The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-22
PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY
The First Business Session-Many
Overtures Presented The Report on
Foreign Missions.

f; Atlanta, Ca, May Accommodation
! ers 10 the Southern Presbyterian Cen
eral Assembly. which is holding its
(: thirty-ninth annual session here in
the Central Presbyterian church, met
Tor the first business session today.
h attendance was larger than yes
terday and an active interest was
shown in all the proceedings, not only
by the 200 commissioners, but by a
large number of visiting ministers
and laymen of the Presbyterian church
officially connected with the assembly
and many resident Presbyterians. To-
days session opened with devotional
exercises, after which routine business
was begun. Stated Clerk Alexander
read the committees which had been
appointed by the moderator. The COM
mittees on record for each state in
Guided for North Carolina, ]. F. Lloyd.
II. L. Money.
Interest was intense Is the stated
clerk read the overtures from the sy-
mods and presbyterieS of the south.
The overtureS Were referred to the
proper committees and constitute the
chief work which will come before the
assembly.
The presbytery of Suwanee, Florida.
protested against the Spectacular and
theatrical features" of children wear
ing fancy costumes in the exercises 10
be held on children's day, May 9th.
a time was set apart for raising
funds for foreign missionary work.
The question Of divoce and remar-
riage will be a leading one. The synod
Of Alabama and the presbyteries of
asking for definite church laws gov
erning the remarriage of divorces.
The question of the Salaries for sec
retaries OF the executive committee
will be an important one, many over
lures being filled asking that no in
crease be made in them.
On the adoption of a new hymnbook
there were overtures strongly protest.
ing against any change this yea or
the ground of expense.
The. report of the executive commit
tee of foreign missions was submitted.
In part it says: The largest number
of additions to the native churches
reported in any previous year was 623
in 1898. This year the number report
ed is GAP, an increase of more than 100.
The largest number of additions in any
one mission was IT'S in Northern Bra
zl and the mex largest LA in Congo,
Africa"
The report regarding finances says:
The receipts for the year from all
sources were s161 ,591, including $3.50 of
funds expended and returned. The
net receipts Were s161, 10. This is
$16,1S0 more han has been received
during any previous year"
The report urges a larger income,
saying that between $3.50, and 81, 900
is the least a missionary can be sup
ported upon and that the church has
l63 missionaries in the field. The re-
port shows twelve new missionaries
sent out during the year.
Under the caption present Needs
of the Church the report takes a
gloomy view of many of the foreign
mission fields. More missionaries and
appropriations from the church are
urgently asked. The committee ask
for a regular nnual income of not
less han 5000, 900.
Other features of the mission work
under TIE Jurisdiction of the commit
tee are progressing satisfactorily.
The night session was taken up by
the reading of reports. In addition to
the report of the executive committee
on foreign missions, statements were
made by the committees on foreign
correspondence. publication, education
for the ministry, colOred evangelical
ton, and by the permanent committee
on church and Christian education.
Reports were also received from the
assembly home and school at Fred
ericksburg, Va, the Columbia, Is. c.
theological seminary, the Union theo-
logical seminary at Richmond, n the
Divinity school of the Southwestern
Presbyterian university at Clarks-
vile, Tenn.
kilograms, signed by Moderator
Martin and Stated Clerk Alexander,
were sent to the general assembly of
the Cumberland Presbyterian church,
in session at Chattanooga, and to the
Oanpra1 aCCamh 1U of the ~PrpShVtpri9n
church in the United states at st.
Louis, conveying fraternal greetings
and the wish for divine blessing.
Tonight the session was devoted
mainly to a praise service.