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VOLUME XII.
ATLANTA, GA„ FRIDAY, MAY 16, 1913.
NO. 68.
If Indictments Are Returned by
Grand Jury When Bills Are
Presented There Will Be No
Immediate Trial
i
Should the Fulton county grand jury,
when It meets next Thursday or Friday,
return a true bill against either one
or both of the men held by the cor
oner’s jury in the Mary Phagan mur
der Investigation, the state will not at
tempt to bring them to trial before the
latter part of June. *
The rumors to the effect that the
state would rush the trial at a special
court session if Leo M. Frank or Newt
Lee is indicted for the killing by the
grand jury were set at rest Thursday
by this statement from Solicitor Gen
eral Hugh M. Dorsey.
The examination of witnesses by the
solicitor continued on Thursday, and a
number of witnesses in the case ap
peared at the solicitor’s office to make
statements, of which a stenographic
record is kept.
In working out new theories of the
crime the detectives have found no
tangible evidence which has yet served
to turn the authorities from the theory
to which they have held practically
since the beginning of the Phagan mur
der investigation, and it now appears
that when the grand jury meets to con
sider the case the authorities will pre
sent no names as suspects except those
of the two men who were ordered held
by the coroner’s jury after its ex
haustive inquest.
IDENTIFICATION SLIP.
■Wednesday the solicitor general or
dered before him a reporter for a morn
ing paper, who has had in his posses
sion several specimens of the dead
girl's handwriting. One of these speci
mens was a slip of paper on which
Mary Phagan had written her name and
address and the date, April 20, 1913.
The slip was in the purse she usually
carried, and presumably was made out
by the girl for use in event it should
become necessary to Identify her body.
The identification slip is simply an
other point in the perplexing mystery,
and no circumstances developed which
have as yet made it appear that the
slip of paper may help to solve the
mystery. ' »
While the handwriting seems to be
playing an important part in the probe
of the mystery nothing has yet devel
oped in the handwriting investigation
which throws much light on the trag
edy.
Attorney Thomas B. Felder is au
thority for the definite statement that
Wiliam J. Burns, the famous detective,
will in person take up the Phagan
murder investigation. While Mr. Burns
will not arrive in person for several
weeks, Mr. Felder states that a special
investigator fro»r the famous sleuth’s
New York office will be on the ground
within a few days to '^ke up the case,
and Mr. Burns will come on later.
Mr. Felder has not yet raised the
funds necessary to pay for the investi
gation by Mr. Burns, but hopes to do
so by public subscription. Regarding
the employment of Mr. Burns, Mr. Fel
der has made the following written
statement
MR. FELDER'S STATEMENT.
“The time is at hand when I deem H
not only proper, but necessary, that I
take the public into my confidence rela
tive to the further proposed investiga
tion of the Phagan murder case.
“My firm was employed by neighbors
and friends of the deceased shortly
after the crime was committed to aid
in the preparation of the case and the
prosecution thereof.
“Without intending to reflect in the
slightest degree upon the vigilant de
tectives engaged upon the case, who
seem to be doing their utmost to ferret
otu the mystery, it occurred to me that
the magnitude of the crime justified an
effort to secure the services of WiUiam
J. Burns, a man with a record of suc
cesses coveringxa period of thirty years
or more—and without a -single failure
charged against him.
“A committee of prominent ladies of
the city, distinguished for their philan
thropic work, called upon me, assuring
me that funds sufficient to cover the ex
penses of Burns’ investigation could be
raised by public subscription. I as
sured these good women of my willing
ness to contribute our fee, and some ad
ditional amount if necessary. I imme
diately got into communication with
Mr. Burns, and the result of my efforts
will be reflected by a cablegram which
reached me by way of his New York
office, which is published herewith. I
feel that those interested in seeing jus
tice vindicated, by fixing this horrible
crime upoh the guilty parties, whom
I feel certain will be brought to condign
punishment through the efforts of this
distinguished detective, are to be con
gratulated that we have been able to
secure his services.
“The fund thus far raised by the
friends and neighbors of the family of
deceased, and through the efforts of the
good women who have interested them
selves in this work, falls far short of
the amount required to carry it for
ward. The public is therefore invited
to contribute to the fund. At the con
clusion of the work an itemized state
ment of receipts and disbursements in
this behalf will be published by the
press of the city for the information
of the subscribers to the fund.
