The Lamar register., 1909-05-26
PRESBYTERIANS
HARD AT WORK
REV. DIR. JAMES M. sARKLEY is
ELECTED MODERATOR BY
GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
CALVIN CELEBRATION
BEAUTIFUL GAvELS PRESENTED
TO MODERATOR BY THREE
WESTERN CHURCHES.

BARLEY OF Detroit was elected as the
moderator of the one hundred and
twenty-first general assembly of the
Presbyterian church of the United
States in session at the Central Pres
byterian church Thursday afternoon.
The choice was made after one of the
most exciting contests in the history
of the assembly, on the third ballot,
DR.. e. P. Hill of Chicago and DIR. w. l..
McEwan of Pittsburg were the oppos-
ing candidates.
The session Friday was opened in
the morning by Moderator Barley
and after half an hour of prayer and
devotional singing, the assembly went
to work. Shortly after the opening of
the meeting three gavels were pre-
scented to the new moderator from the
Presbyterian churches of Idaho
Springs. Leadville and Seattle. The
gavels were all beautiful affairs. with
mountings of gold and silver. while the
one from Leadville was set with six
different varieties of precious metals
from the mines of Colorado. Judge
Mcleod of Leadville made the presen-
tation of the Leadville gavel. Rev. R.
F. Coyle of Denver handed over the
one from Idaho Springs. and Rev. w.
A. Major presented the gavel of the
Seattle churches. Doctor Barley
made happy speech of acceptance, in
which he paid tribute to the great
West and the work of the western
churches and men of God.
Reports of some of the most impor-
tant special committees on matters of
national Importance and an anniver.
eary celebration of the 400th birthday
OF John Calvin occupied the session.
The afternoon session was devoted
to speeches by several of the most
prominent commissioners on the life
and work of John Calvin. The ora
tons were of special merit and deliv-
cred to throng of commissioners and
visitors that completely filled the aud
itorium of the church. The speeches
were eulogistic of the character of
John Calvin.
The executive commission, the
committee on administrative agencies.
and the committee on marriage and d.
vorce all made their reports. The re-
ports OF the committees were of such
interest as to be almost sensational in
character. 1t was recommended .hat
the church take strong and rigid
stand on the question of divorce in the
United States and the most rigorous
measures were urged upon the assem-
bly, for adoption.
The most important report of the
day was that of the executive commits
sion. Some opposition was raised to
the acceptance of the report at that
time and after a lengthy debate it was
decided that the report go over until
Tuesday. The report of the executive
commission is in part as follows:
we are glad TO report that rs pres
Dyteries and 20 synods have appointed
executive commissions to cooperate
with the commission of the assembly.
In many presbyteries and synods
where the way did not seem clear at
present to appoint executive commits
sions. the committees on systematic
beneficence of the judicatories were
authorized to act We have found
both presbyteries and synods manifest
Ing cordial spirit in promoting the in
terests entrusted to the commission. -
The report concludes as follows:
Acting for the entire church the as
sembly may properly authorize the mis-
sionary and benevolent boards and
agencies to incur obligations to the
extent indicated in the recommends
tons herewith submitted as to the uni
fled budget.
THAT the general assembly appropri-
ate to the uses of the following boards
and permanent agencies. the amounts
} OF money set opposite to their names.
respectively. as these amounts may be
secured from churches and their sew
eral organizations:
The Board of Home Missions.s SOC, 900
The Board of Foreign Mis-
sions. =. .............. LISP 900
The Board of Education. $3.50
The Board of Publication and
Sabbath School Work 80. 10000
The Board of Church Erec-
tioh- tU,ocU
The Board of Ministerial Re-
lief ......... 116.11s
The Board for Freedmen. 147.416
The College Board. ......... $4,000
The Permanent Committee
on Temperance. ...... 10000
Total. SO, SOS. o5s
The report Of the marriage and d.
vorce committee calls attention to the
alarming increase of the number of
divorces granted as shown by the
government census. THE census" the
report says. tells story that sur
prises the people and shames a Chris
tian nation. In 1887 the total number
of divorces granted was 27,91s; and in
1906. 72.062. The total number granted
in twenty years was 945.625. Surely
this surprising and alarming increase
OF the number of divorces granted
should call halt
After the opening of the assembly
Saturday morning Rev. A. Y. Conrad of
Boston made stirring talk on behalf
of the evangelistic movement and told
of the meetings conducted by Rev. DR..
]. Wilbur Chapman in Boston with
great success during the past winter.
John II. Converse advocated stimuli
taneous campaign all over the coun-
try for the conversion of unbelievers,
DIR. H. F. Johnson of Colorado Springs
severely criticised the church for its
: inactivity and stated that to every 100
teachers and preachers. only three per
sons were brought into the church each
year.
The report of the special committee
on evangelistic work, of which John H.
Converse is the chairman, was strong
plea for the advancement of evangelis-
tic campaigns on the part OF the Pres,
byterian church, and the saving OF
souls by worldwide and aggressive &C
tivity. The report reviewed In detail