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April 14, 1909. TH1
actment of the same by a subsequent Assembly."
The past Assembly could have
recommended something definite and the
Presbyteries could have considered it
according to the provisions of the constitution
and then voted "yes" or "no."'
But there is no provision in the book for
the Assembly's asking an indefinite question
of the Presbyteries?for its calling
on them for an expression of any desire
for a "change" when the proposed
..?v. J? .
I'uailgu IO liui C?CU icniuicij inn icu.
The course is clearly contrary to the wise
provisions of the Book of Church Order.
Then this is but a "straw" vote and
can do not good?but may result in ev:l
if the affirmative carries. Suppose the
majority of the Presbyteries vote in favor
of some change. We would still be pj
nearer to a solution of the question than
we were at the beginning of the last Assembly.
The approaching Assembly may
or may not recommend some definite
change?three-fourths of the following
Presbyteries might or might not ratify
the proposed change, and the following
Assembly might or might not concur in
such proposal. Each would be free to
act separately, and all must concur before
the change could become a law. So
a vote ndw in the affirmative can have
only a moral influence that might aid
future radical legislation.
Then it is clear that any kind of an
affirmative vote, though modified, in answer
to the Assembly's question could
and would be counted as repudiating the
doctrine of the clause as it now stands.
This Assembly will drop the modifications,
but count, the votes " for" or
"against." The public eagerly watching
the outcome yill take the vote and forget
the modification suggested or else take
some radical view and exploit it as the
probable opinion of the Church. If the
majority of the Presbyteries yote for any
kind of a change, we are placed in the
position of repudiating our faith without
accepting a substitute. For one year at
least tue Southern Church will be at sea.
It will be the first time in four hundred
years that a Presbyterian could not lay
his hand on what his Church believed.
How will we face the candidates at the
coming ordinations? If the majority of
the Presbyteries go on record as favoring
a change of this clause when no substitute
has or can be agreed upon by them
for a year at least, who will have authority
to say what the Church believes?
Then it should be borne in mind (hat
those loving the standards and favoring
only a verbal chaiige can get what they
want in the regular way when the better
wording is discovered. Many of those
satisfied with the clause as it stands
would not oppcsa a change that would
make clearer its intended meaning. Their
hopes waver most in the presence of
some of the proposed changes. So they
are going to stand by the old until the
new arrives. They are not willing to
trade "sight unseen." They haven't forgotten
the story of the old viear who sent
his boy to sell the old horse without
putting a price on him?the lad returned
with the green goggles. The Presbyteries
have a right to ask to see the Assembly's
horse before they agree to
trade.
To vote on this question in the afflrma
E PRESBYTERIAN OF THE SOU
tive is to sanction an irregular procedure
?establish a dangerous precedent?do
violence to the <jcnstitution of the Church
?probably add confusion to our faith for
a year at least, and in the end impair the
- integrity of our doctrine.
A VACATION WORTH WHILE.
By R. E. Magitl, Secretary.
The Plan And the Place.
An ideal vacation is one which provides
rest, recreation, spiritual and mental
stimulus in such happy proportion that
the vacationist goes back lo work with
a keen zest and an enlarged equipment
for service to humanity.
, This is the ideal the Montreat Association
has in mind, and the program next
summer will be rich in inspiration and
information, and ample time will be given
for quiet rest, social fellowship and
recreation. Montreat is accessible from
all the states of the South and it,s
attitude of 3,000 feet provides a climate
which is an ideal tonic for the dwellers
in the lowlands. The trail to Mt.
Mitchell, the highest point east of the
Rockies, runs through the Montreat
property, and other peaks affording
magnificent views are easily" accessible.
The Program And Entertainment.
Dr. Wilbert W. White of the New York
Bible Training Institution will direct tlTe
season's work, and the program will be
built around a strong course of instruction
in the English Bible. Dr. White was
heard with great pleasure and profit last
year, and visitors to Montreat will again
have the privilege of hearing this
eminent teacher who believes in the old
Bible from cover to cover as the inspired
Word of God.
