courtesies and thankful attention to the needs, comfort and pleasures of its Commissioners.

1. To the Moderator, Rev. Mark A. Matthews, D.D., LL.D., for the uniform courtesy, patience, fairness, quickwitted ability and wisdom, with which he has presided over the deliberations of this august body.

2. To the Vice-Moderator, Elder James Yereance, of New York, for the dignity, fidelity, unvarying cordiality and industry, which he has shown in the discharge of the duties of his high position.

3. To the Stated Clerk, the Rev. W. H. Roberts, D.D., LL.D., for his splendid genius, signal ability, unfailing courtesy in managing the countless details of this great Assembly; for his rich stores of wisdom and experience, which have made possible the prompt and efficient advancement of the business of this venerable body.

We express also our appreciation of the faithful services of our Permanent Clerk, Rev. William B. Noble, D.D.; of the Assistant Clerk, Rev. J. M. Hubbert, D.D.; of Mr. L. A. Davis, the representative of the Treasurer; the Temporary Clerks, Rev. John F. Hinkhouse, D.D., Rev. Edward T. Swiggett, D.D., Rev. R. T. Caldwell, Elder Daniel Morrison, and all who, as clerks, stenographers and boy pages, have helped in the speedy and orderly dispatch of the work committed to our hands.

4. To the various local committees of this city and vicinity, who have given so generously of their time and made personal sacrifices to promote the well-being of their guests. Special mention is hereby made of the executive ability, sunny temper and unremitting labors of the Rev. Aquilla Webb, D.D., pastor of the Warren Memorial Presbyterian Church, in which the Assembly meets, Chairman of the Committee of Arrangements; of Elder Logan C. Murray, Chairman of the Hospitality Committee; also of the organist and choir, and the church sexton.

5. The Assembly expresses its thanks to the pastors and officers of the various churches of Louisville, both of our own denomination and of other denominations, for their hospitality and various courtesies to the members of this Assembly.

6. We put on record also our grateful recognition of the favors extended us by the U. S. Postmaster, and of the several city organizations that have joined in making our visit so delightful.

7. We acknowledge our gratitude, also, to the newspaper press of Louisville, for the generous space they have given to the reports of the many meetings, for the uniform courtesy and consideration of the reporters, and to the Publicity

League, represented by R. W. Brown and D. E. Goode, for their work in setting forth the doings of this Assembly.

8. It will be impossible to mention in this set of resolutions all the persons and all the ministries of kindness and helpfulness, for which this Assembly is grateful, but we desire to record our appreciation to all such people, and for all such acts of Christian love.

9. And now last, yet first of all in importance, the 124th General Assembly expresses its profound gratitude to Almighty God for this notable meeting, in which the manifest presence of the Holy Spirit has been felt, not only in the freedom from all acrimony and bitterness in the debates on great and serious questions, but also for the atmosphere of brotherly kindness and love which has pervaded every session of the Assembly.

10. May the blessings of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost rest upon the city of Louisville, upon its churches and ministers, and upon all the sacred interests committed to their care.

Respectfully submitted,

DANIEL HOFFMAN MARTIN.

The Minutes of to-day's session were read and approved.

The Commissioners present handed their names to the Permanent Clerk to be checked upon the Roll, and about 300 were found present. The Stated Clerk was authorized to correspond with reported absentees in order to correct the list of absentees without leave to be published in the Minutes. The following were finally found absent without leave:

Addresses were made by the Moderator, by the Rev. Aquilla Webb, D.D., Rev. W. Francis Irwin, D.D., the Rev. E. L. Warren, D.D., the Rev. Peyton H. Hoge, D.D., and Mr. Logan C. Murray.

The business of the Assembly having been completed and a vote taken for dissolution, the Moderator dissolved the Assembly, saying:

"By virtue of the authority delegated to me by the Church, let this General Assembly be dissolved, and I do hereby dissolve it, and require another General Assembly, chosen in the same manner, to meet in Atlanta, Ga., on the third Thursday (15th) of May, 1913."

The sessions were closed with prayer, singing, and the Apostolic Benediction.

WILLIAM BROWN NOBLE, Permanent Clerk. WILLIAM HENRY ROBERTS, Stated Clerk.

APPENDIX.

I. Narrative, Necrology, Correspon

dence, etc.

REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON CHRISTIAN LIFE AND WORK.

The Committee on Christian Life and Work respectfully presents to the General Assembly its fifth Annual Report.

The subjects reported upon are as follows:

I. Purposes of the Committee. II. Meetings.

III. Membership.

IV. Synodical Narratives.

V. Men and Religion Movement.

VI. Safeguarding Social Service.
VII. The Giving of Money.
VIII. Marriage and Divorce.

IX. Evangelistic Literature.

X. Statistical Blanks.

XI. Defections in Church Mem-
bership.

XII. Reception of Members.
XIII. Growth of the Church.
XIV. Evangelistic Work.

XV. Ministerial Employment and
Vacant Churches.

A. Vacancy and Supply.

B. Overtures on Rolls of Mem-
bers, etc.
C. Resolutions.

I. PURPOSES.-1. In order to make clear the purposes of the Committee, the action of the General Assembly of 1906, constituting the Committee, and indicating its sphere of work, is here quoted in full.

