Evening star., 1926-05-31
UPR0AR IN VOTING
BYPRESBYTER|ANS
FundamentaIists Triumph as
Rotating Membership
Rule Is Adopted.
BY the Associ ated Press.

By the Associated Press.
BALTIMORE. Md. May 31.-Hisses
and catcalls punctuated the Presby-
terian Assembly here today during an
exciting session which eliminated in
a fundamentalist victory in the adop-
ton Of a rule for rotating member
ships Of boards.
The resolution adopted was a
minority report presented by Rev.
Mark A. Matthews of Seattle.
The majority of a committee ap-
pointed last year, headed by DR..
Charles r. Erdman, former moderator
had recommended that no change be
made In the present rule permitting
continuing membership on all church
boards. ~
The minority report by DR.. Mat
thews requested that this rule be
changed to permit a maximum Of two
terms Of three years each, after which
board member would be required
to vacate for one year.
DR.. Matthews. also a former mod
orator. arguing for his report, said
that III you permit new men con-
tinuallv to come on the board you
sponsible to the church." He said this
also would "allsy suspicion" increase
efficiency and enlarge the interest of
the people.
DR.. Joseph A. Vance. liberal Of
Detroit, then made the statement
which brought the assembly to its feet
Questioning the mention Of DR.. Mat.
thews Of possible suspicion. he shout.
ed to the thousand delegates: 80
: You are Under a spell Of soap.box
oratory for which you will repent at
leisure"
Eproar Lasts Minute. r .
Delegates hissed and booed him. and
1t was full minute before Moderator
Thompson could obtain order.
"One Of the perils we face" DR..
Vance continued, lis that We shall he
swept off our feet instead Of calmly
and wisely considering the question: ~
The excitement Of the session had
carried debate beyond the half hour
allowed and by a viva voce vote the
time was extended IS minutes. ST..
DR.. William Taylor Of Rochester,
who spoke in favor Of the majority
report. pleaded. Let us have done
with suspicion"
With the time again expired. Mod.
orator Thompson called for a vote.
The viva voce vote was indecisive and
1t went to standing vote. which
showed a majority for the fundamen'
talists in the closest contest OF the
assembly.
Opposition to referendums on pro.
hibition was expressed in the report
Of the committee Of Christian educa'
ton, which was presented shortly
after the fight on board membership.
stating that 1t was opposed to any
Modification of the Volstead act the
report continued: while honoring the
place Of the will Of the people in our
democratic form Of government and
seeking in every way to safeguard
it's expression and exercise. we
deprecate the use Of referendums In
matters involving the Federal statutes
or the Constitution when the usual
and historic procedure Of registering
the popular will is open to ALL
I'VE further deprecate its use by
reason Of its doubtful legality and Its
entire ineffectiyeness as "a method of
accomplishing any modification of our
Federal statutes or Constitution"
Urges Greater Dry Support. +
The committee. whose chairman
was DR.. Lapsley McAfee. defeated
candidate for moderator at this as
sembly. urged greater moral and
nnanC1al support IOT pTUHlultlou, III
keeping with the general attitude of
the assembly. y
The report, also pointing out that
compulsory military training has
been introduced into 21 high schools
and SO colleges under a special act of
Congress, said the assembly looks
with great apprehension on the move.
ment."
Following this vote, Ezra Meeker,
96.year-old Oregon trail blazer, made
a plea to the assembly to support ct
a memorial mission to Rev. Marcus
Whitman, a missionary who, with his
wife. was massacred by Indians in the
pioneer days Of Oregon.
An educational system that culti.
Yates the taste and reaches the con.
science today was pronounced the
only. effective weapon against "a
shocking expression Of contempt and
disregard for the sanctity Of the law
by DIR. William Chalmers Covert, gen.
eral secretary of the Presbyterian
Board Of Education.
ACalling present conditions q bat
Continued on Page q, Column 81 :.