“In conclusion, I desire to say that in
what I am doing I have the approval
of the solicitor general, Hon. Hugh M.
Dorsey, who will supervise and direct
all work in this behalf.
“(Signed) THOMAS B. FELDER,
“For Felder, Anderson, Dillon & Whit
man.”
COPY OF TELEGRAM.
Leaving out the exact cost of the
investigation through courtesy to Mr.
Burns, Mr. Felder also gave out for
publication the following telegram:
“Colonel T. B. Felder, Equitable Build
ing, Atlanta, Ga
“Father still in Europe. Return about
June first. He consents to take charge
of investigation immediately upon his
return. His charges dollars. He
suggests I send good criminal investi
gator to start investigation immediate
ly before same gets too cold. Investiga
tor charges .... dollars per day. Advise.
BAYMQND J. BURNS.”
OF UNDERWOOD BILL SOULS
Four Days of Wrestling With
the Tariff Bill and the Dem
ocrats Have Been Unable to
Get It to Committee
BY RALPH SMITH.
WASHINGTON, May 15.—Fof four
days now the senate has been wrestling
with the tariff bill and has made abso
lutely no progress. The Democrats with
their uncertain working majority have
not even succeeded in referring the meas
ure to the finance committee. Until this
fs done the legislative wheels of the up
per chamber can not be set in motion.
Senator Penrose’s motion to throw open
the bill to further public hearings is the
stumbling block that confronts the dom
inant party and notwithstanding Presi
dent Wilson’s professions of confidence,
the situation is admittedly more critical
today than it was forty-eight hours ago.
Some of the administration’s strongest
friends admit privately a fear that the
measure will be emasculated. Here is a
dire prediction of one of £Mr. Wilson’s
warmest admirers in the senate:
“I am not a prophet or the son of a
prophet nor am I one of the elder states
men who is supposed to shape matters,
but I have seen enough and I have heard
enough to arouse a belief in my mind
that the bill will be badly cut up in the
senate. The finance committee will make
enough changes in the measure to let
down the bars and open the way for a
lot of log rolling that could have been
prevented if we had undertaken our re
vision schedule by schedule, instead of
by an omnibus bill.
“The senate and the president wanted
schedule by schedule changes but Mr.
Underwood, whom I admire, wanted to
perpetuate his name in history and so we
have the present undesirable situation.
PATRONAGE WITHHELD.
While senators and representatives hes
itate to admit that such sordid motives
as patronage greed animate them it is
unquestionably true that the present sit
uation is aggravated by what many mem
bers believe to be the president’s lassi
tude in the distribution of federal jobs.
In other words the president is not sup
plying enough oil to lubricate the ma
chinery. Already there can be heard
echoes of a growing suspicion that the
president is holding his patronage as
big stick to whip through the tariff legis
lation.
This has aroused much resentment and
some of the president’s friends on Cap
itol Hill believe that he would fare better
if he spread on a little patronage salve.
The experience quoted by Representa
tive Cordell Hull, °? Tennessee who is
as typical of what is being said about
the president at the capitol.
“I’ve not been much concerned about
patronage,’’ said Mr. Hull, “because I
have been engrossed with the income tax.
At odd times, however, I have visited
the departments and worn out a pair of
shoes trying to do something for my con
stituents.
“One rural carrier represents the sum
total of my appointments since March 4,
and he stood first on the eligible list.
When Cleveland was president he had re
organized the diplomatic corps and the
consular service within two months after
his inauguration. Mr. Wilson has made
only three diplomatic appointments and
hasn’t touched the consular service yet.
He has been in going on three months.”
It is easy to see that the congressmen
are now obsessed with thoughts about
patronage. They are under pressure from
the folks at home. Yet they do not
seem to realize the pressure that the
president has been under in the last two
months in regard to questions of state
transcending patronage matters so far as
the welfare of the country has been con
cerned.
Another aggravating factor in the sen
ate situation Is the lack of leadership
such a,? the house had under the guid
ance of Mr. Underwood.
Senator Simmons, of North Carolina, al
though earnest and sincere, is not equal
to the extraordinary demand of the occa
sion with its many peculiar elements. He
does not seem to be able to reconcile the
conflicting elements that thq administra
tion has to contend with and falls far
short of displaying in debate that mag
netism which is such a help to Mr. Un
derwood.
