordained McLean. Thus we see that our Church was legally and ecclesiastically organized and constituted. God be praised for Ewing, King, McLean and McAdow. These brethren went forth to preach with an authority and for the first time: "Whosoever will, let him come and take the water of life freely, without money and without price."

At this time the Methodists all over the country were gathering about their great leader as he stood, seemingly upon the mount of ascension, preaching, singing, and shouting. Now and then, faith failing, they would say: "Let us watch and pray, lest you fall to rise no more."

In the South as it were on Pisgah's top, stood the Rev. Williams, that daring and devoted Baptist leader, with the Baptists everywhere rallying to him as he taught immersion as the valid and essential mode of baptism.

But Ewing, King, McAdow, and McLean, four armor bearers of Cumberlandism stood as it were on Calvary's summit with their eyes on Jesus the Immanuel, crying with aloud voice: "Behold the Lamb on God, which taketh away the sin of the world." If these immortal sons could send to us a message from their dusty graves, I believe they would sing in the language of the poet:

"How firm a foundation,
Ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
What more can he say
Than to you he has said,
You who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?"

We, the members of this the thirty-seventh General Assembly, send a message to the star-lighted hills of God's glory, saying to those conquering heroes, that we, the Colored Cumberland Presbyterians, are still contending for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

The Cumberland Church has succeeded greatly within a hundred years.She has built and sustained high schools, academies, colleges and a university; also hospitals, many hundreds of church edifices and have also extended a strong helping hand to the heathen. Since this is true among the white people, what may we not expect among the colored? Marked has been the success and progress of our great cause. Christian brethren, it was in May, 1869, at Murfreesboro, Tenn., where the fathers of our Church met the General Assembly of the white Church and prayerfully petitioned that reverend body to organize a Colored Cumberland Presbyterian Church. It was on that sacred spot that same year that the General Assembly handed down instructions to each synod in its bounds to instruct the various presbyteries to legally set apart all colored ministers belonging to the said presbyteries into presbyteries of their own. This was faithfully done by the laying on of the hand of the presbyteries. All colored ministers before this time had been orally authorized to preach the gospel. The first ministers of the Colored Church to receive ordination and set apart to the full work of the ministry were the Rev. Fathers Lewis Neal, Samuel Fumbanks, Hamp Jones, Pink Price and others. These dear fathers went forth regularly authorized to preach Jesus and him crucified for a lost and perishing world.

In the year 1870 we had not a church or school building; we had not a song book or Bible; we were sojourners like Abraham, our spiritual father; but God promised to us as he had promised to Abraham: "Great shall be your offspring."

Mr. Moderator and brethren, I am expecting that some day the Cumberland Presbyterian Church (Colored) will have countless numbers to advocate her cause and to carry on her good work begun in all parts of this earth.

In 1869 we organized our first presbytery, the Elk River, in Middle Tennessee; also the Hopewell, in West Tennessee. The first synod was the Tennessee Synod, organized at Fayetteville, Middle Tennessee, in 1871. Our General Assembly was organized and constituted in the Cumberland Presbyterian Publishing House in the city of Nashville, Tenn., in May, 1874. The Church at one time was known to have the following: 375 organizations, 272 ministers, 225 church buildings, and many thousands of communicants. Our Church has property to the value of $200,000; three or four schools, with property to the value of $30,00, and a strong body of students, with competent instructors; one publication plant and Board of Publication, with headquarters at Fayetteville, Tenn. from whence is published our church paper. We have also a Sunday School Department, issuing thousands of our Sunday school periodicals of several different grades, etc. Dear brethren, we say to you today, earnestly contend for the faith.

Mr. Moderator and brethren of this Assembly, I am at a loss for language to express my appreciation of the grand heroes of this grand old Cumberland Presbyterian Church as they pass before me in two divisions.

Division first is made up of those whose work on earth is done--viz.:Neal, Fumbanks, Jones, Price, McCauley, Trimble, Cleveland, Clark, Cary, Gibson, Humphrey, Barnett, Davis, Perkins and a host of others. These all died in the faith.

Division second is made up of those who are still bearing the burden in the heat of the day--viz.: Cleaver, Sadler, Porter, Deshong, Simpson, Edwards, McDonell, Gails, Hyters, ministers; Jenkins, McWilliams, Sadler, Carey, M. D. Nelson, Gray, ruling elders; Hill, moderator. All these are still contending for the faith.

Mr. Moderator and brethren, I thank you for the attention manifested and the interest that you have shown.

And are we yet alive,
   And see each other's face?
Glory and praise to Jesus give
   For his redeeming grace.

Preserved by power divine
   To full salvation here;
Again in Jesus praise we join,
   And in his sight appear.

What troubles have we seen,
   What conflicts have we passed,
Fighting without and fears within
   Since we assembled last!

But out of all the Lord
   Has brought us by his love;
And still he doth his help afford
   And hides our lives above.

Then let us make our boast
   Of his redeeming power,
Which saves us to the uttermost
   TIll we can sin no more.

Let us take up the cross
   Till we the crown obtain,
And gladly reckon all things loss,
   So we may Jesus gain.

After the sermon and other divine services, the Assembly took a recess until 2 o'clock p.m.

Benediction by Rev. R. H. Goodloe.

The Assembly was called to order at 2 p.m. by the Moderator.

After the usual divine services, the regular order for this hour was taken up. The roll call showed the following present, by states and presbyteries:

Brazos River Presbytery--Rev. F. Hill, Ruling Elder G. W. Sadler, Rev. C. H. Jordan, A. O. Estell.

East Texas Presbytery--Rev. J. P. Hampton, Ruling Elder Wm. Bagley.

Cumberland Presbytery--Rev. E. J. Simpson, Elder W. E. Cary, M.D.; Rev. C. G. Hardison, R. H. Wheeler. 

Purchase Presbytery--Rev. M. S. McCauley.

Elk River Presbytery--Rev. J. M. W. DeShong, Elder P. F. Hill, Rev Elder A. B. Buchanan.

