The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-21
General Assemblies of Three
Branches of Church Will
Meet at Atlanta.
GAvELs OF HISTORIC VALUE
Important Matters, Including
Question Of Union, to Be
Considered.
ny MAMIE HAYS.


by MAMIE BAYS.
Among the many important religious
gatherings that have been held, and
that will be held In the South this
year, 1t is safe to state that none have
been and none will be of greater in
terest and OF more significant import
to larger number of people, both
North and South, than will be true
of what is often designated the Pan
Presbyterian Pentecost," to be held In
May Is. There Will convene in At
lanta on that day the General AS
sembly of the Presbyterian Church in
the United States (Southern Presby-
terrain Church), the General Assem-
bly, OF the Presbyterian Church In the
United States of America (Northern
Presbyterian Church), and the Cen
eral Assembly of the United Presby-
terrain Church of North America, and
these three General Assemblies will
represent total church membership
of 1,962,S45. The latest statistics avail
able give the membership of the South
ern Presbyterian Church as 292,S45;
that of the Northern Presbyterian
Church as 100000, and that of the
United Presbyterian Church as 100000.
The highest court OF tho Associate
Reformed Presbyterian Church, which
court is the Associate Reformed Synod
of the South, has appointed commits
sion which will meet in Atlanta dur
ing the time that the three General
Assemblies are in session. and that
synod represents membership of H.
900.
Arrang ements have been made by
the Presbyterians of Atlanta to furnish
free entertainment to all OF the COM
missioners OF the different bodies and
as far as possible they will be guests
in private homes where they will en-
JOY Southern hospitality In abundance.
/ The three General Assemblies will
hold business sessions during the day
in separate churches OF the city, and
certain evenings joint meetings will
be held in the City Auditorium, which
has seating capacity of 1000, and
members OF the different assemblies
will address the joint meetings on
topics of interest to all Of the bodies
The business sessions of the assem-
bly, of the Southern Presbyterian
Church will be held In North Ave-
nue. PRESBYTERIAN Church. those of the
/ assembly OF the Northern Presbyte
rian Church in the Baptist Tabernacle,
which will seat 5000 people, and those
OF the United Presbyterian Church
will be held in tho central Presby-
terrain Church.
| Assemblies are In session, the annual
meeting of the Council of the Wo-
mems Home and Foreign Missionary
! Society OF the Southern Presbyterian
Church will be held in Atlanta also,
and the sessions of the council will be
held in Harris Street Presbyterian
| Church.
Gavels of Historic Value.
Gavels have been made for the use
OF the moderators OF the three as
semblies. and these will prove of his
toric as we'll as interesting value. The
gavel for the moderator OF the South
lern Presbyterian Assembly is made of
wood from several points of special
interest to the church, from the First
| Presbyterian Church at Augusta, Ga.
where the first General Assembly of
the church was held, anu with this is
combined wood from the following
points of historic note: from the old
Midway Church, In Liberty County,
Ca, where the first prcsbytery In
Georgia was held. and the first ordi-
nation also; from the room In ITALIAN
Hall, Oglethorpe University, that was
occupied by the poet, Sidney Lanier
and from tree planted by President
Talmage.
The gavel for the moderator Of the
Northern Presbyterian Assembly is
made OF wood from the First Presby-
terian Church at Newburyport, Mass.
which church was founded by George
Whiteheld, in which church he preach
is buried. Combined with this is wooC
where Whitefcld's Bethesda stood
near Savannah.
Wood taken from a building OF wha
is claimed to be the first theologic leu
seminary on this continent, at Service
Pa, lis that from which tho gavel 70,
the moderator Of the assembly Of tn,
United Presbyterian Church has beef
made Ono has been made also FOL
the presiding officer OF the Joint meet
ings OF thc three assemblies, this on,
is made Of wood from theological sem
mary buildings at Service, Pa: Prince
ton. y. J.. Hampdcn- Sidney, Va, an,
bue West. S. c.. recognized as the fou
oldest theological seminary building
on the continent. Around each gave
is a band of Georgia gold and on Gael
band is a suitable inscription.
Third 10 Meet In Atlanta.
The assembly of this year will b.
the iifty-third General Assembly o
the Southern Presbyterian Church, an,
, this will be the third assembly, o
that church to be held In Atlanta. on
having ben held there in 1882 and an
/, other in 1900. il Is not to be doubte
that the assembly of this year is be
ing anticipated with greater interes
and it's proceedings and action vii
, be noted with greater concern by tn
entire church than has been true re
garding the assembly for numbe
OF years This fact is due to the sew
!, cral questions of specific Importance I
be considered and settled by this as
Grandma Talks