Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-05-21
CHURCH BOARD REPORTS
RECEIVED By ASSEMBLY.
OPPOSITION TO THE OPENING OF
THE PAN-AMERICAN ON sun
DAY DECLAnED.
VICE MODERATOR APPOINTED.
THE ARMY CANTEEN AND PROHIB-
ITION MEASURES UNDER DIS
CUSTOM.


matters occupied the attention of the
commissioners to the Presbyterian gem
eral assembly during the greater part
of to-day's sessions. The annual re-
ports of the eight church boards were
submitted to the assembly, and three
of them, ministerial relief, education
and freedmen, with the reports of their
standing committees were disposed OF.
During the afternoon Moderator Min
ton announced the appointment of Rob-
ert Pitcairn, of Pittsburg, as vice mod
orator. DR.. Minton also appointed a
committee of five to complete the de-
tails of the Peoria overture, the new
plan of electing standing committees.
A resolution vas adopted deprecating
the action of the directors of the Pan
American Exposition in opening the
gates on Sunday, and earnestly urging
the closing of the exposition on that
day.
The special committee on Sabbath OBJ
servance protested against the publica-
ton of Sunday newspapers and all use
of the Lords Day for business purposes
or commercial interests.
The annual report of the permanent
committee on temperance calls atten-
ton to the abolition of the army IAN
teen. The report staples in part:
ION the side of the army saloon were
quoted some ministers, archbishops and
bishops. Over against these Senator
Gallinger quoted the testimony of your
committee that an almost unanimous
vote had been given against the beer
canteen by the General Assembly of the
Presbyterian church representing 1,G00,-
coo communicates and approximately
100000 adherents; and he declared
that the vast number of the petitions
and letters pouring in upon members of
the Senate afforded ~indisputable proof
that the churches in general are of the
same mind"
The committe suggests that the gov
eminent establish some substitute for
the canteen.
Measures should be sought both
from national and State legislation for
the protection of our soldiers and vet
Grams from the saloon traps set Sc
thickly around the entrance to army
posts and soldiers homes" saws the re-
port. And why should no our War
Department devote some effort, as the
British government is most assiduously
doing. to the cultivation of habits OF
total abstinence among our soldiers?"
Regarding the liquor traffic the COM
mlttee reports that with the exception
that the Taft commission has reduced
the number of saloons, no other steps
have been taken toward righting this
grievous wrong"
h report of the committee on edu-
cation referring to the statement in
the boards report that the number OF
students for the ministry showed a de-
crease from the previous year, said:
This state of affairs is alarming.
What must the church do to increase
the number of her candidates for the
ministry? Here is a problem which
must De met and solved at once. The
ministry is not o~ver-crowded. The sup
ply of ministers is not equal to the de-
mand OF the churches. Christian young
men are turning their attention to law
to medicine, to journalism, to teaching
and are neglecting the claims of the
Gospel ministry. Let the church dis
cover the cause for this and then re-
move the difficulty where it is possible. :