Hiwassie Presbytery--Rev. T. J. Fletcher, Elder G. A. Henry, Rev. James Hyter, Elder W. D. Edington.

New Hope Presbytery--Rev. James Edwards.

Walter Hopewell Presbytery--Rev. A. N. McCutcheon, Elder A. P. Parks.

Florence Presbytery--Rev. R. H. Goodloe, Elder G. W. Brooks.

Huntsville Presbytery--Rev. D. McDonald, Elder J. J. Jenkins.

Pleasant Hill Presbytery--Rev. W. H. Gails.

South Alabama Presbytery--Rev. L. H. Jones.

Missouri and Kansas viz Kansouri Presbytery--Rev. H. Harvey.

The Assembly took up the election of Moderator and Stated Clerk with the following results: Elder P. F. Hill, of Nashville, Tenn., and in the bounds of Elk River Presbytery and Synod of Tennessee, was elected to succeed himself without opposition.

For the office of Stated Clerk, the following named brethren were nominated: Prof. J. J. Jenkins, of Elkmont, Ala.; Prof. G. W. Sadler, of Waco, Texas; Rev. James Edwards, of Huntingdon, Tenn.; Rev. E. J. Simpson, of Providence, Ky. Before taking the vote, Rev. E. J. Simpson withdrew his name from the list of nominees, Elder G. W. Sadler withdrew his name also from the list of nominees, thus leaving the field to Elder Prof. J. J. Jenkins and Rev. Jas. Edwards. The vote was then taken, which resulted in the choice of Rev. James Edwards, of Huntingdon, Tenn., and the New Hope Presbytery of the Synod of Tennessee.

Elder Prof. G. W. Sadler, of Waco, Texas, was elected without opposition to the office of treasurer of the General Assembly.

The appointment of the Board of Trustees under our property rights, was referred until 3:30 p.m., Friday May 19.

A communication from Rev. F. H. Ford, of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. was received, and after due consideration, the hour of eleven o'clock a.m. Friday May 19th set as the most proper time for the said Rev. F. H. Ford to address the General Assembly.

Rev. C. G. Hardison, of Evansville, Ind., offered a motion that this General Assembly, send greetings to the General Assembly of the C.P. Church now in session in Evansville, Ind., and also to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. in the city of Atlantic City, N.J. Carried.

The following calendar was adopted: The assembly shall meet daily at 8:30 a.m., spend 30 minutes in Devotional services. Noon recess from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Recess from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Reassemble at 7:30 p.m. for preaching or other services. Adjourn at close of night services.

At 7:30 p.m. a large and appreciative audience being assembled, joined in a song and prayer service.

Rev. T. J. Fletcher, of Hiwassie Presbytery, East Tennessee, read Ps. 51. Assembly singing, "Am I a Soldier of the Cross." Rev. Fletcher then offered prayer.

Choir then sang No. 386, "Standing on the Promises."

Ruling Elder G. W. Sadler then introduced Rev. A. N. McCutcheon, of Newbern, Tenn., Walter Hopewell Presbytery, as the principal speaker of the evening. Rev. McCutcheon then read as a text, Rom. 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ." The sermon was both instructive and spiritual.

A collection of ($7.00) seven dollars was raised. Communion of the Lord's supper was administered by Revs. E. J. Simpson, of Cumberland Presbytery and James Edwards, D.D., of New Hope Presbytery. Assembly adjourned to meet again Friday morning at 8:30 a.m.

Benediction by Rev. A. N. McCutcheon.

Friday morning, May 19, 1911. The Assembly met at 8:30 a.m. Devotional services were conducted by Rev. C. G. Hardison. At 9:00 o'clock a.m. the Moderator called the meeting to order. Roll call showed all present as on yesterday. Minutes of first day's sessions were read and approved. A communication from the Bowling Green Presbytery was read and referred to Committee on Correspondence. Moderator then announced the following committees:

Finance--J. M. W. DeShong, W. D. Edington, G. W. Sadler.
Auditing of Books and Accounts--R. H. Goodloe, W. E. Cary, M.D.; A. P. Parks.
Temperance--E. J. Simpson, M. S. McCauley, H. Harvey, James Hyter.
Missions--D. McDonald, Jas. Edwards, C. G. Hardison.
Publication--F. Hill, E. J. Simpson, J. J. Jenkins, C. G. Hardison.
Education--R. H. Goodloe, W. D. Edington, W. H. Gails, G. W. Sadler, A. O. Estell.
Ministerial Relief--C. H. Jordan, R. H. Wheeler, J. P. Hampton.
Sunday School Literature--Wm. Bagley, A. N. McCutcheon, L. H. Jones, T. J. Fletcher, G. W. Brooks.
Education--R. H. Goodloe, W. D. Edington, W. H. Gails, G. W. Sadler, A. O. Estell.
Resolutions--A. N. McCutcheon, James Hyter, G. W. Brooks.
Judiciary--J. J. Jenkins, T. J. Fletcher, M. S. McCauley.
Correspondence--A. P. Parks, G. W. Sadler, G. W. Brooks.
Tennessee Synodical Record--W. E. Cary, C. G. Hardison, D. McDonald.
Texas Synodical Record--James Edwards, M. S. McCauley, W. H. Gails.
Kentucky Synodical Records--A. O. Estell, C. G. Hardison, L. H. Jones.
Alabama Synodical Records--A. P. Parks, Wm. Bagley, R. H. Wheeler.
Condolence--James Hyter, W. H. Gails, F. Hill, M. S. McCauley, C. G. Hardison.

After the appointments of the foregoing committees, Rev. F. H. Ford, D.D., of Jacksonville, Texas, appeared and was presented to the assembly as a fraternal delegate from the Presbyterian Church U.S.A., to deliver greetings from their General Assembly, in session at Atlantic City, N. J., to our Assembly. Rev. Ford was cordially received. He was accorded the floor of the Assembly, and he addressed the Assembly most eloquently upon the subjects of Christian Education, Morality and Honesty among the Ministers and members of the church. His advice was well received by all present. Rev. C. C. Hoffmeister, of Nacogdoches also addressed the Assembly, making encouraging remarks. Rev. E. J. Simpson, of Providence, Ky., responding.

