The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-16
Four Great Churches United in
Vast Assemblage After Days
Business Sessions
DR.. LYONS MODERATOR
OF SOUTHERN CHURCH
Chosen to Preside Over Assem-
bly---Northern Church Breaks
Slate and Rebukes Eccles-
iastical Politics
Nv REV. WILLIAM S. CAMPBELL.

BY REV. WILLIAM S. CAMPBELL.
Southern Presbyterian general assem-
bly, at it's meeting this afternoon
elected Rev John 8. Lyons. d. D., of
louisville, KY. as its moderator.
DIR. Lyons IL the pastor of the
largest Presbyterian church In Ken
lucky and Is considered one Of the
strongest men in that section Of the
church. He Is comparatively a young
man. but has been very prominent in
church work for some years.
The other nominees for this. the
church were: Rev. Or. A. NJ. Fraser.
OF Staunton. Va. Rev. Or. w. NJ.
McPheeters. and Rev. DIR. r. c. Reed.
Of Columbia, S. c.. and Rev. DR.. w.
McF Alexander. of New Orleans. La
Never Amy Seeking.
One Of the striking things about
the election of a moderator of this
assembly IL that there IL never any
seeking OF the once on the part of
any one. Indeed. II one should make
any effort to secure. that effort would
b sure to defeat him. There is very
little discussion OF the matter before
A member of the assembly said in
seconding one of the nominations
that the nominee WAS a warm friend
Of his and belonged to the same pres
hytery with him, but that he did not
know that his friends name would
be presented TO the assembly for its
consideration. Indeed. IL In a rare oc-
currence to hear any member OF the
assembly advocating the claims OF
any one for the moderatorship. until
the nominating speeches are made.
This assem- bly, was opened with a
sermon by Rev. Or. r. 3. Clyce. of
Sherman. Texas. the retiring modera-
tor. from Psalm i7:i5, IT shall be
satisfied when 7 awake In His like
ness" 1t was a strong. earnest. sim
pie goapel sermon and made a fine
impression on the assembly and the
large audience that filled the large
North avenue Presbyterian church.
The first OF the great union meet
ings in the auditorium was held to-
night. The thousands OF people who
gathered there Joined heartily in a
song service. AS the grand old tunes
of the church were sung, led by the
magnificent organ in this building. a
volume of melody went up such as
is rarely ever heard.
An Interesting Gavet
A gavel was presented to the mod
orator of this meeting. Rev. r. o.
Flynn. ID. D., by George A. Beatty. of
this city. This ravel is made of four
pieces of wood coming from the four
oldest theological seminaries in this
country. These seminaries are Union,
OF Richmond. Va. the oldest semi
nary OF the Southern Church; Prince
ton. Of the Northern Church. at
Princeton, N. j.; the United Presby-
terrain seminary. at Service, Pa, and
the Associate Reformed Presbyterian
seminary at Due West. S. c.
J. X. Orr, the chairman of the
committee that arranged for these
joint meetings. made a speech in
which he welcomed the three assem-
blies to the homes and hearts of
Atlanta
Greetings were presented by the
moderator Of each OF the three as
semblies and the synod of the Assoc
ciate Reformed Church. Rev. T. S.
Ciyce, d. D.. OF Sherman. Texas.
spoke on behalf OF the Southern
Church: Rev H. H. Bell. D. D., spoke
for the United Presbyterian Church.
and Rev. Mark A. Matthews. d. D.,
brought the greeting of the Northern
Church.
There is strong sentiment that
comes out on every hand that shows
that each Of the other churches Ia
very anxious to have the privilege
Of uniting with the Southern Church.
This church. somewhat as coy
maiden. Is allowing herself to be
courted. but Is saying nothing.
j, A. Mcdonald. editor of the To-
ronto (Canada) Globe. an elder Of
the Canadian Presbyterian Church,
made the chief address Of the even
ing. He brought the greeting OF the
moderator and assembly OF the church
to which he belongs
Intcrnationalism His Subject.
His subject was "Internationalism
ana the Church" He spoke OF the
kind feelings Of Canada for this coun-
try and said that there Is much of
that they would always he two coun-
tries He emphasized the fact that
there IL the very best kind Of inter-
national peace existing between these
countries, AZ is shown by the four
thousand miles Of boundary between
them on which there ia no fort and
not even sentinel. This condition. he
said. exists nowhere else in the world.
The Christian church has part in
internationalism today such as no
other organization in the world has. he
said The command was to 60 into
all the world. The church goes into
every land with q life that rcgenerAtes,
TO wire all for Christ. to build q new
Kingdom. into which 1t Is said nations
shall come. The church's duty Ii to
teach the nations. II the church would
rise to its responsibility. 1t has the
power to settle the question Of war for
the world. It II the duty Of the church
to teach the nations OF the world the
sinfulness OF war.
Mr.. Mcdonald showed himself in
this apeech to be q strong Christian
1sS=susz=ssssd=s<isa
tnternAtionaligm.
The Northern assembly elected Rev
John Timothy Stone, d. D., OF Chi
cago. IN. His nomination was . SUR
prise to most Of tho assembly. Several
1kAar uauaaa had ham nroUninAntly be-