The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-05-19
SOUTHERN
PRESbYTER-
IAN CHURCH
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OF PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN
THE UNITED STATES BEING
HELD IN FLORIDA.

Orlando, Fla, May 19.-The fifty
sixth general assembly of the Pres.
byterian church in the United States,
known as the Southern Presbyterian
church, was opened here with pros
poets of discussions and actions of
more than usual interest to religious
worker.
Interest in the first days sessions
centered in the election of a mod
orator. This was to be taken up at
the second session, the first Being
devoted to the sermon of the retiring
moderator, the Rev. w. McF. Alex
ander, d. d., of New Orleans, and
the sacrament of the Lords Supper.
Taking for the text of his sermon
|. Cor. Xv:3-i, the retiring moderator
declared that the only proof that can
convince the human mind that a re-
ligion comes from God is the proof
from miracles. MAKE the resurrec-
ton of Christ a lie," he said, "and
it vtates all the other evidence.
The human mind is so con-
stituted that it must believe the eff
feet will correspond to its cause. IF
God acts, it must be in a supernatural
or superhuman manner or the mind
will refuse to believe that God is
acting. The only rational proof
that a religion can have that it came
from God is that it is accompanied
with miracles, superhuman, super
natural and worthy Of God. The res
direction of Christ is such miracle.
At least four commissioners are eX
pected to be put forward for moder-
ator.
iWomans position in the church
and methods of raising church funds
by entertainments will take promi-
nent places during the assembly. An
ad interim committee appointed last
year was instructed to make a care
full study of the teaching of the scrip
lures on the whole subject of wom-
ans position in the church and TO
report to the next assembly" To this
committee also was referred "The
matter of church entertainments and
kindred matters of raising money for
church purposes. These reports are
looked forward to with great interest.
This assembly is expected to con-
tinue work in behalf of country chur-
ches to which was given so much
time in the meeting in 1915. Church
statistics show that thirty-nine and
one-half per cent of the 3,43S church
es in the southern church are termed
Country churches"
The assembly last year criticised ac-
tions of the federal council of church
es of Christ in America and it is
expected this subject also will be
brought up as will the matter of COM
ity between the southern and north
ern church.
Many churchmen believe that at
this assembly an effort will be made
to devise better plans for cooperation
with negro presbyteries and churches.
During the past year the synod
of Appalachia, comprising parts OF
the synods of Kentucky, North Caro-
lima Tennessee, Virginia, has been
erected and the matter of extending
recognition to the new organization
will be brought up.
The southern church is composed
of sixteen synods divided into eighty
five presbyteries and has something
over $4,000 communicates. The num-
Der of commissioners this year VIII
be about 300, equally divided between
ministers and ruling elders. One
commissioner of each class is elect
ed from each presbytery and one
each additional, for every 1000 COM
municants in the presbytery. This
is the first time the assembly has
met in Florida.