The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-14
GREAT IDEA HAS
. BIRTH IN ATLANTA
ALL BRANCHES OF PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH TO MEET AT SAME
TIME.
SPEAKERS OF NO TIE
MANY INTERESTING QUESTIONS
ARE ALSO TO COME UP FOR
DECISION BY THE Gov
ERNING BODIES.

Atlanta, Ga, Is a city of great ideas,
great in conception and great in ac-
complishment. And the Presbyterians
of that city are not one whit be-
hind their fellow citizens in attempt
ing and doing great things. About
two years ago they concluded 1t would
be a good thing to have a great union
meeting Of all the Presbyterians In
Atlanta and its vicinity. So on
Sunday in November. 1911. all the
Presbyterian churches in fifty miles
of Atlanta were closed. so that their
people might attend a great joint ser
vice Of worship in Atlanta's audi
torium. 1t liz said that this building
will hold 10000 people. and yet on
that occasion 1t was filed to overflow
ing with the Presbyterians and their
friends. Again last November sim
liar meeting was held. These meet
ings gave such entire satisfaction to
all concerned that they determined
to try even a larger undertaking.
In that city there are congregations
belonging to the Southern. the North
ern, the United. and the Associate
Reformed Presbyterian churches.
These congregations had found so
much pleasure in those great audi
torium gatherings. that they thought
1t would be fine plan to bring to
Atlanta ct the same time the highest
court OF each church.
So the invitations were sent. All
of these bodies meet annually in May,
except the synod of the Associate Re-
formed Presbyterian Church. The
general assemblies of the other
churches accepted the invitation. and
their meetings begin there tomorrow.
The synod OF the Associate Reformed
Church holds its annual meeting in
the fall, so 1t will only be represented
by a delegation appointed for that
purpose.
Separate Meetings.
During the day each assembly will
hold its own meetings for the trans
action of its business. The Southern
assembly will meet in the North-Ave-
nue. Presbyterian church, the United
assembly will meet In the Central
Presbyterian church. while the North
ern assembly will meet in the Baptist
Tabernacle. which has one of the
largest church audttoriums in this
country.
But the special feature of this oc-
casion will be the joint meetings at
night in the great auditorium. Not
only will there be gathered these from
night to night a vast concourse OF
Presbyterians and their friends. but
they will be addressed by some of the
greatest men Of this country on some
of the most vital questions now be-
fore the Christian Church.
Famous Speakers.
Among the number OF these famous
speakers will be Rev. DR.. NJ. A.
Matthews, the moderator of the
Northern assembly. and who is pas
tor of church in Seattle, Wash, with
over FIVE thousand members, making
it the largest Presbyterian church in
the world. Another moderator. who
will also be a speaker. is Rev. DR..
T. s. Clyce. of Sherman. Texas. who
presided at the last meeting OF the
Southern assembly. and who will
preach the opening sermon at this
meeting of that body. Rev. DR.. James
1. Vance, of Nashville, Tenn. the pas
tor Of the largest congregation in the
Southern Church will be another OF
the prominent speakers Among those
representing the Northern Church,
besides DR.. Matthews. will be Rev.
DR.. Charles L. Thompson. former
moderator OF the general assembly
Of his Church, and Rev. Chas. r..
Sickle. who is the labor secretary of
the Northern Church; his special work
the Church closer together. Among
the prominent laymen, who will speak
at these meetings. will be VIM. Jen-
nings Bryan. A close second to him
will be Hon. Hoke Smith, former gov
ernor Of Georgia.
On Sunday night in one Of the
larger churches mass meeting of
Sunday schol workers will be held
under the direction Of Rev. DR.. A. L.
Phillips. of this city, the general su-
perintendent OF Sunday schools for
the Southern Presbyterian Church.
On Friday afternoon a joint COM
Baptist Tabernacle, conducted by the
moderators of the four assemblies.
munion service will be held in the
Interesting Questions.
Many interesting questions will
come before these assemblies There
are several which are OF special in
terest to the Southern Church. One Of
thes In q proposed change in the chap
ter Of the Confession Of Faith. which
treats OF the salvation of infants dy-
ing in infancy.
It 10 not proposed to change the
doctrine Of the church on this sub
5ect. but only to change the state
ment Of 1t. There are some who
mfsinterpret the passage as 1t stands.
and the church Is anxious to remove
the opportunity Of doing so. To make
any change In the confession of faith
one general assembly must vote for
1t. and then refer It to the presby-
teries ee-fourths OF all the pres
byteries must adopt It. and there 1t
must he passed upon by another gen.
eral assembly.
& F.
The presbyteries have. been con-
~iAaripu thf. svnAnA~r~rk A,..,~- 49,