The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-22
NEW CASTLE TO.BE
NEXT MEETING PLACE
Of PRESBYTER|ANS
Southern Assembly Will
Hold 1914 Convention in
Kansas City
- IL
DAYS WORK HAS
SEVERAL FEATURES
Adopt Resolution Directing Ministers
to Make Formal Appeal to the
Sinners--TO Aid Public Con-
gregations

Atlanta, May N.-Assemblies of the
three Presbyterian churches now holding
simultaneous sessions and attending the
Pan-Presbyterian pentecost here will be
convened next year in cities widely sep
arated. This was assured today when
Kansas City, Mo-, was chosen as the
next meeting place of the southern as
sembly and Newcastle, Pa, was selected
as the 1914 assembly city by the United
Presbyterian commissioners. Selection of
a city for the northern gathering prob
ably will be made Friday.
While the proceedings in the northern
assembly were classed as routine buoi-
ness" several features of the days work
developed points OF unusual interest. OF
primary Importance was the adoption of
a resolution directing ministers to make
a personal appeal to sinners to accept
Christ as their savior, to be- made after
or at some time during every sermon.
Another important matter was the adop-
tion of recommendations embodied in the
report of the standing committee on pub
lications and Sunday school work. The
plan for publishing and syndicating grai
ed lessons was approved by the commit
tee, with the recommendation that begin
plified and brought into harmony with
Presbyterian doctrine and that in the
use of extra Bible lessons the same sug-
gestion be followed. AS the report of the
special committee on graded Sunday
school lessons is yet 10 be received, there
may be made fight TO abolish these las
sons entirely.
Matter of Interest
Another matter of interest was the
adoption by the Northern assembly of
the recommendation of the executive corn
mission that the ch;u ch erection board
be directed to transfer s500,o00 from ths
John s. Kennedy fund to the luan fund
for aiding feeble congregations to build
churches. The legality of this action,
which was also directed by the 1912 as
sembly. had been questioned by certain Of
the board, and Judge Alton B. Parker of.
New York is said TO nave rendered two
opinions in the mater. based upon Two
separate representa- tisns submitted by
members of the board. In oxder to take
action it was necessary to secure the
approval of two-thirds of the assembly
membership, this recurring a roll call IF
s59 names. Voting to adopt the recon-
mendations of the commission were SIS
delegates, only 572 beng requisite. The
Northern assembly will select its -n4
meeting place Friday.
Perhaps the most important action
taken by the Southern assembly today
was that taking frcm the executive com
mittee of the church the power of elect
ing field and other secretaries and restcr-
ing this to the general assembly. This
action was taken upon overtures of the
Wilmington (Del.) -rcsbytery and makes
election of secretaries matter of popu-
lar vote, the executive commission nav-
ing power to place the names of candi-
dates in nomination.
Japanese immortality
description of conditions of immJr-
ality and ignorance in the japanese en-
pire was submitted 10 the Southern as
sembly by Rev. S. NJ. Ericsson mission
ary. Rev. D. W. Richardson made sim
liar report regarding China. DR.. A. NJ
Fraser, stanton, Va, chairman of the
committee On foreign missions, reported
that beginning with {, deficit of $l04 5cS,
the committee had received contributions
of s631 ,069 and now has $7577 in the treas
ury. The consideration of withdrawal
from the Federal Council of Churches of
Christ in America was postponed.
That the commissioners are beginning
to feel the effects of constant work was
indicated today By the action of the
united assembly in deciding to work only
half of each day from now until the as
sembly adjourns. Decision to erect 3d.
coo church in Washington. to be known as
the memorial church." for the purpose
of looking after the Interest of the United
Presbyterian church in national affairs
was another important step taken today.
1t is proposed to raise money for the
construction of this church through con-
ereratiopa al contrjhllt ms of $40 or more