The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-05-20
REV, S, NJ, NEEL is
MADE MODERATOR
Southern Presbyterians Begin
Meetings in Mobile
WILL CONTINUE TEN DAYS
Discussion of the Time for Electing
Minute Clerk Was Heated, But
Today Was Agreed
Upon.
WILL CONTINUE TEN DAYS

Mobile, May 19.-The forty-fourth gen.
eral assembly of the Southern Presby-
terian church convened at II o'clock to-
day in the Government Street Presbyter-
ian church. The states of Alabama, Ar
kansas, Florida, Georgia, kentucky,
Louisiana, Mississippi Missouri, North
and South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and
Virginia are embraced in the general as
sembly and delegates are present from
all. Two coored delegates, both from
Alabama, are in attendance The con-
ference begun last night by the repre-
sentatives of the five theological semi
naries supported by the church was con-
tinued today.
The work of the conference is to be
prepared for the general assembly pa
pers dealing with the management of
educational inst 'surions az which young
l4Aen are pI epared for the ministry. The
general assembly will be in session ten
days.
The assembly was called to order in
the afternoon session at 8 o'clock by
the moderator, Rev A. c. Hopkins, the
first order of business being the cleo
tion of the new moderator. The candi-
dates presented to the assembly were
Rev. w. e. Boggs. Jamiville, Ark; Rev.
j. II. McNelly Nashville. Tenn; Rev.
j. B. French, Forth Worth, Tex, and
Rev. S. M. Neel, Kansas City, Mo. On
the third ballot Rev. S. M. Neel of
Kansas witty was elected
Conducted to the Chair
He was conducted to the chair by the
Revs. Fleming and French and introduced
by the retiring moderator making a suit
able response
Upon taking the chair the moderator an
nounced the election of a minute clerk
as the first business The retiring moder-
ator, the Rev A. C. Hopkins, moved that
the election be made the special order for
Monday at 4 p. m. This preciptated a
lengthy debate which lasted over an hour,
the older members of the assembly clam
orlng for delay, while the younger urged
immediate action. The matter resulted in
the nomination of the following, and
making the election of minute clerk the
special order for II a. m. tomorrow.
The Rev. j. r. Summernel, Norfolk, Va.
the Rev. j. d. Leslie Central Texas pres
bytery; the Rev c. p. Thompson, Lexlng-
ton, KY; the Rev. T. r. Law, Spartan
burg, s. c.; the Rev. w. S, Campbell,
Richmond, Va; the Rev Alex. M. Frazer,
Stanton, Va; the Rev. L. L. McCue, Jack
son, Miss.
The Rev E. A. Abbott, Fayette, Mo,
end the Rev. A. Y. Allison, Lake Charles,
Mo-, were elected temporary clerks.
The Rev. A. F. Carr presented the mod
orator with a gavel made from piece Of
the first wharf built by Bienville at No
lille in ITO, recently excavated, its authen-
ticty being proved by old maps found in
France
Special Order Made.
The following special orders were made;
Friday. 8 D. m, Sunday school and young
peoples work; Monday, p m, minis
teral relief
Or. s M. Neel the new moderator, Is
nastor of the Central Presbyterian
church Kansas City, Mo. He is of the
noted Mecklenburg, North Carolina stock,
and was educated at the Louisiana
Grange college, La Grange. Tenn. which
perIshed during the civil war. He prac-
ticed law in Memphis in his younger days,
was soldier in the Confederate army and
at the close of the war studied theology
In Columbia, s. c., and Marlborough,
Scotland From seventy-two to seventy
five he was pastor at Oxford, Miss, thence
went to ShelbyWlle, KY, from which
place he went to his present charge
The assembly held religious services at
night, and listened to sermon by Rev.
b. NJ Shide of Kentucky.