The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-17
Presbyterians Elect Caro-
1inian to Head Body.
CLERGY BEGIN 10 DAYS WORK
Charlotte Articles Of Agreement
Will Come Up Regularly.
Important Question to BE that of Closer
Relations Between Presbyterian
Bodies-Report of Conn
mittee ON Divorces.

Birmingham, Ala, May 16.-With the
election of DR.. John R. Howerton of
Montreal, N. c., as Moderator this ar
ternoon,. the ffty-seventh session or
the General Assembly of the Southern
Presbyterian Church got down to work
in earnest
It looked for a time this afternoon
as though there would be a test vote
on the Charlotte articles of agreement,
the most important matter to come
before the assembly. A resolution was
introduced to refer the question to
committee, but, after various amend
ments, the whole matter was tabled
and will come up in regular order.
: At the afternoon session reports were
made by all standing committees. To-
nights session was devoted to well
coming addresses by various prominent
local laymen and clergymen and re-
sponses by the visitors. Among those
who delivered addresses were Hon.
Samuel weakley and DR.. John w.
Stagg.
Amid strains of the time-honored
doxology, Praise God from Whom All
Blessings Flow" the forty-seventh an
nual General Assembly of the Presby-
terrain Church in the United States be-
gan a ten days session in the First
Presbyterian Church in this city at IL
o'clock this morning. Every seat In
the church was occupied by commits
sioners and ministers.
DR.. Allen G. Hall of Nashville, call
ed the assembly to order, and prayer
was offered by DR.. James p. Smith
of Richmond. Va. DR.. J. r.. Hover
ton of Montreal, N. c., read lesson
from the fourth chapter of Matthew, 1t
being the story of Christ being tempt
ed in the wilderness after forty days
of fasting. Another prayer was Of
fered by DR.. w. c. Alexander of Mem
phis, and after a song. DR.. Howerton
delivered the opening sermon. His
text was from the fourth chapter of
Matthew. the eighth, ninth and tenth
verses, relating to the temptation of
Christ.
DIR. Howerton Elected.
At the conclusion of DR.. Howerton's
sermon, DR.. Hall announced that the
assembly was formally constituted and
DR.. w. A. Alexander of Gainesville,
Tenn, as stated clerk, called the roll.
He announced that eighty-four Pres
byteries were represented, new Pres
bytery having been organized in Texas
which was not embraced in the sta
tistical report.
DIR. Hall announced that the assem-
bly, would then proceed to elect a mod
orator A motion to elect BY silent
vote was lost. The first nomination
was that of DR.. J. R. Howerton. Of
Montreal N. c. DR.. w. McF. Alex
ander, of New Orleans, and DR.. Russell
Cecil, Of Richmond, Va, were also nom
mated. Nominations were then CLOSED
and those nominated were asked to re
tire from the room.
The roll was then called and the re
suit was as follows:
DR.. Howerton. "a: DR.. Alexander. 20
DR.. Cecil. 81. AS 1t required eighty-si,
votes to elect another BALLOT was ne
cessary. The second ballot resulted
DR.. Howerton, SO; DR.. Alexander, s
DR.. Cecil. rs. DR.. Howerton was de
clared elected and was escorted to the
rostrum. The election was regarded al
the first real test of strength of thu
opposing factions in the matter o.
closer relations with other branches o
the Presbyterian Church. DR.. Hover
ton is a recognized leader of those wht
favor closer relations, while DR.. Ceci
is looked upon as opposing organic un
ion.
After DR.. Howerton had made 1