Newspaper Page Text
May 22, 1912]
i.rst day, was the election, of the Moderator
for this meeting.
four commissioners were nominated
to receive this honor of the Church.
Kov. J. A. Wallace nominated Rev. R,
i Keed, of Columbia; J. E. Kerr nominated
Rev. W. R. Dobyns, of Si. Joseph,
Mo. G. D. Booth nominated Rev. J. I.
\ a nee, of .Nashville, and Rev. C. C.
Weaver nominated Rev. T. S. Clyce, of
Sherman, Tex. Each of these nominations
was seconded. The hour for rent
ss having arrived, the election of
Moderator was deferred until the afternoon
session.
Cordial words of welcome to the Assi
l.bly were spoken by Rev. C. C. Carson
and by Dr. L. B. Gammon, Mayor
of Bristol.
Dr. Cecil responded to these addresses
of welcome.
Dr. Law announced at the opening
of the afternoon session that he had
received information that the Presbytery
of Dallas and the Presbytery of
Sherman, in the Synod of Texas, had
been consolidated under the name of
the PresDytery or Ltallas, and that the
1 resbytery of Chesapeake and the Presbytery
of Maryland, In the Synod of Virp'nia,
had been consolidated under the
name of the Presbytery of Potomac.
The election of the Moderator, in
keeping with the customs of long standing
was by vote in answer to the calling
of the roll of the commissioners. The
vote was taken three times and after
the third vote it was announced that Dr.
Clyee had received 87 votes, a majority
of the commissioners voting. Dr. Clyce
was declared elected Moderator. The
gavel was presented to the Moderatorelect
by the retiring Moderator in a few
well chosen words of welcome.
Dr. Clyce spoke briefly to the Assembly,
expressing his appreciation for
the honor which the Assembly had conferred
upon him and upon the Synod of
Texas in bestowing upon him the honor
of electing him Moderator Ho thon
took up the business of the Assembly.
I)r. Law made the request that Rev.
C. S. Matthews, of Pulaski, and Rev. I.
E Wallace, of Pelzer, S. C., be appointed
Temporary Clerks to assist Rev. J.
D. Leslie, Permanent Clerk, and himself
in their work. This request was
granted. The privilege of the floor was
granted to Dr. Carson, pastor of the
church.
The hours for meeting and recess
were fixed.
The reports of the four Executive
Committees?'Foreign Missions, Home
Missions, Publication and Minlsteral
Education and Relief?were distributed
in printed form, and the Secretaries of
each Committee spoke briefly to the Assembly.
On motion, Rev. A. L. Phillips, of
Richhond, Superintendent of Sabbath
Schools and Young 'People's Work,
spoke to the Assembly. He emphasized
especially the importance of using only
such literature in the 'Sabbath schools
of the church as gives the flrst place
to the Bible and literature that has no
touch of higher criticism.
The Assembly took a recess at 5
o'c'ock. Rev. E. R. Leyhurn pronouncing
the benediction.
Tho evening hour session was held at
the request of the Permanent Committee
of Systematic Beneficence, and several
speakers were heard relative to the
hnmces of the Church.
Reports on Foreign Missions.
Reports of the 'Presbyterian mission
work in China and Mexico occupied a
'arge part of the report of the Executive
Committee on Foreign Missions.
'n China," says the Committee, the
evolution, one of the greatest movements
in human history, has presented
opportunity "of meeting an lnquirlnP
people with the life' and light they
art seeking." The reversal of feeling
it I
- <"-?iTiD d aa "miraculous," and much
"'r.-ss is laid on the necessity of seiz'og
the opportunity to extend the influence
of the Church. Purchase of the
heathen temples in China, many of
which could be had for a song, is urged,
and need of funds to make such a step
possible is emphasized.
The total number of missionaries now
?n the roll is 317, of whom twenty-three
Woro added in the past year. The total
pUmber Of RdiUHrma try tk?
