The Elbert County tribune., 1909-05-27
DETROIT MAN ELECTED moDER-
AToR AFTER AN EXCITING
CONTEST.
DR.. JAMES N. BARKLEY
COMMITTEE REPORTS ESTIMATE
OF FUNDS NEEDED BY THE
VARIOUS BOARDS.

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 Dr. 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-
sented 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 Leadvillc 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
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-
sary celebration of the 400th birthday
OF John Calvin occupied the session.
Inc afternoon session was devoted
to speeches by several of the most
prominent commissioners on the life
and work of John Calvin. The ora
tions 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 di-
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 that
the church take a 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.
me 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
Tune and after 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-
pyteries 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
Doth 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 recommended
tions 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$ 500 900
The Board of Foreign Mis-
sions. L. ................. 1,162, 900
The Board of Education. $3.50
The Board of Publication and
Sabbath School Work 80. 100000
| The Board of Church Erec-
tion. . ................ 7o,6s0
The Board of Ministerial Re
lief :. 116.11s
| The Board for Freedmen. -. 147,416
The College Board. ......... $4,000
The Permanent COMMITTEES
On Temperance. ..... 10000
| Total ..........$ 80, ,56S. .053
The report of the marriage and di-
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. 1926 Surely
| this surprising and alarming increase
of the number of divorces granted
should call halt"
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 ac-
tivity. The report reviewed in detail
the work which has been done during
the past year by the church all over
the United States. and special mention