Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-14
many VITAL QUESTIONS
BEFORE PREsBYTER|ANs
General Assembly OF Southern
Church Meets at Orlando, Fla,
on Next Thursday.
SIXTEEN SYMBOLS
Rev. NJ. Is. Porter, d. d.. of Rich
mond, Is Chairman OF Committee
Arranging for American Bible So
cicty Centennial Celebration.

4 number OF the important matters
10 come before the tifty-siXth general
assembly of the Presbyterian Church
in the United states. Familiarity known
as the Southern Presbyterian Church,
VIII prove Of more than passing in
terest also to members OF other dcnom-
nations than Presbyterian and to many
people not affiliated with any church
This assembly will convene at Orlando
Fla. on next, Thursday morning. and
Will continue in session for at least
ono week. This will be the first time
that general assembly OF Southern
Presbyterianism has met in Florida.
and this fact will lend special interest
tn this assembly.
There arc sixteen synods that COM
pose the assembly. and tho territory
OF the synodS is divided into eighty
five presbyteries. The number of min.
listers and ruling elders elected com
missioners tn the general assembly is
equal. there being one of each elected
from each presbytery and one Of each
additional. for every 1000 communi-
cants in the presbytery. The number
Of commissioners this year will he al
most 300 and the attendance at the
assembly will be increased by the num-
Der Of executive secretaries and mem
berS of the executive and permanent
committees present.
Among the most important OF the many
reports to be presented TO the assem-
Vsory committee education. which
will submit its first annual report. as
this committee is to carry Oh tho work
which was begun by the ad interim
committee on Presbyterian educational
institutions. Rev. Henry n. Sweets.
d. D.. of Louisville. KY, being chair
man of the committee.
ASSEMBLY TO CONSIDER
MANY URGENT MATTERS
The following are some Of the other
matters Of Importance to come before
this assembly for consideration and ac-
ton:
The centennial celebration Of the
American Bible Society. on Sunday
evening. May Il. Rev. NJ B. Porter.
u. D.. OF Richmond being chairman Of
the permanent committee on Bible
cause. which has arranged the program
FOR this celebration; the report of the
ad interim committee appointed by the
assembly OF 1915 ito make 4 careful
study Of the teaching OF the Scriptures
on the whole subjec, OF woman's posi-
ton IN the church. and to report TO the
next assembly; to this committee was
referred also the matter OF church
enterta inments and kindred matters of
raising money for church purposes"
hence il will report with reference to
this also. and the report touching both
Of these subjects will be awaited with
keen interest: another report Of specia
interest to he presented will he that
OF the adj interim committee appointed
by the last assembS ito consider the
adrisability of electinE a joint educa-
tional secretary to foster education
thSoughout the church in regard to the
assembly's benevolent causes. and, IL
the way be clear. to recommend to the
next assembly a comprehensive policy
Of education covering all the work Of
the church: following the report or
the ad interim committee com
munion wine" this assembly will make
some dcliverance this subject: the
question Of comfy with the Presby-
tcrian Church in the United States Will
constitute another matter Of interest
before the assembly. and the same is
true regarding the action the assembly
will take regarding the actions Of the
Federal Council of Churches Of Christ
in America. which were criticized by
the assembly Of last year: the status of
the colored presbytcries and churches
will be considered by this assembly,
and attempt will be made TO devise
il possible. better plans for co -ordinat-
ing them for mutual counsel and help
in the future; the report of the per.
cence. which is always heard with in
terest, will contain much at this as
sembly that will ella i'm special attcn-
ton: the recognition OF the Synod Of
Appa lachia. which was erected since
the last assembly, from parts OF the
Synods Of Kentucky. North Carolina.
Tennessee and Virginia. will constitute
An interesting feature OF the assembly
this year: attention will be given also
TO the offer of the Mountain Retreat
Association for the establishment OF
a Christian normal school. to be con-
Quoted at its plant. at Montreal, y. c.
nine months of the year.