Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-05-28
lie HH,o

To Maj. w. W. S. Bliss, Asst. Adjl Gen.
From lie Wig
PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
FOURTH DAY-t7onday Morning, May gan, 1877.
The Session was opened with Prayer
Reports were made by committees appointed
for the purpose, on the records oil The Synods OF
New York, New jersey, Missouri, Wheeling,
Ohio, Pitlsburg, Mississippi and Tennessee, re-
commencing approval; which were seyerally
adopted.
The committee appointed 10 examine The re-
cords of the Synod OF Georgia, reported that The
records hat not been placed in their hands, and
that there was no probability hatlhey would, and
asked TO be discharged which was accordingly
done.
Of MIR. John Galley, from The decision oil the
Prcsbylery Of Paw Creek, which was laid on the
table Tor future decision.
The Report Of The Boaid OF Foreign Missions
was received, and referred 10 a special commit
tee, consisting Of DIR. Pauc>on, IL. T. Wilson
and c. w. Harris.
The committee on The demsson Of The exer-
else Of Ministerial office, submitted The following
Report which, on motion Of DIR. Hose. was re.
committed 10 The committee, Tor the purpose OF
embracing other provisions, DR.. Hoee beng ad.
ded Ia the commune:
The committee 10 which was referred the mat
ter concerning the voluntary dcInisscn Of The
exercise u the Ministerial office, respectfully t.
port. Tor The consideration OF the Assembly, The
following slatemen, and resolution, viz:
/. With all The care which The Presbylerics cx-
ercise in The examination OF candidates, and with
all the inquiry which candidates may sincerely
make after The path of duty, il has happened and
will again occur, that men may mistake their
ca ing, and be introduced 10 The cthce Of the Cos
rel Ministry withon, those qualifications which
will enable lhcIn, with profit 10 the Church and
comlull 10 themselves, 10 continue to exercise us
functions.
I'd Il is fact that many persons do PRACTICAL
~ demit the exercise Of The Office engaging en-
Iirely in secular pursus-and YET,
81. Their names remain upon our rol 5; they
are accounted az M nis,cfs, and counted IN csii-
mailing the Iaiu OF representation Ct the Presby-
eries 10 which they belong: thus giving 10 some
PI,>bylciies prcpondcraBce III The Geneial AS
sembly, 10 which they are not Justly entitled IN
der The lair operation Of our system
i;h Some men Of excellent moral character,
ana whose influence rs private members 81 HE
Church would be happy, ale embarrassed b. be-
Ing thus situated. There is no reason Tor ccpoS.
ing or suspcnding them from The ministry; they
have no authority 10 demt the cxerci-e of Their
office. The Presbyery has no authority 10 per-
nit demission, and yet il exists III ari; and these
worthy brethren are constrained TO live On WIN
vows resting upon them which they have not The
ability or opportunity 10 perform. Your COM
millee, therefore, recommend The adoption OF he
following resolution, which vas adopted by The
General Assembly Of 1912:
Resolred, That The office of a minister OF tie
Gospel is perpetual and cannot be laid aside III
pleasure, We, any minister may, with the permits
sion OF his Prcsbylery, demil The exercise Of his
office. And when any minister has thus demil-
led The exercise OF his Office, he shall not be per-
mied to sill as member Of any oil our ecclesias-
lical judcalories And any minister having so
demil,ed The exercise OF his office may on person.
al application TO The Presbyery which allowed
him 10 demil il, il said Presbytery think proper,
be by il restored 10 the exercise thereof and 10 all
the rights Incident thereto
An appeal of Charles Nichol, in The nature OF
complaint against The action Of The Synod Of
Northern Indiana, next came before the Assem-
bly and occasioned considerable discussion, but
was finally dismissed las alleged by resolution
viii, was adopled) in consequence oil Irregular
ivy on the part Of The complainant.
Rev Mr.. McVcan, Ruling Elder from The Pres
bylery OF Baltimore was announced, in addition
to the Commissioners already in attendance
On motion, the Assembly adjourned 10 4 o'clock.
EVENING SESSION.
The committee on Commissions reported VIM.
Nj. Atkinson X. E. from The Pr. OF Winchester,
in addition 10 The Commissioners already IN al.
| tendance.
Rev. Mr. Leavilt, delegate from The General
Convention ollhe Stale of Vermont, submitted 10
the Assembly an interesting statement oil The state
of religion in that Stale.
The Order OF the Day was here announced -
the Report Of The committee on the following le-
solution, which was submitted and referred TO
committee al the last General Assembly:
Re@ired, That, in The judgement of this As
sembly. il is contrary TO the Constitution and The
uniform practice OF the Presbyterian Church in
The United States for any ecclesiastical JudlcatoTy
| 10 appoint commission 10 determine Judlclally
| any case whatever
The report OF the committee was entirely or
| posed 10 the declaration of This resolution setting
forth lha, il was not prohibited by the ConslIu-
lion, and that il was in accordance with The prac
lice OF he church TO appoint such commission,
and for The Sessions OF Presbyteries and Synods
10 delegate The powers vested in them.
This report being open for consideration, an
interesting discussion ensued in which Messrs.
Cunningham OF Ga Paxton of KY Morrison oil
Va, and Junkin of New Jersey, engaged, all IN
opposition 10 The report as il came from The COM
Constitution as they now exist This discussion
was prolonged until The hour OF adjournment.
Previous 10 The adjournment The commllee
on Devotional Exercises made report, recon-
mending that sermon be preached in The First
PRESBYTERIAN Church on Thursday evening, by
Dr.. Howl. and that sermon lie preached Al the
same place on Friday night, by Dr. c. G. James.
ON The subject of The instruction Of the colored
population of the Southern 3lates which was
adopted.
Aner prayer, the Assembly adjourned.
Fifth day-Tuesday, May 25M
The session was opened with Prayer.
The committee on The records OF The Synod Of
Kentucky reported Them neatly and faithfully
kept, and recommended their approval 10 page
lat.
On motion OF Or. Atkinson, alternate, from the
Presbylcry OF Winchester, leave was granted him
10 resign his seat as alternate, in favor OF Rev. Mr..
Balch, principal, from that Presbylery, who had
been preyiously delayed from his seat
Dr. Hodge. from The Judicial committee, SUBJ
mited the following Reporl--which, on motion
of Dr. Hoge, was received and placed on The
docket.
No. 10. An Overture from the PresbyleIy OF
PALMYRA: That The Assembly should establish
Immediately Literary Institution, OF high order,
in Oregon.
The committee recommend the adoption of the
following resolution:
Resolved, That ii is not expedient for this Ge-
neral Assembly 10 grant The request contained in
The above overture
No. IL. An Overture from Tb R. Lee, MEM
Der OF this house: Proposing certain specific al
tsralions in our Book OF Discipline.
The committee directed ihatthis overture should
be read for the Information Of the house, but re-
commend the adoption OF the following resolution: