Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-18
.PREsBYTER|ANs OF SOUTH
. MEET At ORLANDO TO-DAY
Fifty-SiXth General Assembly, Rep
resenting $50, Communicates,
Convenes in Florida Town.
INCREASE IN CONTRIBUTIONS
Dominant Note OF Program Prepared
by Ad Interim Committee Is the
Country Church, and Its Con-
Sideration VIII Prove of Interest.
Especial to The Timcs-Dispatch. !

ORLANDO, FLA, May I1.-Repre-
scntinE l.S50 ministers. 3,+3S churches.
11,SoS ruling elders. li,Si5 deacons and
3Sc,33o communicates. the atty sixth
general assembly Of the Presbyterian
Church in the United States will con-
rcne in the First Presbyterian Church.
Orlando. tomorrow morning at IL
o'clock Of outstanding interest at
this assembly Will he the large con-
sideration to be given to the claims
and needs Of the country church. and.
while the assembly Of 1915 declined to
designate the assembly OF this year as
Country church Assembly," il did
arpoin, an al interim committee TO
prepare program TO be carried out at
the Orlando assembly. the dominant
note OF which shall be the rural church.
and this program will be presented at
tlc several evening sessions of tho
assembly. III view Of the fact that
alter careful Investigation it is esti-
mated that 32I-o per cent Of the
churches in the territory of the gem
cril assembly are located in the open
country. and are recognized as country
churches, the consideration which the
assembly Will give to this subject will
prove Of the creater interest.
The latest figures available show
that last year there We're IN the South
err PRESBYTERIAN church i15 candidates
for the ministry and thirty lccn,iates:
that thirty ministers were received
from other denominations, and thir-
teen ministers We're dismissed to other
denominations: tina, forty-ciEht now
churches were organized. and thirty
three churches were dissolved: that
S.9nS adults and 5.16l infants were hap
tizcd; that 2n.l56 members were added
10 the church on profession OF faith
and 1922 were added on certificate
INCREASE N CONTRIBUTIONS
TO ALL CI{URCH CAUSES
rive years ago the Southern Presby-
terrain Church gave TO the cause OF
foreign missions, s5ol,il2: to home mis-
sions. $lis,7+7: to Christian education
and ministerial relief. slOl.743: to pub
hcation and Sabbath school work.
SS@.Se!. whereas the reports to be sub
mittea TO the assembly At Orlando will
show that during the year just closed
the contributions TO foreign missions
were S53i,sS2: 10 home missions. $l1S,-
5sl: 10 Christian education aud min
Isl erial relief. sll7,6o3: 10 publication
ana sabbath school work, s3T,5S6.
The outstanding feature of interest
on the first day OF the assembly will
be the election of moderator, but this
VIII not take place until the after
noon session. as the sermon by the re-
firing moderator, Rev. w McF. Alex
anter, y. n, of New Orleans. La, fol-
loved by the sacrament Of the Lords
supper, viii constitute the opening
st->lcr
Following the announcement by the
stated clerk, Rev. Thomas II. Law.
- H., of the names OF the commits
sioners that have been enrolled, at
the afternoon session, nominations for
moderator will be made and the cleo
'ion Will follow.
" is probable that the names of not
less than four commissioners will be
placed in nomination for moderator of
this assembly.
REPORT ON woMEN'S
POSITION IN CHURCH
Much interest ceuters about the re-
port which Will be made by COM
mittee appointed last year 10 study the
Sculptures ION the whole subject of
women's position in the church" and
10 report 10 this assembly
Rev. NJ. b Porter. of Richmond will
have charge OF the observance OF the
centennial OF the American Bible So
cioty next sunday night. lie Is chair.
man Of the asscmtly's permanent com
m!ttee on thu Bible cause. and score
tary or the South Atlantic agency al
this Bible sQciaa.. In the 70 years al
It's existence, the society has distribu
ed $4,000, 90" volumes of the scrip.
lures. and has carried on it's work in
more than 400 languages and dialects