The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-17
Other Candidates in Presbyterian
 Assembly Withdraw
SERMON BY DR LANDRITH
Nashville Divine Utters Clarion Call to United Church to Possess the West and the
 South"

Columbus O., May 16-There were two features of the opening sessions of the one hundred and nineteenth general as- sembly ofs the Presbyterian church, which convened at Memorial hall in this city today, the annual sermon by Rev. pr. Ira Landrith of Nashville Tenn, moderator of the last Cumberland Presbyterian as- sembly which was delivered in the morn- ing, and the election of moderator, which took place in the afternoon. More than 300 delegates answered the first roll call and several thousand visitors looked on at the opening sessions.
 The election of a moderator was re- duced to a formality by the withdrawal of all the candidates except Rev. William H. Roberts of Philadelphia, who was chosen by exclamation. Rev. Dr. Rob- erts has been stated clerk of the assem- bly for fourteen years and is regarded as one of the ablest and most popular men in the church. His name was pre- sented by Dr. Ira Dandrith of the Cum berland branch, who paid high tribute to the Rev. Dr. Roberts as leader, poth in the movement for a united church
  tiona1 cooperation.
 The communion of the Lords Supper was celebrated tonight by the assembly.
 The 400 seats of the Memorial hall on East Broad street were all filled when the one hundred and nineteenth assem- bly, convened.
 pr. Coyle of Depsr slled the assem- bly, to order, in pls 31nter Cor bett, the last mot ..ev. Ira D. Landrith of Nashville T elm, former mod orator of the Cumberland Presbyterian assembly and the man who was instru- mental in getting his church to join the northern body, delivered the annual ad- dress. His reference to the race question and his declaration that the property of the minority of tne eflectors in the . id chfvcl lie upion, will be paid for was received with applause,
 Election FormaIity.
 The election of moderator at the after noon session was reduced to a formallty oy the withdrawal of all candidates ex- cept Rev. Dr. William H. Roberts of Philadelphia. Preceding the election there was a roll call to which over 900 dele gates responded. When nominations for modera tor were declared In order, Rev. Dr. Landrith of Nashville Tenn, mod orator of the last Cumberland Presby- terian assembly, presented the name of
  clamation. When the acting moderator declared Rev Dr. Roberts elected the latter stepped forward his eyes glisten- ing with tears.
 The new moderator said he appreciated the honor conferred because of what he had stood for many years and that it was for this rather than personal reasons that he had been chosen. He believed that little by little 1t may be. but stead fly anl at last there would be but one Presbyterian denomination in this land. He believed that by the unanimous vote given him the assembly stands with him in bringing together all the members of the Presbyterian family. Rev. Dr. Roberts had d pleasant word for the Cumberland element in the church, say ing that although he was a high Cal vanist he believed that the "whosoever gospel was foreordained from all eter- nity to be preached to all men. lie hoped a great wave of evangelism would sweep over the land.
 The moderator announced that the Rev. Dr. Chas. Manton of Paris, Tex, would act as vice moderator.
 MT. James J. Parks of St. Louis, pre- sented the moderator with gavel given by the Presbyterian brotherhood of his city. The head was made of wood from the old First Presbyterian church of Philadelphia and from the First Presby- terian church of St. Louis, which was the oldest continuous Protestant congre- gation west of the Mississippi river. The handle was of wood from Tennessee, where the Cumberland church was first organized in 1Si0
 Rev. w. J. Darby D. D., offered a reso- lution that Rev. J. H. Miller of Indian apols. Ind, and Rev. J. F. Rice of Ma rion, Ky, we sent as delegates to the colored Presbyterian general assembly. m in, eos af prnUidanpa LC pr Darby said that the assembly repre- sented some 25OO0 or 9O,OoO members To- cated chiefly in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama. Mississippi Arkansas, Missouri and Texas.
 The resolution was unanimously adopted.
 pr. Landrith's Sermon.
 The theme of Dr. Landrith's sermon was "Tbe Call of Preesbyterianism' En- larged Macedonia" and his text. Possess thou the west and the south." Deut. xxxiii: 23.
 The design of the discourse was to arouse the general interest of the church in educational and religious work in the south and southwest, where Cumberland Presbyterans were most numerous at the time of the union. The merging of the two churches was interpreted by the preacher as enlargng Presbyterian;sm s field of work, and as utterng a clarion call to the united church to possess the west and the south" The marvellous ma terial prosperity of the southern half of the United States, he declared, consti- tutes both a plea and a warning of dan ger of the spiritual advantages of the people do not keep pace with their com mcrcial development. He favored coop eration and ultimate union with the Southern Presbyterian church; declared the south to be ready for a widespread revival; reviewed recent moral reforms in that section, and announced his belief that the wonderful temperance triumphs in the southern states were due to the churches.
 He assured the Christians at the north that "the war is over' in matters re- ligions. the south being fully ready now to welcome the presence and labors Of any denomination that labors sanely and unselfshly for the present and eternal veal of the people. The fact that the Presbyterian church was mentioned, and the assurance given that protesting minority, who have gone into the courts to clain all of the property of the former Cumberland Presbyterian church, shall have in the end every penny to which they are morally entitled. no matter what the courts may determine the legal rights to oa. The sermon frankly takas ID ths