The Association will manage the
hotels, and last yeaT's experience
warrants the statement that all who
make advance engagements will be
comfortably cared for. The limit of the
two hotels is about six hundred, and
engagements for rooms should be made
well in advance of arrival. Tents may bfc
used by those who wish to lead the
simple life, and many boarding houses
will receive guests.
Mountain Work Conference.
The program will open on July 14, and
and continue until August 31. July 14,
to July 27, will be known as a Mountain
Work Conference. This conference will
bo especially for the preachers and
workers who are laboring in the remote
rural and mountain districts, and the
program will consist of a simple course
of instruction in the fundamentals of
UIUIC uuv.i i me ttllU V/llU9lltlIl living. 11
is known that the workers who need this
program and outing cannot pay for it
out of their pitifully meager salaries, and
it is proposed to raise a fund with
which to give at least one hundred of
these self-sacrificing workers their entire
expenses for this conference. Dr White
will raise $1,000 for this purpose among
his friends in New -York, and it is
planned to raise $1,500 among the
Christian people of the South who know
something of the hardships and privations
of these devoted servants of God.
It is estimated that $25.00 will give this
vacation to a worker. Churches, individuals
or societies desiring to invest
* 4 1
TH. 17
$25.00 where it will give the greatest
possible amount of pleasure and profit
will do well to take part in this commendable
work.
The Christian Workers' Conference.
The period from July 28, to August 15,
will be known as the Christian Workers
Conference. During this period every,
phase of Christian activity will be considered.
and the evenings will be given
to popular addresses on vital themes.
Dr. Josiah Strong, Dr. d'Aubigne of
Prance. Chas. Stelzer, Dr. Louis Meyer.
Gov. Glenn, and other speakers of
national reputation will be invited to
make addresses during this conference.
Sunday school workers will be given
an opportunity of hearing for one or two
hours each day a most practical and
helpful discussion of tli"> problems of the
Modern Sunday school. Mr. W. C.
Pearce and Mr. Franklin McElfresh, two
of the International Sunday school
workers, have been secured to lead the
discussion on "Adult Class Work" and
"Teacher Training". Rev A. L. Phillips,
D. D. and Rev. J. B. Carpenter will be
In direct charge of the Sunday school
section.
Pastors and church officers will hear
and participate in live discussions of nil
the problems of the modern Church, and
during the last three days of this period
special stress will be laid on evangelistic
effort. The Assembly's Committee on
Evangelistic work will assist in this part
of the progrom. No pastor-or Christian
worker who is interested in the great
problems confronting the church can
afford to miss this period.
Missionary Conference.
From August 17, to August 31, will be
known as the Missionary Period, and the
program will deal with the problem of
our Home and Foreign Mission Committees.
Full consideration will also be
given to the work of Christian education,
enlured evangelization and ministerial
education and relief. The strongest
speakers obtainable will discuss the
problems of these great departments of
our church life, and among them will be
a number of Missionaries who are home
on furloughs.
The good women of our church will be
given August 17, and 18, to consider
their special responsibilities and agencies,
and the Home and Foreign Mission
problem will both be fully discussed. On
same dates the Laymen's Missionary
Movement will hold a conference for the
training of leaders, and they will unite
with the women in public meetings each
evening.
All railroads will offer summer rates,
and tickets should be bought to Black
Mountain, N. C., on the Southern
Railway.
To meet the necessary expenses of the
program, an admission fee will bo
charged to all visitors entering thd
grounds.
Full details as to the program and
names of speakers will be announced
later, and further information may be
had by writing to R. E. Magill, Secy.,
Program Committee, Richmond, Va.
Requests for information as to
accomodation at hotels and boarding
houses should be sent to J. D. Murphy,
General Manager, Montreat, N. C.