At the close of the addresses, a vote of thanks, showing our appreciation of the courtesy shown us by our white friends, was taken by all standing and singing, "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name."

A collection of $15.00 was taken for missions and education.

The Assembly then took recess until 1:30 p.m.

At 1:30 p.m., Moderator in the chair, called the meeting to order and after the usual divine services, the Assembly proceeded to business. Rev. Johnson, pastor of the C.M.E. Church, of Nacogdoches, was introduced to the Moderator and Assembly and was invited to a seat as a visiting brother.

Place for the meeting of the Assembly was taken up. Whereupon Dyersburg, Tenn. and Paducah, Ky. were placed in nomination, and a vote was taken, the count of which stood 23 to 2, in favor of Dyersburg, Tenn. Therefore Dyersburg, Tenn., was declared the place for the next meeting of the General Assembly in May, 1913. The hour of 3:30 p.m. being set for the election of trustees having arrived, a motion prevailed that this matter be further postponed until Saturday morning. The Assembly took recess until 7:30 pm.

At 7:30 p.m. Assembly having met and also a very large congregation, Rev. C. G. Hardison, of Evansville, Ind., conducted a song and prayer service, which was heartily joined in by all, at the close of which, Rev. M. S. McCauley, of Metropolis, Ill., read a Scripture lesson from the Psalms.

Choir sang, "My Faith Looks up to Thee."

Rev. H. Hardey, of Kansouri Presbytery offered prayer. Choir sang, "O for a Heart to Praise My God."

Rev. M. S. McCauley preached, using as text, Jeremiah 5:1, "Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know and seek the broad places thereof if you can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it." The sermon was both interesting and helpful.

A collection of $8.10 was then taken.

On motion of Rev. J. M. W. DeShong, the Moderator was empowered to appoint councellors to confer with councellors appointed from the Presbyterian Church U.S.A.

The Assembly then adjourned to meet again Saturday morning, May 20, 1911.

Benediction by Rev. M. S. McCauley.

Saturday, May 20, 1911. The Assembly met according to adjournment, and after the usual devotional services, proceeded to business.

Roll call showed all present as on yesterday. The following names were added to the roll:

Rev. H. Harvey, of Ash Grove, Mo.; Rev. W. L. Lacy, of Angelina Presbytery, also Ruling Elder F. B. Bradford, of Angelina Presbytery appeared and his name was added to the roll.

The minutes of Friday session was read and approved. The Assembly took a recess of 15 minutes to give the committees an opportunity to make out their reports.

Recess having expired the Assembly was called to order and proceeded to business. The remainder of the morning was taken up in general discussions and in hearing committee reports.

Fraternal message received from the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A.:

                                                                                                     ATLANTIC CITY, N. J., May 20, 1911.
Cumberland Presbyterian General Assembly, Colored, Nacogdoches, Tex.
   Your fraternal message is welcome. We have appointed Rev. Fred H. Ford as our representative to your Assembly.
                                                                                                      John F. Carson, Moderator;
                                                                                                      William H. Roberts, Stated Clerk.

Assembly took a recess until 1:30 p.m.

Assembly was called to order at 1:30 and after the usual divine services proceeded to business.

On motion of Rev. C. G Hardison, of Evansville, Ind., the following named brethren were elected as the Board of Trustees of the Colored Cumberland Presbyterian Church, viz:

Rev. J. M. W. DeShong, of Fayetteville, Tenn.; Rev. D. McDonald, of Alabama; Rev. P. L. Jones, of Alabama; Ruling Elder A. O. Estell, of Texas; Rev. E. J. Simpson, of Kentucky; Ruling Elder W. D. Eddington, of Tennessee. On motion of Ruling Elder G. W. Sadler, of Texas, the Moderator and his successors in office, is a member ex-officio.

Assembly took a recess until 7:30.

At 7:30 p.m. Devotional services were conducted by Rev. J. T. Fletcher. of Hiwassie Presbytery. At the close of a very spiritual song and prayer service, Rev. T. J. Fletcher preached a sermon, text Psalms 104:1, "Bless the Lord, O my soul." The sermon was well delivered, coming as it were as a refreshing shower.

Collection $3.30.

On motion of Rev. E. J. Simpson, the Assembly re-embursed Rev. James Edwards and Rev. J. M. W. DeShong and also Elder P. F. Hill, for expenses incurred in looking after the affairs of the general church.

The following were appointed as a committee to confer with a like committee to be appointed by the Presbyterian Church U.S.A.: Rev. E. J. Simpson, Ruling Elder J. J. Jenkins, Rev. James Edwards.

The following named brethren were selected and appointed to meet, and to act in council, with a like body to be appointed by the Presbyterian Church U.S.A., or any other Presbyterian body: P. F. Hill, Moderator; R. H. Goodloe, Ruling Elder G. W. Sadler, J. M. W. DeShong.

By motion the Assembly ordered five hundred copies of the minutes of this session be printed.

On motion of G. W. Sadler, the stated clerk and treasurer are authorized to issue order on the auditing committee for the amount required to have the minutes printed.

A motion prevailed that secretaries, clerks, and treasurers of all the general departments and general boards of the Colored Cumberland Presbyterian Church be, and the same are hereby required to file with the Stated Clerk, Rev. James Edwards, Huntingdon, Tenn., bonds or securities to the amount of five hundred dollars for the faithful performance of their official duties as such secretaries or treasurers. The said bond must be filed with said Rev. James Edwards, Stated Clerk,

within thirty days or as early thereafter as possible.

Dissolution and reorganization of boards.

As recommended by the Committee on Missions, the Board of Ministerial Relief, along with all the other general boards of the Church, having been declared dissolved by the Moderator, the said Board of Ministerial Relief was reorganized with the following named brethren as members:

Rev. W. H. Gails, of Aliceville, Ala., president; Rev. L. H. Jones, of South Alabama; Ruling Elder J. J. Jenkins, Elkmont, Ala.