"a'ltism in the various foreign mission
is 3,610 for the year, an average
of rbout thirty-nine to each ordained
'^ii-'sionary. For the coming year the
ommlttee asks a total appropriation of
,'2 810, as the minimum amount on
^"'ch the work can be carried on as at
'"esent organized and providing for
>?rinal development, though it is urged
u*t the sum of a million dollars a year
1'HE PRESBYTERIj
could be wisely and effectively used.
Of the sum asked, the missions ask'
$390,000 'plus $15,000, an average estimate
of incidental expenses; seventyfive
additional missionaries would require
$75,000, with $30,000 added for
their outfit and travel; the expenses of
the home administration ottice are figured
at $40,000, while the present indebtedness
is $102,890. Total receipts last
year were $505,213.
Thirty members are desired for the
African mission; seven are needed in
Brazil; Cuba asks three ordained men
and their wives; Japan thirteen, men
and women; Chinese missions urge
twenty-two ordained men, teachers,
physicians, nurses; Korea still requires
five.
Home Missions Reports.
The Executive Committee of Home
Missions rendered an account of its expenditure
of $125,787.17, received froa;
all sources during the year just past,
in its annual report.
"In round numbers, substantially
correct," says the report, 'the Executive
Committee is aiding in the support
of 400 missionaries (not counting their
wives), 600 churches and missions, receiving
about 3,000 into membership In
the churches oil nrnfesninn of foith onH
perhaps as many more by certificate."
The year marked the first in which
the committee had supervision of the
evangelization work among the negroes,
that cauEe having been consolidated.
There w?.s still further enlargement of
the Committee's sphere when, on October
1, 1911, under the authority of the
General Assembly, the Soul Winners'
Society, through Dr. iE. O. Guerrant,
president, transferred to the Committee
fifty additional missionaries, with their
stations, mission schools and property
valued at $49,000.
The committee's estimate of the needs
of the field covered by it for the coming
year is $450,000, itemized as follows:
Serni-ceniennial fund, $100,000; negro
evangelization and Stillman Institute,
$50,000; sustenation and evangelization,
$100,000; Durant Collge debt, $25,000;
general evangelization, $10,000; mountain
schools and equipment, $50,000;
Indians, $5,000; Jews, $5,000; foreigners,
$50,000; church erection donations,
$22,000; new work, not estimated, $17,AAA.
?** ' ~
wvv, fxijenses, n bo mucn is needed,
518,000.
Committee of Publication.
The executive committee of publication
in its report said: "Our warning
against the new system of graded lessons
being so industriously and persistently
exploited by interdenominational
Sunday school workers and interested
publishers was effective in keeping a
large majority of our schools from
adopting a system filled with insidious
heresies and impossible of effective use
except in highly organized Sunday
schools, but we are sorry to report
that in a large number of our schools
the series of helps offered by a syndicate
publication in which the interests
of other denominations predominate
have been introduced."
In general, so far as the publication
department of the committees was concerned,
the year was satisfactory, showing
an increase in sales of $16,085 over
the year previous. The Richmond publishing
house sold books and periodicals
to the amount of $157,469, while the
Texarkana branch reported receipts of
tAA K77 moVliK, - I ?nn.nnio
a tviai ui
This amount of business Is compared
hv {be Committee with results since
1903. In which vear the sales totaled
$43,587. '
The Executive Committee of Minlst?r'al
Education pnd Relief in its renort
says 735 Southern Presbyterian
churches represented in tbp General
Assembly pre without pastors.
"There are needed at once In the
eighty-eight Presbyteries 303 ministers
of the Gosnel, and 223 of these eonld
he supported r'ght ivow,' continued the
report. The committee, which has
special supervision of candidates for
the ministry, in its report had noted
an increasingly large number of such
candidates during the past eleven
years.
According to reports from the various
^reshvter'es since January l of
this ye"r there is a total of 470 candidate?
a1readv under the'r rare.
The committee complained that this
amount wcs far short of what was needpi.
rvov^i that thouvh <t h?i j>sHed
fer Si? nop to cprrv on this work, only
*23.1 22 hp<l l>een rpceived from all
?or'""c pp avainst $28,7if> 44 the vear
nrpv''>"? A deceit cf *03fi.6fi overdrawn
was made necessary to help the
\N 0 1' THE SOUTH
277 candidates. The ministerial relief
committee reported that on the roll are
61 ministers, 150 widows and 14 orphans,
representing 225 needy homes,
'the average amount sent the ministers
was $225.78, the widows, $135.75 and
the orphans 08.21.
