New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-17
ROBERTS MODERATOR.
OTHER ASPIRANTS RETIRE
Presbyterian General assembly
Opens in Columbus.
IBy Teleeraph TO The Tribune

Columbus Ohio May 16.-The 400 seats IN
Memorial Hall, East Broad street were all
filled to-day when tho 18th General Assembly
of the Presbyterian Church convened.
DR.. Robert f. Coyle. of Denver, called the as
sembly to order in place of DR. Hunter Corbett,
the last moderator. The Rev DR.. Ira E. Land
rith of Nashville Tenn, former moderator Of
the Cumberland Presbyterian Assembly. and the
man who was instrumental in getting his Church
TO join the northern body. delivered the annual
sermon. His reference to the race question and
his declaration that the property Of the minority
OF the directors in the Cumberland Church to
the union would be paid for were received with
applause.
The keynote of Or. Landriths sermon was an
appeal for concerted effort toward the complete
union of the church.
The war is over" said Or. Iandrith South
ern Presbyterianism without our cooperation
can never overtake the Presbyterian possibilities
and demands OF the South in general and the
Southwest in particular The Southern Church
viii welcome our cooperation, and It will hasten
the cOnsummation of ultimate union. 1t is IA
vorable acquaintance and not sectional exclu-
siveness that bring churches together"
Touching upon the race problem, DR.. Landrith
said:
The certain remedy for all racial Ills lies in
good schools and churches-good but racially
the dignity and, far as possible the arts OF
honest toll, and good, but for the best interests
of all concerned, racally separate congregations,
IN which Christianity and not the murderous
prejudices Of racial and sectional hatred
preached"
The election Of moderator at the afternoon ses-
sion was reduced to a Formally by the with
drawal of all candidates except the Rev. Or.
William II. Roberts OF Philadelphia. Preceding
the election there was rollcan. 10 which over
nine hundred delegates responded.
When nominations for moderator were de-
clared in order Or. Landrith presented tho name
Of DR. Roberts. and the nomination was sec
onded by DR. Robert Hunter. OF Philadelphia.
Dir. Phrener. Of New Jersey. moved that DR..
Roberts be elected by reclamation, and this
done. The acting moderator congratulated Or.
Roberts az the first moderator OF the reunited
church.
The new moderator said he appreciated that
the honor was conferred because Of what he had
stood for. He believed that ultimately there
would be only one Presbyterian denomination
in this country. He believed that by tho unan-
nous vote given him the assembly stood with
him in bringing together all the members Of the
Presbyterian family.
DR.. Roberts had pleasant word for the Cum
berland element in the church, saying that. al
though he was a high Calvinist. he believed that
the whatsoever gospe" was foreordained from
all eternity TO be preached TO all men. He hoped
a great wave Of evangelism would sweep
the land
The other candidates for moderator who with
drew 10 give DR. Roberts n clear field were the
Rev Dr. Francis r. Marsten, Of New York;
DR. w. II. II. Black Of Marshall. Mo: DR.. w.
O. Thompson president OF the Ohio State Uni
versity; Or. s y. Scove ex-presldent of
Wooster University. and DR.. Ira Il. Iandrith.
of Nashville.
James ]. Parks. Of ST Louis, gave the new
moderator a handsome gavel The head was
made Of wood from the First Presbyterian
Church Philadelphia. tried and true mother
church." and from tho First Presbyterian
Church, ST. Louis which was the oldest Protes-
taut congregation west Of the Mississippi River.
The handle was of wood from Tennessee, where
the Cumberland Church was organized in 1910.
the Rev. r. w. Galloway Of Decatur. H.: tina
Rev DR.. Aquilla Webb of Boston. and the Rev.
Dr. Theodore Bracken. Of Kansas were elected
temporary clerks.
The Rev. DIR. w. J. Darby offered a resolution
that the Rev. J. H. Miller. of Evansville. Ind.
and the Rev. +. Rice, Of Marion. Ky. be chosen
as fraternal delegates 10 the COOred Cumber-
land Presbyterian General Assembly in PrOvi-
dence. Ky The resolution adopted.
The Woman's Board of Home Missions Of tho
Presbyterian Church began it's twenty eighth
annual session to-day. Mrs. D. f. Finks. Of
New York editor Of THE Home Mission
Monthly" welcomed the delegates from the
Cumberland branch. Reports were made by
Mrs Florence Palmer and Miss Edith Hughes,
of New York. field secretaries. Mrs. NJ. "
Richards OF Baltimore. made chairman OF
T1,rAfl