The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-18
Institution for Lay Workers to
Be Established by Southern
Presbyterian Church.
ny NIANIIE HAYS.

u ys
Montreal. N. c., August 17.--An in
teresting fact in connection with the
training school for lay workers to be
established by the Southern Presbyte-
RAN Church within the next year is
ihat the most definite offer as to the
location OF this school that has been
received by the committee I'm charge OF
the same has come from the Presby-
terrain League in Richmond.
Ihere has been for number of years
past an increasing demand for a school
devoted especially to the training of
lay workers In this church, this school
TO sustain 81 relation to the general as
sembly similar to that which thcolog-
zeal scminarioS sustain to that body
The executive committee of publica-
ton and Sabbath school work presented
TO the general assembly OF 1911 q
recommendation that n special commit
tee representing the four general in
terests OF the church be appointed to
investigate the whole subject of a
training school for lay workers and
report the result OF the investigation
to the general assembly of 1912.
This committe was not appointed by
the assembly OF 1911 but ut the as
sembly OF 1912 the recommendation
for the appointment OF such a com
tee was appointed. consisting OF two
members from each of the four eXecu-
tive committees of the assembly.
Growing Need of Workers.
The committee appointed found that
in the church there is n steadily grow
cially in we'll established churches
where, assistants to pastors, Sunday
school superintendent, teachers. visit
ing nurses and social workers are in
demand. The committee found also the
demand is increasing for trained lay
workers in the home mission fields and
foreign mission fields Of the church
and that the need is imperative for
trained workers OF large constructive
ability. The fact that in the Southern
Presbyterian Church there is no insti-
tuition for the training of lay workers,
especially. increases the Importance of
the establishment of such an institution
as soon as possible.
After meeting Of the committee
held during the summer of 1912, an
nouncement was made of readiness to
receive bids for the location OF the
school, the following conditions TO be
met: Wherever the school is located
site must be donated, with means to
erect adequate buildings, to secure n
competent faculty and TO meet the run
ming expenses OF the school for three
years without involving the general
assembly in any financial responsible
ity. These conditions were prescribed
BY the assembly.
Desirable site offered.
The site in the offer made by the
Presbyterian League of Richmond was
a very desirable one OF about three
acres, located In Ginter Park, Il short
distance from Union Theological Semi :
nary, and the offer OF the site was
accompanied with abundant guaranty
that all of the conditions prescribed
by the assembly, regarding the loca-
ton Of the training school, would be
met. Thinking that the committee
had the power to act in the matter of
the location of the school without fur
Their action by the assembly, the Pres
byterian League kept it's offer open
/ only until May IL, 1913.
| BY order Of the assembly, held in
! Atlanta the present year, the commit
/ tee on the location of the training
school was continued and was author
| lied to prepare curriculum Of the
| school, in outline, to define the relation
! of the school to the general assembly
! as similar to the relation OF theological
| seminaries ~ that body. The commit
/ tee was authorized also TO locate the
school within one year from that date
| May 10. 1913. when all Of the conditions
! prescribed shall have been met
F.. Tie first meeting of the committee
| held since the assembly in Atlanta wa:
that held at Montreal. Acting upor
| the Instructions OF the assembly, the
| committee. as the result OF the Mon
| treat meeting. has again invited propo