"It is recommended that the following resolutions be adopted:

"1. That the Narrative of the State of Religion be hereafter known as the Narrative of Christian Life and Work.

"2. That a Special Committee on Christian Life and Work is hereby appointed to consist of eleven members, of whom two shall be the Moderator for the time being and the Stated Clerk; the other nine members to be appointed by the Moderator. Of the nine members to be appointed one-third shall be changed each year. The duties of the Committee shall be to consider and report upon the Narratives of Christian Life and Work from the Presbyteries, annually prepared for the Assembly, and also to report from their own knowledge upon any related matters connected with the general spiritual condition of the Church. The Committee shall not report upon any matters within the jurisdiction of other Committees or of the Boards and Agencies of the Church. The Stated Clerk of the Assembly shall be the Secretary." (Minutes, 1906, p. 222.)

II. MEETINGS.-The Committee held during the year one meeting, at Philadelphia, Pa., on February 14, 1912. For the careful consideration of all subjects entrusted to the Committee, the Executive Committee, organized last year, and composed of members residing in and near Philadelphia and New York, was continued, and met in Philadelphia, Pa., March 1 and 25, 1912.

III. MEMBERSHIP.-The membership of the Committee is composed of three classes. The one whose term expires this year consists of Rev. Stephen A.

Hunter, D.D., Rev. James A. Worden, D.D., and Hon. Henry B. MacFarland. Rev. Stephen A. Hunter, D.D., one of the most faithful members of the Committee, was prevented from attendance upon meetings during the present year by illness. The Committee desires to place on record its hearty acknowledgment of Dr. Hunter's fidelity and devotion in the performance of his duties. and its deep sympathy with him in his infirmities. Mr. MacFarland has found that pressure of business prevented his attendance upon any meetings. The Committee recommends, therefore, the following persons as the class of members for 1912-1915: Rev. G. W. Bull, D.D., Scranton, Pa.; Rev. James A. Worden, D.D., Philadelphia, Pa., and Mr. J. Fithian Tatem, Haddonfield, N. J.

IV. SYNODICAL NARRATIVES.-The Synods gave during the past year, by a decided majority, careful attention to the spiritual within their bounds. It is to be hoped that all the Synods will fall into line this year in this respect. Covering as they each do a large territory, and representing in several cases aggregations of ministers and churches which are larger in number and resources than many of the important Christian denominations of the country, the responsibility which rests upon them is great, and the opportunity for service is one which should be handled in a manner conducive to the welfare of particular congregations and of the Church as a whole. The Assembly, by the Constitution, is itself expected to give to the Synods a highly responsible place in the administration of Church affairs, as shown by the provision in Chap. XI, Sect. 4, of the Form of Government, where it is said that the Synod has power, "finally, to propose to the General Assembly, for its adoption, such measures as may be of common advantage to the whole Church." It is seldom that this power of overture is used by the Synods, or urged by the Assembly in connection with the common denominational interests. With a view to utilizing this constitutional power, it is hoped that Committees on Christian Life and Work will be appointed in all the Synods, and that they will be charged, among other things, with the duty of giving attention to the subject of proposing to the Assembly matters of common advantage to the whole Church. The proposals could be submitted to the Assembly either directly or through the Assembly's Committee on Christian Life and Work.

In general, it may be said of the Narratives which are hereinafter submitted that they indicate that there has been some improvement in spiritual conditions, but that there is yet large room for progress.

I. ALABAMA. Decline of interest in midweek prayer meeting. Family worship neglected. Sunday-schools are being more thoroughly and extensively organized, with marked advancement in teacher-training, organized classes, etc. Benevolences more liberally supported, and financial obligations more promptly met. Gratifying progress in systematizing the educational and financial affairs of the churches. Increasing insistence on a higher type of Christian living, and greater activity for world-wide evangelization. II. ARKANSAS.-Minutes contain no Narrative.

III. ATLANTIC.-No Narrative.

IV. BALTIMORE. (1) Membership and Services: Decrease of seven in number of candidates for the ministry. Prayer meetings in all churches of one Presbytery, in three-fourths of the churches of another, and in less than one-half the churches of a third.

(2) Sabbath-schools: Increase of 1,400 in membership of Sabbath-schools, a large majority of these in Washington City Presbytery.

(3) Societies: Unsatisfactory reports received for societies; boys seem to be most neglected.

(4) Spiritual Conditions: Many churches have held special meetings, but no remarkable interest.

(5) Family Religion: Fact that 699 persons baptized in infancy were received into Church, speaks well for home attention to religious concerns. (6) Benevolence: No mention.

V. CALIFORNIA.-Minutes contain no Narrative. A minister reports as follows: Churches in critical condition on the Pacific Coast, by reason of diminishing attendance on public worship, little sense of responsibility for supporting the church, Sabbath desecration, etc. Need for change of plans of work by federation and coöperation of churches. Instead of itinerant evangelism, need for patient upbuilding under guidance of men of proved competency.