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Show ENTHUSIASM IN CHURCH AFFAIR Presbyterians Give Big Ovation to Reunion Delegates. DES MOINES, la., May 23. Church union sentiment reached its highest pitch in the Presbyterian general as- sembly here today when a delegation of seventeen commissioners from the Cumberland Presbyterian assembly were received In the assembly of the Northern church, now In session In this, city.- As the hour of 10:30 o'clock the time set for receiving the visitors arrived, ar-rived, dead silence fell over the great convention hall containing the 750 commissioners com-missioners and alfout 2000 visitors. The next instant the air was rent with cheers as the whole gathering came to Its feet, following the appearance of the visiting delegation at the front doors of the auditorium. Hair the delegation was led down one aisle and naif down the other, by a reception re-ception committee of prominent commissioners. com-missioners. Before they had progressed five feet pandemonium had broken loose. Men climbed into their chairs, women leaned far out over the balconies balco-nies and bo railings, and ' every one waved a hat or a handkerchief. The applause was deafening and continued while the visitors were marched to the front of the hall and escorted to the stage, and for. Ave minutes afterward. The seventeen visitors were drawn up In a row facing the crowd. Stated Clerk W. H." Roberts announced to the assembly as-sembly who they were and then introduced intro-duced them one by one to Moderator Hunter Corbett; the Cumberland moderator, mod-erator, Ira Landrlth. being first presented. pre-sented. When the moderators of the churches which were two yesterday and one today, clasped hands exactly in the center and at the front of the stage, the demonstration reached its senlth, commissioners and visitors realizing that actual union had at last come to pass. As each visitor wss formally Introduced Intro-duced to Moderator Corbett he stepped forward and the two clasped hands, while the great hall swelled with round after round of applause. When the ceremony was concluded there was scarcely a dry eye In tha, auditorium. The visitors were then presented to the sssembly and each delivered a brief address, ad-dress, expressing Joy and gratitude at the consummation of the reunion of the two churches. |