The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-21

the campaign on evangelism and stew
ardship. conducting such presbyterian
conferences and such other conferences
as may seem wise to them.
2.--That the four executive com
mitteas. with the help OF the Lay
mems Missionary Movement. take such
part In the interdcnominationaI cam
paign on stewardship and evangelism
as may seem wise to them
3.-That the every member canvass
be held during or before March 1914,
Under the direction OF the four execu-
live committees. with the help of tho
Laymen's Missionary Movement
Spirited Diacussion.
Answering a number of overtures
from different presbyteries that the
former powers of the permanent COM
nfttee on systematic benehcence be
restored. that of another presbytery
that these powers DO defined. the
standing committee made the follow
Ing recommendation, which precipitat-
ed an immediate spirited discussion:
'It shall be the duty OF this COM
| mitteo to study with care the work OF
| all the assembly's executive commit
tees. and TO do all tina; can BY recon-
mendatlons to the assembly to co-or-
| dinote, unity and advance the work
| highest state Of efficiency and unity.
1T shall be the special duty OF this
| committee TO stimulate the benevolent
| activities OF tho church in every pos
| sible Legitimate way.
with these ends In view, 1t shall
be the duty of this committee to meet
| at least once each year for conference
with the executive secretaries of the
| ASSEMBLIES executive committees at
| which meeting tho work and needs OF
| the entire church, as represented by
| the executive committees, shall be dis
| cusSed.
I'm order to increase its Knowledge
! and thereby its efficiency, this com
| mittee may have access 10 tho books
| and files of the various executive com
nittees at the convenience of the com
| mittees. but may have no powes to
direct the work of these committees
| or secretaries except by way OF sug
| gestion.
Tine permanent committee on syste-
! matte beneficence shall meet prior to
| the converting Of the general assem-
| bly,, carefully consider the annual re-
! ports of the several executive com
mittees, and other information as 1t
may have in the light of all these re-
ports, and shall submit to the assem-
! bly, Its recommendations concerning
| the work of the executive committees
| and the various causes represented by
| them.
"It shall be tho duty of the perma-
| nent committee on systematic benefl-
cence, after the most careful study
of tho whole situation, to nominate to
the assembly suitable names for mem
| bers OF the several executive commit
tees, it being fully understood that
this does not take away the right of
| any individual member OF the assem-
bly, TO make similar nominations.
1T shall also be the duty OF the per-
| manent committee on systematic bene-
fcence to nominate to the assembly
suitable men for executive secretaries
OF the assembly's executive commit
tees. IL being again. fully understood
that this does not take away tho right
of any individual member of the as
sembly to make similar nominations.
Restoration Recommended.
Thus 1t was that the restoration OF
the former powers of the permanent
committee were recommended There
! was an Immediate request to strike
from the report the recommendation
that the permanent committee be en-
powered TO nominate members of tho
executive committee, the secretaries OF
the same.
Rev. w. McF Alexander stated that
If this power was again placed in the
hands of the committee the danger
was there would be too much centrali-
zation of power in the committee dan
ger that some men would bear 10 the
committee, court its favor in order To
be appointed members of the executive
committee or secretaries OF the same.
Rev. T. $. Clyce, Il former member OF
the permanent committee, stated that
members of the executive committees
receive no pay, or little love, but plenty
of abuse He considered it the height
of abuse for the suggestion to be made
that men would bear TO the committee
that log rolling" would result. He
stated further that he has been a mem
Der OF the committee, there was no log
rolling" then. He then said that In
his opinion the chhrcn needed more
Capitalization of power than 1t has,
that no business corporation, transact
ing as much business as the Southern
Presbyterian Church transactS would
do so with as little Capitalization OF
powers as the church uses.
There was call for the question, the
report OF the committee was adopted.
the powers OF the permanent commit
tee OF systematic beneticience restored.
Decided Division.
When the afternoon session adjourn
ed the report OF the committee on for
eign correspondence was under con-
sideration. The item being discussed
was that of whether the Southern Pres
byterian Church shall retain member
snip in the Federal Council of Churches
of Christ in America. The report of
the committee recommended the mem
4 bership should be retained, and n mi
nority report recommended withdrawal
of membership. There is decided di-
vision on the subject. II is expected
| that much time yet will be spent in
discussion before vote will be taken.
4 popular meeting of the three as
semblies was held In the auditorium
this evening, the subject being home
missions. The first special order" be-
fore the Southern Assembly Wednesday
is the selection Of the place OF meet
ing for tho assembly of 1914.
I Kansas City, Mo, Waco. Texas, New
port News. Va, and perhaps other
cities will be placed In nonina ton.
No Definite Action.
Bowling Green, Ky, May oo-No
definite action was taken on this the
last scheduled day OF tho General AS
sembly OF the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church on the compromise In the pur-
CHI of C.um be Ella nd I-ri,Lnrsii,.