Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-16
DR.. VAN DYKE MODERATOR
Professor of Literature at Princeton Elected
by the Presbytsrians.
DR.. KERR OF NEBRASKA IN The RACE
vital Question of the Revision of Com
fession Of Faith Comes Up at
Latter Part of General
Assembly.

uhANtlNANgs was dNt NulS hlAtl hbuui tlttNNu
moderator Of the general assembly of the
Presbyterian church, which body began its
deliberations here today. He was elected
first ballot was;
DR.. Van Dyke, 217; DR.. Kerr. Sc; DR..
Holmes, 80; DR.. Moffatt, l44; DR.. Dufield,
81.
There were sos votes cast, 29s being neces-
sary to elect.
There was some discussion as to whether
another ballot should be cast before the
end Of the session, as there was a COM
munion service scheduled. After some talk
it was decided to cast another ballot; be-
fore this was done, however. DIT. Robert
r. Booth Of New York arose and withdrew
the name of DR.. Dufield. He said that
this was done at the request Of DR.. Duff
field.
The result of the second ballot was:
DR.. Van Dyke. 29Si DR.. Moffatt, 227; DR..
Holmes, 40.
The votes given to DR.. Kerr on the first
ballot were scattered between DR.. Van Dyke
and DR.. Moffatt.
Election Made Unanimous.
After the result was announced the re-
firing moderator, DR.. Henry c. Minton,
moved that DR.. Van Dykes election be made
unanimous and this was done. On the
second ballot there was cast 574 votes, Of
which 2s7 were necessary to elect.
Amidst cheers DR.. Van Dyke was escorted
to the moderator's chair, and as he took It
DR.. Minton said:
my brother, 1t becomes my duty to in
form you of your election to the office Of
moderator Of this general assembly and to
80 - IL
order. l trust that God may spare you
to us all and that He may grant you His
blessing IL the work before you"
DR.. Van Dyke in reply said: II thank
you with all my heart for giving me the
privilege Of standing In a place made sacred
to me by the memory Of my father. 1 have
not deserved this honor, but will do my
best, II you will help me, to be a loyal
and true moderator in the church in which
l was born and which l love with all my
heart"
DR.. Van Dyke then declared the session
adjourned until tomorrow at ga. m.
GaveI from Jerusalem.
At the first business session of the as
sembly the moderator presented as a gift
from Rev. NJ. A.. Steen Of Stockton, Cal, a
rosewood gavel, which had been brought
from Jerusalem.
In seconding DR.. Van Dykes nomina-
ton, Rev. Herrick johnson OF Chicago said
that his candidate was a scholar, Of scholarly
habits, instinct and ambition.
II have been asked by some present,
What about DR.. Van Dykes theology? Is
he orthodox? Isn't he shaky about his
theology In reply to these questions /
say that what his honorable father be-
lieved and stood for he stands for and be-
lieves. He is a child OF the covenant. What
his father believed was handed down by
his father"
Rev. Joseph ). LampsAo f Omaha nomi-
mated DR.. D.. r. Kerr. the president Of
Bellevue college, Bellevue, Neb.
The sermon of DR.. Minton, the retiring
moderator, was on THE Enduring Mission
of Presbyterianism." His text was from the
eleventh chapter, fortieth verse Of He
brews.
No Race, No Humanity.
DR.. Minton said doubtless God could have
made men wholly Independent of each other,
fatherless and childless Melchizedecs. But
in that case there would have been no race,
no humanity. And what is true of the race
applies to the church. All are bound to-
gether. A healthy and generous denomina-
need be no hindrance to the
progress OF the church. All may appropri-
ate the text. And SO, too, may Presby-
~terians, standing on the Threshold Of a
new century.
Continuing. the preacher asked
Are our contributions out of date? Is
our faith a back number, and our type
OF plety and character unsuited to current
conditions? In answering such an inquiry
note first that Presbyterianism has always
rational side. Men are thinking as never
before, and men think their way back to
the eternal problems Of God PRESBYTERIAN;
for the truth of God, and that call will
never die until the psychology OF the
human heart is changed.
1t follows that our church has ever placed
the emphasis on education: 1t has always
stood for an educated, pulpit, and an In
telligent pew. The highest note OF Presby-
terianism is that of intellectual conviction.
of appeal TO mems judgment OH the sure
ground of truth.
Government and Doctrine.
My third thought is that there are GER
tain elements in the government and doc
trine of the Presbyterian church which
especially mt i to exert a powerful indirect
influence in the interest of law and order,
and, in promoting the civilization of man
Oncs more, the ~Presbyter,on church has
peculiar qualifications f3r l~uesttrg thA Lsl,-
sionary call, which Is the commanding nate
in Christ,s marching orders at the begin
AAAAA6 ~ 80 ~ 0NAA1N
in the divine message; in the divine sender,
and In mans supreme need. This is the
Alpha and Omega OF a missionary creed.
Ours Is a glorious b~irthright. but ours is
a more glorious outlook. Many prophets
and righteous men have desired to see the
things which we see and have not seen
them, and to hear the things which we
hear, and have not heard them. The
riches of a hallowed history are tributary
to our service, and its crimsoned treasures
are ready at our command. II forty CEN
turtles looked down upon Napoleon's troops,
ell history waits for our loyalty and de-
voton. The circle OF all the centuries has
It's center in our own.
The records of patriarchs aud prophets,
of apostles and martyrs cannot be rounded
out till the loyal allegiance, the Christ
like spirit, the consecrated energies OF our
generation are counted in. II is a glorious
company of which we are a part. We
perform our mission. we I'LL our place. we
accomplish our word in the plan OF re-
dempton Of q lost race. covering the vast
sweep Of time. and in the march OF the
redeemed of God toward the far-off goal
Of perfection, which is complete in Jesus
Christ.
Cumberland Presbyterian Assembly.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo-. May 15.-The sew
cnty-second general assembly Of the Cum
berland Presbyterian church In the United
States met in this city at 1880 o'clock this