The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-20
General Assembly of Great
Southern Church Convenes
This Morning
OPENING SERMON BY
REV. ]. E. THACKER
Represents Three Thousand
Four Hundred and Thirty
Churches and Entire South.
Highest Court of the Church
Nv WILLIAM 5. CAMPBELL

Newport News Va. May lS,--AI~
ready the Presbyterian hosts are ar
irving for the fifty-fifth annual meet
ing of rne Southern Presbyterian Gem
eral Assembly. BY tomorrow morn
ing they will all be here. There Will
be about two hundred and fifty OF the
leading ministers and iaymen of this
church coming from the great section
OF our country which extends from
MARYLAND To Texas. and from Missouri
to Florida.
This is the highest court of the
Presbyterian Church, and deals with
matters pertaining to the church al
large.
Moderator Not Minister.
The present moderator of the body
who will- praSlda-at its -npening ses-
sion is President William j. Martin.
of Davidson, n. c. 1t Is customary for
the moderator to preach the opening
sermon, but as President Martin is
not a preacher. he has asked Rev.
DR.. j. f. Thacker, of Norfolk. to per-
form this duty. DIR. Thacker is gem
eraI evangelist for the assembly. and
his selection for the opening sermon
is specially appropriate. as IL is pro-
posed 70 make this meeting of the
assemb bly, particularly evagelistic in his
tone He has been engaged IN his
present work for several years and
has met with marked success He
has held great evangelistic campaigns
Ia a number OF the larger cities ans
towns of the South. and is much
sought after for sucsl services.
OHice- Secking Unknown.
Who will he the new moderator ia
always a matter Of much interest. but
no one can predict with any assur-
ance The seeking of this office or
becoming candidate for II Is un-
known in the assembly, Very little
eiectioHeeriuE even Is done by those
who wish 10 see this nigh honor be-
slowed upon a friend, Nominations
are made in open meeting, and the
vote 10 by roll-call.
Rev. DEF II. Law. of Spartanburg.
8. c.. is the stated clerk. lie has
charge of all the papers and does
much to guide the assembly in hand
ling the business, Rev. Dr. J. d.
clerk.
Consists of Fourteen Synods.
The southern Presbyterian Church,
which is represented by this assem-
bly,, consists OF fourteen synods, which
are divided up into eighty four pres
byterieS. The reports for the present
year cannot be compiled until after
this meeting. but year ago There
were on the rolls Of the Church 3,430
churches. 1919 ministers, sos young
men preparing for the ministry. H.
est ruling elders, ~ ass descons, and
$40. seq members During the preced
ing year 1912 new msmbers We're
added TO the Church on profession
of their faith. The Sunday-school
membership was 2S4,s9S The total
amount contributed by these churches
for all causes was ss.0S6.79s
Four Departments OF Work.
Outside of the work In the individ-
, uai charch, the great work Of -ehe
Church IN divided .ato four general
departments. each Under charge of an
executive committee appointed by the
assembly. The foreign mission work
Of the Church has its headquarters
In Nashville, Tenn. and IL under the
special charge of two secretaries Rev.
DR. 3. II. Chester and Rev DR. f. w.
Smith. The home mission work has
it's Office in Atlanta and Is directed by
Rev. DIR, S. L. Morris and Rev. DIR.
Homer Mcmillan, Ministerial e,iuca-
ton and relief ID under charge OF
i Rev. DR.. II, n. Sweets. and it's ONCE
/ is In Louisville. Publication and SUN
day-school work il under the charge
of Mr.. r. f. Msgill. and Is conducted
/ from the Presbyterian Publishing
! House in Richmond
Each 10 Report mt This Session
! Each of these committees wcl
make full reports To the assem- bly,,
and each department of the work will
he given careful consideration Many
other matters of interest will also