The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-20
SECULAR PRESS
UNDER ITS SWAY
Committee Appointed at Last
Presbyterian Assembly Ready
to Make Public It's Findings.
Minority Report Says
Church Should Refrain
From Attack.
Especial 10 The TImcs.D,.natch I


Bristol. Va. May 1e.-This week will
be filled with the consideration and
transactio nof business OF Importance
to the General Assembly of the South
ern Presbyterian Church. II is the
opinion of some OF the commissioners
that various reports TO be presented
to the body are OF such Importance
and Will necessltate discussion and
debate OF such length that the assem-
bly, Will not be able TO dissolve be-
fore Saturday. and possibly not before
the first OF next week. but as rule
nine days give sufficient time to com
piete this work
A large part of the report OF the
permanent committee of Systematic
benoncence is yet to be considered, in
Guiding a number of important recon-
inendations. some OF which may pro-
woke discussion but no debate SIM
liar 10 that OF Saturday morning is
anticipated.
Among the recommendations OF m n
listers 20 serve on committees that VIII
be made in this report are two OF
Richm ond-Rcv. u. Clay Lilly. the FIRST
name to appear on the executive COM
mittee of Sabbath school extension
and publication. and Rev Walter J..
Lingle. r. Z. Maglli. also OF Richmond.
VIII be nominated to succeed himself
as secretary OF this committee.
The, reports of several ad interim
committees to be submitted this week
VIII he OF special Importance. One of
these. that on marriage and divorce.
will be taken UP for consideration as
the special order for 1890 O'Clock
Monday morning. The minority re-
port presented by certain members
of that committee will be considered
In connection with the ma jority report,
and is much longer than the latter.
Report on Romnnism.
Tho report of the ad interim com
mittee. on Romanism Is waited with
special interest. 1t is probable that
Tuesday. This committee was APP
pointed by the assembly of 1911. fol-
lowing these resolutions. which wero
offered TO that assembly:
Resolved. That the General Assem-
bly, views with serious concern the
growth and pernicious activity of that
powerful politico- religious organiza-
ton known as the Roman Catholic
Church. which is and always has been
a menace or blight to the civil and
religious liberty Of every country
where II has obtained toothold; that
II views with serious concern the
apathy of all public men concerning
this menace. tho evident disposition on
the part OF the general government
zation and the ominous silence of the
public press concerning any adverse
criticism of this body, and a the same
time a readiness freely TO advertise
all that is OF interest to this so-calIcd
church.
"2. That this assembly shall appoint
an ad interim committee of five mem
ihers. which shall inquire concerning
the whole matter and report TO the
next assembly some practical method
OF advising our whole people concern
ms the dangers involved in the above
facts. and. II In their Judgment. 1t is
wise to invite the influence and CO.
operation of other Protestant bod les
In this work
the ad interim committee will pres mt
Will be lengthy, and will deal with tre
subject of Roman.s7n under the fol-
lowing heads:
]. That the Roman Catholic Church
IS a pol.ttco- religious organization, g
the ex-cathedra or official teaching
OF the Papacy itself makes clear.
. That this poltico-rel!gious orga nj
"a ton IS n menace to human liberty.
8. What practical measures should
the church take in view Of this menace
to human liberty. and under a fourth
division in the report the committee
will submit several recommendations.
Does Rome Control Press.
Under the snbhead that Rome Is
endeavorinE to capture the secular
press OF the country" the report WILL
say:
MANY secular newspapers. partlcu-
larly In the great cities wherein Ro-
manism Is IN the majority. are owned
by the Roman Catholics, these owners
rs loyal to their church. publish moth
ing which the church would have pro-