The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-22
ASSEMBLY, IS
REFORM PROGRAM
Church Will Now Be
Put on Business
Basis.
GREAT CHANGES
MUST BE WORKED
Evangelistic Work Put Under
Home Mission Committee, Vic
tory for Advocates of Plan
Being Due Largely to In
fluence of Moderator.
Much Speculation.

Lewisburg, w. Va, May 21.-After
two days of argument. the General
Assembly of the southern Presbyteri-
an Church to-day agreed upon a.
thorough reorganization of the church
work, designed to put 1T on u business
basis. The recommendation of the
special committee on coordination
was adopted with slight amendments.
The great changes are grouped UNI
der three heads. These are the con-
solidation Of executive committees or
boards, which carry on the work OF
the church; the conversioE of the
standing committee of the church on
systematic benevolence into a. perma-
nent committee with enlarged powers,
and a new system of gathering funds
for assembly work.
Hereafter. the legislative commit
tees will be those on foreign missions,
home missions. ministerial education
and relief and publication and Sab
bath schools. BY this arrangement
the executive committees on colored
work and on schools and colleges were
dissolved and put under home mis-
sions and ministerial education and
relief, respectively. In addition. the
orphanage home at Fredericksburg,
Va, was placed under the control of
the committee on ministerial educa-
ton and relief
For Budget system.
In regard to collections, the
churches are urged to adopt the So
called budget system. Until that is
done the churches will take up only
eight collections year for assembly
work. instead of nineteen.
AT the last the debate was only
-. =
the assembly yesterday in striking
mittee the clause placing the general
evangelistic work under the home
mission committee instead OF leaving
it under an independent committee.
In the midst of the debate call was
made for the assembly to be led in
prayer DR.. w. l.. Lingle. of Atlanta.
Ga. was called upon by DR.. Russell
Cecil, who was acting moderator, to
offer prayer.
The debate continued. When vote
finally was taken it was found that a
large majority was in favor OF re-
consideration. Subsequently, the rec
ommendation of the special committee
was adopted. thus putting the evan
gelistic work under the home mission
committee. The adoption of the re-
port was due largely to the command
Ing influence of DR.. Bachman. moder-
ator of the assembly and chairman of
the special committee. Until called
forth by the assembly. he remained in
the background during the debate.
CONSOLIDATION is in the air." said
he at last. when he arose. ''and we
want to do the Lords work in
business like manner"
Much Opposition.
Early in the day much opposition
was manifested to placing colored
work under the home mission commit
tee Opposition was dispelled largely
by DIR. James G. Snedecor, secretary
of that work He said 1t wns in line
with the placing of colored work eN-
clusively In the hands of white mon.
II often brag of the good work ,f my
colored evangelists.' said he, and I
always have prayer to God in my
heart that am telling the truth"
DR.. W. f. Boggs. of Atlanta. ad-
vocated the adoption of the consoiida-
ton recommendation, urging parti-
cularly that it would not injure col
ored work. which he favored. II be-
| leve that the wrath of God will ne
| turned loose on our people who let
human feelings hinder the advance
| ment of the kingdom Of God among
the negroes" he said.
During the day the assembly agreed
to make the first Sabbath in Novem-
| Der reformation day"
Much speculation is being INDUCED
in tonight by the commissioners as
to the effect of the reforms they
adopted to-day, 1t Is conceded gen
orally that they will work for TIE up
! building of the church The sccre-
tares OF the various executive COM
mittees will be retained in one capac-
ity or another in charge or the respcc-
two departments, Tho personnel Of
the executive committees probably
will be greatly changed In order to
meet the new order of affairs