Evening journal., 1921-05-17
MANY PROBLEMS
FOR The Church
Presbyterian General AS
sembly to Pass on Woman
Elders Question
FEDERATION ALSO
TO BE DISCUSSED
written for the United Prcss)

iWrltten Tor the United Press.
WINONA LAKE. Ind.-The 133rd
; General Assembly OF the Presbyter-
ian Church. scheduled to meet here
May 1928. will be confronted with
PROBLEMS second only to the big
questions considered at last years
session.
The deliberations last year result
ed in a Presbyterian withdrawal
from the Interchurch World Move
ment and limitation OF the budget
and authority Of the Presbyterian
New Era Movement. which is the
advance movement OF the Presby-
terian Church.
The church is confronted with
debts amounting to over $500. 900,
most Of which will be calling for
immediate payment. Proposals are
expected which will make definite
arrangements to rid the Presbyter-
ian Church OF its financial obliga-
lions.
There yet remains unpaid nearly
100000 on the Interchurch World
Movement underwriting. while the
New Era Movement owes nearly
another s5OO.O 900. and both the Pres
byterian Board Of Foreign Missions
have large deficits because Of the
advanced costs since the pre-war
days.
In addition to this question there
will come up overtures before the
Presbyteria commissioners calling
for reorganization Of the office Of
Stated Clerk. At the same time the
appointment of a Stated Clerk Of
General Assembly to succeed the late
Dr. William Henry Roberts will be
considered.
Some Tresbyterians propose that
the Office be filled at this years ses-
sion OF the General Assembly. the
newly elected clerk TO take over his
duties Immediately; while others ad-
vocate the receiving Of nominations.
these names to be placed in the
hands OF a committee. to submit a
report at next years General Assem-
bly,. This committees report would
then be approved or rejected by the
General Assembly.
Those so far suggested as candi-
dates for the Office Of tated Clerk
include: Rev. James +. Clarke. ID. D.,
IL D., field secretary OF the Presby-
terian General Board of Education
and editor Of the Presbyterian Ad-
vance, Nashville, Tenn; Rev. J. Ross
Stevenson, ID. D., LII D., president
OF Princeton Theological Seminary,
Princeton. n. j.; Rev. James NJ Hub
bert, ID. d., acting Stated Clerk OF
General Assembly, Philadelphia, Pa
q Rev. William +. Fulton, d. D., super
intendent OF the Church Extension
Committee OF Philadelphia Presby-
terry, Philadelphia, Pa; Rev. Will
liam Carter, pastor OF the Throop
Avenue Presbyterian Church, Brook
lyn, n. Y; Rev. John f. Patterson
d. D. Orange, y. J.; and Rev. Benz
Mex. Gemmill, Stated Clerk of the
Synod OF Pennsylvania, Ivyland, Pa
The question Of changing the
manner OF election OF commissioners
for General Assembly from one "a
two year periods will also be con-
. sidered. A General Assembly SO
selected would consist OF newly
elected commissioners the first year
after which IL the proposed plan is
carried out, one-half OF the commits
sioners will carry over to the follow
ing assembly and would be acquaint.
ed with it's practices. At present
the Presbyterian General Assembly
. commissioners are newly elected
each year.
Two important reports will b'
made at General Assembly relative
10 the vote by the Presbyteries or
. overtures sent down by the last As
sembly, regarding the eligibility o.
women TO serve as deacons I'm the
Presbyterian Church and the desira
hlity of cooperating in the Evangel
ical Organic Plan OF Church Union
Several Of the larger Presbyteriei
are opposing both plans.
The plan Of Federal Union. look
ing toward the closer relations o
Presbyterian and Reformed churche
holding the Presbyterian system, 81
expected TO make considerable
headway.
Another report which will attrac
considerable attention will be that o
Committee on the Reorganizatioi
> of the Presbyterian Boards ant
Agencies. headed by DR.. John Tim
othy Stone, OF Chicago.
As usual. the election Of moderate
will be one OF the most interesting
events Of the first days session. Las
year an Ohio man, DIR. Samuel
Palmer, was selected. This year tn
. candidates include Or. Henry {
Swearingen, pastor Of the House o
Hope Presbyterian Church, st. Pau
. Mimi; DIR. John b. Laird, pastor o
the Frankford Presbyterian Church
Philadelphia, Pa, and Dr. william
Beatty Jennings, pastor OF the Firs
Presbyterian Church. Germantown
Philadelphia. Pa.
The showing OF movies" by sev
oral Of the Presbyterian Boards an
agencies. including the Presbyteria
New Era Movement and the Presby
terian Board Of Education, will b
popular meetings open to the publ
ANA will be held in the large ne,
Billy Sunday Auditorium