The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1861-12-28
THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.

DR.. Lyon-This question was fully dis
,uss ID by the committee of which have
the honor to be chairman, and we came to
the conclusion that it was best to give this
appointment into the hands of the commit
tee, and the reasons are these: FIRST, to
prevent any interruption in the operation OF
the committee from one year to the next
Second, we could see no use for having a
committee at all, if the Assembly should
appoint the Secretary, and THIRD, the com
mittee should be entirely homogeneous. 1t
will not do to force Secretary upon the
committee who may not please them
Moreover there is danger of new Secre-
tarv being appointed annually. Local con-
siderations will induce the Assembly to APP
point the same committee every year, but
the same considerations will have no force
in regard to the Secretary. The next AS
sembly may be of very different mind to
this, and they will come up with their favor
tie. A King may arise who knows not
Joseph-and new Secretary will be put
in office.
DR.. Lacy want to say word, which |
would not say, if any body else would, but
I have heard no one say it yet and that Is
that there is no danger of any of those
things which have been urged against the
plan of election by the Assembly. In a
committee there may be such thing as
using undue influence, and we don't want
anything like wire pulling" and "lOg-
rolling" But let every thing be honest,
plain, above board, without any boards to
dodge behind.
Dr.. j. L. wilson, am not used to de-
bate, but there are few things which |
desire to say. ! think that this is vital
question. My convictions of the Importance
of this officer being elected by the Assem-
bly, are very decided. | think, however,
that we are likely to get misapprehenslon
Of the whole subject at the outset by def
initions. If properly stated, both Secreta-
~ and Treasurer would be members Of the
committee, and are just as much parts OF
that committee as anybody else. hold
that there is not an office in the whole Pres
byterian church more responsible or impor-
tant than the Secretaryship of these COM
mttees-the responsibility of this oftice is
almost too great to be laid on any one man.
| know its trials and responsibilities, anG
such a work ought not to be committed to
the hands Of Individuals. This Office is full
IL as important as that of Theological
Professor in your Seminaries, and | ask
you, would you commit the election of this
officer to a committeel Why, then, the
election of a man to fl this equally impor-
tant Office. Besides, he ought to be called
to this Office by the voice of the whole
church, and unless so called, l don't see
how any one can take upon himself such an
Office. And would state here that after
having filed this Office for seven or eight
years, | came to the conclusion that | could
not fill it any longer, because ! felt that it
was the duty of the Assembly to call me to
it, and my duty not to serve unless so call
ed. | think that the voice of the whole
church is necessary to call me to this very
import cfHce.
DR.. McFarland-I was connected with
one tf these Boards for a long time and
during the whole time there was the most
cordial feeling amongst US. am sure
there never was anything managed more
tremendously.
Mr. Richardson-As my views differ en-
tirely from Dr. Netherlands, l feel it due
to myself and my Presby tery, to say few
words. 1t has been admitted that there are
a few things which may be said in favor of
both sides. The greatest objection raised
to the election by the Assembly is the diff
fculty of selecting a right man. This
must be done by giving few days notice
say tlCo--fOr the purPose tf allowing the
claims ct the nominees to be canyassed.-
Il is only in the Assembly that we can can
yass fully the claims of brethren from hf-
fvrent parts of the church, and it is only
here that we will not be Influenced by the
local considerations of partiality.
Mr.. McInnis-Iti is pleasant to speak of
being appointed by the whole church-it
gives a greatness to the ofl;e, but what is
it after all? When the New Orleans Adj
visory committee was created, it was de-
bated in the Assembly whether they should
elect the Secretary or leave it to the com
mittee, and had they done so, they would
have selected noble preacher, but one
who would have made very poor Secre-
tary.
DR.. Nash-It was the unanimous opinion
of the committee to which belonged, and
which canvassed the whole matter, that it
was far preferable for the Assembly to elect
than for the comm ttee-that if the church
of the Lord Jesus Christ has been raised
up to do his work, surely that church is
able to discharge every duty that may be
assigned to it.
EVENING SESSION.
December 9th, 1861.
The Assembly was opened with prayer
by the Rev. Dr.. George Howe.
The clerk read the second part of the
report of the committee on Foreign Mis-
sions.
DR.. Wilson announced that Dr.. Kings
bury was detained by sickness from attend
ing as was expected. This would be great
disappointment as he was the founder Of the
Choctaw Mission. He went out to the In
dian country in 1918. There became as
ISOLATED with him soon after the Rev. Dr.
ByingtOn, aud Mr.. Alfred Wright, on whose
tombstone it was said, that he had gathered
$40 souls into the fold of Christ.
Mr.. Loughridge said that he represented
the Greek Presbytery, which enclosed with
in its bounds the Greek aud Seminole tribes.