The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-19
FOUR BUSY DAYS
FACE DELEGATES
Lively Discussion Is Expected
When Subject of ELECT Infant
Clause" Is Brought Up on
Tuesday-Evangclistic
Effort Throughout
Atlanta.
BY MAMIE RAYS.

''''' 'ouaJ NeTltaoie Presbyterian
sunday. 1t is estimated that minis
ters Of the President Church in the
lo ohltea states, the Presbyterian
Church, United States America the
United Presbyterian Church and the
Associate Reformed PRESBYTERIAN
Church preached sermons In not less
than four score churches of this city
THIS morning. and this evening Quite
number were heard also in the spe-
cial mass meetings arranged for diff
lerent hours during the day; in two
sunday schools and other services es-
pecially In this interest of young Deo-
pie. The congregations were large
and the sermons and addresses were
highly commended.
The General Assembly OF the South
ern Presbyterian Church will resume
It's work on Monday morning, and 1t is
anticipated that at least four very
busy days Will claim the attention of
the commissioners before the body can
be dissolved The business of the as
sembly is being dispatched rapidly. but
carefully. II is not to be doubted.
however. that dispatch will be delayed
To some extent during the remaining
days OF tho session by the discussion
Of important reports and OF special
subjects involved in the reports on the
floor of the assembly.
Interesting Discussions.
Among the interesting discussions
anticipated Is that with reference to
the adoption Of the report of the per-
manent committee on systematic
bcneficence, which report has been re-
ceivcd by the assembly and has been
placed on the docket or special In
terest In this report are the recon-
mendations OF the amount OF money
TO he placed at the disposal of eaci:
of the four executive committees Of
the assembly to carry on the work of
the committees for the coming year
Another discussion which is likely
TO ensue. touching the committee on
systematic benefcence. is with refer
ence 10 the restoration of all of the
former power OF the committee, ii part
Of which was taken away by the ac-
tion OF the assembly Of 1912. Prior to
the assembly OF 1912 the committee on
systematic bencfcence was intrusted
with the duty Of nominating the secre-
taries and members OF the executive
committees. and with the duty OF
general supervision of the work OF
these four committees. The assembly
at Bristol q Year ago deprived the
committee of these duties and defined
the work of the committee in this re-
spect As follows: 1t Is the general
duty OF this committee to plan and
stimulate the benevolences of the
church, but in such manner, and by
such methods as do not embarass the
executive committees in the work in
trusted to them. Changing the rule of
1910. hereafter II shall not be the duty
of this committee TO nominate secre-
tares or members of the executive
committees. or to lay upon those com
mitteeS any orders or requirements"
AS the result of this action OF the
assembly last year. seven of the four
teen members of this committee (the
committee being composed of one mem
ber from each of the fourteen synods
In the assembly, resigned their mem
berships on the same. Overtures from
ten presbyteries have been presented
to this assembly touching the powers
OF this important committee, and in
some of these urgent desire is ex-
pressed for all former power to be
restored to the committee.
Tuesday morning the report OF the
committee on bills and overtures as
presented on Saturday with reference
TO the elect infant clause" will claim
the attention of the assembly, and
while it may be brief, 1t is expected
that lively discussion will take place.
when the time for the consideration
of that special order arrives.
Still to Bc Considered.
Other questions of special interest
to be considered by the assembly dur
ing the remaining days of the session
are these: The selection of the place
for holding the next assembly: the
proposed change of the basis of repre-
sentation in the general assembly;
whether the Southern Presbyterian
Church shall retain. membership in
the Federal Council OF the Churches
OF Christ In America, and whether the
synod and general assembly may at
their own discretion, commit to the
Judgment of a commission, composed
of others than members of the court
from which the case shall come. any
case of trial on appeal except all
cases affecting doctrine. which shall
be tried by the court itself: and the
report OF the special committee on the
brief, popular statement of the belief
OF the church, to which committee the
brief statement. presented to the as
sembly on Friday was referred.
Many other important matters are
to come before this assembly. but those
just named are of peculiar interest
Altogether the remaining days of the
ifty third general assembly will be
very busy days for the commissioners
and Will chronicle, no doubt, many i'm
portant action that will prove OF vital
interest to the Southern Presbyterian
Church.
Century of Existcncc.
Among the many possessions within
the Southern Presbyterian Church is
the Christian Observer, which was
founded September 4. 1913. and which
has therefore entered already upon the
ole-nuluTeUtn year OF ltS COntlHuouS
existence as n weekly paper. The
record OF the Christian Observer is
unique in this respect. for no other
religious newspaper in any part of
the work has been known to enjoy
a century OF continuous publication.
Save for. n brief period of time. dur
ing the war. the Christian Observer
has never missed an issue. During the
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