The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-05-18
PRESBYTERIAN As
SEMb[Y

Atlantic City. N. j., May 1S-Com-
missioners and other visitors have
been arriving in large numbers to-
day for the 122nd session Of the
Presbyterian General Assembly which
will convene at II o'clock tomorrow
morning In the auditorium on the
Steel Pier During the day num-
Der of special trains arrived bringing
the delegates from Chicago and the
West. Ample arrangements have
been completed for the entertainment
of the $50 commissioners, and every
thing is in readiness for the modera-
tor to call the gathering to order.
The leading features of the open
ing day will be the sermon of the re-
firing moderator, the Rev. James M.
Barley, D. D., of Detroit, and the
election of his successor. Although
many prominent ministers have been
suggested for this honor, the Rev.
DR.. George Alexander of New York
City and the Rev. Dr. Mark Matthews
of Seattle for some time have been
looked upon as the leading candi-
dates. Rev. DR.. Alexander is moder-
ator of the New York Presbytery, and
one of the foremost men in his de-
nomination in the country. The
Board of Foreign Missions is under
stood to be extremely favorable to
the choice of Dr. Alexander. Rev.
DR.. Matthews, whose name was pre-
sented at the last general assembly,
is pastor of Seattle church with a
membership of more than 5000, one
of the largest in the West.
Others whose names are more or
less prominently mentioned in con-
nection with the moderatorship are
DR.. William L. McEwen of Pittsburg,
DR.. Edgar P. Hill of Chicago, DR..
Robert Mckenzie of New York City.
and DR.. J. Wilbur Chapman, the
noted evangelist, who has lately re-
turned from a worldwide tour.
A heresy attack is to come before
the assembly this year, but nobody
can be found who thinks the case
will take a serious turn. 1t is to
come before the assembly in the ma
ture of a complaint against the action
of the Synod of New York, which sus-
tanned the Presbytery of New York,
in ordaining Alexander Black, I'm
ion Theological Seminary student
The case has already had wide prom
inence. When Mr.. Black and other
student candidates applied for licen-
sure a year ago, before the Presby-
terry of New York, their examinations
were not sustained. A committee of
the presbytery was appointed to con-
fer with them, and upon the commit
tees favorable report the presbytery,
by majority vote, sustained the ex-
aminations of the candidates, thus
virtually reversing the former action.
The candidates were then licensed,
minority protesting and filing their
objection in proper form. The
charges are formidable against Mr..
Black and his fellow students, but
their defenders are powerful. Some
thing may happen, but from present
signs the protest against their Ordin-
alton will have no very serious conse-
quences.
Developments so far do not indi-
cate that the foes of DR.. William r
Roberts of Philadelphia, who for
many years has held the office Of
stated clerk of the assembly, will
make much progress with this years
gathering. The opposition to DR.
Roberts is based on the belief that
during his long tenure the office OF
stated clerk has become one of too
much power and influence. The
"Blairsville (Pa.) overture" provid-
ing for the separation of the offices
of stated clerk and treasurer of the
assembly, will be carefully consider
ed, but the views expressed by many
of the commissioners here indicate
that the plan will be defeated.
The various reports prepared for
presentation to the general assem-
bly, show that the financial affairs
of the church are now in better shape
than for many years. All Of the mis-
sion boards are out of debt, all ahead
of their appropriations, and none of
them with any distracting burdens,
One Of the boards is no less than
$4,000 ahead, while another has a
balance of $4,000 on the right side
of the ledger.