The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-04-21

PRESBYTERIAN
PROBLEMS
Some Of the Subjects That
Will Be Discussed At the
General Assembly in May
QUESTION OF MERGER
JOHN H. CONVERSE. or PHILA-
DELPHIA. TO REPORT on
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES RACE
FOR MODERATOR


DES MONIES. Ia, April 20, 1906
When the one hundred and eighteenth
general assembly Of the Presbyterian
Church North shall con1enee here just
one month from tomorrow, it will take
up for final consideration and action. it
is thought two of the most radical
measures that have come within the
pale of IFS jurisdiction since the modi-
ication of the Westminster Confession
These. departures from the traditions of
both the near and far past are, as per
tanning to the first point of time, union
with the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, and, as to the second. the adop-
tion of the Book Of Christian Worship.
which is now more commonly called
the prayer book.
Of especial interest, too, is always
the question of the moderatorship-
who shall succeed the present incum-
bents? This year the election will as
sumo rather remarkable aspect, in that
there is entering upon the field, through
the support of his enthusiastic friends,
members of the foreign board and others
whose hobby is the foreign missions, the
Rev. DIR. Hunter Corbett, stationed at
Chefoo, China. and while there are can
didates who are at present regarded as
stronger, it is generally confessed that
DR.. Corbett,s chances are by no means
slim.
Just now President James G. X. Nc
Clure, of Mccormick Seminary, Chica go,
has the lead. in the speculative figuring
of his followers. DR.. Mcclure had been
successful pastor for twenty-five years
when he assumed the presidential chair
that DIR. Herrick Johnson, formerly pas
tor of the First Church, Philadelphia,
had occupied with so great distinction.
He served the church at Lake Forrest
and was once president Of the Lake For
est University. AS an educator he ranks
high in the estimation of his fellow
churchmen.
The Rev. DR.. Albert B. Marshall, pas
tor of the Westminster Church, in Min
neapolis, is also likely candidate. His
friends are making out strong case for
him and say he must be reckoned with
as a worthy opponent. 1t is confessed
that, aside from his personal worth and
general fitness for the office, the Rev. DR..
John T. Handy, of Jefferson City, Mo-,
should have the moderatorship because
of the fact that it il long time since
the Office was held by any one from that
section of the country. The Rev. DIR.
james NJ. Barkley, of Detroit, is also
prominently mentioned There will be no
serious attempt to elect an Eastern man,
neither can a layman be chosen, there
being too strong a sentiment against
such action.
The report of the committees which
have had the matter of union with the
Cumberland branch of the church in
hand for the last year, in order to fully
thresh out the details and legal techni-
calities involved, will probably be final
one and the union consummated. The
Rev. Dr. William H. Roberts. Of Phila-
delphia, the stated clerk of the Assembly,
will present the report for the joint COM.
mittee of both churches.
The .sovertures We're settled last year
and the presbyteries have carried the
proposition by affirmative action While
it is true that there is a strong minor
ity in the Cumberland branch opposed to
the move. there is no Indication that the
scheme of union will fail The coming
assembly is practically unanimous in its
attitude. The last assembly, as also that
of the Cumberland church. has agreed
upon the principle and fact of union, and
it can positively be assersed,' says one
who is well informed, "that. whether it
shall be accomplished al the next or the
following assembly it is bound to
come.s
Radicalism carried to the point Of too
great latitude is the verdict of not few
of the cons esyat yes in + gar1 to the
new prayer book, sample copies of which
will probably be in the possession of the
commissioners at the assembly, as the
board Of publication is making every eff
fort to bring this about. The criticism
is not aimed SO much against the pray
ers themselves as it is against the place
they occupy in the book as at present
planned Now the prayers are in the
body Of the book
overtures win be made that Shey be