Omaha daily bee., 1916-05-19
PRESBYTERIAN
ASSEMBLY MEETS
Indication That Rev, w. S. McEwan
Of Pittsburgh Will Be Elected
Moderator.
BIG ISSUES TO BE CONSIDERED

Atlantic City, n J., May l8.-lnter-
est in the first days sessions Of the
Presbyterian assembly which began
its l28th annual meeting here today,
ccntered in the election Of moder-
ator to succeed the Rev J. Ross Stey-
ems, president Of Princeton Theologi-
cal seminary Leaders among the
1000 delegates predicted that the as
sembly would set a precedent by Sc
lccting the Rev. w. l.. McEwan Of
Pittsburgh. 1t is customary TO alter
nate between the cast and west in
filling the highest office in the gift
of the church Other candidates
prominently mentioned include Rev.
DR.. John A, Marquis, Cedar Rapids,
Ia, and Rev. DR.. Hugh A. Walker Of
Los Angeles. A successor to the late
DR.. Noble OF San Francisco, the per-
manent clerk, was also to be chosen
at today's sessions.
The gathering was considered one
OF the most important in the history
Of the church Among the matters TO
be considered are an overture from
the Cincinnati Presbytery for the ex-
pulsion Of the New York Prcsbytery
on charges of ordaining TO the minis
try men who adlselalni many OF the
essential beliefs OF the church, and
the proposed consolidation Of the col
Iege board and the board Of educa-
tion.
War and Christianity.
The reports that have been pre-
pared by various committees for con-
sidcration during the week reflect
some OF the new phases OF church
problems and particularly some Of
the effects which the great war IN
Europe has had on church work
These reports compiled in a book
Of 200 pages, which were placed IN
the hands OF the delegates to the as
sembly here today, include some
optimistic views as TO the effects
which the war is having and will
continue to have on religion. The
executive commission of the alliance
Of the reformed churches through
out the world reports:
Instead Of showing the failure OF
Christianity, this war has revealed
the strength Of Christianity, for
Christianity has been the only bond
that has not snapped because OF
this war. Out Of the present condi-
tion in Europe three facts are
emerging that bear on the religious
situation. The first is>that religion
over there has become largely phil
anthropy. The people have passed
from faith TO works All the coun-
tries are full OF charitable efforts to
relieve poverty and suffering.
Opportunity for Evangelization.
"Thc second peeuliarity is evan
gelization. The 24,000000 men of
the different armies afford a grand
for tho spread oi the
gospel The 100000 prisoners IN
Germany, most of whom are Rus
slams. open great field for the
cvangelzatiOn ot Russia In the
camps, IN phg hospitals, in the prison
camps, is an open door OF hope, trc-
menduus and mighty that will at
iect every church IN Europe
The third feature m personal.
ness, that -, picrY ia more than ever
has become a personal thing lhe
war Is making tufupe learn that rc.
ligion Is a personal matter. rather
than a formal one hC lines Dee.
tween denominations ace largely
broken down iu Armies and camps
Path Is being purified sham and
uufraiuy are burning uut
Aiigf the war, thc fruuft points
aut there maY De a gfsat Eali Gee
AnfFieAHs g0 take up thr continuance
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