Omaha daily bee., 1907-05-22
MONEY FOR MISSIONS
Trasbytsrian General Assembly Asks for
Sl,100,0O0 for Years Budget.
TEMPERANCE FIGHT MOVES RAPIDLY
Move 70 Prevent Ministers from Being fl
GERS Of Anti-salOon League.
DIVISION OF THE H0RK SUGGESTED
Attempt to Ee Made to Leave Political
Field Is the League.
YOUNG MEN FOR MINISTRY SCARCE
Board of Education Says Number and
Quality of Candidates IL De-
creasing-Many PuIpits
Are Vacant.
pMsioN OF THE WoRK SUGGESTED
Attempt to Ee Made to Leave Political
Field t, the League.
YOUNG MEN FOR MINISTRY SCARCE

ian general assembly today received and
adopted number Of reports, including
those of the Board Of Home Missions and
the Board of Education.
The assembly also adopted a resolution
declaring that $11Oo,OOO is the least sum
which the churches can be asked to give
to enable the board properly to carry its
work through the coming year.
An interesting feature Of the afternoon
session was the presentation TO the assem-
bly, of the Rev. w. r. Evans, moderator
OF the Welsh Presbyterian church, who
announced that a movement had been
started in that body looking to a union
with the parent church The announce
ment was received with applause.
Developments IN the temperance con-
troversy aroused by the antagonism of the
Anti-Saloon league to the 1nter-ChurCh
Temperance federation came rapidly today.
The standing committee on temperance re-
ferred all the overtures affecting the at
titude Of the church toward the league to
the committee on policy, which decided to
recommend that no minister OF the Pres
byterian church. as such, could be an Of
fcer or member of the Anti-Saloon league;
that they could participate in the work of
that organization only as individuals. At
the same time the standing committee on
temperance received and adopted a resolu-
tlon asking the standing committee to de-
fine tie duties of the permanent commit
tee on temperance which represents the
church in the Inter-Church Temperance
federation. The whole controversy now
hangs on the definition Of the duties of the
permanent committee on temperance The
supporters of the Anti-Saloon league are
endeavoring to have the work Of this COM
mittee confined to promoting temperance
along educational and scientific lines, leav-
ing the political field entirely to the Anti
e m league.
The standing committee today heard a
nuI lber of persons including representa-
tlves of the Anti-Saloon league. on the sub
iect and has prepaI I'd a rough draft Of
kresolutions which will be further considered
tomorrow and will be presented to the as
sembfy IN sthe afternoon. fer which time
the report has been made special order.
MinisteriaI Recruits scafce.
The Board Of Education reported that II
had enrolled during the year 7S young
men of whom 268 were new men and so
renewals. The material increase was nc-
counted for by the reception OF the candi-
dates from the former Cumberland Pres
byterien church.
so far as our own territory is con-
cerned," said the board, "the figures show
a decrease Of forty in the list OF renewals.
THE board has been made aware that
it's solicitude over the present period OF
decline in the number and quality Of candi-
dates presenting themselves for the gospel
ministry is shared by the Board OF Edu-
cation of other denominations. Word has
come from~>the Episcopal. Methodist and
Lutheran bodies that the falling of, so
la .tr,es
to have it's direct effect on the church.
Dissatisfaction Is felt in many quarters
over the inability OF the churches to secure
the highest type OF consecrated manhood
for the ministry. Pulpit vacancies for dis
tressingly long periods are moro and more
noticeable and complaints are heard from
committees on pulpit supply their in
ability to fl satisfactorily the places OF
those who are dropping from their ranks
OF the ministry Is with grave concern that
the church at large should know the facts
that In thirty evangelical theological
seminaries In our country, the church is
about ;as1 IIisn short OF the number studying
ten years ago, despite the country's in
crease OF 100000 In population. There are
one-third less men studying for the min
istry Of the Presbyterian church then ten
years ago. and yet tire membership of our
creased during that period from l.O2i, ,OOC
60 1SOLOO0. Ten years ago. there was one
candidate In every $40 church members
today there is one candidate for every
1.240 members.
Is IL not therefore incumbent upon the
church 10 engage in importunate prayer
In behalf OF the sons of the church, that
more OF them may be led 20 turn a deaf
ear TO the solicitations OF a commercially
prosperous age, and to consecrate their
talent to the work of the ministry
The receipts were Sl76751 and the ex.
penditures N76.5O6
All obligations Met.
The Board of Home Missions reported
that for the ninth successive year the fsca
year has been closed with all obligations
met This the board says was the NOR,
gratifying when II was remembered thai
during the year appropriations OF $45 l6
had been made for new work and 5000
had been given TO the Board OF Missions Of
OF the Cumberland Presbyterian church L
be used in tiding over some OF their hom'
mission work. which, by reason OF thu
divisions on the union question, would
otherwise have suffered
AS IN several years past. the board hat
been Obliged TO expend in new churches
and school buildings In the islands and tn,
west a considerable sum, amounting thii
year to Na56O. There had been no appre
ciable advance in the gifts from tn,
churches In time OF great prosperit,
this was the more 10 be regretted It Nigh
be partially explained by the fact that IN,
church contributed in special offerings
about $4,000 20 rehabnitate and 10 aid A
the mission work Of California on aecoup
Of what was suffered by the earthquaIke.
The board recommended that the mis-
slonary field be divided as follows:
First-The district OF the south an,
southwest, with headquarters at 81. Louis
seoond-The district OF the northwest
with headquarters az Minneapolis.
Third-The district OF the mountain states
with headquarters at Denver.
Fourth-The district OF the Pacific coast
with headquarters at San Francisco.