The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-29
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
Lively Discussion Over Re-
ports on Education.
EDR. j. p. SMITHS POSITION
Mobile Selected as the Next Place Of
Meeting The Reformed Church
Ask for Closer Relations and
Organic Union.
EDR. j. p. SMITHS POSITION
tspecinl to rhe 11mes.pispatch.l

LEXINGTON. VA, May 2S.-The Gen.
eral Assembly of the Southern Presbyte-
rian Church this morning adopted the re-
port upon theological serninaries. which
came UP and adopted.
The report showed an enrolment at the
five institutions of Clarksvlle. Union.
Southwestern. Kentucky and Central to
be los, which is n falling of from last
year OF four. The faculties were en-
dorsed for their faithfulness and ability.
The committee recommended that all con-
trolling boards unite In n representative
conference on tho basis OF ono member
of the faculty and one member from the
board of each institution, for the purpose
Iof creating and conserving definite rela-
lions OF comfy among tho several theo-
Illogical se,ninaries. It was further recon-
lnended that a nonresident post graduate
course be established for tho degree of
doctor OF divinity. Tho report was
adopted.
LIVELY DISCUSSION.
The liv1est discussion Of the day was
provoked by calling UP the unfinished
business, referring to tho consideration Of
the Joint committee Of the standing COM
mittecs of Publication and Sabbath
Bchools. Two reports were submitted yes
terday by this committee, tho majority
favoring that the secretary of Publication
md superintend Of Sabbath Schools DC
combined in ono office with one secretary.
,
ithe two offices DO not combined, and re-
commended that tho Executive Commit
,teee OF Publication be instructed to elect
In general superintendent of Sabbath
Schools and Young Peoples Societies.
Dr.. James P. Smith addressed the AS
sembly on behalf Of tho Executive Com
lmittee of Publication and advocated the
combining of tho two offices. He cited
the working of the Publication Committee
Of the Northern Presbyterian Church, To-
& Gated In Philadelphia, which was doing
efficient work and which was divided
Into three departments, one having charge
! of business matter. second OF euitorihl
or literary matter, and the tliiru [r sup ea,
i tendent of Sabbath Schools The COM
q mittee thought 1t desirable to formulate
j their plans and work similarly, except
that they would be unable Mt present TO
have a man ut tho head of each depart
ment.
MAJORITY WIN.
II was evident that there was consider
able opposition to the plan suggested by
the majority report, and some lively tllts
we're INDUCED in by various commission
ers. The business manager OF the com
mittee, r. y. Magtll, was called on LOT
n statement of financial conditions. When
,hc vote was taken the minority report
was adoptcd by the vote Of los to 81. Sew
ernl amendments were made to the re-
port.
Mr.. Magill was elected secretary and
business manager of the COMMITTEE OF
PUBLICATION. The consideration OF the
superintendent Of Sabbath Schools was
(. made the order of tho day for II o'clock
tomorrow
,The report from tho homo and school
nj Fredericksburg, Va, for the children
OF foreign missionaries and or deceased
ministers was mado by DR.. w. u. Mor-
Ton, of Rocky Mount, N. G. There are
orphans and thirteen widows. Superin-
tcndent Somervle followed with a state
! ment as to tho value of property. Inc
buildings are worth over 10000.
CLOSER RELATIONS ASKED.
A communication was received from the
General Synod Of the Reformed Presby-
ferian Church, from their annual meet
ing In Philadelphia today, asking Tor
closer relations and organic union OF all
the Presbyterian churches IN the Unlted
States The assembly was asked to SEND
delegates to meeting to be hold in June.
An important resolution was adopted
with reference to the rights of mission
aries I'M the Congo Free States as fol-
'Iows:... =.
The Presbyterian Church In the United
States that a committee consisting OF
four members, of which Rev. w. M. Nor
rson shall be chairman be appointed by
the moderator, whose duty shall be to pro-
United States memorial setting forth
the rights of missionaries In the Congo
Free States under the treaty OF Berlin,
and how these rights are disregarded by
The government of the Congo Free States.
und urging the government OF the United
Estates to take such action as may be
necessary ind proper under the oircum-
stances to ascertain and correct tbs
wrongs complained OF and to secure the
rights to which citizens of the United
Estates who are missionaries to Africa
ARE entitled; and the Senators and Rep
Tesentatives for tho States under the Ju-
risdiction OF this assembly are earnestly
requested to give to the committee APP
pointed under this resolution all the aid
II may be In their power to afford"
MOBILE CHOSEN
Two cities were put In nomination this
afternoon Tor the next place Of meeting
Mobile. Ala. and Augusta, Ga. Dr..
Planck of Mobile, nominated Government
Street Church, OF that city, and reminded
the assembly that last year when Lex
ington was selected there WAS q tact un-
derstandIng that Mobile should be Sc
lected this year, DIR. Punkett invited the
assembly to Augusta, where the assem-
bly, was organized, and next year would
celebrate the one hundredth year of the
organization of that church, He said
they would give the visitors cordial
welcome, not second to what they had
received In Lexington, and nothing more
taken and Mobile was selected by the
vote of ninety to seventy-six.
The standing Committee on Education
reported through the chairman. DR.. Con-
Verse of Louisville KY. that during the
rast year the collections amounted to over
$4,000, an increase over the past year OF
nearly fifty per cent. The committee
recommended the raising of $4,000 for tho
benefit of candidates for the ministry
and each presbytery is requested to raise
Its proportionate share,
The Bible training school at Laredo
Texas. was recognized as It school for the
training of Mexicans for the ministry. and
the assembly authorized the committee
10 assist needy students In attendance
there,
The Executive Committee was instruct
ed to appoint faithful men TO visit each
college and university within tho bounds
OF the assembly and confer with young
men on personal piety
(MINISTERiAI. RELIEF
The standing committee on ministerial
oil q i.,