New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-06-01
PRESBYTERIAN IN. S. ASSEMBLY
An important Debate ON Home Missions
What Western Mcn say about Present Or
ganizations.

Whnt western wen say ABOUT Treseh' VT
ganizations.
Correspondence Of The N. Y. Tribune
WASHINGTON, Saturday, May 90, 1852
The Assembly met this morning at 81
o'clock and spent the usual time In devotional exercises.
Aher some minor matters the Committee on the Poity
of the Church reported series of resolutions the first
of which was adopted with slight modification The
resolution In substance instucts the stated Clerk In
publishing the minutes Of the Assembly to prepare sep
arate columns In which the contributions Of the church
es 10 the various benevolent objects shall be recorded
also column for the moneys collected for religious pur
poses at home
The second section of the, Church Extension report
was taken up, the order of the day, at 10 o'clock
This pertains TO the subject OF Home Missions and in
wolves the relations Of the Assembly to the American
Home Missionary Society.
Rev Geo Dufield, Jr., OF Philadelphia made strong
appeal In behalf of the feeble churches and destitute
parts of the West These churches our children,
and we ought TO assist in bearing their trials.
The Rev. Samuel NJ Steele, of the Milwaukee Presby-
terry dsclamed any hostile or uniendy feelings TO tne
Home Missionary Society. All he desired was 10 state
facts There are some things which can only be done
BY the Church itse and be did not see why we should
shrink from the responsibility involved In the case
The report embraces two Ideas Of primary Importance
viz Homo Missions and church erection. Concerning
the last he showed that every little church needed
house, building In which the Church may assemble
aud be kept together. In many large amount OF
home missionary LABOR Is Lost for want of building
He stated In which the small sums OF one hun.
dred seventy FIVE or even fifty dollars from abroad
have led 10 the erection of comfortable churches. In
one fifty dollars, given to procure nails and glass,
led TO the building OF good house Of worship They
have labor and timber enough but the country is new,
and small sum 10 procure the cash articles would Sc
cure the building. He was convinced that something
must be done In church erection at the West Had
they ten thousand dollars in the Peoria Synod In twelve
or eighteen months they could erect thirty or forty
buildings for feeble churches The plan OF the fund Is
70 loan to church for two three four and five years
certain sum, condition Il at the church raise an
amount equal or double the sum loaned.
Mr.. Steele expressed the highest confidence In the
Home Missionary Society, but said we need some mod
fcaons He wished that the Prosbyery should be the
ultimate srbiier in the application of any particular
church or minister He did not mean that the Home
Missionary Society must pay the demand OF any paru
cular Presby but tina, the Society as not go
the heads OF the Presbyery to decide other grounds
whether they viii will not grant the application lie
argued also that the contributions In churches
viii be greatly increased We need change also be-
cause we need missionaries to occupy fields on nore
general scale than is consistent with the policy OF
the Parish Society. which does not grant assistance to
missionaries except they have selected points J labor
DIR. Duhed minated that the Society he's appointed
missionaries for such gonerSlsGds for another demon
inson, while our applications have in some instances
Mr. Steele also argued that the principle of the A. IL NJ
SocctyrequIing the Recommendation OF their agent
gives too much power to be held by any one man lie
spoke Of one OF the most popular and beloved agents Of
the Society AT the WestRev II Little-who kad often
said he considered this responsibility too gpeai for
Mr. S.tu
tmeed that some Congregatonaist agents at the West
had exeried undue influence In their official capacity
~ the injury of our Church.
DR.. Smith, Of Newlork, here remarked, that of the
eight agents Of the Society At the West are Pres
byterisns and only one IL Ccngregationalst
Mr.: Steele said one Of the Presbyterian agents Is
merely nonlinsily So AT heart he is opposed % us
lie showed that we have suffered as denomination AZ
the West from present policy, which has produced
sort o. Impression that 10 be absorbed by The
oe school Presbyterian Congregationslsts, but since
Wisconsin, we have adopted the practical principlc
OF this report, change has been effected W. have
now several Churches and ministers who have i4enf
ned themselves with us. Mr. Steele detailed many facts
CAsrcA ought to press on the work sf Home Mis-,
sons, tho rcsults OF which will be mo,, glorious
speedy lie assured the Assembly that Il the means
show them the fruits a, the next meeting OF the Assem-
bly,:
constr, spoke In terms Of high cOmmendalon Of mspy
OF the ministers lshoging " thst State lie diaere3
from those who adopted the views Of the General Prcs
bytcIan and Congregational Convention, and for TIA
reason he hsd separated from them lie had seen n,
operations the system and thought them not as goo
as pure Congregstionslism or Constitutional Presby
tehsntm. he recited many facts IN c very mild al,
conciliaory manaer, showing that the time has COM
when IS church we must do something In that field
The Rev. DIR. Bulsrd, Of - Louis, as member o
ths Church Extension Committee, was permitted {,
speak and presented variety Of facts upon which b
commented with characteristic energy, showing tina
this report Is the very means of sSvng the Home Mis-
sionsry Society There Is that kind OF ehahng and tic
ton In the frontier States which be only y
allowing each denomination 90 directs own movements
for Church Extension Hts views OF the western deld
were large snd the spiri, in which he spoke Of L.
ample for al, was noble He has been one Of the mos
successful ministers In the West and his remarks pro
dueed avery strong impression.
Rev. Mr.. Woods OF Des MoineS PreSby.ery lows
made some simple bus aflsting statements about the
dhcoiiies they have 10 encounter in thar Ss,s Thsy
are the same la Kind thOse tn Wisconsin aud thesc
facz thus laid before the Assembly will leave ispres
sions not soon 10 tc lost IL would seem from these
statements that the General Assembly may be LED b re
gard the Church Extension scheme r0Tea yoraby than