The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-06-07
BY REV. N. M. EDMoNDs.

:. Tne forty-eighth session of the Gen eral Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States (Southern Presbyterian Church) convened at Greensboro. N C., May 21 of this year.
 Three of the most vital things con sidered were Evangelism, the Negro Work, and tn Work of the Laity.
 l. With regard to the first mention ed the following resolution was adopt ed:
 Whereas we believe that the great need of our Church is more Evangelis- tic preaching on the part of our pas tors, and a more diligent effort on the part of the Church, to reach the unchurched and the unsaved.
 The General Assembly would first. call on all of the ministers to seek more and yet more the spirit of prayer for the salvation of souls and use more diligent Evangelistic effort in the pull pit and out of it to bring souls into the Kingdom of God.
 Second. that the Assembly annually appoint Permanent Committee on Evangeiistic Work of our Church.
 The resolution was introduced by pr. A. A. Little of Selma, and vigorously supported by such men as pr. A A Mo- Greachy of Texas. pr. c. F. Robertson of North Carolina. and pr. w M. Anderson of Tennessee.
 This is a sign of the times in our Southern Presbyterian Church It IS the opinion of many that our church courts have spent too much of their time in debating constitutional tech nicalities. while the weightier matters have been neglected; and that our preaching has been too much along the line of the edification of the saint, and not enough along the line of the awakening of the sinner. We have been content to hold the fort, Instead .of acquiring additional forts. Conse- quently people have come to regard the preachers as "kid-gioved' lot, who carefully shpeherd their own interests and live on the fat of the country. Young men of ability have fled our ministry, because they saw in our pro- ceedings more red tape than red blood. It is a part of this indication that our strongest men feel deeply on the ques- tion. It is part of this indication that a distinct Board of Evangelfzation was established by the Northern Presby- terian Church a few yeara-ago, and that pr. Wilbur Chapman It's leader, now stands perhaps first among the worlds evangelists. The writer re- members experiencing distinct thrill of surprise and of qualification when he learned that a Presbyterian had become a great evangelist. Presby- terianism and Evangelism are betroth- ed. Lord. hasten the wedding day.
 2. The negro question was intro duced at the very beginning of the Assembly by the sermon of the rel tiring Moderator. Dr. J. R. Howerton. It was a strong and brave statement of our duty to our neighbor, the South ern negro. There were other indica- tions that this matter was prominent in the minds of many. and that the seriousness of the situation is being realized. For example. four Presby- teries sent up overtures touching the establishment of joint Conferences of white and colored ministers.
 Later a full evening was given to the popular discussion of the question. when pr. Snedecor of Tpscaloosa and Dr. Curry of Memphis supported the position that the responsibility is on our Southern Church to do its part in the solution of the negro problem.
 The following recommendations were sent forth to the churches:
 1. That the overtures be answered in the affirmative and that the AssernS bly hereby recommend to our ministry the holding of joint conferences with colored ministers, and request the ministers of our Church to take the initiative in establishing such joint con- ferences.
 2. Inasmuch as the Council of Re- formed Churches in America at it's late meeting designated the evangeIization of the negro as a field in which the various Churches constituting the Council are willing to unite, that our Assembly hereby express It's approval Of such cooperation and welcome the help of our sister Churches in giving the pure Gospel to our large coIored population, with the hope that such united efforts may result in the build Ing up of a strong colored Presbyterian Church. and furthermore that our Secretary. pr. James O. Snedecor place himself in touch. by correspondence or otherwise, with the proper authorities or said Churches with a view to facili- tion.
 g.. That the Rev. J R. Howerton. D. D., be requested to furnish a copy of his sermon preached at the opening of this Assembly for publication by inc Committee of Publication, if this be practicable. and if not, then bv the Committee Of CoIored EvanpaItxatsn..