The Board of Mission (men) was re-organized as follows: Rev. J. M. W. DeShong, of Tennessee; Rev. T. J. Fletcher, of Tennessee; Ruling Elder W. D. Edington, of Tennessee.

Board of Publication was re-organized as follows: G. W. Sadler, Waco, Texas; C. H. Jordan, Waco, Texas, Ruling Elder A. O. Estell, Texas.

The Woman's Board of Missions was re-organized as follows: Mrs. Mattie Edwards, of Huntingdon, Tenn., president; with vice-presidents as follows: First vice, Mrs. Ida R. Sedberry, Meridian, Texas; second vice, Mrs. S. J. Dawson, Elkmont, Ala., third vice, Miss Bettie Nelson, Philadelphia, Tenn.; fourth vice, Mrs. Callie Hill, Nashville, Tenn.; fifth vice, Mrs. Mollie Bailey, Newbern, Tenn.; sixth vice, Mrs. Ida M. Simpson, Providence, Ky.; seventh vice, Miss Mai Tinsley, Princeton, Ky., Eighth vice, Mrs. Carry M. Stanton, Pratt City, Ala.; Mrs. S. M. Jordan, secretary, Waco, Texas; Miss Cordelia Higgins, assistant secretary, Meridian, Texas; Mrs. Mai Bailey, corresponding secretary, Newbern, Tenn.; Miss Laura Johnson, Marion, Ky., assistant corresponding secretary; Mrs. Lovie Simmons, treasurer, Henderson, Texas.

The general Board of Education was re-organized at and by order of the General Assembly of the Colored Cumberland Presbyterian Church, at the 37th General Assembly, that met at Nacogdoches, Texas, May 18, 1911. Rev. R. H. Goodloe, president, Pratt City, Ala.; Prof. W. D. Edington, vice-president, Philadelphia, Tenn.; Elder P. F. Hill, secretary, Nashville, Tenn., 413 1-2 Fourth Ave. North; Elder W. E. Cary, M.D., Providence, Ky.; Rev. F. Hill, Waco, Texas, 1820 Taylor Street; Rev. J. S. Hamilton, Hillsboro, Texas; Rev. H. Harvey, Ashgrove, Mo.

N.B.--All churches throughout the General Assembly bounds must strictly observe the Assembly's regulations in the matter of quarterly collections for education. Send all money for education to P. F. Hill, the general secretary of the board, Nashville, Tenn., 413 1-2 Fourth Ave. North.

The General Board of Trustees of the General Assembly of the Colored Cumberland Presbyterian Church as re-organized at the 37th General Assembly, May, 1911, in the city of Nacogdoches, Texas:

Rev. E. J. Simpson, Providence, Ky., president; P. F. Hill, Moderator, ex-officio president. 413 1-2 Fourth Ave. North, Nashville, Tenn.; Rev. L. H. Jones, Massillon, Ala.; Elder A. O. Estell, R.F.D. 7, Waco, Texas; Rev. D. McDonald, Huntsville, Ala., 121 Miller Street; Rev. J. M. W. DeShong, vice-president, Fayetteville, Tenn., Elder W. D. Edington, Philadelphia, Tenn.

N.B.--All church property and also all school property claiming to be the property of the Colored Cumberland Presbyterian Church must be deeded to the general board of trustees, in trust for the denomination of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church Colored.

In keeping with the recommendation of the Committee on Missions, appointed by the Moderator at the 37th meeting of the General Assembly of the Colored Cumberland Presbyterian Church in session assembled at Nacogdoches, Texas, the Woman's Board of Missions are required to hold their meetings, and also to arrange their business separate and apart, from that of the Men's Board of Missions or that of any other of the men's boards, also the woman's board is required to make all annual reports to the General Assembly, separate and apart from that of the men's boards. A motion prevailed that the stated clerk, be and the said clerk is hereby empowered to so instruct the said Woman's Board of Missions.

N.B.--According to the action of the 37th General Assembly of the Colored Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in session assembled at Nacogdoches, Texas.

The above-named boards as designated, are the authorized boards of the General Assembly of the Colored Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

                                                                                                                            NACHOGDOCHES, TEX., May 20, 1911.

We, your Committee on Auditing of Books and Accounts, beg leave to submit the following report:

1. Having carefully examined the financial statements of our Stated Clerk, Rev. DeShong, and find the figures to be correct, with itemized accounts, and therefore subject to payments.

2. We also recommend payment of the account of Prof. J. J. Jenkins for services rendered on behalf of the General Assembly at Huntsville, Ala.; amount, $2.36.

3. We find the book to have been kept i a very satisfactory way, and that the work of each presbytery has been kept in a creditable manner, considering the period of time to do the work.

4. We recommend the payment of the accounts of Rev. James Edwards for traveling expenses from Huntingdon to Nashville during the months of December, 1910, $6.30; January, 1911, $6.30; March, 1911, $6.30; April, 1911, $6.30; total, $25.20.

We recommend payment of the account of Rev. J. M. W. DeShong to the amount of $10 for expenses in attending conferences at Nashville We also recommend payment of $6 to P. F. Hill for services rendered in attending conferences, committees, etc.

Respectfully submitted,
                                                                                                 W. D. EDINGTON,
                                                                                                  A. P. PARKS,
                                                                                                  W. E. CARY. M.D.,
                                                                                                                     Committee.

Mr. Moderator and members of the thirty-seventh General Assembly of the Colored Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

We, your committee, beg leave to submit the following report:

Whereas we find that we have a Sunday School Department of our Church; also after carefully examining into the conditions of the said Sunday School Department, and finding that the editor is publishing Sunday school literature for the Church at a personal sacrifice to himself, therefore we do hereby recommend the following:

1. That one-half of the Children's Day offering be allowed for the said Sunday School Department, and the same be forwarded to the editor, Rev. James Edwards, Huntingdon, Tenn.

