Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-05-21
PRESBYTER|ANS IN
ASSEMBLY SCORE
PRISON SYSTEMS
Also Oppose Officials Travelling
on Sunday-Want Bibles
Read in Schools.

CHICAGO, May 21.-Prominent
ministers and laymen from every Sec
ton of the country attended the
opening session of the 126th General
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church
in the United States, held today at
the new Fourth Presbyterian Church.
The assembly is composed of 900
commissioners, equally divided be-
tween the clergy and elders, and rep
resenting 295 local presbyteries. The
last meeting of the general assembly
held in Chicago was in 1877.
An interesting contest is expected
between the progressive and re-
dictionary elements over an interpre-
tation of that portion of last years
report of the Board of Home Mis-
sions which sought to abolish the de-
partment of church and country life,
organized to enlarge and improve the
work of the country church and
adapt itself to the practical needs of
the community The last general as
sembly adopted a report expressing
the fullest sympathy with the work.
but directing that the department be
discontinued as soon as practicable
The department has continued it's
work under the direction of Rev.
Charles L. Thompson, of New York,
but he is expected to resign his post
because of old age. He is seventy
eight years old. 1t is said that many
influential leaders will make de-
termined effort to have this depart
ment and its work continued.
Reports from a score of standing
and special committees dealing with
many important phases of religious,
social, educational, political and in
dustrial life will be considered by the
assembly in the ten days it is in SEES
sion.
Rev. John Timothy Stone, D. D.,
pastor of the Fourth Presbyterian
Church, and moderator of the body,
opened the general assembly at 10: 80
| o'clock with a sermon in which he
reviewed the progress of the church
and enumerated it's principal activi-
ties during the past year. 1t was the
second time in the history of the
Presbyterian General Assembly that
the retiring moderator convened the
new assembly in the church of which
he was pastor.
The Fourth Presbyterian Church
Lake Shore drive and Chestnut street
| in which the general assembly Is in
session, was recently built at cost
Of s750,000 and is said to be the most
| beautiful and best equipped church
of that denomination In the world
1t is situated in one of the most aris-
tocratic residence sections of the city
although not more than one mile
from the retail shopping and theatre
district. 1t was dedicated May g. has
seating capacity of 1900, and will
be seven days a week church." de-
voted to every kind of institutional
activity.
The organ, gift by Mrs Emmons
Blaine, is one of the finest in the
country. Adjoining the sanctuary
and connected by a cloister, is the
manse occupied by the pastor and his
family In another corner of the
grassy quadrangle is the Sunday
school building, which contains the
William w. Borden Memorial Ii
brary. Built into the great composite
edifice on either side of the Sunday
school structure are two clubhouses
one for men and one for women. Each
contains parlors, reading, writing anC
! lounging rooms. Between the club.
houses is a gymnasium equipped
with shower baths for the alternate
use of men and women. In the mems
clubhouse a floor is devoted to a
boys department.
Government is but the sum of in
dividuals, which cannot do as a whole
what is forbidden to it's members
We find nothing in the teaching o
Christ which authorizes or suggest
the right of government to reveng
itself on it's delinquent members"
With these words for preamble TIN
prison reform committee of the gen
eral assembly submitted report to
day condemning virtually the entir
operation of the penal system in thi
country, both courts and prisons. Tn
entire structure is erected on the fal
lacy that a prison is a place Of pun
ishment, the report declared, stating
further that the best outlook at pres
ent is through the extension of pro
baton and honor systems.
Courts err" the report read. II
is a practical impossibility for gov
eminent to punish offenders in sucl
-