Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-05-17
ROBERTS IS ELECTED
Former Clerk Will Preside Over the Presby-
tsrian Gelsral Assembly.
ALL OTHER CANDIDATES WITHDRAW
Rev. Charles Nanton of Paris, Tex, Will
Act as Vice Moderator.
DR.. LANDRlTH ON FUTURE OF CHURCH
Presbyterian Divine breaches Opening
Sermon at Columbus,
CALLS ALL WORKERS INTO THE FIELD
Beginning of Hundred and Nineteenth
General Assembly Occurs Under
Favorable Auspices-Tem-
perance Activity.
CALLS ALL WORKERS INTO THE FItL1


Roberts Of Philadelphia, for fourteen years
stated clerk. was today unanimously elected
moderator of the one hundred and nine
teenth general assembly of the Presbyterian
church at the opening session. following
the delivery Of the annual sermon by Rev.
Ira Landrith of Nashville, moderator of
the last Cumberland Presbyterian assembly.
More than 800 delegates answered the first
roll call and several thousand visitors at
tended.
The keynote of Rev. Dr. Landriths ser
mon at the devotional service in the MORN
ing was an appeal for concerted EFFORT
toward the complete union of the church.
The communion of the Lords supper was
celebrated tonight by the assembly
The election of moderator at the after
noon session was reduced to a formality
by the withdrawal of all candidates ex-
cept Rev. Mr.. Roberts When nomins-
tions for moderator were declared in order
Rev. Mr.. Iandrith presented the name of
DR.. Roberts. Rev. Mr.. Phraner of New
Jersey moved that Roberts be elected by
acciamation, and this was done.
The acting moderator extended the gavel
to DIR. Roberts and congratulated him as
the first moderator of the reunited church.
The moderator announced that Rev. Charles
Manton Of Paris, Tex, would act vice
moderator.
Rev. Robert Hunter of Philadelphia, Rev.
II. w. Galloway of Decatur. H., Rev.
Aquilla webb of Boston and Rev. Theodore
Bracken of Kansas were elected temporary
clerks.
Rev. j. M Hubert, d. D., was appointed
assistant treasurer to serve during the as
sembly.
Rivalry for Next Meeting.
fg tp
for the honor of place of the next general
assembly. Atlantic City and Kansas City
are also talked Of
The 4,750 seats in the Memorial hall were
all filled when the general assembly con-
vened in open session.
Or. Coyle OF Denver called the assembly
40 order in place of DR.. Hunter Corbett
Sthe last moderator. Rev. Ira e. Landrith
d. D., OF Nashville. Tenn, former modera-
tor of the Cumberland Presbyterian
semby and the man who was most instru-
mental in bringing about union of his
church with the Northern body, delivered
the annual address. References which he
made to the race question and a declara-
tion that the property of the minority Of
the objectors TO the union in the Cumber-
land church will be paid for were received
with applause.
Dr. Landrith, It is rumored today. will
be made chairman of the committee on
bills and overtures the most important
committee in the assembly.
DR.. Lnndrith's Sermon,
DR.. Landrith preached the annual SER
mon. His theme was THE Call Of Pres
byteranisms Enlarged Macedonia" and
his text, Possess thou the west and the
sHIth," Deuteronomy xxxiii;23.
The design of the discourse was to
in educational and religious work in the
south and southwest, where Cumberland
Presbyterians were most numerous at the
time of the union. The merging of the
two churches was interpreted by the
preacher as enlarging Presbyterianism 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, constitutes
both a plea and a warning of danger II
the spiritual advantages OF the people dc
not keep pace with their commercial de-
velopment He favored cooperation anc
ultimate union with the Southern Presby-
ter1an church; declared the south to b,
ready for a widespread revival reviewed
recent moral reforms in that section, and
announced his belief that the wonderful
was due TO the churches. He assured the
Christians at the north that "the war /,
over" in matters religious the south being
fully ready now to welcome the presence
and labcrs Of any denomination that labor.
sanely and unselhshly for the present anC
eternal veal of the people.
The Presbyterian church was mentioned
and the assurance given that the protest
ing minority who have gone into the
courts TO claim 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 right
20 be.
Discusses Race Problem.
The sermon frankly takes up the race
question in the south. so far as It is In
voved in the union. and after showing
that the United Church had made adequate
provision for the separation of whites and
blacks In PTesbyteries and synods OF thei
own, thus enabling the white people OF
north and south to work together for the
moral and educational aid OF the negro
without violating the rights OF the socia
order Of either race. declares that the
evangeliSation OF the negro Is to be &C.
comphshed by neither long range senti'
mentality nor short range indifference and
!" that the time has fully come when the
black mans white neighbor and that same
black mans too far away friend must sit
down together in a mutually satisfyinr
conference about what Is the next step
neither party to the conference claiming Z
monopoly OF wisdom, methods or responsi
biiities. After naming various religious
and educational opportunities for aggres
sive church work In the south, the preache,
concluded with specific appeal 10 his owr
church 20 devote TO that section for III,
next Ave years aH OF the funds and
workers that can be spared since the re
Igious and patriotic mission OF this churci
20 the south Just at this time is 80 subIim,
and 80 full OF promise as 10 send this Rrea
assembly 20 its knees in gratitude ana "a