2. That one-half be allowed for education, and that the same be forewarded to P. F. Hill, Secretary of the Board of Education, 413 1/2 Fourth Avenue North, Nashville, Tenn.

We further recommend that the General Assembly endorse the working of the National Sunday School Convention of our Church. We also urge upon all congregations of our denomination to support the enterprises by using the literature as published by our department.

We further recommend that each presbytery do its whole duty in giving financial aid to the Publication Department, with an eye single to the permanent establishing of a substantial publishing house in the very near future.

WILLIAM BAGLEY,
M. S. McCAULEY,
L. H. JONES,
T. J. FLETCHER,
G. W. BROOKS,
            Committee.

To the thirty-seventh General Assembly of the Colored Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Moderator and brethren of the thirty-seventh General Assembly of the Colored Cumberland Presbyterian Church now assembled in your thirty-seventh annual session in Nacogdoches, Tex., we, the undersigned members of the Board of Missions of the Colored Cumberland Church, beg to submit our ninth annual report

of the work done in the last past twelve months.

The mission in Nashville is not succeeding so well, on account of the present location of our church site on Hamilton Street. We therefore ask this Assembly to grant us the power to sell said site and purchase elsewhere in the city of Nashville.

As the Board of Trustees of the Brazos River Presbytery has purchased another church site in Hillsboro, Tex., for a church building, we therefore ask this Assembly to grant us the power of selling said church site.

The following churches and Sunday schools reported children's day offerings for 1910:

July 3, Langstone Chapel Sunday School, $3.50
July 4, Henderson Chapel Sunday School, $3.02
July 8, Antioch Sunday School, $.90
July 12, Pleasant Hill Sunday School, $2.00
August 10, Whitley Chapel Sunday School, $2.00
August 12, Raised Corner, $1.10
August 25, Pleasant Holly (Texas), $2.00

Total, $14.52

Elk River Presbytery, $16.00
Tennessee Synod, $42.07
Tennessee Synodical meeting, $48.00
Union Marvall Society (Texas), $1.00
Elkman Society (Alabama), $4.00
Meridian Society (Texas), $1.50
Huntingdon Society (Tennessee), $6.00
Milan Society (Tennessee), $1.00
Elk River Missionary Rally, $36.25
Dr. W. J. Darby, $35.00
Tennessee Synod, $18.00

Total, $208.82

October 22, 1910, pastor at Nashville, $25.00
November 27, Prof. J. E. Pickett, $35.00
January 16, 1911, Prof. J. E. Pickett, $35.00
February, 1911, Prof. J. E. Pickett, $10.00
March 10, 1911, Prof. J. E. Pickett, $10.00
Mach 10, 1911, Prof. J. E. Pickett, $70.00
March, loan to Board of Publication, $50.00
April 1, printing 500 copies Confession of Faith, $52.00
April 8, freight on Confession of Faith, $1.50

Total paid out to date, $278.50

Balance on hand and in bank, $30.

Rev. Charlie Lee Davis, Financial Secretary of the Board of Missions, departed this life November 26, 1910, which makes a vacancy in the Board.

We ask you to confirm the following as member of the Board of Missions: Prof. C. H. Dozier to fill the vacancy made by the death of Rev. C. L. Davis.

The work at Shelbyville is succeeding nicely under the pastoral watch care of Rev. A. Crookshank as pastor.

We, the Woman's Board of Missions, ask that all the local missionary societies report their work to the General Woman's Board as prescribed by the constitution of the Board. We are submitting our report in connection with the General Board of Missions. The amount of money received and paid out as reported; ours are included in the same.

We have made a joint report of the two Boards for the year ending May 1, 1911.

J. M. W. DeSHONG, President;
ELDER S. M. MILLER, Vice-President;
SAM GRAVES,
JOE McDONALD,
T. J. FLETCHER.

Mr. Moderator and Brethren: We, your committee, submit the following as our report:

We have carefully and prayerfully considered the subject assigned us. Therefore, to speak with candor, this is one of the most important subjects with which the Church has to contend. Therefore we recommend that each board working under the auspices of the government of the C.P. Church (colored) should be duly and constitutionally organized by the election of a President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. And when this shall be done, it will encourage, inspire, and establish confidence of the Church in its institutions. And we further say that a church that has not the spirit of missions, has not the spirit of the Master.

With reference to the joint report of the Men's Board of Missions and the Woman's Board of Missions, we do not approve of it, as that manner of report is too indefinite, and is likely to confuse the people. Therefore we recommend the following:

1. That the said boards make separate reports.

2. Since there has come no petition from either of the Board of Missions or from the Woman's Board of Missions separately, we would not recommend nor advise the sale of the property owned by our mission on Hamilton Street, Nashville, Tenn.

3. We do hereby advise that our people at Hillsboro, Tex., withhold the sale of their property until this General Assembly shall dissolve the present Boards of Missions; or, in other words, that we recommend that the General Assembly shall dissolve the several Assembly Boards and organize or reorganize others when in its judgment it is best.

C. G. HARDISON,
E. J. SIMPSON,
D. McDONALD,
         Committee.

Mr. Moderator and Brethren: We, your committee, submit the following report:

There are, very properly speaking, two definitions to the word "temperance." Definition first means a moderate use of all things harmless--that is to say, such things as cannot intoxicate. Definition second: The total abstinence from the use of all things that are harmful and that do intoxicate. We, of all people, should be temperate for many sufficient and satisfactory reasons. Among the many reasons we lay special emphasis upon the following: Intemperance or the use of spirituous or vinous or malt liquors are injurious to the human body and also to the human mind; secondly, intemperance does not comport with, but is inconsistent with the Christian religion, and also with Christian character; thirdly, that the teachings of the Bible are plain, pointed and practical on this subject, in that it says: "Wine is a mocker, and strong drink is raging, and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." Therefore we do hereby recommend and advise the colored people of this state, and especially those who are members of the Colored Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and others who side with the members of our Church to vote when it comes to the forthcoming prohibition election in this state, to vote at the polls as they pray at the altar.

