Covenanter Witness Vol. 54 - Rparchives.org

he finds also people with aching hearts, and lost
souls.
Women's Association
Mrs. J. B. Willson read the 58th annual report of
the Women's Association. Meeting from 10:30 a.m.
to 5:00 p.m., the Board of this association, in charge
of the Home for the Aged, has a tremendous work
to do. Desirable projects have sometimes had to
be left undone. Mrs. Agnes Synder who entered in
1930, has the longest record membership in the
home. The Rev. B. M. Sharp who deceased after 2
days'
residence had the shortest membership. There
are now 35 members living at the home and all quar
ters are filled. Guests cannot be accommodated for
meals as the Home would like to do.
But $65,000 are in the building fund, and draw
ings are printed of a proposed $100,000 annex. Copies
of the plans were distributed to pastors to give to
members of missionary societies.
Bible Reading Folders
Rev. F. F. Reade, of Almonte congregation, re
ported sales of 1,814 copies of Bible Reading Folders,
a hundred less than in 1953. There was an excep
tional demand however, for the Children's Reader,
second series. Synod approved an increase in the
price of the readers, to meet printing costs. Dr.
P. D. McCracken, of Philadelphia, commented that
this record does not tell the whole story. More than
1,814 Covenanters are reading the Bible, since other
systems of reading are being used.
Dr. A. W. Smith, chairman of the Temperance
Committee read the committee's report which warn
ed of a plan by enemies of temperance to change the
thinking of a church people about alcohol. Authori
ties were quoted to show the relation of tobacco
smoking to lung cancer. Dr. R. Paul Wright of
Kansas City, a member of the committee, had in
cluded in the report some comments on tobacco. He
said, "It is a standard,
rather gruesome wisecrack
among the surgeons, that when one of the leg-aching
smokers (suffering from a tobacco-caused disease
of blood vessels) is told of the amputation conse
quences facing him, the question the smoker asks is
not, "How do I quit tobacco," but what is more
likely to be, "How long before we'll need to ampu
tate"
The report was commended. D. H. Elliott re
ported hearing Dr. Sam Morris, in one of his temper
ance broadcasts, refer to the fine work being done
by A. W. Smith in Florida. The moderator reminded
Synod that the adoption of these reports requires
corresponding action when delegates return home.
Sabbath School Teachers Commended
The report of the Board of Christian Education,
presented by chairman F. H. Lathom, suggested a
commendation for teachers, and a "Decision Day" in
the Sabbath Schools. He reminded the church of
services available from the Board of Christian Edu
cation, which will appear in the printed report. The
stimulus of hearing of work that has been done is
an incentive to do like work, and no specific recom
mendations were submitted.
Seminary Board Report
Dr. J. R. Patterson, secretary of the Board of
Superintendents of the Theological Seminary, read
390
the report of that Board reviewing the work of the
year. Two of the items, the election of seminary pro
fessors and remarks by the president of the semi
nary, were made the order of the day following the
Publications Board report on Saturday, and Dr. H. G.
Patterson was asked by the moderator to adjourn the
court in prayer.
Friday Night
Mrs. Walter F. Mandeville of First Beaver Falls
Church was in charge of an evening
program in
Geneva College chapel Friday night, one of the eve
ning conferences planned by Synod's Committee on
arrangements. The conference theme, "The Place of
Women in the Local Church." The program was in
the nature of a pageant, "Salt of the Earth," which
was a dramatic demonstration of what women are
doing in local churches. Parts of the pageant were
performed by the Junior Society
of Geneva Congre
gation, directed by Mrs. Lucille Henery and Mrs.
J. B. Willson; the Highlanders of College Hill Con
gregation, demonstrating a missionary society; the
Junior choir of the First Beaver Falls 'Congregation,
under the direction of Mrs. Guy Spratley; the YTC
of Beaver County led by Mrs. Stewart McCready;
and Mrs. Kenneth Sanderson, missionary, presented
the matter of consecration. Mrs. George Coleman,
narrator, with Rhonda Coast, Susan Wood, and Mel
Adams, of Eastville, took the part of a mother and
children. The script for the pageant was written by
Ellen Lathom. Hugh Barbour was in charge of
lights. Mrs. Henery, Mrs. McCready, and Mrs. Rob
ert Park comprised a trio.
Saturday Morning
The Saturday session began with prayer by Dr.
George Coleman. Those taking part in the devotional
exercises included Donald Crawford of Phoenix con
gregation, Kenneth Kennedy of New Castle, and
Paul Bennett of Allegheny, elders ; and Rev. Howard
Elliott, pastor of First Beaver Falls, who gave the
address. Rev. T. F. Harsh, pastor at Cincinnati, pre
sided. The theme this morning was "How to Encour
age the Flock," suggested by II Chron. 32:6-8. Under
this theme, the speaker asked both "Why encourage
the flock " Helpful answers were considered.
Meeting the time of
paper-presentation, a paper
was presented by Rev. John Tweed requesting a defi
nition of the proper relationship we should have
with church councils and groups which are part of
unorthodox organizations or in cooperation with
such. This was referred to a special committee.
Copies of the report of the Board of Publica
tions were distributed (as were copies of most of the
reports when they were presented) and read by Ross
Latimer, secretary of the Board. Again, the over
subscription of Synod's budget was reflected in the
favorable balance in the account, and the Board
was glad to have a part in the program of the Ste
wardship Committee.
It is still planned to publish a Memorial Volume
of the Covenant of 1954, but publication has been
delayed this year. The Board was grateful to God
that in spite of the illness of Dr. Taggart, and the
moving of Dr. Vos to Beaver Falls, the issues of
both the Witness and the Blue Banner were publish
ed regularly.
Often resolutions are passed by Synod,
and
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