Imperial Valley press., 1921-05-19
D I
ASSE MbLY
GOOD WILL
j n | I !
Presbyterian Churches Of
America Looking Forward
to One Great DenOmina-
tional Body Working for
Common Good.
(Bv Associated Press

WINONA LAKE, Ind, May 10
President Harding was Cheered and
the commissioners from Presbyterian
churches all over the country rose to
their feet in homage to his office,
when a message of greeting and in
spiration from him was read by the
moderator, DR.. Samuel S. Palmer OF
Columbus, o., at the opening session
of the General Assembly of the Pres
byterian church in the L. S. A.
President Harding in his message
said
Il am very glad, indeed to express
my interest in every such good work
Surely there is no intellectual and
moral body in the country to which W.
may more confidently turn for WI
assistance and sage guidance than -
the Christian people who make up the
body Of our churches.
whatever may stimulate them to
greater activity, and, feel, to in
creaslng recognition of the concern of
Christian citizenship with the admin
istration of our public affairs, must
necessarily be of service to the nation.
(Signed,) Warren G. Harding.
Hope that a spirit of unity and good
will would prevail in desire to work
with other denominations in facing a
common task was expressed by DR.. S.
Palmer, in his opening address.
Dr. Palmer said in part:
eve have passed through the world
war. We kept our churches going at
home and for the most part away from
home The sacrificial spirit of the
missionaries in the great war has
opened doors of which we did not
know. | trust that we shall hear also
about the blessings of unity and good
will in cur church. No Presbyterian
expects his denomination alone to con-
quer the world for Christ. He rejoices
in the privilege of cooperating with
others. We teach that there is but one
church. / hope we are blessed with
the spirit of unity and good will in
our desires to work with other denom-
nations in facing common task.
For seventeen years a permanent
committee on church cooperation and
union has been at work under the of
fetal instruction of the General AS
sembly. Continuation of the commit
tee in order that further study might
be made of consolidation plans and a
comprehensive program for reorgani-
zation to be prepared, will be recon-
mended in report to be given during
the session.
Pacific Coast Presbyteries criticize
the Interchurch World Movement and
this criticism finds expression in an
overture presented today calling for
an investigation of all those Presby-
terian board and agency secretaries
who underwrite the Interchurch World
Movement, TO find out if they did so
Illegally. If it is found that their ac-
ton was illegal, this overture asks
that these secretaries be not further
trusted with the administration of
Presbyterian funds, nor longer re-
tained in their official positions, be-
cause of their affect on the confidence
of the Presbyterian church.
ST. LOUIS. Mo-, May ia plan
of union of all Presbyterian churches
! is set forth in a proposal to be made
TO the General Assembly of the Pres
byterian church in the United States
| (Southern), which opened here today
The proposal is the result of "three
years of conferences between com
mittees of the Presbyterian church il
the United States, and committees 0.
other Presbyterian and ReformeC
churches
! The proposition is titled the "Con
stitution of the Presbyterian Reformed
Churches in America" Under it eacl
constituent church would retain it
autonomy in creed, government ant
worship, but would act "to furthe