A Morning of References.
The second morning dawned bleak
and cold, but there was soon enough to
warm up the Assembly. The Moderator
conducted the devotional exercises,
which as usual, had more absentees
than presentees. The Standing Committees
were appointed, the chairmen of the
leading ones being as follows: Bills
and Overtures, Dr. Cecil; Judicial, Dr.
Dobyns; Correspondence, Dr. Vance;
Koreign Missions, Dr. Kirk; Home Missions,
Dr. Reed; Ministerial Education
and Relief, Dr. Cummins; Publication
and Sunday School Work, Dr. J. L.
Bachman; Theological Seminaries, Dr.
Laird. The Moderator very strongly depreciated
applause and asked that it be
refrainpd from. Hp was hparrl nrwl Ms
suggestion was followed. Next came a
rush of papers. Dr. McCorkle, of Virginia,
for himself and about forty
ethers, presented a memorial on the
Sinnott or North Alabama case, looking
to a re-opening of the case. This memorial,
which was very lengthy, was referred
with whatever overtures on the
subject might be presented, to the Judicial
Committee. Dr. Reed reported
concerning certain conferences looking
to union between our church and the
I n ted Presbyterian Church. Dr. Samuel
Ij. Young, of the latter church, was
invited to address the Assembly. It was
developed that the only difference between
that body and ours is the matter
of the exclusive use of the Psalms. Dr.
Young raised a laugh by saying that his
church had so worked over and revised
e "inspired songs" that they were now
quite well adapted to use in worship
and evangelistic work. Then came a
flood of overtures, 15 on the "elect in
rant matter, 10 on the Woman Secretary
matter, 6 on Statistical Blanks, 5
on the "Slnnott Case," 4 on the Judicial
Tribunal proposition, and from
one to three on some thirty-ve more on
all sorts of subjects, as changes In statistical
columns, convention, training
schools, etc., one that aroused most
temporary interest being from the Far
West asking the Assembly to appoint a
committee to write a new Confession of
Faith!
An Interesting Afternoon.
The two features of the afternoon of
Friday, if we except the usual exercise
of facing the camera, looking pleasant,
trying, furtively, to "slick up," etc.,
were the selection of the next place of
meeting and hearing the report of the
Permanent Committee of Systematic
Beneficence. Drs. R. O. Flinn and Dunbar
H. Ogden, of Atlanta, were given
the privileges of the floor in connection
with the matter of meeting place. Each
made a line speech inviting and urging
the Assembly to meet In the North
Avenue church, in Atlanta. Waco,
Texas, and San Francisco, California,
also sent invitations. Atlanta's Invitation
was unanimously accepted, by a
rising vote. This is first step in connection
with the proposed great gathering
of four church courts n Atlanta next
year, in simultaneous meeting. Dr.
Ogden announced that a special messenger
will be hurried to Louisville and
another to Seattle, to invite the Northern
and IJ. P. Assemblies, respectively.
Then came the Systematic Beneficence
Committee's report. Tt was very
lengthy, and printed copies were promised
In a. few hours. Its salient features
were listened to with intense interest.
Some of the recommendations were radical.
It proposed that the Assembly
annolnt but one Secretary to each of the
^ vecu.ttve Committees, and nominated
Dr. Kghert W. Smith for Foreign Missions,
Dr. S. Li. Morris for Home Missions,
Dr. H. H. Sweets for Ministeral
^duration and Relief, and Mr. R. E. Ma""11
for Publication and Sunday School
Work. It "side-stepped" the Woman
Secretary, by reporting that inasmuch
a? that matter would come before the
Assembly itself through various over
tures. It would leave 1t altogether to the
Assembly. A minority report, signed
by two members, Dr. Bachman and Mr.
Hardte, proposed that no change be
made in the office of Foreign Missions,
as to number of secretaries. Discussion
at once arose as to the method of connlderine
this Teport. end on objection to
Immediate consideration it went to the
Hnf'V pt
StIeV* to Business.