Mr. Simmons’ former record as a tariff
protectionist is also embarrassing, as
was illustrated in a colloquy he had
Tuesday with Senator Penrose.
In comparing Mr. Simmons with Un
derwood it is only fair to say that Mr.
Simmons is hampered by the roary tra
ditions of senatorial courtesy and unlim
ited debate, whereas Mr. Underwood had
at his command the flexible rules of the
house which can be shaped to cut off de
bate and railroad any measure. Be
sides. Mr. Underwood had, relatively
speaking, a docile membership in back
of him when it came to roll calls.
SUGAR SENATORS FEEL BETTER.
The sugar senators, although they are
being branded as traitors to the party,
are feeling much better over the out
look now than they have at any time
since the president laid it down that he
wanted free sugar within three years.
They are beginning to believe that they
will be able to force a compromise,
providing for the rate that is now pro
posed in the Underwood bill and elim
inating the provision that this duty be
removed within three years.
Statistical Secretary of Con
vention Now Gathered in St,
Louis, Says There Is Too
Much Time Given to Money
BY REV. ALEX W. BEALER.
(Special Dispatch to The Journal.)
ST. LOUIS, Mo., May 15.—Dr. Lan
sing Burrows, the statistical secretary,
shocked the convention today by giving
it as his opinion that southern Bap
tists were devoting more time to col
lecting money than saving souls. He
did not favor lessening the raising of
money, but he did favor increasing the
efforts to win souls. The greatest
meeting he ever held was begun by
putting to the test the cry of Malachi
t6 bring all the tithes into the store
house. Giving and soul winning always
went together.
Dr. Burrows showed that there had
been 123,471 baptisms among the
churches, but this was 8.925 less than
was reported last year. The astounding
fact was shown that during the past
year 38,182 people had been turned out
of the churches of the south; still there
was a net increase of 25,093.
There was a net increase in mission
offerings of $70,000, and an increase in
the value of church property in the sum
of $11,890,463. In the face of this only
three states showed a normal increase.
In Georgia there was an increase of
9,000; in North Carolina 6,000, and in
Tennessee 6,000. In Missouri there had
been a decrease of 10,00, and tl;e same
was true of Oklahoma.
Dr. Burrows insisted that while we-
pushed the raising of money, we should
not overlook the cultivation of the spir
itual side of the work, and devote our
selves to the great work of winning
the south for Christ.
The committee on finances of the for
eign board recommended that the work
be continued for this year on the sole
base as last year, with enough addi
tional money raised to pay off the debt
on the board.
R. P. Mahon, of Mexico; J. W. Lowe,
of China; A. G. Napier, of China, all
missionaries of the board, urged that
this should not be done, as the work
would be at a standstill. Mr. Mahon
said the time was approaching when
the United States would make armed in
tervention in Mexico and then the great
est opportunity ever presented to the
Baptists would come.
Mr. Lowe said the revolution in China
was due to the efforts of the mission
aries, and now that a new day had
X nap afford' to
A. G. Napier talked about the efforts
that were being made to have the Bap
tists affiliate with the other denomina
tions in educational work. He showed
the adavntages of it as Baptists above
all people could afford to teach the
Bible.
From expressions coming from the au
dience it was seen that this plan was
not favored.
Dr. ‘Willingham explained that the
board has decided that it was not best
to affiliate in educational work in the
foreign theological seminaries. This
statement was greeted with hearty
“amens” from the floor of the conven
tion.
Dr. C. G. Savage, of Tennessee, broke
into the discussion by saying that the
First church of Nashville gave $7,000
last year for its own support, but gave
$9,000 for the outside work.
If all churches would do that there
would be $5,000,000 raised for mission
work. He wanted to see the conven
tion instruct the boards to go forward
and not to stand still. This the con
vention decided to do by a unanimous
and enthusiastic vote.
FOURTEEN IRE KILLED
EBR1SKA Tl
VOTES FOR WOMEN IS
REPORTED IN SENATE
Seward, Tomaro and McCool
Junction Swept by Twisting
Wind Over Night
(By Associated Presfc.)
OMAHA, Neb., May 15.—Reports
early today show that the tornado
which formed in the southern part of
Seward dounty last night took a toll
of fourteen lives, injured forty per
sons and destroyed property valued at
$250,000.
