The Washington herald., 1912-04-21

At general assemblies of the Southern
and United Presbyterians, to be held
next month. the question Of consolida-
ton of these bodies will be presented.
Already general committees on the prop
ositlon exist, and periodicals Of both
bodies are expressing hopes for union.
As its name implies, the first is the
great Presbyterian body OF the Southern
States, and the latter is a Northern body,
strongest in and around Pittsburg. Their
respective memberships are 275,00O and
I35,OO0.
Students in Union Theological Semi
nary, Richmond, which is controlled by
Southern Presbyterians. have recently
issued an open letter to ministers Of
fiCers and members of their church, ask
ing why IT is that so many Presbyterian
churches in the South show little or no
growth and that the body as a whole
reaches so few men and does so little.
The students refer solely to evangelism.
In missions Southern Presbyterians have
Just passed the $4,000 mark in annual
gifts to foreign missions last year. and
in home missions, all phases, they in
creased last year 81, 900, making a total
Of SI26, 900.
In line with others in the same church
the laymen have just held q meeting
in Chattanooga, and have issued for
NAL appeal for a campaign to begin now,
and end March 81, 1913, to add 5000 to
Southern Presbyterian membership. and
raise benevolences to 81, 500 900. Appeal is
also made for go volunteer laymen to
give part CT all of their time during
this year to push the plan. The mem
bership growth last year was almost
nothing so the 5000 proposed is big
advance and the suggested increase in
gifts is about $4,000.
Chaplain George Robinson, U. S. A,
retired, will head the delegation Of COM
missioners which the Presbytery Of
Washington will send TO the 124th Cen
eraI Assembly which meets in Louisville
in May. Rev. DR.. J. Russell Verbrycke,
pastor of the Gurley Memorial Church,
and Rev. Oscar A. Gillingham, pastor Of
the Jamestown, Nd, Church, will be
his ministerial associates in the delega-
tion to go TO he Kentucky metropolis
while the laymen who will complete the
delegation are Elders Terrell, Of Rens-
ington, Nd, Church; T. C. Newton OF
the Fourth Church, and Horton OF the
Hyattsville, Nd, Church.
Rev. DR.. Donald c. Macleod, pastor Of
the First Church; Rev. Paul r. Hickok,
pastor of the Metropolitan Church, and
Rev. DR.. Henry Runner. pastor Of the
Kensington, Nd, Church, were selected
as ministerial alternates, while the al
ternates from the laity are Elders Skin
ner of the Sixth Church, W. "A. Smell of
Garden Memorial Church, and NJ. T.,
Hyer Of Eastern Church.
The session was presided over by the
newly elected moderator, Rev. DR.. James
T. Marshall, pastor of the West Street
Church. Rev. William H. Bates, pastor
Of Bethany Chapel, was received from
the Presbytery of st. Louis, and Rey.
Robert Shemeld from that of Pretoria,
South Africa.
The session on Tuesday was opened
with prayer by Rev. Hubert Rex John
son, pastor Of the Chevy Chase Church.
The recent installation of Rev. S. A.
Bower OF the Northrninster Church was
approved Committee reports were read
as follows: Sunday schools, Rev.
Thomas c. Clark Of Tal1oma Park
Church; foreign missions. Rev. Paul Hic-
kok: minutes of synod, Rev. T. d. Rich
ards, Of Neelsville, Nd; freedmen. Rev.
J. Kelly Argo, Of HyattsviIle; sustenta-
tion fund, Rev. DR.. Benjamin F. Bit
tenger.
At this meeting the sermon of the oc-
casion was preached by Rev. Paul HE
kok. pastor Of Metropolitan Church, the
retiring moderator. on the subject: 1.-The
Voices OF God"