The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-23
Should, While Thanking God
for Our White Skin, Pity
Him Because EIeIs Black.
DAY OF MANY REPORTS
in GENERAL ASSEMBLY
What the Church Is Doing for
Ministerial Education and
Relief Evangelization
Of the Negro+Stand-
ing Committees
Chosen.

l+l SlIoSClls
REENsBoRo, N. C., May a.
with the announcement OF
standing committees. subnis-
NJ sion of various annual reports
and consideration of other
matters, the General Assembly OF the
Southern Presbyterian Church made
rapid progress to-day. 1t was tho
second day OF the assembly. and 1t
began with devotional service con-
Quoted by Rev. DR.. W. N. Scott, Of
Staunton, Va.
Reports on young peoples societies,
benefcent work. etc, were presented
and referred to respective committees.
Education and Relief.
Through Its secretary, Henry H..
Sweets, the executive committee of
ministerial education and relief. pre-
sented to the assembly It's annual re-
port. In It's financial statement tho
committee says that 1t received from
all sources for ministerial education In
the last year s24.s3o; for ministerial
fund of ministerial relief. $f4.2o6. Tho
aggregate receipts were s1oo,5ss.
Under the topic OF Ministerial Edu-
cation" the report says that the death
rate among. the assembly's ministers
from 1894 to 1907 was 30 per year,
while an average of II were retired
each year on account Of sickness or
old age.
In 1894 there were 445 candidates,
one In each AT OF the church member
ship. Since 1901 there has been slow.
but steady Increase in the number OF
candidates for the ministry. Last year
the presbyteries reported to the gem
eral assembly 335. and in the fall TO
the various synods $50 candidates.
Nine presbyteries. with ass churches
and 1890 members. reported no can
didates under their care The import
ance of providing additional ministers
is pointed ont by the committee re-
port as follows:
Tn our church are 1850 organiza-
tions that have no one to lead them
Some Of them are hard fields. Thought
less ones might say they are unimpor-
tant. In some of those from three to
six must be grouped together. and with
the aid OF home mission funds. they
can offer a support to about 400 pas
tors.
These churches are the most fruit
fui sources Of ministerial supply. One
half OF the candidates-1sO young
men, now preparing themselves for this
work-came from small churches,
where services were held only monthly
or semi-monthly. John r. Mott has
well said: These forlorn hopes must
be held and transformed into towers
OF strength for Christianity,
The great negro problem to which
the first general assembly of our
church, in the noise and confusion Of
terrible war. gave her sympathetic
and prayerful attention. still calls TO.
self-denying and gifted men to assist
those men OF God, Dn Snedecor and
John Little. and few men and wo.
men over the church who have heard
the sad appeal of this poor, supersti-
tious people.
Look After the Young.
Your committee has taken the care
to investigate the attendance OF young
men and women from Presbyterian
homes at our State institutions Of
higher learning. We have secured re-
ports from presidents OF seventeen Of
these, In which there is an enrolment
OF 12,22S students. or these Is per
cent. or 1884, are Presbyterlans, So
young women and 1896 young men.
While the committee of schools and
colleges are endeavoring to maintain
a pure. religious atmosphere in our
own institutions, and to commend them
to the sons and daughters Of our
church. this large body OF young men
should not be owe rlooked.
The Synods of Alabama, North Caro-
lima. South Carolina and Virginia have
selected men with peculiar gifts, have
supplemented their salaries, and have
placed them as pastors at these ever.
growing seats OF learning
I'VE are rendering aid to 240 candi-
dates this year. as against 223 last.
The amount forwarded these was SEA-
365. as against s22,077 last year. This
is the largest amount, by more than
$1,000, that has been used In the his
tory OF the church In any year. The
maximum amount OF appropriate ton con-
tinues at 500 per year to each can
dtdate who needs that amount.
OF tho 240 candidates enrolled. nine
ty-f1ve are In the theological semina-
ries and las in the colleges
The committee recommends that II
be granted by the general assembly
authority to loan money to candidates,
as some of them express desire to
borrow. rather than to accept the
money as a gift. Credits on these notes
may be given from time to time to
the mission work done by the candl-
dates. for VIII tch they now receive
compensation.
Much Relief Work.
Under the general head OF ''Ministe-
rial Relief" the committee reports
that 1t has made great progress in the
last three years In relieving distress
In the homes of Presbyterian minis
ters. I'M the last year s25,sa5 was sent
to various beneficiaries In the per-
formance Of this work.
On the roll OF benenciaries there are
forty-four ministers, l4o widows and
twelve orphans, In these homes are
elghty-elght fatherless children under
fourteen years OF age, forty-six of
whom are not ten years old, In the
last year three ministers and Ave
widows have been removed from the
roll by death, The average age Of
ministers who are beneficlaries IS six
,ty-tive years, and they have served the
church an average of thirty-siS years.
During the last year ,Ssl,451 was
received from all sources for the an-
Inual fund of rnllnisterlal relief, an IN