At'least three towns—Seward. Toma
ro and McCool Junction—suffered from
the elements, the greatest destruction
being at Seward, where eight persons
werw??*sllled and many injured. At
Tomaro four lives were lost and much
property destroyed. At McCool Junc
tion two deaths occurred.
The property loss in Seward is esti
mated at $100,000. The tornado appar
ently originated southwest of McCool
Junction, and, gathering force as it
moved to the northeast, struck with full
force both at Tomaro and Seward.
The storm crossed this city near the
southern limits, but its strength had
i been so far spent that the damage done
here was nominal. Many Omahans
sought refuge in cellars and other
places considered tornado proof.
,\i .///■■
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THE SENATE TO THE BAT
ANTI-ALIEN LAND BILL
Senate Committee on Woman
Suffrage Favors Chamber
lain’s Resolution
HIS LABORERS RAN AWAY;
HE PURSUED WITH GUN
California Governor’s I men
tions Communicated Offi
cially to Jap Ambassador
(By Associated Press.)
WASHINGTON, May 15.—Governor
Johnson’s decision to sign the Califor
nia anti-alien land bill despite Japan’s
protest was unofficially communicated
today to Viscount Chinda, the Japanese
ambassador, as a matter of Information,
with the understanding that Secretary
Bryan may later present Governor John
son’s answer officially with such com
ment as he may wish to make in behalf
o'f the federal government.
Mr. Bryan is in New York, and in
his absence the subject will be con
sidered by Counsellor Moore to have it
ready for the secretary to lay before
the cabinet at tomorrow’s session, when
an effort may be made to reach a final
determination on the line of policy for
negotiations with Japan.
When the ambassador has received
Secretary Bryan’s formal communica
tion it will be necessary for him to
communicate it to the foreign office at
Tokio and receive instructions for pre
paring a rejoinder, so that probably a
week will elapse before the negotiations
can proceed.
Interest has been excited by Governor
Johnson’s quotation of that part of
the California law which appears to
limit his action, so far as it recognizes
Japanese rights to the existing treaty
of 1911, and there is some speculation
as to whether that was intended to
overshadow a refusal on the part of
the California authorities to be bound
by stipulations of any treaty that may
hereafter be negotiated by the United
States and Japan that would appear
to be in conflict with the provisions of
the new law.
Officials here fall to discover any
other point not suggested, to Secretary
Bryan when he was in Sacramento, with
the probable exception of reference to
the fact that the present state consti
tution in terms sanctions and even re
quires the enactment of such legislation
as the Webb act.
The fact that though announcing his,
intention to sign the act Governor
Johnson has not actually affixed his
signature^ is regarded here as an act
of courtesy, intended to hold the door
open to a last word from the adminis
tration if it should dfesire to commu
nicate further with him before the final
act of approval.
President Wilson has arranged to
confer with Secretary Bryan early to
morrow before the cabinet meeting to
draft a reply to the formal protest by
Japan against the California anti-alien
bill, which Governor Johnson has an
nounced he will sign.
The note will be submitted to the
cabinet and then determined to the
Japanese ambassador. Indications are
that the attitude of the federal gov
ernment toward the legislation itself
as well as questions of discrimination
raised by Japanese will be fully de
fined.
THREE STATES TO PROBE
Pennsylvania, Maryland and
West Virginia Will In
vestigate Causes
COMMITTEE ASSIGNAAENTS
(By Aasooiated Press.)
PITTSBURG, May 16.—Frequent ex
plosions of dynamite and powder in
western Pennsylvania, Maryland and
West Virginia, and attempts to explode
heavily-filled magazines, are causing anx
iety, and a joint state investigation is a
possibility. Since last Saturday more
than ten persons have been killed, scores
have ben injured, some fatally, and
much property has been ruined.
The epidemic of accidents began last
Saturday, when 500 sticks of dynamite
exploded in the magazine of the Sun
shine Coal and Coke company’s mine
near Masontown, Pa., resulting in the
death of four and injury of two score.
Yesterday, 1,700 pounds of dynamite
and 70 kegs of powder stored in the
magazine of the Consolidated Coal com
pany at Eckhart, Md., let go. Three
were killed and a dozen injured.
