Omaha daily bee., 1908-05-22

KANSAS CITY, Mo, May n.-With all
the high officers and leading ministers of
the church in America as we'll as prom
trent laymen and missionaries from foreign
countries in attendance, the 10th general
assembly of the Presbyterian church in the
United States of America began its session
in Convention hall in this city today, before
an audience of thousands.
The important business OF todsy's sessions
consisted of the retirement Of Rev. William
Henry Roberts of Philadelphia as moder-
ator and the election of his successor. The
feature of the morning session was the
farewell sermon Of the retiring moderator.
The sermon was largely a plea for the
CO. operation of the churches in the United
States in fighting the many evil influences
opposed to the Christian churches in
our country" He said that 'above
every other nation Of modern times
the United States represents those wide
spread movements which are uplifting men
out Of the narrowness of caste which are
making the world a nelgnborhood, and
which seek for the welfare not of a class
or classes, but OF the whole people. We
must increasingly strive to win America
for Christ, that we may thereby win the
world for him."
The new moderator will be chosen at the
afternoon session today. Although ~many
prominent ministers have been mentioned
for this honor, Rev. B. P. Fullerton Of
St. Louis and Rev. Mark A. Matthews OF
Seattle for some time have been looked
upon as the leading candidates. Rev. Mr.
Matthews is pastor Of a church with a
membership of more than 5000. one OF the
largest OF the denomination.
Delegates from Afar.
Among the most enthusiastic delegates to
the conference are the foreign misslonar-
| les, DR.. william A. Briggs OF Laos, 4
| little known country in the far north OF
Slam, In discussing his field, said: Bud
dhism is now a dead issue-save possibly in
Boston. Some people seem to be trying
to start a cult in this country, but in far
l away Laos Buddhism is on a rapid de-
cline. Laos Is a great country and de-
serves to be better known. Not many
years ago the inland tribes there had never
seen a Christian missionary Now we have
| twenty-five churches in the land, aggre-
eating LEGO members. The Chinese vice
roys, who rule over the-rand. have treated
US well. Only lately one OF them made
US an offer to endow a big school, where
Christian civilization might be taught to
the natives-providing only that we furnish
! ths teachers"
The assembly has brought together men
of the United states who are noted not only
as Presbyterians, but as prominent men OF
the. business world.
twenty-five native Porto Ricans, who
came to the United States especially to at
tend the general assembly form an inter-
estlnE group among the spectators.
The conference was called to order by
Moderator Roberts. whom then proceeded to
deliver his farewell sermon.
Need of Evangelism.
Rev. William Henry Roberts, d. D., of
philadelphia, the retiring moderator, In
his sermon. said in part:
our, country In the present time stands
! for Aeat ideas socially, commercially and
politically. Above every other nation OF
modern times, the United states represents
those wide spreading movements which are
uuliftinR men out Of the narrOWness OF
caste, which are making the world a neigh
borhood and which seek for the welfare,
not OF a class or classes, but OF the whole
Further, in this land today the American
churches confront conditions Of notable
character. The world which COO made 4
tudes are pouring into every corner OF ths
country. The populations of Europe In
particular are accessible through US 10 the
influence OF the gospel IN a marked man
ner' So vast is the movement that Il car
be said, as was said at Pentecost. tina
men out Of every nation under heaven arr
opposed 10 the Christian churches in oui
county are to be found many evil infu
ences There IS the irreligion OF the aver
age Immigrant, the presence OF an moral
nate commercial spirit. the Galilee-like at