Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-10-16

MEETING HERE
Synod of Michigan Holding Its
Eighty-Fifth Annual Meet
ing in Alma.
FOUNDING WAS OBSERVED
Hon. Gerrit J. Diekema Gave Prin-
cipal Address at Celebration Of
Colleges Birth.

Pastors and other prominent Pres
byterian workers from all parts of
Michigan are meeting in Alma this
week for the annual meeting of the
Presbyterian Synod, which opened on
Tuesday evening and closes tonight
with a popular meeting in the inter-
ests OF the New Era movement.
Following a divine service Tuesday
evening, a business session of the
Synod was held at which time Rev.
William S. jerome of White Pigeon
was elected as moderator Of the Syn
od for the ensuing term, TO succeed
Rev. George j. Rea of Grand Rapids.
At yesterday mornings business
session the stated clerk and the per-
manent clerk of the Synod were
elected, these being Rev. William
Bryant of Birmingham, as stated
clerk for five years, and Rev. Willard
X. Spencer of lonia as permanent
clerk for a period of five years.
Following the business session on
Wednesday the report of the Synod
ical Home Missionary Society was
given. Advance steps had been tax
en-, according to the report, which
gave d foundation for large pro-
gram looking towards the building
up of the church in Michigan. The
superintendent of the society is to be
given several additional assistants to
aid in carrying out the program out
lined.
One of the features of the program
which proved highly acceptable was
the plan that every regular pastor
shall receive at least 81 200 and a
home this coming year, and where
possible this amount shall be made
81 800 and home.
Following the report an address
was given the Synod by DR.. John
Mcdowell of New York, who for five
years was member Of the Michigan
Synod, when he had pastorate in
Detroit.
The report Of the Foreign Mission
ary society was given by Mrs. j. X
Mitchell Of Detroit and was followed
by an address by DR.. George II. Trull
of New York City, the able secretary
of the Foreign Missionary Society.
Last evening the members of the
Synod were entertained at dinner
at Wright Hall, which was followed
by the celebration of Founders Day
in the Alma College chapel.
Rev. James Barkley of Detroit,
chairman of the board of trustees,
presided at the meeting and follow
ing the invocation called upon Pres
ident II. NJ. Crooks, who gave a short
sketch of the founding of Alma col
lege, which had its beginning in the
sermon of Ambrose Dunkle of Bav
City, which opened up the heart of
Alexander Folsom, Bay City lum-
herman, who contributed $4,000 to-
wards the foundation of a college;
the action of the Synod of Michigan
at its meeting in Grand Rapids in
1886; and the first gift of the late
Ammi W. Wright for the Presbyter-
IAN tollege, the grounds and two
buildings in Alma.
The Hon. Gerrit j. Diekema of
AANiieHNs VIC pllHClpdl speaker OF the
evening was then introduced. and
gave one of the most glowing tributes
to the small Christian colleges that
has ever been heard in Alma. It
held the close attention of the entire
audience which packed the chapel. and
time and again as he pounded home
his points he was greeted with
rounds of applause from the appre-
clative college people and members of
the Synod, who heard him.
The two strongest points which
were brought out in the address in
the favor of the smaller sectarian
institutions were character building
and the Christianizing influence which
they have.
In bringing his address to "A close
Mr.. Diekema made wonderful plea
for continued support of the college.
that the dream of its founders might
be continued and it's great work of
character building and its Christian
lzing influence might be spread still
more, and make of'us better people.