The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-22
DR.. w. J. MARTIN ELECTED
MODERATOR OF ASSEMBLY
President of Davidson College, North
Carolina. Chosen by Southern
Presbyterians.
STRONG PLEA For HIGHER VISION
Mndc by Rev. j. $. Lyons in Opening
Scrmon-Newport News VIII Extend
Invitation for 1918 Gathering.
Especial to The Times-Dispatch.I

lSpecial to The Times-D -Dispatch1
Kansas City, No., May 21.-Dr. Will
liam J. Martin. president OF Davidson
College y. c., was elected moderator
at the opening session of the General
Assembly of the Southern Presbyterian
Church here to-day. DR.. Martin. who
succeeds Rev. j. S. Lyons. ot Louis
vile. Ky.. was chosen on the second
ballot He led from the start five other
nominees, the largest number ever
nominated for moderator. This Is tho
fourth time in the ,iifty-four years
history of the assembly that a lay
man has been elected to this position.
1t is not unlikely the general assem-
bly, of next year will be held I'm Vir-
ginia. DIR. 4. L. Wexford, of Newport
News. is among the visitors to the as
sembly. he having como for the special
purpose of extending the invitation for
the assembly OF 1915 to meet in the
church Of which he Is pastor. He Will
present invitations also from the in
terdenominational ministers confer
ence of Newport News, the Chamber
of Commerce of that city, from tho
presbytery of Norfolk, tho Synod OF
Virginia and from the State OF Vir-
ginia through Governor Stuart.
ASSEMBLY HAS NEVER MET
IN TIDEwATEt SECTION
Special arguments which Will empha-
size the invitation will be the fact that
the assembly has not met in Virginia
since 1903. when IL met at Lexington
and II never has met In the Tidewater
section. Also, the oldest Presby-
terian Church In the assembly is In
Tidewater Virginia, the First Presby-
terian Church. Norfolk, and that church
unites in the invitation for the assem-
bly, TO meet at Newport News instead
OF extending one in its own name.
The membership OF tho Newport
News Church has proxyn from four
members In 1890 to 5S6 at this time
Dr. Wexford has been pastor since 1892
and for tho past four years the contri-
buttons have been about $1,000 each
year.
1t is probable the report OF the ad
interim committee on education will be
submitted on Friday, and it will con-
stitute one of the most important fea-
lures of the assembly. If the assembly
adopts tho report the policy OF the edu-
cational system OF tho church will be
revolutionizcd.
Popular meetings In tho interest Of
education will bo held on Friday even
ing and Saturday evening. The speak
ers on Friday evening Will be DR.. w. ].
Martin. the moderator. and DIR. Walter
l.. fingle. of Union Theological Scmi-
nary, Richmond.
DR.. Martin. who was to-day elected
moderator OF the assembly, is mem
ber of Concord Presbytery. in the Synod
of North Carolina. He occupied the
chair OF professor of chemistry at Da-
wilson College for n number OF years
before being elected president OF that
institution. He was elected president
upon the resignation OF DR.. Henry
Louis Smith. now president OF Wash
inSton and Lee University.
DIR. Martin Is recognized as one OF the
strongest forces In tho educational
work Of Southern PresbyterianisInn and
&c leo lna dor In ta ,f
mems Missionary Movement, as in all
OF the activities of tho church.
PLEA FOR HIGHER VISION
MADE BY REV. j. =. LYONS
Declaring that delegations OF dis
contended people Will keep on coming
to the church TO disturb worship until
after awhile they will be arrested by
the message they hear, instead of by
Continued on SECOND Page.)