The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-17
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OPENS
AT LITTLE ROCK.
DR.. WOOD MADE MODERATOR.
MATTERS OF CHURCH WORK OC-
CUPY THE SESSION.

shorter Catcchism In Great De-
mnnd and the Foreign Mission
Work in Good shape.
Little Rock. Ark, May 1e.-The six
teenth annual session of the Southern
Presbyterian General Assembly began
here to-day, the opening session being
called TO order by the retiring moderator.
George j. Martin of Little Rock Or.
Neander NJ. Woods of Memphis. who was
this afternoon elected moderator. preach
ed the opening sermon. He was assisted
IN the services by the venerable DR.. G..
w. Boggs of Holly Springs, Miss. who
was member of the First Southern Pres
byterian Assembly in Augusta. Ca, IN
1861.
There were upward OF 200 ministers pres
ent.
DR.. N. NJ. Woods of Memphis, DR.. r.
P. Keer of Richmond, Va, DR.. r. r..
Beatty of Louisville, and Dr. T. II. Bran
ton of Richmond, Ky, were candidates
for moderator. DR.. Woods was elected
by reclamation. He was nominated by
DR.. Keer of Virginia. and the nominal
tion was seconded by DR.. Beatty Of Ken
lucky
Dr. r. II. Fleming Of Lynchburg, Va.
presided during the afternoon session, the
moderator being engaged in making up
the committees.
A special committee. with DIR. r. r.
Beatty of Louisville. KY, as chairman,
will report a scheme for a more efficient
provision for the aged and infirm minis
ters. catechism on church government
has been proposed by a committee headed
by Rev. DR.. r. p Kerr of Richmond,
Va. and will be submitted to the as
sembly 1t will be for use in Sunday
schools and Bible classes.
Questions to BE Considered.
Another question that will excite deep
interest is that of abandoning the inter-
national system of Sunday lessons
for another, which makes a more graded
and connected study of the Bible.
The question of the marked decline in
the number of candidates for the minis
try will occasion grave study.
The asse mbly will be asked to approve
the consolidation of the Danville Semn-
airy, under the control of the Northern
Synod OF Kentucky, and the Louisville
Summary, under the control of the South
ern Synods of Kentucky and Missouri
sEhis evening meeting of welcome was
held, addresses of welcome being deliv-
cred by Chief Justice Bum OF the AR
kansas Supreme Court and others.
The afternoon session was devoted to
lllt ItddiHB dllu OF reports On
education and colored evanselzation and
the reports of the executive committees
on publication and foreign missions.
Colored EvanEeIixntion.
The colored evangelistic committee, of
which the Rev. d. Clay Lilly OF Tusks-
loosa, Ala, is secretary, reported an I'm
crease in the number of colored Presby-
terian communicates, due in a measure
TO the efforts of the committee to reach
the colored people through evanlegists.
The report showed an increase In the
number of mission Sunday-schools for col
ored people, taught by consecrated white
men and women. There was a larger
amount paid out by the committee to the
colored ministers and churches last year
than for q number of previous years. and
the figures from the colored churches
showed considerably the largest amounts
contributed In their history.
The schools under the direction and con-
troll Of the committee have had pros
porous year. the enrolment having large
IL increased
The StlIman Institute for training coll
ored ministers has been much enlarged
ard can now accommodate 100 boarders.
Ministerial Education.
The Rev. Joseph II. Lumpkin, the Sec
retary, submitted report on the subject
There are enrolled this year 1866 bene-
ficiary candidates for the ministry who
are pursuing their studies, "a In theolog-
ical seminaries, and 50 In colleges. The
report showed that there has been a
heavy decline In the number Of candidates
aided by the committee, and it dealt Wig
orously with this phase Of the subject
Special emphasis was laid upon the char
acter of those who should be received as
Ga Lar n In
sisted that the preacher should be a
leader of men and that In order TO do
this, he must be manly man, thorough
ly equipped for his work. The RESPONSE
bility for the training of the ministry
was placed upon the Presbytery prima-
riy, but the report insisted that institu-
tions of learning must bear with the
presbyteries the burden of this RESPONSE
bility, and should cheerfully give full in
formation to the presbyteries concerning
the character. department. diligence.
piety and progress of their candidates.
The candidates now enrolled. the report
stated, were believed to be worthy men,
deserving the confidence Of the whole
church. The standard of ministerial ed
ucation was confessedly high one. but II
was maintained that the church should
seek for enlarged efficiency In her minis
try by giving the best available men the
highest education possible.
The receipts for the year were encour-
aging, being very much In advance OF
those Of any previous year for some
years past. The total was sls,750. The
committee had been enabled TO meet in
full all its financial obligations, and re-
ported an encouraging balance. AL
though" the report stated, There ap-
pears reason 10 fear that the spirit OF
worldliness is seriously affecting ell de-
partments OF the work Of the church, ana
dangerously diminishing the future min
istry. these receipts are encouraging"
The presbyteries OF the assembly are
cooperating hopefully In this branch OF
their work. Is OF the n presbyteries con-
tributing through the committee. and IS
having benefoiaries upon tho committees
rolls.
Embraced in the report was an ltemized
statement OF the treasurer. showing the
disbursements OF the fund 10 students
pursuing their studies In IS or 20 institu-
tons OF learning throughout the South.
The Publishing work.
The foriieth annual report Of the Execu-
tive Committee OF Publication was IN part
as follows
The business Of the depository has not
equaIled that OF the previous year, but II
must be remembered that an excess or Is
per cent. was then reported over the aver
age sales Of the house. The difference Is