The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-18
PREsBYTERIANs IN SESSION.
JUDGE MARTIN OF LITTLE ROCK
MADE MODERATOR.

Two Ballots Were Required to Ar
rive at n Choice-About zoo Conn
missioners Are Present - Recep-
ton Given the Visiting Cnurch-
men-Active Work of the ASSEM-
bly, VIII Begin To-dRy-Some In
teresting Reports VIII BE Made.
Atlanta, May 17.--Judge ]. w. Martin of
Little Rock, Ark, was elected moderator
to-day by the Southern Presbyterian Cen
eral Assembly TO preside during the ensu-
ing years Two ballots were required 10
elect him. On the first DIR. George w.
Finley of Baskerville, Va, and DIR. r. c.
Reed of Columbia, S. c., were candidates
for the Office. DR.. Finley received che
lowest number of votes on the ballot and
his name was not voted on in the second
ballot Judge Martin was elected on the
second ballot by a vote of SO to 70.
Judge Martin was escorted to the chair.
Retiring Moderator j. f. Cannon delivered
the gavel to him and the assembly tn, n
went into the election of assistants TO the
permanent stated clerk.
Nearly 2O0 commissioners representing
every Presbytery included in the South
ern General Assembly of the Presbyter-
ian Church We're present when the retir-
ing moderator, Rev. j. F. Cannon of St
Louis opened of The thirty-ninth annual
session of the general assembly of this
morning. The session was begun with the
! devotional exercises, the feature of which
was the eloquent sermon preached by DR..
Cannon, il being the custom of the as
sembly fer the retiring moderator to de-
liver the opening sermon
No business was transacted at the af-
ternoon session, the time being devoted by
| the secret aries to making an arrangement
of their work, and by the newly elected
moderator to the appointment of commit
tees
Tonight at o'clock the commissioners
TO the general assembly were rendered a
reception at the Central Presbyte rian
Church on Washington street, where the
sessions are being held.
| AT this time formal welcome was ex-
tended the commissioners. The transact
ton of business viii begin actively to-
morrow.
Interesting Reports.
The following permanent officers are
| here with interesting reports to make:
Rev. j. H. Lumpkin, Memphis, secre-
| tary; Rev. j. N. Craig, d. D.. Atlanta,
| secretary of home missions; Rev. s. II.
| Chester, D. D., Nashville, secretary OF for
| eign missions; Rev. j. K. Hazen, Rich
mond Va, secretary of publication; Rev.
D. C. Lilly, Tuscaloosa, Ala, secretary of
colored eyangelizatlon; Rev. r. P. Farris,
| St. Louis, permanent clerk, and Rev. w.
a. Alexander, GAINESVILLE, Tenn, stated
| clerk.
Several important matters will come up
before the assembly for discussion, such
| as Christian education, the veto power Of
the general assembly. the compilation of
another hymn book, the duties of the
office of the elder of co,ored evangelical
| ton, and others.
From present indications there will be
no effort made to revise the creed of the
| church.
Among the prominent ministers who are
| here ON special missions are: Rev. John
| Fox of New York, secretary of American
| Bible Society; Rev. F. r. Beattie, D. D.,
| LouisvHle; Rev Thomas H. Law, d. D.,
Spartanburg, S. c.; Rev. T. w. Raymond,
Holly Springs, Miss; Rev. R. ]. Shaw,
Eureka Springs Miss, and W. H. Neel, d.
| D. Memoirs Tenn