Last Monday an attempt was made to
blow up the Brownsville-Uniontown
passenger train at Lackrone, Pa. A
track walker found nine sticks of dyna
mite placed under the joints of the rails
of the Monongahela railroad. A jar
would have exploded the dynamite.
Within 75 yards of the railroad was
the plant of the Cameron Powder com
pany, containing 20,000 pounds of pow
der and 500 pounds of dynamite.
EXCEPTIONS IN COTTON
CONTROVERSY DISMISSED
701 Bales Alleged to Have-
Been Damaged en Route
From Atlanta to Liverpool
(Special Dispatch to The Journal.)
WASHINGTON, May 15.—Senator
Chamberlain’s resolution proposing an
amendment to the constitution to give
the ballot to women was ordered fa
vorably reported today by the senate
woman suffrage committee. Chairman
Thomas and Senator Owen, Democrats,
and Senators Jones, Sutherland and’
Clapp, Republicans, voted for the reso
lution, while Senator Catron, Republi
can, voted aaginst it.
When the resolution is reported by
Chairman Thomas within a few days,
an eoffrt will be made to have it taken
up during the present session if tariff
laglglfttlon doe* not in tar far
(Special Dispatch to The Journal.)
REIDSVILLE, Ga., May 15.—There
was quite an excitement in this city
last night, when it was heard that
two men were going around town draw
ing their pistols on negroes and ar- j . _ _
resting them without having warrants. MORGAN ? S MEMORIAL
The city marshal, A. C. Curry, and
Sheriff .7. A. Kennedy learned of this
and proceeded to arrest them and put
them behind the bars.
The parties were M. H. Steedley, a
white man, and Nelson Sharpe, a ne
gro, both from Pierece county. Mr.
Steedley claims that several negroes
that had been working for him at his
turpentine still ran away owing him
money, and that he was here to get
them or the money one.
Judge E. C. Collins will try them
in the city court here this week for
carrying pistols without license. It is
said that they are likely to be reported
to the government for violating the pe-
anatft Lajxr.
HOSPITAL IS OPENED
(By Associated Press.)
AIX LES BAINS, France, May 15.—
The Leon Blanc hospital, given by the
late J. Pierpont Morgan to the city of
Aix Les Bains as a memorial to his
former physician, Dr. Leon Blanc, was
formally opened today by the mayor
in the presence of representatives of
the French government .the Red Cross
society and a number of medical or
ganizations.
A great gold medal which was to have
been given to the late Mr. Morgan was
received by his nephew, Walter Burns,
anu his partner* Henry P. Davison*
PHILADELPHIA, Pa., May 15.—The
exceptions to a libel in admiralty filed
by the Merchants and Miners' Trans
portation company against 701 bales of
cotton in the Atlanta cotton contro
versy. were dismissed yesterday by
Judge McPherson. The suit was to
pollect freight charges.
The exceptions raised the question
whether a common carrier could col
lect freight charges on goods that had
been shipped on a through bill of lad
ing, before the merchandise reached its
destination. It appeared that the cot
ton was accepted by the transporta
tion company for shipment from At
lanta, Ga., to Liverpool, England. As
the result of a fire on the company’s
steamship Berkshire in October, 1902
the cotton was landed here in a burned
condition. The American line refused
to accept it at this port for transpor
tation to Liverpool.
The Merchants and Miners’ line held
th© cotton and later libeled it for the
freight charges from Atlanta, Ga., to
this port.
Watson & Co., the owners, contended
that the plaintiff should have either
obtained a steamship line to carry the
cotton to England or return the goods
to the owners.
DR. DUBOSE SPEAKS AT
REINHARDT COLLEGE
CANTON, Ga., May 15.—Wednesday’s
exercises closed the most successful
commencement in the history of Rein
hardt college at Waleska. Among those
who have been in attendance are W. S.
Witham, Prof. J. T. Derry, Rev. C. O.
Jones, Lucian L. Knight and Rev. W.
H. Cooper. The literary address was
delivered by Dr. H. M. DuBose, of At
lanta, and was a masterpiece of oratory.
Large crowds have been in attendance,
visitors having come from a dozen
counties to .witness the •zeroises.
Clark,, of Florida, Slated for
the Public Buildings
Chairmanship
(By Associated Press.)
