The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-30
UNITED PRESBYTERIANS
DIR. j. c. WILSON ELECTED MODER-
ATOR OF THE ASSEMBLY.
Reports of the Clerk aud Boards Pre-
sentcd-Membership Covenant
to Cause n Fight.

PITTSBURG, May 29.-When the Rev.
DR.. ]. NJ. Ross called the forty-fourth Gen.
sral Assembly of the United Presbyterian
Church of North America to order this
morning for the first business session 253
commissioners were in their seats. James
c. Wilson, of Erie, Pa, was elected mod
orator on the first ballot
After the reading of the minutes the
clerk presented his report. 1t showed that
the congregations of America contributed
for all purposes during the year S1,S43, 233,
an increase of $116.5S5. the largest in any
one year. The membership of the church
increased 2.029. In three synods-New
York. Ohio and Iowa-there has been de-
crease in the membership. In this, the
report says, there is an indication of the
great changes taking place in our popula-
ton.
The reports of the various boards were
then presented, and the rest of the session
was taken up with the reading of these re-
ports. The report of the board OF home
missions shows the net gain in attendance
lions to the boards, $24,S22; entire expenses
for the year ended March 81, $S5,S17-
Twelve congregations became self-support-
ing during the year. After investigation
is the condition, in every respect" of the
mountain whites of the South. Work
among them would have to be taken up
and carried on much the same as in
heather lands. The year closes with
balance of s2.S62. The receipts from lega-
cies. s27,105 were exceptionally large.
The report OF the board of foreign mis-
sions says there has been great progress
in almost every department. 1t is shown
that the additions to membership in India
have amounted to 1,036 on profession and
337 on certificate and on restoration. In
Egypt the additions on profession was 4J0
The contributions in India during the year
for definitely religious purposes were ST.,
$50. a gain of 1902, and in Egypt $29, 100. a
gain of 1882. For all purposes the contri-
buttons in Egypt were four times what
they were ten years ago, and about the
same advance is reported from India. The
total sum required for the year was 1884,
S53. The total receipts were $14S,212, leav-
ing an Indebtedness of $l0,s47. 1t is estimated
that $3.50 will be needed for the missions
in Egypt this year and 5000 for India.
The membership covenant will be the
most important matter considered by the
assembly. This has been expected all
along, but to-day put an entirely new face
on the matter, and tomorrow will see
a lively fight on the question. Rev. David
r. Miller, d. D., furnished the surprise
Presbytery containing a covenant TO be
substituted for the basis of membership
devised by the special committee appointed
a year ago. and which was referred to-
day to a special committee that will re-
port tomorrow. The memorial asks that
the assembly send the covenant down to
the presbyteries as an overture, and sets
forth at length arguments in its favor. 1t
is essentially the same as the covenant
prepared by the special committee of which
Rev. j. I. McCreery, ID. d., is chairman,
but il provides for the repeal of the Law
of Adherence" now the principal feature
of the membership covenant. This law
requires applicants for membership TO sub
scribe TO all the principles and doctrines
of the church. The new provision simply
requires profession of faith and repentance.
The commissioners are lining up on the
question, and the fight will be sharp.