Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-14
Appeal for Religious Liberty.

Inc question as TO whether the PrcSbyter.
ian Church should petition the authorities
OF the Naval Academy to allow the cadets
to attend any church which they might pre-.
fer was then introduced. At present they
are obliged, under the rules of the academy
to attend the services in the academy
chapel which follows the Episcopal form
of worship. Complete religious liberty In
the academy. as well in country as a
whole is believed by the PRESBYTERIAN
Church to be right, under the Constitution
of the United States. 1t was stated that a
student of the naval school is required to
subscribe to "A paper which says that he
has conscientious scruples against attend.
ing the EpiScoDalian Church before being
allowed to attend elsewhere
1t was stated this morning that no
churchman can conscientiously say that he
disapproves of the Episcopal form of
service unless he be a Catholic and that
therefore the rule is quite binding in the
majority of cases. 1t is claimed the other
protestant bodies in this country feel much
the same does the Presbyterian Church
in this matter.
The resolution. recommended by the COM
mittee, was to the effect that a committee
wait upon the Secretary of the Navy to
protest against the resembling of a regula-
ton allowing this religious freedom, which
was in effect several years ago. The reso-
luton was adopted by the synod this
morning. The following committee was
named to wait upon Secretary Moody: Rev
DR.. w. c. Alexander of Georgetown Rev
DR.. McIlvan and Elder Robert H. Smith
The Rev. Judson Swift of New York. field
secretary of the American Tract Society,
addressed the assembly this morning.
Gen. Charles Bird, u. S. A. chairman of
the committee on religious work in the
army and navy. made a report from the
committee recommending that the religious
work o fthe Presbyterian Church be carried
on more earnestly at posts where there
are no army chaplains.
The synod and a number of ladies called
IL,
today.
Reports of Committees.
Reports from the following committees
We're taken up aftersthe recess, which was
from noon until $40 o'clock: On young peo-
pies societies. DR.. John l.. Allison, chair
man; on education, Rev Geo. S. Bel, chair
man; on Sabbathia observance, Rev. Charles
Alvin Smith, chairman; on foreign missions,
DR.. Teunis s. HamliNs chairman; on church
erection, DR.. N. 44MMiller, chairman: on
publication and Sabbath school work Rev
r. l.. Hallett, chairman; on evangelistic
work. remarks by DR.. Geo. p. Wilson; on
standing committees and rules and on
leave of abSence,t G
A recess will be~taken at 5:15 o'clock this
afternoon, and the meeting will be contin-
ued al o'clock 1t will be under the direc-
ton this evening ofnthe Woman's Synod
icai Societies. The foreign secretary, Miss
Josephine M. Chester, and the home secre-
tary, MISS Nettle ". Bradley, VIII make
reports. There win lalso be an address by
DIR. Stealey B. R6ssiter.
The final adjournment of this annual
meeting of the synod will probably occur
this evening about 10 O'Clock.
Synodical Sermon.
The session of the synod last evening
was opened by scriptural reading, conduct
ed by Dr. F. II. Moore of Middletown, Del.
Dr. Elmoyle then preached the synodical
sermon on the subject, THE Holy Ghost
His Mission and Destiny" He spoke part
ly as follows:
"On the one hand there is so much talk
about the Spirits work, and on the other
hand is the lack of it's manifestation in
church work. We have been guilty of ir-
reverence toward the subject The dis
tinctive work of the Holy Ghost is to take
the things of Christ and show them to us
Let us look at the Spirits work first in
the sphere of nature. The earth was with
out form and void, and the Spirit of God
brooded over the waters. The sun and