E. J. SIMPSON,
M. S. McCAULEY,
JAMES HYTER,
          Committee.

Mr. Moderator and members of the thirty-seventh General Assembly of the Colored Cumberland Presbyterian Church, we submit the following report of our year's work:

We have been able to keep in the field the Colored Cumberland Presbyterian Mission, with a very fair circulation. It being self-supporting, after paying all expenses to date, there remains a balance of $10.

In former years the Board got in debt $50 for publishing the paper; therefore we were compelled to borrow $50 from the Board of Missions, with the understanding that the General Assembly at its last meeting appropriated $50 for the Board of Publication ordered to be paid as soon as collected.

We ask the Church at large to assist the Board of Publication in establishing a more substantial publishing plant. This means an outlay of not less than one thousand dollars to begin the work.

The Board has had five hundred copies of the Confession of Faith printed, with our constitutional changes made, for the use of our own Church, at a cost of $52. The book to be sold at 35 cents postage prepaid; 30 cents with postage not paid.

W. H. GAILES,
G. W. SADLER,
J. W. W. DeSHONG,
JAS. EDWARDS,

Mr. Moderator and brethren, we, your committee, after a careful examination of the report of the Board of Publication, find the following:

1. That our paper has a circulation of four hundred, paying, or bona fide, subscribers. This shows $400 a year collected from subscribers alone, to say nothing about job work, advertisements, etc.

We further find nothing said about paper, ink, type, either great or small. We recommend the Rev. J. M. W. DeShong for his untiring efforts in keeping the paper alive.

2. It is stated that our press is worth about two hundred and fifty dollars. What we have written was picked up in a very slipshod way.

3. We find no statement of receipts and disbursements; therefore we recommend that a more systematic form and manner of bookkeeping be adopted that will show beyond all doubt the true condition and situation of this Board.

4. The report shows for the year just ended a balance of $10 above all expenses.

5. Indebtedness. It is stated in the report that in former years the Board got in debt, and was forced to borrow $50 from the Board of Missions, which amount the thirty-sixth General Assembly secured. We recommend that this matter be settled at the earliest convenience.

6. Needs, etc. At this point we bring to your notice a prayer from the Board for moral support and financial aid to the amount of one thousand dollars to be used in the enlargement of the publishing plant. Failing to understand what is meant by enlarging the plant, therefore we, your committee, failed to make any recommendations relative to appropriations for the aforesaid purpose.

7. Reorganization. We recommend that the Board be reorganized and be put under the direct supervision of the General Assembly.

All of which we most respectfully submit.

Rev. E. J. Simpson,
Rev. F. Hill,
Ruling Elder J. J. Jenkins

Mr. Moderator and brethren, we, your committee, beg leave to submit the following report:

After careful investigation, we find the record of Alabama Synod in strict keeping with the usages of our Church form and government. The style of language is clear and concise. The pages are carefully paragraphed and the volume nearly compiled. Following are the receipts-- viz:

Balance on hand, 59 cents.

Presbyteries represented in synod:

1. Huntsville Presbytery--Ministers, 20; churches, 18.
2. Florence Presbytery--Ministers, 16; churches, 13.
3. South Alabama Presbytery--Ministers, 11; churches 12.
4. Tuscaloosa Presbytery--Ministers, 3; churches, 3.
5. Pleasant Hill Presbytery--Ministers, 5; churches, 7.
Respectfully submitted,

A. P. Parks,
R. H. Wheeler,
W. M. Bagley,
        Committee.

Mr. Moderator and brethren, we, your committee, beg leave to submit the following report:

Having had the record of the Synod of Tennessee before us, and the same having been carefully examined by us, we do hereby declare that the said record is found to be in due form and in order.

W. E. Cary,
C. G. Hardison,
D. McDonald,
     Committee.

Mr. Moderator and members of the thirty-seventh General Assembly, we submit the following report on the Kentucky Synodical record:

Having carefully examined the above-named record, we find the following:

1. That the proceedings of the said synod are regular.
2. That the work is properly arranged in a well-bound book, thereby complying with the rules and usages of the Colored C.P. Church.

A. O. Estell,
L. H. Jones,
G. W. Sadler,
      Committee.

Mr. Moderator and brethren, we, your committee having had before us a resolution as offered by Prof. J. J. Jenkins, in which it is claimed that this General Assembly is in debt to the late and lamented Rev. C. L. Davis, D.D., to the amount of $25, but for want of sufficient testimony to establish sufficient proof in support of the said claim, therefore we recommend that this General Assembly shall use every laudible means to ascertain the facts in the case; and then if it be found that the claim is just, we recommend that the $25 as claimed shall be paid to the lawful representatives of the said Rev. C. L. Davis.

A. N. McCutcheon,
J. Hyter,
G. W. Brooks,
      Committee.

Mr., Moderator and brethren, we, your committee, submit the following report:

Having had before us an abstract of the Texas Synodical Record, the same being carefully examined, is found to be in good order.

Respectfully submitted,

James Edwards, Chairman.

Mr. Moderator and brethren, we, your committee, find the following:

That among the ministers of our great Church, several of whom have been loyal to the cause, the principles, and to the government of the Colored C.P. Church, and who were once in the strength and vigor of life, but are now living in the evening of their age, and therefore cannot go in and out in the Master's cause as in other days: we, your committee, being unable to secure the books or any trace of the actions of the Board of Ministerial Relief, therefore the following was secured by verbal statements of two members of the said Board:

Of this amount, five dollars was put into the hands of Prof. J. J. Jenkins, Secretary of the said Board, to be given to Sister Gandy, the widow of one of our deceased ministers. We ask that the said $5 be forwarded at once to the said Sister Gandy. We further recommend that the said Board give satisfactory statements to this General Assembly respecting all moneys handled by it. Whereas this Board is inactive, we recommend that the same be dissolved and reorganized.

