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22 THE THOSE STATISTICAL COLUMNS. The Presbyteiian Standard Insists that the columns for pastors' salary and baptized non-communicants be restored in the Minutes of the Assembly, and that the last. Assembly made a mistake in taking them out. ftiay we ask what practical use is made of the statistics given in the column for baptized non-communicants? What service does that column render to the church at large? The number of baptized non-communicants in a given congregation is a matter which should demand the prayerful consideration of that particular church. The experience of the writer may be exceptional, but he suspects his experience is similar to many others (possibly a large majority), viz.: The figures given are inaccurate, often approximated or not given at all. Out nf fi f * crV* 4. ?* ? ? - W? VI6IIL VUU1 \_11tro 111 Deilltfl Presbytery nineteen give blanks in that column, and the editor of the Standard will find that twenty-seven churches in his Pre3bytery (Fayetteville) are likewise guilty of the same fault. There are many Presbyterians where the proportion of churches' failing to answer this question is much larger than in these two. What are some of the reasons for striking out the column for pastors' salary? ta) Many who do not know the pastor judge of his ability and fitness by the amount of salary he receives. The information given in this column encourages this false standard by which to measure a man, and fosters a spirit of commercialism in the church. (b) The information is often misleading: e. g. Rev. A. B. C., pastor of Church, enrolling 150 members, is represented as receiving $800. As a matter of fact he receives from the mother of the church, he serves, $700.00 additional, (c) Here is a church, abundantly * able to pay $2,000 seeking a pastor. The attention of the members is directed to Rev. X. Y. Z. They decide to call him, and when they come to the matter of salary to be offered the Minutes of the Assembly tell them that this man is now receiving $1,200. They decide to offer $1,500, and as a result they injure both themselves and the pastor?but themselves most. It is not meant that most nf nnr phnrohoa oro w. wuw* vuvo h> c aviunicu u.y txiiv such economical spirit. Other reasons might be given. But it is urged that this column for pastors' salary is necessary to bring the pressure upon many churches to comply with the terms of the call and settle with the pastor at the end of the ecclesiastical year; and that it is a necessary lever to enable the Presbytery to see that this plain duty is discharged. The last Assembly did not overlook this phase of the matter. On page 61 of the 1900 minutes we find in the adopted re? ??* " i*ui i. ui, iuc v/uiuiiiiiife on aysiemauc Beneflcience: 8. That question No. 7 in the sessional narrative blanks be amended so that it shall read: "What salary has your church promised its pastor? Has that PRESBYTERIAN OF THE SOUT amount been paid fully and promptly? If not, how much is due on his salary"? Thus the matter of salary is brought before the session and Presbytery, the responsibility placed where it belongs, iu the effort to see that delinquent churches do their duty in this particular. Dr. B. M. Palmer opposed publishing the salaries of ministers in the Assembly's minutes, and as long as he lived you will find that his Presbytery included in "congregational" the salaries of her ministers, and blanked "Pastors' salaries." Was he not wise? J. M. Holladay. Winnsloro. S. C., Aug. 28, 1909. THE PRESBYTERY OF EAST MISSISSIPPI. The Presbytery of East Mississippi convened in Unity church, Tuesday, August 24th, at 2 p. in., with fifteen ministers nrPSPnt Hiirlnc tho mnnn?~ 1 .... WM...i0 vuv lucckiiig auu eleven churches out of fifty-two represented. Rev. J. W. Moseley, Jr., preached the opening sermon from John 1: 14. Officers chosen: Rev. W. E. B. Harris, moderator, and \V. C. Lam, temporary clerk. Committees appointed: On Proof Texts of Doctrinal Standards: J. J. Hill, H. M. Sydenstricker and J. W. Orr, and Ruling Elders L. T. Carlisle and John Stinson: to raise money and purchase a tent for evangelistic purposes: J. W. Orr, John Goff and L. R. Simpson. Received: Rev. F. \V. Lewis, from Presbytery of Louisiana. Hamilton church was granted permission to employ him for one-fourth of his time. The call from Aberdeen church for threefourths of his time was accepted by him, and the following brethren were appointed to install him pastor of the church on the third Sabbath of September: Rev. A. O. Price to preside and pregch the sermon, Rev. J. \V. Moseley to charge the pastor, and Ruling Elder John Stinson to charge the people. Rev. W. V. Frierson presented the needs of Palmer Orphanage, and a collection of $50.20 in cash and subscriptions to help pay for the five cows purchased for the institution was taken. Each Sabbath school was reniipatf?-t tr? make a monthly or at least a quarterly collection for the Orphanage, and the nlinisteis to preach a sermon in the behalf of the cause near Thanksgiving Day. The committee were granted further time to prepare memorial addresses on the life and work of "Father Stewart," the pioneer missionary among the Indians of this country. Brother Goff exhibited the silver babtismal bowl owned and used by "Father Stewart" in the baptizing of Indians in this country and in the West. Brother GofT used this same bowl in the baptizing of twenty-six children in the Walnut Creek church and neighborhood lately. He also ex hibited the old wooden collection box and silver communion plateB of Monroe church. The Stated Clerk was instructed to notify all the churches employing stated supplies that they must send up yearly September 8, 1909. requests, with the amount of salary promised, for the labors of such brethren. The Presbytery approved of a General Assembly Fund to defray expenses cf the representatives to said meeting. Rev. J. S. Shaw was given permission to labor in the DeKalb group until the next stated mpetino t?.~ " . _ m. uo. uciuuay caurcli was given leave to employ Rev. H. M. Jenkins for another year for one-fourth of his time. The following recommendations were adopted: That the chairman of local home missions be authorized to send a pastor or elder of the Presbytery into the churches to present the cause of local home missions, and take subscriptions while on the ground. That the chairman be authnri*oH try -> -* vw ? ion. an me churches in the interest of the Amory debt and that a collection be taken in all the churches of the Presbytery on the fifth Sunday of October. That the Presbytery, through the home mission committee, arrange for a series of simultaneous evangelistic meetings to be conducted throughout the bounds of Presbytery, each pastor conducting at least two meetings at such time and place as the committee may arrange. After a most delightful short stay with the good people of Unity neighborhood, the Presbytery adjourned Wednesday night, to meet at the call of the moderator during the meeting of the Synod. J. W. Allen, S. C. "WHY IS IT"? The query "Why is it"? which appeared in your issue of Aug. 11 is a timely one. Why is there not rotation in office of elders and deacons?or at least opportunity for rotation, as in the case of pastors? If the elder or deacon is acceptable to the people, he would be re-elected, and it is probable, under this system, that many would hold their offices for life, each election only giving opportunity for a vote of confidence. On the other hand, unworthy or inefficient men , could be eliminated. It is a frequent boast of Presbyterians that the government of our nation was modeled after the Presbyterian system. How vain this claim is, is chiefly manifested in the custom we have adopted of retaining our church officers (after being once elected by the people), to a life term of service. For instance, the ruling elders may for a long time have been out of sympathy with the desires and arbitrations of the congregation. Yet they are the only medium of expression of the popular will of the church. Speaking of the peremptory manner of the Committee on Bills and Overtures in turning down overtures, without assigning reasons thpr??fnr* thia ?.w. , vu?o ai umai y style is manifested on other questions. An overture came before the last .Assembly on the validity of the baptism of a Catholic. The illuminating answer of the Committee was to refer the Presbytery making the overture to "former deliverances" on the subject repeatedly made and to be found in Alexander's Digest. M.