The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-05-13
GENERAL ASSEMBLY !.
OF THE PREsBYTERIANS
OUTLOOK FOR THE GATHERING
AT DIES MONIES MAY II. T
Will Bring Army of Visitors to Iowa
City-Dr. A. B. Marshall of Mime
apolis in Lead for Moderator-Will
Unite with Cumberland Church-694
Official Delegates. -

Unite with Cumberland Church-694
Official Delegates. i
Des Moines, Iowa, May ITO this
city falls the honor of entertaining the
two hqndredth general assembly OF the
great Presbyterian church, the first as
sembly OF the denomination having
been held in Philadelphia, two centuries
ago. The assembly will be composed
OF 694 official delegates. With the
other officers of the church and the
fraternal delegates from the old world,
the number of visitors will probably be
convene Wednesday,, May II, and con-
tinue ten days.
A Great Church. 81.
The basis of representation in the
assembly. is one minister and one lay
man for every tWenty-four ministers or
fraction thereof. These delegates will
legislate for an ECCLESIASTICAL denomin
1920 churches, and 1,o44, ISL communi'
cants. One of the most important is
sues to be discussed at the approaching
assembly will be that Of formal unit
denomination, which has 1,6l6 minis
ters, 1880 churches, and 1851 com
municants in the United States. y
Union with Cumberland
The proposal for the union Of these
two branches of the Presbyterian
church is not new, the matter having
1t is the ardent hope of those favoring
the movement that the two hundredth
anniversary will witness a final agree
ment for consolidation, and that the
general assembly Of 1907 will be com
posed Of delegates representing both of
the former separate bodies.
There will be no controversies con-
corning creed. So far as formal ex-
pressions of faith are concerned, the
atmosphere seem clarified. There may,
however, be some lively discussion over
the new book Of prayer, which has just
been published as the work of COM
mittee named for the purpose and head
ed by the eminent DR.. Henry Van Dyke.
New Frayerbook.
The title page of the book bears the
inscription: "For voluntary use in
Churches This is the first time that
a prayerbook has been offered for use
in the Presbyterian church. Heretofore
there has been much opposition to-the
the western churches. It is said that
at the last general assembly held at
Winona Lake, Ind, last year, one Of
the representatives expressed himself
as follows: >"Out our way we have to
. eat canned vegetables, canned meat and
canned milk, but we can't stand for
canned prayers j 3
AS the use Of the .prayerbook is not
mandatory, nothing is anticipated fur
Their than free expression of views
concerning the propriety and utility ct
the 1T fbe eis bGea ad that the
prayerbook, while the churches Of the
west will very generally refrain from its
use.
Who'll Be Moderator
Who will be honored with the office
of moderator is Away an interesting
question at the meetings of the general
assembly. There are several prominent
candidates. Among the ministers most
prominently mentioned in this connec-
ton is Rev. A. B. Marshall of Mime
apolis, who was for several years pastor
of the Central Presbyterian church in
Des Moines. Another strong candidate
Dew. DR.. William H. Roberts of Phila
delphia, stated clerk of the assembly
will also have a strong following:
The ministerial relief work is nov
operated on somewhat the same plan as
a pension bureau. anad is designed tt
give aid to retired ministers. This yea
it is proposed to outline an entirely new
ed to conduct it in the future more OF
the basis Of an insurance department
DR.. Benjamin L. Agnew of Philadel
phia, secretary, of the ministerial de
partment. will be one of the leaders il
the work, of reorganization: ~ y
The general assembly, will bring to
gether a large number of men who hay
won international fame as minister
and scholars in the work of the grea
church, whose organization goes bacl
TO the days of John Calvin and job
Knox. Among the prominent person
New York, one of the foreign secre
tories. Hew1ll attract special attentio
thru having charge of: the big forelg
missionary rally which will occur o
the opening night of the session.
Prominent Men.
Rev. DR.. Charles L: Thompson, SCI
rotary of the home mission board, WI
be an active delegate. Dr.. Thompson
said to- be one of the most eloquer
speakers in the Presbyterian churcl
Dr.. James w. Worden is secretary. {
the Sunday school department. of tn
assembly. and is recognized as one {
the greatest TeuSlOuS loteelS LII u
country. DR.. William H. Roberts, WI
Cor decade has been clerk of the gel
eral assembly. gives his entire time
the work and draws an annual sala1
Of So. 1000 year: The retiring mode ) L9
of Washington and Jefferson college
Pennsylvania. He is looked upon as OF
Of the best-informed Presbyterians
the world on questions of church pollt
and parliamentary law.
Among number of missionaries wi
will be present is DR.. Hunter Corbet
who has been a missionary to China f
forty years, and who tho past 10 yea
of age, works with the vigor Of
Younger man. He is a powerful speake
Much pleasure is anticipated from II
presence of Rev. DR.. J: Wilbur Cha
man, the great evangelist. DR.. Cha
man is secretary Of the Presbyteri;
evangelistic committee. He will co
duct evangelical services here duril
the assembly.
Services today at Prospect Park !
E. church will be given over to you
people. ~. liz 49,. .-
Bishop Samuel Cook Edsall, DID,, Will pre-
the confirmation sermon and confirm class