Rev. C. H. Jordan,
Ruling Elder R. H. Wheeler,
Rev. J. P. Hampton,
     Committee.

Mr. Moderator and brethren, we regret very much to have to report so little work done by the Board. In our last report we made some recommendations, but on account of the misplacing of the Assembly's journal, we are unable to give an accurate report of the Board in full.

Money received since the General Assembly of 1910:

I have visited several churches in North Alabama and have written others in the interest of the Board, but only a few of them have responded. We urge that the quarter for ministerial relief be promptly observed.

Respectfully submitted,

J. J. Jenkins,

Secretary of Board of Ministerial Relief.

Nacogdoches, Tex., May 20, 1911.

Mr. Moderator and brethren of this the thirty-seventh General Assembly of the Colored Cumberland Presbyterian Church: As editor, manager, and publisher of Sunday school literature in and for the said Church I beg to submit this as my annual report:

With a feeling of most profound gratitude, and with a heart filled with thanksgiving to Almighty God, whose mercies endureth forever, I am glad to say that this department has succeeded fairly well; and although the task has been a hard one, with difficulties many, yet there is no real debt handing over this department, in so far as this General Assembly is concerned. Literature handled since the adjournment of the Assembly in 1910:

Total cost of handling the business herein described, $707.13.

This department is being backed and financed at my personal expense, and I have only the patronage of the Sunday schools of the Colored C.P. Church to depend on for renumeration.

Respectfully submitted,

James Edwards, Editor and Publisher.

Mr. Moderator and brethren of the thirty-seventh General Assembly of the Colored Cumberland Presbyterian Church: When I took charge of this office December 1, 1910, by appointment of the Moderator, P. F. Hill, as your servant, I was ordered to secure the records, papers, moneys, and, in fact, all properties belonging to the aforesaid Assembly. I failed to secure any records of the Assembly, except the minutes of the Mayfield session. The minutes of the thirty-sixth General Assembly have been destroyed by some means, and all records that were in the hands of the Stated Clerk at the time of his death. I secured $17 of the General Assembly's money that was in the hands of the Stated Clerk and Treasurer, and $6 belonging to the Board of Missions from Mr. Frank Davis, his brother, making in all $23.

Rev. T. S. Blackman is due this General Assembly $2, which he promised to have paid before this time, but he has failed to do so. The understanding is that the General Assembly at its last meeting appropriated for the Board of Publication $50, and ordered it to be paid as soon as collected.

I beg to submit the following report as my financial report of moneys collected on and before the meeting of this Assembly from the various presbyteries as follows:

The following are yet due: Cumberland Presbytery, $1; Florence Presbytery, $5; Huntsville Presbytery, $4; Pleasant Hill Presbytery, $3; Walter Hopewell Presbytery, $4.

J. M. W. DeShong.

N. B.--The above was allowed and paid in full.

Jas. Edwards, Stated Clerk.

James Edwards, Stated Clerk.

P.S.--Not having an itemized statement of disbursements, therefore I cannot state the balance on hand.

James Edwards, Stated Clerk.

 

To the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A., and to the Presbyterian Church, U.S., respectively,

Whereas the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Colored, holding to the Presbyterian system, and holding the Confession of Faith known as the "Cumberland Presbyterian Confession of Faith" as their doctrinal standard; and

Whereas the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Colored, organized in 1870 as a separate denomination, and is therefore the first and is now substantially the only independent religious denomination of Negro Presbyterians; and

Whereas this General Assembly now in session represents 30,000 Colored Cumberland Presbyterians; and

Whereas the General Assembly of the Southern Presbyterian Church, in 1874, adopted a policy for the final establishment of a separate Presbyterian Church for the Negro members in the following substance, "The Presbyterian Church, South, is resolved on the establishment of a separate independent self-sustaining Colored Presbyterian Church, ministered to by colored preachers of approved piety and such training as shall best suit their life work;" and

Whereas the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. U.S.A., in 1906 provided for separate synods and presbyteries for the members of a particular race; and

Whereas the 23,000 colored communicants of the Presbyterian Church are already organized into separate synods and presbyteries; and

Whereas the colored membership of the Presbyterian Church are already in separate and distinct presbyteries and congregations; and

Whereas the American Presbyterian Churches are co-operating to advance the religious and moral welfare of our race; and

Whereas we believe that the Colored Presbyterians should pull together for the same end and purpose; and

Whereas we believe that the whole colored citizenship of America would be benefitted by having all the Negro Presbyterians represented in one separate Assembly; and

Whereas the Cumberland Confession of Faith to which we subscribe, and which is the doctrinal standard of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Colored, was officially recognized by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Buffalo in May, 1906, in concurrent declaration No. 1 as being in substantial doctrinal harmony with the Confession of Faith of the Presbyterian Church as revised in 1903;

Therefore we, the members of the General Assembly of the Colored Cumberland Presbyterian Church in session at Nacogdoches, Tex., May 19, 1911, do respectfully petition and memorialize the General Assemblies of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A., and the Presbyterian Church, U.S., respectively, as follows:

1. That you recognize the Colored Cumberland Presbyterian Church as the first and only fully organized denomination of Negroes holding the Presbyterian system.

2. That you consider whether the time is not drawing near when all the Negro Presbyterians of America should be gathered into a great separate denomination for a greater work among our race.

3. That with the development of this sentiment you recognize the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Colored, as the natural and logical nucleus around which this greater African Presbyterian Church shall be gathered.

4. That you transmit to your separate colored synods and presbyteries this our invitation to join us in making the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Colored, the representative body for all Africo-American Presbyterians.

5. We further petition that your honorable and revered body shall express its willingness to dismiss and transfer to our Assembly such separate synods and presbyteries as shall petition you for the same.

J. M. W. DeShong.

Adopted May 19, 1911.

Rev. Jas. Edwards, D.D.,
Rev. E. J. Simpson, D.D.,
H. Harvey,
Jno. J. Jenkins,
Rev. J. P. Hampton,
P. F. Hill, Moderator.

