The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-17

erton of the Asheville presbytery, presi- dent of the Mountain Retreat association, that he would be their moderator, but when the ballot was taken he was given the gavel, and the highest honor in the church.
 The day was replete with glowing ad- dresses, and many interesting features. The first session was marked by the opening sermon, the election of officers and the first preaching of the articles of agreement. The commissioners in fla vor scored two victories from all ap- pearances, first Tn the election of rad ical agreement man to the chair, and then in tabling resolution for the early consideration of the articles.
 Committee Reports In Afternoon.
 In the afternoon the reports of the va rous executive committees were read by the secretaries, and last night an ad- dress of welcome for the city was deliv- cred by Judge Samuel D. Weakley Dr. J. w. Stagg expressed the welcome of the members of his church, and a reply was made by the Rev. Dr. w. M. Alex ander of New Orleans After the reports of the trustees of the assembly and the various theological seminaries, the first day of the session passed into history.
 The gavel first called the commission CTS to order, as the retiring moderator, Dr. Allen G. Hall, led in singing Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow and then Dr. J. P. Smith of Richmond invoked the blessings of the Lord on the proceedings of the assembly.
 Strong Sermon By pr. Howerton.
 After a beautifully rendered musical selection by the choir, the Rev. Dr. How ba fourth chapter of Matthews. and an- nounced his text in the Sth, 9th and 10th verses:
 Again the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
 And saith unto him: All these things will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me-
 ",Then saith Jesus unto him: Get thee hence, Satan for it is written Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God. and him only shalt thou serve"
 The sermon was an appropriate appl- cation of the temptations of Christ to the temptations of the sinner. He opened with the statement that while men write histories of the decisive battles of the world yet the single combats and the spiritual conflicts are the most telling, and the most important. And he said that should he write a history of such battles. first of all he would place that of Jesus Christ, when he withstood the temptations of the devil at the beginning of his ministry. "All of his subsequent life, on down through the rocky paths to death on the cross, was carrying out the results of this great mortal conflict.
 "I hold up to you Jesus in this temp tation as man. for l believe that He voluntarily denied himself the divine sup port, that is His divine nature, and went into the battle with the support of the Holy Spirit. having human mind. thought and pain, such as you and L.
 While the purpose of this temptation might have been vague to the audience. the speaker explained it as of great weight ''The temptation of the devil was to defeat the idea of worldly kingdom in Christ's mind. and to begin the founda- lions for His eternal spiritual kingdom.
 Contrasts the Pictures.
 "It was no lie when Satan said, All these things will I give unto you if you fall down and worship me. He had it in his power, and in fact the worldly king dom r1as a possibility" The speaker pie tured Jerusalem. mistress of the Roman