Evening star., 1927-05-28
DIVORCES HELD
CAUSE OF CRIME
United Presbyterians See
Homes Destroyed and Urge
Restrictions on Marriage.

United states was ueCidl eu a. WV
General Assembly of the United Pres
bvterian Church of North America in
session here today to be proiiie
cause of much crime.
The PRESBYTERIAN attitude on the
divorce question was brought out IN
the report of the reform board of the
church. It was declared that divorce
DESTROYS home life by breaking down
that institution which is the funda'
mental of perpetuity of the nation.
II was urged that the churchmen
lend their influence toward the enact
ment of uniform divorce law. through
out the States, and also 10 place
greater restrictions on marriage laws.
The policy of retrenchment IN lor-
eign missions appropriations contem-
plated in the annual report or the
foreign missions committee, which
would have enormously decreased the
scope of the foreign work of the
United Presbyterian Church. was op-
posed at this mornings session. KeV.
c. S, Cleland, chairman of the forelSh
missions board, requested that the
General Assembly allow the board an
extension of two years In Whlch 10
effect economies and adjust distribu-
ton of appropriations which Will avoid
the uniform scaling down OF Its 1of-
eign mission appropriations.
Says Faith Will Pave the Way.
DR., Cleland stated that faith In the
board of foreign missions Will pave
the way to the eventual working out
of the reconstruction program. He
deprecated the possibility Of the
financial failure of the foreign mis-
sion board and cited figures to indi-
cate that, while the total present in
debtedness of the board is $1S5,000,
the property holdings abroad run into
countless millions when their latent
values are considered. The motion
made to refer the subject to spe-
cial committee of the board was de-
feated by a large majority. the
members Of the board themselves.
while deploring the retrenchment
policy, voted for it on the grounds
of necessity.
Invitation TI Unite.
An invitation to unite with the
Presbyterian Church of the South
was extended yesterday to the Cen
eral Assembly. 1t came from the
Rev. s. L. Morris of Atlanta, sent
here for the purpose from the an
nual conference of the Southern Pres
bvterians at ElGorado, Ark.
The question Of union has been
under consideration by both denom-
inations for II years. Delegates or
the United Presbyterian Church said
that no substantial differences in
doctrines or in fundamentals OF &c
clesiastical polisy existed. although
there were some differences in details
of administration and organization.
They recommended that negotiations
be carried on to some definite conclu-
sion. j.
The Presbyterian Church Of the
South has a constituency OF about
500. 900. while the United Presbyterian
Church sof North America embraces
about 225,OO0 persons in its member
ship.
Foreign Policy Defended.
A defense of the, foreign policy or
the Federation OF Churches of North
America was sounded yesterday. Or.
S. Parkes Cadnan, of-New York City.
president Of the federation, answered
critics ofskias peaticaI attitude OF ;as Ine
federation who have charged it with
hostility TO the cause OF peace as
exempIified by its alleged lukewarm
support of the League of Nations.
DR.. Cadman replied to this criticism
that the federation never has been
unfriendly to the, League, but has
consistently indorsed American par
ticipation in the World Court, and
favors such action at present. Df.
Cadman declared that while the en-
tire spirit of the federation is op-
posed to war in principle and prac-
tice, war must be recognized as a
contingency to be met and dealt
with"
DIR. Cadman took this opportunity
to denounce scathingly Sinclair
Lewis recent novel DR.. Cadman ac-
cused Lewis Of pouring all the eVli
which he has learned In the oid-tlme
grocery store and livery stable into
fhe dummy character which he Great
ed to attack the American pulpit:
DIR. Cadman did say, however, that II
does portray a certain type OF mer-
cenary evangelism" which the clergy
should strenuously oppose and eradl-
cate from the church.
The committee on the General
Council at Pittsburgh, of which Dr.
]. II. White of Pittsburgh is secre-
tary. in rendering its report yester-
day, advocated that the council be
enlarged to include three new mem
bers of the executive committee.
Budget Is $1,?O0,OOO.
The committee also announced that
the budget goal for 1928 would
be S1.200,000. Last years budget
was s1.049,000. A partial report, sub
mitted at this juncture by DIR. G. +.
NcCiIl. permanent clerk OF the as
sembly. revealed that the holdings or
the United Presbyterian Church, In
churches, parsonages, SCHOOLS, nos
7pitals, and other assets, Indicated
property to the aggregate Value Oh
-S41, SOC, 900.
The committee on ministerial reheI'
t5of which DIR. J. A. Thompson OF 81.
o,is is chairman, advocated the
transfer of the headquarters or the
board of ministerial relief from Phila.
delnhia to Cleveland, to place II
nearer the center of population. Ihe
report also called for an Increased
endowment fund and increased pen
sions for that board.
THE rapid advance Of the New
World Movement" was announced IN
an extended report of the foreign
missions committee, headed by Dr. W.
r. Sawhil of Washington State. Ihe
committee found that $10,O00,O0o, at
least. will be required for the con-
tinuation of this work, and recon-
mended the scaling down OF ap'
nronrjations for all the foreign in
stitutions.
Sunday Closing Plea.
Two thousand dollars was voted by
the assembly TO be turned over TO the
Federation of the Council of Churches
OF North America. to be employed IN
the maintenance of that councll.
A resolution was received from the
Lords Day Alliance which urged
that the general assembly go on
record as indorsing a Sunday rest
law" The alliance, whose appeal
was made by Re. David G. Wvlie
asserted that numerous requests have
been received from bootblacks, hat
dressers, pharmacists and other