 

Mr. Moderator and members of the Assembly, your committee submits the following report:

After a careful and prayerful study of the subject of education in its numerous phases and its various relationship to our Church, we find it to be one of the all-important themes for study and prayer. We cannot make too great a sacrifice to make this subject one of the greatest for our own co-operation and prayerful study. Some one has said that education is the handmaiden of religion. If this be true, it very reasonably follows that we should make this subject prominent in our denomination.

We find the Board of Education to be disorganized. Two vacancies were caused by death, viz., Rev. W. T. Perkins, vice-president, and Prof. G. A. Jones, treasurer; and one by resignation, viz., Elder William Nelson, president. Therefore for some considerable time the Board has been inactive. We, your committee, recommend:

1. That the Board of Education be reconstructed and thoroughly organized.

2. That all vacancies be filled immediately.

3. That all money for education be deposited in the General Assembly treasury until the said Board is reconstructed and organized.

4. That no money be paid out during the interval, except by order of the General Assembly.

5. We do heartily recommend the instructive uplifting and inspiring lecture as delivered by Rev. F. H. Ford, D.D., and that it be unanimously adopted as representing the sentiment of the General Assembly on Christian Education.

Prayerfully submitted,

Rev. R. H. Goodloe,
Elder W. D. Edington,
Elder G. W. Sadler,
Rev. W. H. Gails,
Elder A. O. Estell,
                Committee.

 

Mr. Moderator and brethren, we desire to hereby state the condition of the Board of Education as follows:

Vacancies by death, Rev. W. T. Perkins, vice-president, G. A. Jones, treasurer; by resignation, William Nelson, president.

The Board has been dormant since the meeting of the Assembly at Huntsville, Ala., in 1905. The treasurer has in his possession money belonging to the Board of Education to the amount of $9.50. The secretary had at the time when the Board became dormant $25; also the secretary has in his possession all papers, books, minutes and charter. The Board has not received any money from any source since 1905; neither has there been any money paid out during the interval.

We have selected the Rev. R. H. Goodloe, president, Prof. W. Edington, vice-president, W. E. Cary, M.D., and Rev. H. Harvey as members of the Board.

Respectfully submitted.

Elder P. F. Hill, Secretary;
Rev. J. S. Hamilton,
Rev. F. Hill,
Surviving Members of the Board of Education.

 

Mr. Moderator and brethren, since the adjournment of our General Assembly at Pratt City, Ala., in May, 1910, death has visited the ranks and has taken from us the following named brethren who were faithful ministers of the gospel in the states named:

Rev. C. L. Davis departed this life November 26, 1910. Deceased was for several years, Stated Clerk of this General Assembly, which position he held at the time of his death. He was also a member and Stated Clerk of Florence Presbytery and of the Alabama Synod.

Rev. H. F. Sheler, of Hiwassie Presbytery of the Synod of Tennessee, departed this life in June 1911.

Rev. Hamp Smith departed this life from Hiwassie Presbytery, Tennessee, in April, 1910.

Rev. W. T. Perkins, of Walter Hopewell Presbytery, Tennessee, departed this life December 30, 1910.

Rev. Sessions of Texas, departed this life since our meeting in 1910.

While in the death of these dear brethren our Church has sustained quite a heavy loss, yet we, your committee, and also this General Assembly bow our heads, and also we humble our hearts to the will of Him who doeth all things well.

We recommend that the hour of 3 o'clock p.m. on May 21, be set apart for the holding of a special service in memory of our deceased brethren.

James Hyter, Chairman.

 

To the Moderator and brethren of this the thirty-seventh General Assembly of the Colored Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

Whereas this Assembly has been so hospitably entertained by the generous people of Nacogdoches, Tex.; and

Whereas the different denominations of the city have vied with each other in doing honor to the highest court of our denomination; therefore be it

Resolved, That we tender our heartfelt thanks to them, and that as we go from this place to our various homes and occupations, that we pray God's blessings upon them and upon their homes.

In this Rev. H. C. Cleaver and his family, and also his session, and also the whole membership of Nacogdoches C.P. Church deserve special mention for their untiring efforts to provide for the comfort of the commissioners and visitors to this Assembly.

Resolved further, That we are very grateful to the various railway companies for the courteous treatment accorded our commissioners and visitors by their agents. We pray for their success as public carriers.

We commend Stated Clerk (pro tem) Rev. J. M. W. DeShong for his accustomed faithfulness in seeking rates for all who attended this the thirty-seventh General Assembly.

We further thank Moderator P. F. Hill for his manner of dispatching business and for his impartial rulings.

All of which is most respectfully submitted.

J. J. Jenkins.

 

From 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Sunday school.

At 11 o'clock a.m., Rev. James Edwards preached, using as a text. Rom. 5:1.

At 3:00 o'clock p.m. the Assembly joined in a service in memory of deceased brethren, as stated in the report of the committee on Condolence.

At 7:30 p.m. Rev. J. M. W. DeShong preached to a very large audience. At the close of this service, the Stated Clerk read a telegraphic message of greeting from the C.P. General Assembly (white) then in session at Evansville, Ind.

The General Assembly then adjourned to meet again in McCauley's Chappel, First C.P. Church, Dyersburg, Tenn., in May, 1912.

Elder P. F. Hill, Moderator.

Rev. James Edwards, Stated Clerk.

 1. Elders
 2. Deacons
 3. Communicants Added on Profession
 4. Communicants Added on Certificate
 5. Resident Members
 6. Non-Resident Members
 7. Total Members
 8. Adult Baptized
 9. Infant Baptized
10. Sunday School Members, Teachers and Officers
11. Value of Church Property
12. Salary of Minister
13. or Supply
14. Funds Contributed, Education
15. Funds Contributed, Missions
16. Funds Contributed, Ministerial Relief
17. Funds Contributed, Publication
18. Funds Contributed, Church Court Dues
19. Funds Contributed, Miscellaneous
20. Funds Contributed, Total for All Purposes