Covenanter Witness Vol. 54 - Rparchives.org

mittee,"
actions recommended, of which the church knows
little, except for the people present at the meet
ings. The Board had some proposals under the
heading
Expediting the Work of Synod,
and M. W. Dougherty was appointed chairman of a
special committee to prepare for a "Publicity Com
to definitely publicize the various phases of
the church's work. The body of the report mentioned
such phrases as doctrine, and distinctives. With
qualifications, the Witness will receive for publica
tion articles on the oath question. The editor asked
a good response to his request for pictures of small
children. A page full of these could be used to tmphasize
"The Stewardship of Your Children." Look at
the response to articles on the stewardship of your
dollars !
Theological Seminary
Next in order was the election of professors
to the seminary. Ballots were distributed with the
names of three nominees, as provided by the report
of the Seminary Board. In accord with the action of
the Synod of 1954, the Board made nominations, and
nominated the incumbents to succeed themselves
Dr. S. Bruce Willson, Dr. J. B. Willson, and Dr. R. C.
Fullerton. Delegates were to mark the ballots "yes"
or "no." Later action on this election was taken the
following Tuesday morning.
Dr. Bruce Willson, President, was heard on
behalf of the seminary. He reminded Synod of a
predicted growth in population by 1972 of 26 million
people. This should indicate a need for an increased
number of ministers.
There is also need for increased training in the
Reformed faith, especially, in adherence to the Bible
as the Word of God, with applications in all of life.
There is need for a charter enabling the seminary
to grant. a degree in theology; hence a need for an
increase of $60,000 in the endowment fund, to an
amount which would provide for the employment of
three full-time professors.
Recently Pittsburgh Presbytery prescribed that
the moderator of a call should send a duplicate
copy to the pastor-elect. This action was made a
policy for the whole church by Synod's action in
adopting a paper to that effect.
The Saturday
by Dr. J. A. Kempf, retired missionary to China.
session was adjourned in prayer
Picnic Canceled
Normally, Saturday afternoon is for relaxing
and recreating, a necessary part of Synod's program.
But the picnic planned by the committee on arrange
ments, for Bradys Run Park, was canceled due to
showers (which were characteristic of this week in
Pennsylvania) and a buffet supper was served in
McKee Hall dining room. Recreation was provided:
Volley ball in the field house ; shuffleboard and pingpong.
Jim Bowers, alumni secretary, had it an
nounced that it never rains on a golf course, and
available courses were mentioned.
However, many delegates used Saturday after
noon to scatter to the ends of Pittsburgh Presbytery,
in preparation for Sabbath appointments or to visit
friends. Several were seen on Seventh Avenue wist
fully eyeing the products of an advanced civilization.
June 22, 1955
Delegates in Near-by Pulpits
On Sabbath morning, the names of ministers
present for Synod were noted on the bulletins of
most of the Pittsburgh area congregations. Some ex
plained Psalms, some taught enlarged Bible classes,
some preached sermons. Others delighted in the
opportunity to sit in the congregation. Even out
lying churches were happy hosts to people here for
Synod. The Sabbath dinner had the least participants
of any Synod meal, due to the scattering of the dele
gates.
At three o'clock Sabbath afternoon, Rev. Joseph
A. Caskey led a prayer meeting in the College Chapel,
always a blessing to the delegates in its effect upon
Synod's business.
The leader of the praise at the prayer meeting,
as in Synod, was Dr. C. E. Caskey. This provided
a father-and-son leadership of the afternoon worship.
Lie. Gene Spear Ordained
A highlight of the Synod was the ordination of
Lie. Gene Spear, following the prayer meeting, to
the Gospel ministry in Japan. This service was pre
sided over by Rev. Bruce Stewart, moderator of Mid
west Presbytery of which Mr. Spear is a member.
Rev. Lester Kilpatrick preached on Ecclesiastes 3 :11,
"He hath set the world in their heart."
Then members of Midwest Presbytery laid their
hands upon Gene Spear as Rev. S. E. Boyle led in
the prayer of ordination. Rev. Charles Sterrett, cor
responding secretary of the Foreign Mission Board,
addressed the new minister briefly, and the people
present, a mighty host, came forward to greet Mr.
Spear and his wife, who sail this summer for Japan.
Sabbath Night
"Go Forward"
Many of the congregations of the surrounding
area united with Synod in worship Sabbath night
in the College Chapel. Persistent rain may have kept
some at home but the chapel was nearly full. A. W.
Smith presided, George W. Price led in prayer,
Licentiate Paul Robb read the Scripture, Exodus 14.
Dr. P. D. McCracken brought the challenging
message based upon Exodus 14:15, "Speak to the
children of Israel, that they go forward!" To stand
still is to die. There are barriers to going forward,
but the question should be, "What is God's will, what
is His command " Mr. McCracken recalled seeing an
ox team pulling, and illustrated the need of united
effort by the description of a fourteen-ox team pull
ing a stalled threshing machine. He maintained, "Re
sults are guaranteed when instructions are followed."
Monday Morning
Following the constitution of the court and the
roll call on Monday morning, Dr. C. E. Caskey, clerk
of Midwest Presbytery, introduced to Synod, as a
new member, Rev. Gene Spear, ordained the day be
fore as a missionary appointed to Japan.
In the devotional period Monday, led by Harold
Thompson, Southfield pastor, Dr. M. K. Carson, pas
tor at Belle Center, Ohio, spoke on "How to Redeem
the Time." Prayers were offered by Dr. John Peoples,
Philadelphia, and Elder Irl McMahon, Topeka, and
Missionary Kenneth Sanderson read the Scripture,
Ephesians 5:1-21. A closing story in the address was
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