The new era., 1909-06-03
PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEM-.
BLY, RECOGNIZES THEIR VAL
UE TO THE COUNTRY.
ADDS TO FUND FOR AGED
NEEDS MORE MONEY TO REACH
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
OF SOUTHERN NEGROES.

DenVer.-ReallZlng tne urgent neeu
Of making provision for the aged and
infirm ministers of the church and
carrying the gospel to the negroes of
the South, the general assembly of the
Presbyterian church, spent a portion
Of the session Monday in the discus
sion of the Freedmen work Of the
church and the necessity of increasing
the endowment fund for aged minis
ters. The afternoon session was spent
in review of the university work,
which the church is doing among the
state institutions of the country. AL
though traces of the old prejudice
against non-denominational universi-
ties crept out from time to time and
the state universities We're mentioned
as Goddess" institutions by various
speakers, the action of the commits
sioners, in adopting the report and rec
concentrations of the educational
board of the church, proved that the
Presbyterian church has broadened in
its views and now recognizes the form
erly "reviled" state universities as
fertile fields for cooperation in relig-
ious work with the educators of the
country.
By the adoption of the report of the
education board, the work OF the
Presbyterian church in the state uni
versities among the Presbyterian stu
dents in attendance there, was recon-
mended to financial support of the
church members by the assembly One
of the warmest debates of the day
was provoked by the discussion of the
report, and 1t was declared by some
of the speakers that no money from
the church revenue ought to go to
work in "religionless universities"
The students of the Presbyterian faith
who attend the state universities were
severely flayed by some of the speak
ers, but the majority view and the one
advanced by DR.. E. P. Hill. president
of the Mccormick Theological semin-
ary Of Chicago and chairman Of the
education committee who read the re-
port, was to the effect that many Of
the students had good reasons for reg
istering in state universities instead OF
their own denominational colleges, and
that as long as they were present in
the state institutions, they should not
be ignored, but should be looked after.
The ministerial sustenation commit
tee made its report calling for in
creased funds for the maintenance Of
superannuated preachers.
The report of the Freedmen work
committee called attention to deplor-
able state Of affairs in the system in
which the work in the South Is car
ried on. Because of the strained
financial condition of the board, hun
dreds of thousands Of negroes of the
South cannot be reached by religious
influences. The workers among the
Freedmen Of the South receive star
,sation wages, according to Rev. Walk
er and Rev. Mayors, two negro minis
ters, who addressed the meeting on be-
half of the report of the committee.
They painted vivid picture of the
lack OF facilities and funds for the re-
generation of the negro in the South,
and stated that the field had scarcely
been touched.
| The work of the American Tract So
ciety was presented by its secretary,
Rev. Judson Swift, in a most interest
ing and instructive manner.
| At the afternoon meeting on the mo-
tion of ex-Moderator Fullerton, it was
voted that standing committee on So
cial problems be created to consider
matters of sociological interest. The
questions Of capital and labor, en-
ployer and employees, and the exist
ence of unnecessary poverty are to
be made a part of the work of the
board. It was voted along with this
resolution to indorse the present child
bureau law now pending in the nation
al Congress.
DR.. E. P. Hill was called upon to
make the report of the education COM
mittee. He spoke on the problem of
remedying the present lack of young
men who enter the ministry and the
work of the Presbyterian church
among the students of the state uni
leges. He said: 1.-The task of supply
ing ministers for the church is one of
the greatest which we have, but l
venture to say that the ministers them
selves can solve the problem, II they
will. We want to build places Of wor-
ship at the state institutions and send
student pastors to work there"
Just after the reading. the big de-
bate of the day broke out on the floor
of the assembly. The adoption of the
report was moved and seconded and
before the vote was taken 1t was de-
cided that several speeches by men,
bers OF the board in behalf OF the re-
port be heard. At the conclusion of
the speeches. DR.. c. L. Work Of Ohio.
arose and demanded q hearing. On
motion, 1t was voted to extend the or
| Aar - b,,s ,ssvnesu five v,riuv+o. nud xh~r,,,