WASHINGTON, May 15.—Represent
ative Underwood, of Alabama, Demo
cratic leader of the house; Representa
tive Mann, cf Illinois, Republican leader,
and Representative Murdock, of Kansas,
Progressive leader, are conferring on
the preliminary plans for the assign
ment of members to the various com
mittees. Both the minority leaders will
soon submit their recommendations to
Mr. Underwood.
The proportion of minority repre
sentation on the various committees to
be allowed by Mr. Underwood is satis
factory to the leaders of the other two
parties. The ways and means commit
tee, one of the five already named, com
prises fourteen Democrats, six Republi
cans and one Progressive, and about the
same proportion of representation of the
majority and minority will be observed
in the other important committees. The
ways and means committee majority
will be called together early next week
to work on the committee assignments.
Representative Burnett, of Alabama,
will retain the chairmanship of the im
migration committee, it is understood,
leaving Representative Clark, of Flori
da, an aspirant for the chairmanship of
the public buildings committee, of
which Mr. Burnett has been acting head
since the elevation of Morris Sheppard,
of Texas, to the senate.
A lively fight is on for place on the
rivers and harbors committee, of which
Representative Sparkman, of Florida,
will remain chairman in all probability.
Representatives Murray, of Massa
chusetts, and Mahan, of Connecticut,
want to be the New England members,
and Representative Kettner, of Califor
nia, the Pacific coast representative on
the committte. Representatives Bath-
rick, of Ohio; Kenop, of Wisconsin; Du
pree. of Louisiana, and McKellar, of
Tennessee, are mentioned as preferring
rivers and harbors assignments.
Representative Slayden, of Texas,
Would have to give up the chairmanship
of the committee on library, if he re
mains a member of the military com
mittee, of which he is next in rank to
Representative Hay, of Virginia, who
will retain the chairmanship. If Mr.
Slayden gives up the library chairman
ship, Representative Townsend, of New
Jersey, may fall heir to the place.
Representative Lever, of South Caro
lina, will get the chairmanship of agri
culture, a foregone conclusion for
months. Most of the present chairmen
of the big committees will remain.
Race in Northern Assembly Ap
parently Between Dr, Mait->
land Alexander and Dr, S, S.;
Palmer With Result in Doubt 1
Crack Horseman of
Army Wins Honors
But Loses Fiancee
WASHINGTON, May 15.—Corporal J.
P. Heffelfinger, crack rider of the Fif
teenth United States cavalry, did not
dream that while he was winning hon
ors and blue ribbons at the recent mili
tary horse show he was riding out of
the affections of his fiancee, Miss Em
ma V. Griffen, of this city.
Post society at Fort Myer had been
looking forward to the wedding as a
culmination of a pretty romance begun
more than two years ago in San Fran
cisco. The fact that the army's crack
horseman had come a cropper in
his riding for the matrimonial hurdle
became known today, when the mar
riage license that had been Issued for
the wedding was returned to the city
hall with the following inscription in
Miss Griffen’s handwriting: *
“Did not use this, as I have a rea
son.”
Corporal Heffelfinger could not be
found at the army post today, and rel
atives of the young woman denied all
knowledge of the affair. Miss Griffen
was saldr to havft left the city*
All interest in the afternoon session
of the northern assembly, which con
venes at 2:30 in the Baptist Tabernacle,
centers in the election of a new moder
ator, and for this position there are
two leading candidates. *
They ar© Rev. Maitland Alexander,
D. D., pastor of the First Presbyterian
church of Pittsburg, and Rev. S. S.
Palmer, D. D. t pastor of the First Pres
byterian church of Columbus, O.
WHO CANDIDATES ARE.
Dr. Alexander Is the scion of an old
and aristocratic family. He is said to
be the richest preacher in the world,
being a millionaire.
He will b© nominated by John Willis
Baer, president of Occident college, Pas
adena, Cal., who Is a layman and one
of the leading Christian Endeavor work
ers of the world.
Dr. Palmer will be nominated by Rev.
William C. Covert, pastor of the First
Presbyterian church of Chicago, who is
a brilliant writer and speaker.
METHOD OF PROCEDURE.
To facilitate business, the assembly
is divided into twenty-two electing
sections. The members of each section
are seated in a group together, with a
placard raised above them to uenote
ti eir number, similar to the grouping
of state delegations in a national par
ty convention. The members of each
section are expected to occupy their
own seats during the business ses- 1
sions.
