Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-05-21
PRESbYIERIANS
convene TODAY
10TH MEETING OF THE GEN.
ERAL ASSEMBLY OF THAT
CHURCH MEETS.
MANY PROMINENT SPEAKERS

4vAAe VOululSS1OAeIS
Be at the Convention; Appoint
New Moderator.
REPORT ON WHITE SLAVERY.
Chicago, May 2o.-When the
126th. general assembly Of the
Presbyterian churches in the Uni
ted States 10 called to order to.
morrow . number Of carefully pre-.
pared reports, including one on
white slave traffic, will be placed
in the hands of delegates. They
were given out in advance to allow
q careful reading before action on
their adoption is called for.
Chicago, May 21.-Prominent minis.
tiers and laymen from every section OF
the country attended the opening ses-
sion of the One Hundred and Twenty
sixth General Assembly of the Pres
byterian Church in the United States,
held today at the new Fourth Pres
byterian church..
800 Commissioners.
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 reactions
airy elements oyer an Interpretation
of that portion of last years report
Of the board of home missions, which
sought to abolish the department 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 commun-
ity. The last general assembly adopt
ed a report expressing the fullest
sympathy with the work, but direct
ing that the department be disconti1-
ued as soon as practicable. The de-
partment has continued in 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 70 years old. 1t
is said that many influential leaders
will make a determined effort to have
this department and it's work contin-
ued.
Reports to Be Heard.
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 1t is in ses-
sino.
Rev. John Timothy Stone, d. D.,
pastor of the Fourth Presbyterian
church and moderator of the body,
opened the general assembly at 1890
o'clock, with a sermon, in which he
reviewed the progress Of the church
and enumerated its principal activi-
Pties during the past year. 1t was the
second time in the history Of the Pres
byterian General Assembly that the
retiring moderator convened the new
assembly in the church of which hd
was pastor.
Dr.. Roberts Called the Roll.
Rev. William H. Roberts of Phila-
delphia, who has acted as stated clerk
for years, called the roll after the
assembly had been convened.
The first important item of business
was the organization of the new body
by the election of a moderator and
other officials. There were fewer can
didates for moderator mentioned than
in previous years, and as a result
little canvassing for votes. This was
a result of the precedent established
last year, when DR.. Stone was unex-
pectedly elected from the floor of the
assembly, after half a dozen candi-
dates had spent many days election
eering among the commissioners.
Introduced Speakers. /,
Rev. s. Hall Young, who spent 40
years as a missionary in Alaska,
where he established the first church
of any denomination, presented both
Moderator Stone and 'his successor
with a gavel made from the tusks iof
a walrus, which DR.. Young killed on
one of his expeditions in the Behring
sea.
Thet Fourth Presbyterian church,
Lake Shore Drive land Chestnut
street, in which the general assembly
is in session, was recently built, at a
cost of $780, 900, 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 aristocratic residence sections
of the city, although not more than.
one mile from the retail shopping and
theater district 1t was dedicated
May 8, has a seating capacity of
1900, >and will be a "seven days a
week church" devoted to every kind
OF institutional activity.
Gothic Architecture Prevails.
The church consists of a group of
marble buildings of Gothic type, built
in a quadrangle. The 1pterior finish
ing is magnificent, but severely plain.
The sanctuary suggests the cathedral
effect, but is without the least vestige'
of display. There is color in it and
much delicate carving Of both wood,
and marble, but nowhere is there eth
er decoration or ornament, contradict
ing the simplicity that dominates the
entire conception of the long nave
and the lofty chancel.
Along each side OF the Gothic cell
ing is a row of marble columns. The
chancel window is an elaborate work
OF Christian symbolism. The other
windows are color mosaics, devoid of
-.-s- 49,