Evening star., 1901-04-16
MEETING OF PRESBYTERY
BUSINESS SESSION OF WASHINGTON
BODY OPENS THIS MORNING.
Reports Read and Resolutions Adopt.
ed-ElectiOn of MOderatOr-Place
of Next Meeting.

The business session of the spring meet
ing of the Washington presbytery COM
menced at 9:3O o'clock this morning at the
New York Avenue Presbyterian Church.
The Rev. DR.. Robert A. Davidson Of Falls
Church, Va, was elected moderator, Rev.
DIR. B. +. Bittenger was elected stated
clerk and Rev. Charles Alvan Smith per-
manent clerk. 1t was decided to hold the
next stated meeting in Westminster
Church the first Monday in June.
The report of the home missionary COM
mittee was read by DR.. Radcliffe. The con-
tributions had exceeded 5000. showing
that a great deal of interest was taken In
this branch of church work. The women's
societies especially had been very active in
contributing to the fund, exceeding by
81 200 the contributions raised by the
churches. The young peoples societies
and the Sabbath schools had also done
good work during the year.
The Porto Rican mission work, which
was under the society, was progressing
finely, and DR.. Green, who had made such
a success in Porto Rico, would go to Ha
yana where there seemed to be a good
field for endeavor. The mission work in
Alaska and the Yukon region was prosper
ing.
DR.. Charles B. Ramsdell, chairman of
the committee of the board of aid for
academies and colleges, submitted a report,
stating that this board sought to establish
and maintain institutions where religious
instruction and influences should be an
important factor for education. The re-
port commended the action of the school
board of the District of Columbia contin-
uins the use of the hymnals in the public
schools.
1t also favored the continuance of relig
ious exercises in connection with all pri-
mary institutions where the large majority
so desired. If the minority were not salts
fed with this they could provide for their
own children at their own expense, the
public school system, now so universal,
must be maintained. regardless of small
minorities and without division of funds.
Educational Matters.
Rev Edward Warren from the standing
committee on education reported seven cam
didates for the ministry. The report went
at length into the subject of the decline In
the number of applicants for entrance to
the ministry, which, he said. seemed to be
universal, and was certainly deplorable.
The decrease was very marked in the last
five years. Inquiries had been made by
churchmen into the causes, and several
reasons had been assigned. Some thought
the falling off was due to the increase in
the opportunities for military service, while
others attributed it to the industrial activ1
ty now prevailing. The report said that IL
there failure to make up by new candt-
dates the losses sustained by death and old
age the church would soon be confronted
by grave crisis.
DR.. Easton from the committee on tenn
perance presented a stirring report. depre-
eating in strong terms the lack of interest
manifested by the churches in the subject
of temperance. He contenGcu that all other
elements of resistance to the Gospel COM
bined were nothing in their effect to this
great curse of intemperance. He said the
churches here had not done all their duty
in efforts to eXtirpate the evil. He COM
mended the abolishment of the canteen in
the army.
The committee recommended that all the
churches of the presbytery combine to in
augurate a system of mass meetings in the
District of Columbia to prevent the grant
ing of more liquor licenses and to provide
a more vigorous prosecution of violation of
the license laws.
After some debate this recommendation
was adopted with the qualification that 1t
be enforced when the presbytery should so
direct. Resolutions were also adopted that
the Sabbath schools should organize tenn
perance bands: that the Christian Endeav-
societies should try to abolish social
drinking. and that all the church societies
should give greater attention to temper
ance work
Foreign Missions.
DR.. Luccock presented the report of the
board OF foreign missions advocating more
enthusiastic efforts in behalf Of such mis-
sions. An extra gift for the China re-
establishment fund was recommended; also
contribution to the martyr memorial
fund, which is to establish three mission
aries in Pao ing Flu.
Reports from the committees on bills and
overtures, by DR.. Skillnger. and the COM
mittee narrative, by Rev. Mr.. Mcleod,
were presented and accepted.
The sacrament was then administered to
the delegates, after which a recess was
taken until O'Clock, during which lunch
was served by the ladies of the church