The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-19
DECREASE IN GIFTS
TO BIBLE. SOCIETY
Anniversary Of Birth Of John
Knox to be Celebrated-Re
ports on Home Missions,
Foreign Missions and Pub
lication Presented-Irn-
portant Matters Up.
tspe.,al to Tho Times Dirpatch.)

fSpt.ill TO Ihe
FORT WORTH, TEX. May 1s.-Thc
city Is In full possession OF the Southern
Presbyterians now here In attendance
upon their General Assembly. A number
Of important matters are up for conside-
ration and the session promises TO be one
OF the most interesting In the history Of
tho Church.
The assembly was organized at II
o'clock to-day. the opening sermon be-
Ing preached by Rev. S. NJ. Neel D, D.,
OF St Louis. Mo- Though there seemed
( to be no previous candidates for Mode
rator, there were six nominees for that
honorable position They were Rev. pr.
Sprunt. OF Charleston. S. c., Rev. DR.. Geo.
snmmey. OF New Orleans, Rev. Dr. j.
E. Plunkett. OF Augusta, Ga. Rev. Dr..
j. S. Lyons. OF Louisville. Rev. DR.. J. II.
Howerton. OF Charlotte. and Rev, DR.. J.
: F. Walden. OF Athens. Ga.
After three ballots were taken on the
elimination plan. the contest narrowed
down TO but two candidates. Drs. Lyons
and Plunkett On the fourth ballot DR..
e Plunkett was elected. The vote stood
1o4 ito 65.
In this election some thought there was
test OF strength between the forces ia
and the opponents appeared to be in the
majority.
DR.. Plunkett made short address to
& the assembly in which he said: II. snail
endeavor in the fear OF God to act right
~ In all things that shall come before me
Z in this service and I ask that In all
things the ends that we hope to reach
may be reached in the fear OF our God =
3f Or. Robert Hill. OF Dallas, and E. -.
y sNfcCluer. OF Norfolk, Va, were chosen
by the assembly as temporary clerks sof
q the meeting.
Birthday Of Knox. vi
Or. Neel. the retiring moderator Of the
assembly. said that he was in receipt OF
communication asking that the four
hundredth anniversary of the birth OF
John Knox. the great Scotch reformer.
be celebrated by the assembly next Sun
day, and that he had promised to mako
that ne had asked DR.. Richard c. Reed.
professor OF church history in the CO.
lumbia Seminary. of Columbia. S. c.. to
address the assembly upon the occasion
next Sunday afternoon DR.. W. a. Alex
ander. clerk OF the assembly. OF Clarkes-
Vile, stated that he Is In receipt OF a
communication OF the Alliance Of Re-
formed Churches of Scotland, suggest
IS ing that next Sunday be observed In cele-
bration OF the event. and read request
from Nashville Presbytery. asking that
the assembly observe the day with fitting
service.
Reports Read.
The late afternoon session Of the as
sembly was devoted to the reading Of re-
ports of committees. The report OF the
executive committee on Home Missions
was presented. The report of the execu-
tive committee on Foreign Missions was
read. and Publication and Sabbath School
Work was then reported.
A public meeting was held tonight.
and DR.. Fox. of New York. agent of
the American Bible Society, made an
extended address on the work Of that
society. explaining in detail the scope
OF the work.
The report OF the Committee on Col
ored Evangelizaton and the Committee
on Ministerial Education will probably
be read tomorrow.
Tonight the assembly heard Rev. j.
Fox. D. D.. the president of the American
Bible Society, speak in the interest Of
that work. The decrease In gifts to the
Bible Society was a matter of much con-
Germ to the assembly.
Question Of Union.
The question of union or closer relations
with other Presbyterian bodies will come
up at these meetings, and 1t is expect
ed that an interesting debate will take
place A committee was appointed by
the General Assembly last year TO study
the questions OF closer relations, ana us
report, it Is understood. will cover al
phases of the questions at issue. The
report will include the plan adopted by
representatives of the several Presby,
terlan churches In Pittsburg last year
This plan provides for an amalgamated
ecclesiastical council with members IRON
each church body for the promotion o.
cooperative work.
The handsome and ommodious Broad
way church, in which the assembly meets
was built largely by the lierality OF one
woman OF wealth. Mrs Sarah Ball, Whc
in the last two years gave 1000 to the
cause of foreign missions and Soo'ooo =
home missions. having given large part
OF the cost Of this church building she IN,
4 stalled a $1,000 organ in 1t an IN her VII
left It an enowment of $4,000.