The Assembly received a very courteous
invitation from the Bristol Board
cf Trade to allow members to be its
"nests on an excursion to the 'Natural
Tunnel on Mondav afternoon. The Assembly
felt impelled by the press of
(571) 15
business, to decline the cordial Invitation,
doing so in a most courteous and
appreciative resolution. Other features
of the afternoon were the hearing of a
most interesting address by Dr. Pritchard
of the Congo Mission, the sending
of a hondsomely worded greeting, prepared
by Dr. Vance, and carefully avoiding
Scripture reference which the wires
might mix, to the Assembly in session
in Louisville, and the reading of a long
list of pulpit assignments for Sunday.
ASSEMBLY NOTES.
The heavy rain in which many commissioners
arrived did not dampen the
ardor of the Bristol Reception Committee.
The Y. M. C. A. building nearly opposite
the church, was a fine place for
social and committee purposes, postofilce,
and reception room.
The singing of Mr. George Fisher and
the accompanying by Mrs. Fisher justified
the esteem in which they are held.
There were three ex-Moderators
present, Drs. Allen G. Hall, J. W. Bachman
and Russell Cecil.
The members of the Systematic Beneficence
Committee, which had been in
session from Friday before the Assembly,
were present during the first part
of the sessions.
The great First church was a fine
place for meeting.
The best encomium upon the retiring
Moderator's sermon was that every minister
we heard speak said he wished it
could be preached In his church.
The Assembly ministers and elders
who were in the'"held up" train coming
had to wear their friends' patience
threadbare with their story of deeds of
heroism and such.
Rev. Dr. A. W. Wilson was to have
been a commissioner from Paris Presbtery.
He was called to the "general
assembly and church of the first-born"
ten or eleven days before the earthly
assembly met.
Dr. Cecil made feeling reference to Dr.
James Park, of Knoxville, in the opening
prayer.
Dr. J. B. Hutton, of Jackson, Miss.,
was called home, the morning the As
sembiy met, byt the death of his great
ruhng elder, Hon. Charlton H. Alexander.
The writer knows that In the beautiful
home of Hon. J. H. Caldwell he had
the 'pick" of all the places In Bristol.
All the others thought the same of their
places. But they thought; we know!
Dr. AlbeTt Wallace, known and loved
in Bristol, looked badly, after his recent
sickness, but his clear voice rang
out as ever, and his words were always
telling.
A standing Atlanta "lobby" was in
evidence, and everybody was glad to
have it about, as the event showed.
An efTort was made, but voted down,
to make the highest defeated member
in the moderatorship vote "vice-moderator."
The Assembly is meeting in (the very
heart of the country of the "mountain
whites" of whom we hear so much. And
what a great people they are! They
have given us the Vances, Clyces, Rheas,
Kings, Andersons, Carsons, Gammons,
and a host more. "Mountain whites,"
indeed!
The members were usually very care
rul to keep on the proper side of State
Street, the dividing line between Tennessee
and Virginia, between prohibition
and saloons.
A goodly number of "outsiders" are
enjoying the Assembly, and a few members
have their wives along.
The Assembly showed, on the first
day, a strong tendency to be a laughing
Asembly, ready to respond quickly to
sallies of wit, and also to be a much
hand-clapping body.
Dr. Phillips, in his short and informal
address properlv scored the Graded Lesson
Course of the International Sunday
School Association.
Fires were comfortable in that lofty
country, the first day or two, and straw
hats topping out overcoats looked odd.
The hospitality of Bristol was lavish,
and host Carson thought of everything.
inuucinwi v^ijvie iUOK up ni8 duties
with both force and amiability. He
justified all the.^ood that was said of
him.
The abundance of the finest moderator
material was p.ever more marked.
Km? College was in the saddle, but
very kind to the horse.
A little less speed in the issuing of the
nubllsbed minutes and fewer errors,
t'-pogranbical and others, will not he
rndesirabfle.
Dr. Clyce soon put his foot, ftgurative'v
speaking, on hand-clapping. Tt must
have been a heavy member.