The afternoon session will begin
with the calling of the roll, which, ow
ing to the size of the assembly, willl
consume about 40 minutes. Then will
com© the nominating speeches and the
balloting. It will not be a surprise if
several ballots are necessary to elect,
and there is a possibility of a “dark
horse” being put forward at the last
moment and winning the honors.
DR. MATTHEWS APPLAUDED.
The morning session of th© assembly
was chiefly taken up with the sermon
of the retiring moderator, Rev. Mark
A. Matthews, D. D., of Seattle, Wash.
Contrary to his usual custom he read
from a manuscript, but nevertheless
his delivery was strong and convincing.
He was greeted with prolonged ap
plause when he asserted that the min
isterial applicant who doubts the divin
ity of Christ thereby shows prima facie
evidence of unregeneration, and that no
unregenerated man should be allowed to
preach.
Whether so intended or not, the«e|
words contained a more or less pointed
reference to the doubtful state of mind
of young men coming from unaccredited
seminaries, and to certain of the “higher
critics.”
Dr. Matthews was several times inter
rupted by applause, and finally asked
the audience, instead of applauding, to
retire to the prayer closet after the ser
mon and pray for pentecost to break
loose.
Possibility of an organic union be
tween all four branches of the Presby
terian church was touched on by D. .
Matthews, when he said that God-
ward faith would make it possible to
bring about a real union baptised in
the Holy Spirit. The suggestion wls
applauded.
The spacious auditorium and galleries
of the Baptist Tabernacle were filled
Thursday morning when the general as
sembly of the Presbyterian church in
the United States of America opened iia
125th annual meeting.
Dr. David Gonsley called the audience
to order a few minutes after 10:30 o’clock.
Dr. James Dearence, of New York, vice
moderator of the assembly, said tile
open prayer.
Dr. John Timothy Stone, the famous
Presbyterian preacher of Chicago, read
a lesson from the scripture and Dr. Wal
lace Radcliffe, of Washington, followed
with a prayer.
The audience rose and sang the hymn,
“Crown Him With Many Crowns.” At
this time the seats had all been taken in
the auditorium and late comers were
seated in the choir loft.
Dr. Mark H. Matthews, the retiring
moderator, rose %id advanced to the
front of the rostrum In the midst of ari
Impressive silence.
He announced the subject of his ser
mon, “The victories of Faith versus the
Failures of Unbelief,” and read numerous
passages of scripture.
“By the exercise of Godward faith,” he
continued, “that 'organic union would be
the product of conviction. I am not in
favor of a mechanical organic .union, but
I am in favor of the organic union of oil
the branches of Presbyterianism in this
country, If brought about as the result of
conviction The only thing that keeps us
apart is the paralylng influence of unbe
lief.”
“By faith the church could disarm
the world. The disarmament of nations
Is the duty of the church. By faith and
the works thereof the church could free
America from the accursed liquor traf
fic. The church will some day exercise
her power, and when she does in twenty-
five years from tat day America will be
free from the saloon.
“Faith is the medium between God
and the child through which mighty
works are performed. In other words,
faith is a medium through which power
is transmitted for the accomplishment
of superhuman deeds. If superhuman
deeds are not performed by the Chris
tians, that fact alone Is prima facie evi
dence the power has been arrested by
the paralyzing influence of doubt or un
belief. /Unbelief Is the paralyzing pow
er which makes superhuman work im
possible.”
After an exposition on the supernat
ural powers of the church as against
the material, Dr. Matthews declared
that “we should change the ground of
our objections to candidates for the
ministry who doubt or deny the deity
of Christ/ They ought to be rejected
not alone because they doubt or deny
per se the deity of Christ, but, becauus
their denial is prima facie evidence that
they have never been regenerated. No
unregenerated man should be permitted
to preach.”
In conclusion, Dr. Matthews predicted
that “Christians soon will return to the
fundamental principles, the cardinal
dootrines and the use of their super
natural equipment. Then the holy Sun
day as God’s decreed day of rest will
be restored to man and by him kept
holy. The church’s greatest need today
is faith, prayer, Godly living, daily giv
ing, powerful preaching, and the exer
cise of supernatural power, the reaulf
of Godward faith thrust Into Christ/'