Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-05-21
ASSEM BLY KILL
PLAN TO MERGE
CHURCH BOARDS
Opposition Declare 1t Would
Throw Power Into Hands
of Few Persons.

ATLANTIC CITY, May 21.-Strong
opposition by commissioners, who de-
clared that an effort was being made
to centralize too closely the power OF
church rulers" defeated the move
made by the executive commission be-
fore the Presbyterian General Assem-
bly, here today to consolidate several
of the present Independent boards In
charg of church affairs.
The suggested merger was intended
to consolidate the boards of home mis-
sions, church extension n freedmen
members of these bodies led in the
fight against the consolidation move
ment. The directors hotly declared
their belief that the proposed consoli-
dation was the first move toward form
ing an executive oligarchy in the
church which would eventully place
the entire power of church rule In
the hands of a few men.
After several hours OF debate a com
promise was effected by referring tbs
mater back to the executive commits
sion for a report next year. The
wrangle over the consolidation matter
took the time intended to have bee.i
given to the report of the commission
on Sabbath observance.
The report of the executive commits
sion today occupied the entire session.
In addition to it's recommendations up
on the consolidation matter, the COM
mission presented the budget for boil
1t was declared that the aggregate
amount desired to properly carry on the
work of the Assembly for the next year
is S4, T5o, 900. This is an increase OF $500,
001 over the sum asked for last year.
Among the pending reports to he
considered by the assembly is that q
the committee on Sabbath observance
The report says the progress made
dt-,nc the last year in creating the
Uniform demand for a weekly rest day
hfs iccn more marked than ever be-
ftrr.
- committee recommends that the
assembly indorses the Satur-
{ s'f-holiday as tending to the bet
srrvance of the Sabbath; con-
donnrs the Sunday newspaper; requests
educational institutions to omit reel
tations on Monday mornings so as to
leave the Sabbath free from the neces-
siiy of some of the students TO prepare
thu ir lessons on that day. and recon-
mcnds tina the first week in April, en-
bracing the first and second Sundays,
be observed as h week of prayer FOR
the preservation of the Lords lay.
Many organizations working for Sun
day rest are commended in the report
and encouraged to continue their good
work.
The business session of the assembly
was suspended this afternoon to allow
preparation for the big public recep-
ton tonight when Governor j. FRANK
lin Fort Will be a guest of n
Throughout the deliberations yesteT-
day DIR. Little, as moderator. revealed
his ability In the way he managed af-
fairs. The first order OF business was
the presentation of a historical gavel
by the Rev. Newton H.. Caldwell, CHAIR
man of the committee of arrange
ments In presenting the gavel DR..
Caldwell said:
Historic Jersey Gnvci.
This gavel, which we nov present
to you, may serve as a reminder of
something of the history of the Pres
byterian Church in this State. and of
the patriotism displayed by New Jer-
sey Presbyterians at all important
periods of our national history. The
head of the gavel is composed of four
pieces. They represent the three New
Jersey churches which were included
in the first p~resbytery and the first
theological seminary.
1.-THE bit of oak Is from the original
building of the Woodbridge church,
dating from 1875. The locust grew on
the site of the old Scots church, of
Freehold, the shelter in the wilderness
luilt by the Scotch refugees of 1885. 1t
was to his church that John Boyd, the
FIRST Presbyterian minister whose ordi-
nation in this country is recorded on
the fading page of the minute of that
first p~resbytery, ministered, and 1t was
from this church that the equally
famous old Tennent church took its
origin. The cedar is from the site of
the First Presbyterian Church in South
Jersey, on the bank of the Cohansey
creek, from which the church took its
name. Thither came, in 1890, the
colony of New England settlers to
whom Thomas Bridge first ministered
The maple comes from that portion 81
the house of Archibald Alexander, In
Princeton. In which, in 1919, he or
ganized and for some years conducted
the first theological seminary of the
Presbyterian Church. The handle by
which this gavel is welded Is a bit OF
oak from the timbers of the patriotic
old church in Springfield.
THE block upon which the gavel
may tap its note of order is from the