Evening star., 1919-05-16
WOMAN LEADERS
IN Church FAVORED
Presbyterians Indorse Inter-
church Movement and Plan
+ Expansion Program.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, May 16.-Recom
mendations to grant women sex
equality in church affairs, indorse-
ment of the interchurch world move
ment and comprehensive plans for a
five-year church expansion program
were laid before commissioners of the
Presbyterian Church in the United
States here today at the session OF
the 131st general assembly.
The work of the assembly was be-
sun in earnest today, organization
having been completed with the cleo
tion late yesterday of the first layman
moderator, DR.. J. Willis Baer of Pasa-
dena. Calf.
A larger place in church leadership
for women was recommended in the
new era expansion program presented
to the commissioners, which provided
that women be given the right to hold
Office in the church council. the board
of trustees and all committees of the
church.
Want Protestant Cooperation.
Full cooperation with the inter
church world movement and support
of all worthy federated movements to
promote the cooperation of all Prot
estant churches in facing social, re-
ligious and civic problems also was
recommended to the assembly. out
of such cooperative movement it is
believed there may be placed upon
the nation and the world the impact
of united Professionalism, which alone
can meet the incoming tide of social
and economic unrest" the report de-
clared.
Recommendations that the church
launch upon a new five-year expan-
sion program for the spread of Chris
tianity and plans for reorganization
upon a budget system were outlined
in the new era program. Expenditures
of S25,000,00O for individual church
budgets, covering equipment and op-
erations, including s1,000,000 for in
creasing pastors salaries and S13.-
100000 for the new era budget, were
reported by the committee as part
of the 1919-1920 program. A total of
80 per cent of the thirteen-million-
dollar expansion fund already has
been raised, the committee report
said. with the entire amount practical
ly assured.
Americanization of Immigrants.
Special attention to the Americana
zation of immigrants at industrial
centers and fearless application of
the principles of Christ" to the solu-
tion of economic and social problems
were also recommended in resolu-
tions presented to the commissioners.
Appropriations reported to the as
sembly included S500,000 for render
ing practical aid to returning SOL
diers and sailors and their families,
and a similar amount for reconstruc-
tion of Protestant churches in France
and Belgium.
Declaring that cruel and vicious
social forces brought on the world
war. the social service commission
urged work toward the establishment
of a new social order whereby in,
Justice and wrong among men would
be eradicated- and war made impos-
sible.
W. J. Bryan Makes Suggestions.
William j. Bryan, who withdrew
from t he contest for moderator yes
terday. attended the sessions Of the
assembly today. Mr.. Bryan is urging
that the assembly take some action to
establish financial aid bureau, to
ing money to needy members to save
them from resorting to chattel mort
gage money lenders. "No member
should be compelled to seek accom-
mediation at impoverishing rates
when there is SO much capital in the
church and assembly which can be
employed to those ends" Mr.. Bryan
community of mems clubs as substi-
tutes for the saloon also was advo-
Gated by Mr.. Bryan.
PRESBYTERIANS ON UNITY.