The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-05-20
UNION BETWEEN
PRESBYTER|ANS
This Question to Come
Before Assembly.
CHURCH OF THE SOUTH
Dr.. ]. E. PIunkett of Augusta, Georgia
is Elected Moderator: and The
Reading Of Committee Reports
Occupies Most OF the
First Day.
CHURCH OF THE SOUTH
(By the Associated Press

Fort Worth Texas, May 1S.-Dr j.
E. Plunkett, of Augusta, Ga, was
elected moderator today by the gen.
eral assembly of the Southern Presby-
terrain Church in the United States.
DIR. S. M. Neel District of Columbia,
the retiring moderator, delivered his
farewell sermon at the morning Ses-
sion. The afternoon session was de-
voted to committee reports and other
routine work.
The question of union or closer -rela-
lions with other Presbyterian bodies
will come up at these meetings and 1t
is expected that an interesting debate
will take place. A committee was APP
pointed by the general assembly last
year to study the questions of closer
relations, and its report it is under
stood, will cover all phases of the
questions at issue. The report will in
clude the plan adopted by representa-
tives of the several Presbyterian
churches in Pittsburg last year. This
plan provides for an amalgamated &C.
clesiastical council with members from
each church body for the promotion
Of cooperative work.
The following nominations were
made for moderator: DR.. George
Summey. of New Orleans; DR.. j. f.
Plunkett, of Augusta, Ga; DR.. j. S.
Lyons. of Louisville, KY; DR.. j. II.
Howerton. of Charlotte, n. c.; DR.. j.
+. Falton, of Athens, Ga; and F. HI.
Blanton, of Danville, KY.
After three ballots were taken OH
the elimination plan, the contest mar
rowed down to but two candidates
Drs. Lyon and Plunkett. On the
fourth ballot DIR. Plunkett was elected.
The vote stood 104 to 65.
DR.. Plunkett made a short address
to the assembly in which he said:
81 shall endeavor in the fear of God
to act rightly in all things that shall
come before me in this service, and |
ask that in all things the ends that we
hope to reach may be reached in the
fear of our God"
DIR. Robert Hill, of Dallas, and E. b.
McCluer. of Norfolk. Va. were chosen
by the assembly as temporary clerks
of the meeting.
DR.. Neel. the retiring moderator of
the Assembly, said that he was in re-
ceipt of a communication asking that
the 400th anniversary of the birth OF
John Knox, the great Scotch reformer.
lie celebrated by the assembly and that
he had promised to make the sug-
gestion. DIR. Neel also stated that he
had asked DR.. Richard c. Reed. pro-
lessor of church history in the Column
bia Seminary of Columbia S. c., to
address the assembly upon the occa-
sion next Sunday afternoon.
DIR. w. A Alexander. stated clerk of
the assembly, of Clarksville, stated
that he is in receipt of a communities
ton of the alliance of reformed
churches of Scotland. suggesting that
next Sunday be observed in celebra-
ton of the event and read a request
from Nashville Presbytery asking that
the assembly observe the day with
fitting service.
The late afternoon session Of the
general assembly was devoted to the
reading of reports of committees.
The report of the executive COM
mittee on home and foreign missions
was read and publication and Sabbath
school work was then reported
A public meeting was held tonight
and DIR. 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 evangelization and the commit
tee on ministerial education will prob
ably be read tomorrow