New-York tribune., 1907-05-13
PLANS FOR ASSEMBLY.
PreSbyterians to Meet at Columbus,
Ohio. on Thursddu.

Philadelphia. May 12-The ll9th General Assem-
bly, of the Presbyterian Church in the United
States will meet in Columbus Ohio next Thurs
day. In this assembly three hundred commission
ers from the former Cumberland Church which
severed its relations with the General Assembly
about one hundred years ago and is now reunited
20 il. will be present thus increasing the number
OF commissioners to one thousand. The number of
communicates in the Church is now 3Oi 073: Sum
day school members. 1.2oi 907. and minister's 1862
The moderator, the Rev. Dr. Hunter Corhett
having returned to China where he has been a
missionary for upward OF thirty years. the Rev
DR.. Robert F. Coyle. of Denver. the last preceding
moderator. will preside until new moderator is
elected. The opening sermon will be delivered by
the Rev. DIR. Ira Landrith. of Nashville Tenn the
moderator OF the former Cumberland Church.
Besides the usual annual reports there will be
one by a special committee appointed by the last
General Assembly TO consider the expediency OF
combining several OF the existing boards reducing
the number from eight to three four and also
to consider the whole question possible improve
ment In the executive and administrative functions
and agencies OF the Church
me Kew. Or. James ID. Moffatt president OF
Washington and Jefferson College and a former
moderator of the General Assembly. is the chair
man of the committee. II is understood that onlv
progress will he reported more time being reoured
TO come to satisfactory conclusion as to the mat
ter of the consolidation of the boards IL Is ex-
pected, however, that the report will recommend
the enlargement OF the powers and functions of the
ceIIGS PROVIDING for all such bodies executive
cnalrm9n @ and making the moderator during the
term OF his office the executive head in fact of the
eccdesestIcat body amounting him. At present the
moderator or the assembly has practically no power
after the assembly at which he was elected ad-
journs. 49, S" "N-
At the coming assembly there will probably ba
adopted by vote of the presbyterfes n proviSion
for permanent judicial commissions in the assem-
ply, synods and presbyteries. whose function shall
be 10 try judicial cases not involving CONSTITUENCIES
questions; thus saving the time OF the church
courts when in session and placing the trials OF
such cases in circumstances where there can be
more time for deliberatiOn and less distraction
The evangelist work throughout the Church will
also occupy the attention of the Assembly The re-
port for the year will be presented by John ~
Converse, of Philadelphia, and plans for an in
creasingly aggressive work will be formulated The
territory covered by the former Cumberland Church
Will no doubt receive Through the coming year con-
siderable attention under the supervision OF the as
semblys committee
One of the most interesting popular meetings rn-
der the auspices of the assembly will held NEXT
Sunday afternoon In the interest of the chlrch's
relation 10 the labor problem The principal speaker
will be the Rev. Charles Stelzle.
1t is expected by those in close touch with the
commissioners to the assembly that the Rev DR.
William Henry Roberts, d. D., OF Philadelphia for
many years the stated clerk of the assembly may
be chosen n}moderator. '