Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-30
{, WILSON MODERATOR
Minister from Erie, Pennsylvania, Chosen BY
tbs United PresbyterianA
CONTEST OVER MEMBERSHIP COVENANT
Nevv Form Ist5egered az Substitute
for ola Covenant to he sub
mItted 20 P~resbyteries
as Overture

P%ITrsBURG, May 2S.-with the e%levtion
Of Rev. James G.. Wilson. D.. D., Of Erie,
as moderator, the appointment Of COM
mittees, the hearing Of reports and consid-
GRAFTON Of routine business the commits
sioners to the general assembly Of the
United Presbyterian church spent nine busy
hours today. The forty-fourth annual ses-
sion Is now we'll under way.
The membership covenant will be the
most important matter considered. This
has been expected all along, but today put
an entirely new face on the matter and to-
morrow will see q lively tight on the ques-
Ion.
Rev. David r. Miller D.. D., furnished
the surprise by presenting a memorial from
the Lake presbytery containing a covenant
TO be substituted for the basis OF mem
bershJpr devised byN the special committee
appointed a year ago. and which was re-
ferred today to a Special committee that
will report tomorrow. The memorial asks
that the assembly send the covenan down
to the presbyterles as an overture and sets
forth at length arguments In its favor.
Attendance IL Large.
When Rev. DR.. j. NJ. Ross called the
assembly to order today for the FIRST bust
ness session s5s, commissioners were in
their seats.
Devotional exercises we're held, after
which the important business Of electing
a moderator was taken up. The following
names~. we're ,,reported Rev. J.. &. Boyd,
DID,, Mount Lebanon; John S. Mckee,
Butler, Pa; James, c. Wilson. Erie, Pa;
WI P. williamson. Keokuk. la Rev. J. B.
Lee, Franklinville, N. Y.
Hev. DR.. Wilson was elected on the first
ballot and the election was made unahi-
nous. DIT. Wilson was then escorted to
the chair. After the reading Of the minutes
she clerk presented his report. 1t showed
that the conEresations Of America cob
tributed for all purposes during the year
81, s43. 235. an increase of s116, 355, the larg-
est in any one year.
The membership Of the church increased
2,O29. In three synods. New York, Ohio
and Iowa. there has been a decrease In the
membership. In this, the report says,
there is an indication OF the great changes
taking place in our population.
the reports Of the various boards were
then presented and the rest Of the session
wac. .taken' up with the reading Of these
reports. They are Las follows:
Board Of Home Missions.
sThe-4epoft. OF me- Board of Home Mis-
sions, commends the ministers and con-
~gregations In the home mission held for
expresses its appreciation Of the support
given by the church and individuals. The
net gain in attendance is shown TO have
been 1,6l4 for the year; contributions to the
board, S24,S22; entire expenditures for the
year ended March 81. $S5,sl7. Twelve con-
she yeSIl After investigation the board
reports that sad in the extreme Is the
cSgditiOS n every sespe Sss q the lmd mountain sssm
would Rave 10 be taken up and carried on
much the same az in heather isndss. 1r
receipts from iesaoies. s27, lO5. were excep-
tionaliy large. "a
The Annual yreport OF the Board aof For,
progress In almost every department. 1t II
shown that tes SsS sSSia9n = e ass n Sn D1oe
tion. n Egypt The sddisions on prStession
were $50 The Son~t assn,teIy 1 IN andls 6Sr.
poses %s tN Mere sst ISIS a gain Of sso2' and Egypt
sSs,Sce. a gain OF 1852. For all purposes
What they were ten Years ago, and about
the same advance Is reported from India.
~ Fpnd' Largely in Hand.
The opening Of a memorial church build
ing in Alexandria, Egypt, and a new hos
port says the fund projected for the Asyut
Training college Y largely in n II Is
Saa9S SSsfS.d that ss 5 asid syn tSe Of 6re shs eTHjS ~
known as Rswal Pyndi will be organized
me Sotsi sum required for the year was
A6AsBs.t ThesStotal receipts were $1is, 212.
Leaving an, Indebtedness of S1O.s47. 1t Is
estimSted that $3.50 will be needed for
the mission in Egypt this year and F6,slS
The report. Of the board of ministerial
relief places the total endowment fund al
$1s0100st an increase of 1900 during the
year. The amount- required for payments
during the coming year is estimated al
Sl3, 900. The report shows that the bene-
hciariess on the roll include thirty-three
ministers and forty-seven widows and
orphans.
fhe boArd sof publication announces that
"a summary OF the authoritative standards
Of the church" soon will be ready for the
press. 49,
AN Increased Interest in Sabbath schools
Throughout the church is reported and a
1000 ~ AZ - =