Evening star., 1927-05-15
EVANGELISM CHIEF
OF CHURCH TOPICS
Presbyterian Assembly to
Map Out Program for
Furthering Work.

How the Presbyterian Church in
the United States. which gave $780,
600. 900 TO carry out its work this year
can advance still further the cause of
evangelism, is declared to be the chief
problem confronting the 139th Gen
oral Assembly, which opens it's ses
sions in San Francisco May 20.
The General Assembly in Baltimore
last wear voted that the outstanding
objective of the San Francisco assem-
blv should be evangelism. 1t is pro
posed that whatever problems arise
for solution. whatever difficulties may
be encountered. the main purpose of
the church eXiStence-the winning
Of followers for Christ-shall not be
lost sight Of in preparing for the pro
gram during the coming year.
Rev. William Exley Thompson, for
merlv president of Ohio State Univer
sitv and moderator of the General AS
semblv, in message to the church
made public in the Presbyterian Mag
aZine, called attention to the fact that
last wear Presbyterans gave 100000.
900 for all purposes of its own, the
largest amount ever given in any one
year He held up as the ideal church
the one that gives 81 towards henev-
on itself for local interests.
Hays to Report on Drive.
Another matter of special interest
will be the report that VIII II. Hays
will make on the 100000 drive for
pensions for retired ministers and 9th
er servants of the church and their
widows.
A special train leaving here to-
.tes,;
from the Presbytery of Washington
sentatives at the San Francisco as
sembly. They are Rev. Thomas c.
Clark of the Takoma Park Church;
Rev. John c. Palmer Of Washington
Heights Church, Rev. ]. Harvey Dun
ham of the Western Church. and
three elders. Chester r. Smith of
Sherwood Church, j. w. Townsend of
Warner Memorial Church, Kensing-
ton. and E. V. Crittenden OF the Ia
koma Park Church.
Besides these six commissioners:
Rev. Walter T. Eagleson, pastor OF
the Sherwood Church. will attend as
a member of the judicial commission,
and Mrs. w. L. Darby will represent
the Synodical Missionary Society.
Mrs. Dunham will accompany her
husband on the trip.
En- route to San Francisco the train
will stop over at several places. Inc
party will rest over Sunday at Salt
Lake City. After visiting Westminster
College and attending a home mission
educational rally, the delegation will
proceed to San Francisco.
Contest for Moderator.
The matter of selecting a new mod
orator will be one of the outstanding
features of the assembly in view OF
the fact that there are many candl-
dates in the field. Among these are
Rev. ]. E. Bushnell of Minneapolis,
Endorsed by the Synod Of Minnesota;
Rev. Hugh K. Walker OF Los An
geles, indorsed by his Presbytery as
q. "favorite son" and well known in
the East in connection with his for
mer pastorate in Baltimore, and Prof.
George L. Robinson of Mccormick
Theological Seminary in Chicago.
This wear is to be one OF annl'
versaries, and the assembly can. be
counted on to take appropriate action.
The Board of National Missions. for
merly the Board OF Home Missions. is
planning for the celebration of the
125th anniversary of its organized
work, and the year also marks the
seventy-fifth anniversary OF the or
ganiZation OF the SYNOD or CallIornla.
Another celebration is that of the
fiftieth anniversary of missionary
work in Alaska.
Among the important matters to
come before the assembly will be final
report of the special commission of
flfteen, charged with the duty of
seeking ..'the purity. peace. unity and
progress of the church.
Another report will deal with the
complaints against the New York
and Newark presbyteries for receiv-
ing and licensing certain students
despite the fact that their examina'
tions before their respective presby.
teries showed. according to the com.
plants, that they did not believe GER
tain essential doctrines of the Presby-
terian Church. The decisions on
these complaints will involve funda-
mental questions of Importance to
arouse widespread interest.
The entertaining church OF the as
sembly will be the Calvary Church of
San Francisco, which led all churches
in northern California in the number
Of new members last year. =
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