Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-04-21
BUDGET INCREASE
CAUSE OF PROTEST
IN N.C.P PRESBYTERY
Claim That Ceaseless Calls Trans.
form Church to Great Busi-
ness Organization.
COMMISSIONERS ELECTED


as follows at the meeting OF the presby-
terry yesterday afternoon IN Hanover
church: Ministers, Rev. Winfield ).
kreger, the moderator. who received Il
votes. and Rev. Floris Ferwerda. Is:
altcrnates. Rev. j. Watkins Lacy and
Rev. Josef S. Gilillan; elders, J. Fletcher
Deakvne, of Hanover church. 10, J. T..
Mccoy of Westminster church, Is; al
ternates. Horace Davis, of Buckingham
church, 10 Isaac Yocum, of West Not
tingham church, 9.
Two ballots were necessary for the
election of the second ministerial COM
missioner. The first was a tic between
Rev. Ferwerda and Rev. Lacy, each
receiving 10 votes. On the second Rev
{ Ferwerda received Is and Rev. Lacy q.
At the close of yesterday afternoon
session the presbytery adjourned until
June ,, when IT will convene In lover
Presbyterian church.
The New Eraprogram calling for an
Increase of so per cent in the budget this
wear. which will mean contributions OF
about 8 u cents day from every church
member in the prcsbytery, brought out
protest from Rev. DIR. William ).
Rowan. DIR. Rowan declared that the
ceaselcss calls for money were trans
forming the church from an institution
for preaching the gospel to n great
business organization. He asserted that
he would not present to his congregation
a call for SO a wear from each member, in
addition to the demands OF the Inter
church World Movement and numerous
other appeals. The moderator SAID that
this represented n widespread feeling
in the presbytery.
A similar protest was received from the
Pittsburg presbytery, which objected TO
the cost of raising funds for the New Era
and Interchurch movements. delegates
to the General Assembly from Pittsburg
are directed to work for a review of the
chlIrch's decision on these progra ms,
Now Castle presbytery concurred IN this
action.
Rev. DR. J. III. Crawford. who presented
the New Era report. resigned as chair
man of the New Era committee, his
resignation TO take effect after May ,.
His report showed that the budget for
the coming year will total over s101 800.
including about $4,000 from New Castle
presbytery.
Presbytery concurred in the protest
of the Cincinnati presbytery against
the change of the word evangelical to
Christian" in the plan of union of
seventeen denominations In the Inter
church movement Rev. Charles L.
Capdee asserted that Christian" was
the better word, and Rev. t. 5. Armen-
trout declared that if taken IN its original
meaning it is acceptable, but several
members objected to any wording which
would imply a readiness for union with
some denominations termed Christian
The Christian Scientists, Unltarlans and
Roman and Greek Catholic were speci-
6cally mentioned.
Reports from a number of churcheswere
received so late that it was impossible to
prepare the statistical report for the
presbyterv in time to read before the
close of the session. Several members
proposed penalties for delay In these
reports, and an amendment by Rev.
Or. u. Franklin Smiley was finally
adopted, providing that pastors who fail
10 deliver their reports in time shall be
cited before presbytery to show reasons
Tor the delay.
The condition of the church work In
the presbytery was reported by Rev. j.
Watkins Lacy in the Narrative of Chris
tian Life and Work. He had reports from
40 of the 81 churches In the presbytery.
They showed an average attendance of
90 per cent at the four annual communion
services and of / ) per cent at the weekly
PRAYER meeting, which Is not held IN all
of the churches. Emphasis from the
pulpit was the only means reported of
encouraging home worship. Ten churches
have special sermons for children, with
an average attendance of % per cent.
The membership received during the year
totals 49, in the churches which reported.
The report for theSunday schools showed
an increase OF les pupils during the year.
Sixteen have adult classes, with a member
ship of Goo men. Fourteen have libraries
for general reading. Ninety-hve per cent
OF the Bible class members also attend
the church services. The total membership
Is 6I33, a gain of 355 over. last year.
The report on foreign missions shows
a total budget for the church of nearly
3.500,000. Salaries of missionaries have
been increased from $3.50 to. 81, 500
There are 1864 in the field, Toss of 2
from last year. The needs of the year
were met by last years appropriations
but the deficit from former years was
not cleared.
Rev. Thomas s. Armentrout offered his
resignation as chairman OF the foreign
missions committee after reading this
report, but the presbytery would not
accept II.
A budget of over s., 900, 600 for minis
terial relief was reported, and the pres
oytery adopted an overture accepting
his program. After the reading Of the
report, Rev. Charles J.. Candee, a men,
Der of the board, spoke of the plan for
reducing the age limit TO 65 and increas-
ng the allowance for widows.
Rev. W. J. Rowan, In the report on.
general education, deplored the lack of
candidates for the ministry. Not one has
been offered IN New Castle presbytery
during the past year.
The presbytery voted that hereafter
when congregations were dissolved the
church property shall be turned over to
she board of trustees. This action fol-
owed the report of the board, which has
an offer to sell the property of the dissolved
Pennington church to Bethlehem church.
The sale was ordered. The board has
also offered the use of the church at
Northeast to the new sect, the Pentacostal
church of the Nazarenes.
Rev. DR.. L. i. Smiley was appointed
to prepare resolution on the death of
Rev. DIR. A. ". Keigwin. Rev James
Stewart of the state Of Washington, son
of q member Of the presbytery, was
elected corresponding member Mrs.
Kerr reported for the Presbyteria1 society
offerings IN excess of the apportionment
of SlOo,00O and pledges of 100 volunteers
for the foreign field.
Rev. DIR. Moore's resignation from
Forrest church in Middletown will 20
into effect May l6, at his request Rev.
DIR. GIhllan was appointed to declare
the pulpit vacant. The presbytery