The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-20
CHURCH UNION.
Chief Matter to Be Considered by
Cumberland Presbyterians.

Dallas, Tex, 2O.-When the general
assembly of the Cumberland Presby-
terrain church assembled today Judge
W. E. Settle of the Kentucky court of
appeals, who was yesterday elected
moderator, was discharged The re-
ports of the committee on fraternity
and union took UP the entire morning
session. A canvass of the delegates
today discloses a sentiment about
church union. There are several
prominent and pronounced opponents
to the plan of union, while the COM
mittee report has many Staunch sup
porters. 1t will be almost impossible
to forecast which side is in a majority
until the final vote is taken.
The report of the educational so
ciety emphasized the necessity for an
increase in the number of prOba-
TONERS for the ministery. For the
past two years. the diminution has
been more than 40 per cent of the
average of the ten years preceding
1900. The demand for college bred
men is rapidly increasing, and the col
leges are not keeping pace with the
demand, because there are not enough
probationers listed by the presby-
teries. Nothing is being done for the
co1ored Cumberland Presbyterians ex-
cept to give to their schools the in
terest on a sum of $1,000 The assem-
bly, is urged to seriously consider the
SITUATION ana devise means lot nSlp-
ing tn EN-. The board received during
the year $11,204, and disbursed Sill
1913, the balance on hand being ST.,
961. The permanent investment fund
amounts to 5000.
The board of ministerial relief re-
ported a substantial increase of re
ceipts during 1903. the increase, main
" from legacies, being nearly $4,000.
The total receipts were $14,514, and
the expenditures S9,741. The endOw-
I me- MT iS
of Thornton home, valued at SO,
The report of the board of Sunday
schools and young peoples work
showed that it had received $3,575,
and had on hand January 1, a balance
of $2,445. The endeavor societies
raised $3.50, and the Junior En-
deavor society $1,179- The plans of
the board look to the development of
Christian Endeavor societies and other
organizations for young people The
report of the general assembly trus-
tees showed that they received from
various sources $1,066, making to-
tai of $3,951, which has been invested.
The total amount of invested funds is
$13.3S2.
The educational commission reported
that in addition to the $3.50, 600 for the
| endowment and equipment of the James
Nilliken university, $35, 900 has been ad-
ed to the endowment of Cumberland
university, $4,000 to that of Waynes-
burg college, $1,000 to Auburn semi
nary.
About nine-tenths of the $1,000 900 en-
dowment has been already secured
and the commission recommend that
more than that amount be raised before
the centennial anniversary of the
church in 1910.
The permanent committee on tenn
| perance reported that owing to lack of
| funds it had been una BILE to provide any
special literature on the subject.
| The evangelistic committee Submitted
| recommendations for systematic evan
gelistic work in the synods ana presby-
| teries.
| The committee on fraternity and IN
| ion reported what had been done to
bring about the ''closer cooperation
and organic union of all Presbyterian
churches in the Z. s. and submitted
the text of the joint report on union.
which they recommended be adopted
and its provisions carried out.
The board of publication reported a
substantial growth in every department
of the business. The assets January l.
1904, S206. ZOO and the liabilities S51, 147.
The report of the board of missions
stated that there was much encourage
ment in the financial statement there
having been an increase in the number
of congregations contributing and the
offerings for home missions exceeding
them Of 1902 by s25S. and $2.5o5 for for
efgn missions. The total receipts were
S54 337, of which 1881 were for foreign
missions, SIS, 322 for home missions, and
IS, 204 for church erection. The Habilf-