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

business OF yesterday was taken up VIZ
the report of the Standing Committee on
Foreign Missions.
The Moderator-The question is on the
amendment CT DR.. Mcfarland to make the
Secretary to be elected by the committee
instead of the General Assembly, and upon
this amendment, Mr.. Curry proposes an
amendment, chat the General Assembly
should elect a committee Of nine and that
the first name on the committee be Cores
ponding Secretary"
DR.. Dickson-If l designed to give my
views IN erteaso on this subject, | would
feel myself obliged to offer an apology to
the Assembly, but [ only intend to make a
few remarks. | will propose an amend
ment by which l think the conflicting views
of those who have spoken on this subject,
may be harmOnized. 1.-The General AS
sembly in proceeding to construct its bureau
of Foreign Missions shall appoint com
mittee of nine members, whose duty it shall
J be to select some suitable person, who, when
elected by the Assembly shall be entitled
the Secretary of Foreign Missions, the AS
sembly assigning his salary" This | ap-
prehend combines the advantages of both
opinions. The Assembly does, through this
committee, ultimately select its own Secre-
tary. The plan proposed has the advan-
tages of obvlating the disadvantages of
primary nomination. 1t was said II this
plan. that it would be almost impossible to
select the proper individual to fill these Of
fees, and by adopting this plan the General
Assembly would be awaiting itself OF the
acumen of the committee. This, sir, is my
proposition. | am aware that it may carry
many disadvantages with it. | am not pre-
parsd to vote for it myself. | am glad that
tors VII enaue adebate, for the plan adopt
ed for the organization Of this Board will
be model for all
DR.. White think, sir, that the plan
proposed will entirely take the matter out
of the hands of the Assembly, and put it in
the hands of the committee. 1t is no COM
promise at all, for the nomination is actu-
ally, and the election is virtually given to
the committee, for what nomination of a
committee will ever be resisted in this AS
sembly? To be sure there may be extreme
cases, when the nominee is VIGOROUSLY in
competent, but mans character must be
bad indeed when he fails to secure an cleo
ton after being nominated by committee
of nine competent men.
Dr. Turner-When an amendment has
been proposed by such a venerable man as
the proposer of this, (Dr. McFarland) and
has met the support of one Or. jones' at
whose feet | sat during my theological
studies, would hesitate sometime before
expressing a contrary opinion. And yet |
must differ, from them, in my view OF this
subject for, think, that there is great dan
ger of our being involved in some of those
same errors in which the church has been
so long involved. | confess that in COM
mon with other brethren, was mortified
at the disgraceful scenes enacted on the
floor of the last General Assembly, and in
view of these facts so painful, humbly
conceive that in making our arrangements
for the church in future, we should endeayOr
to avoid the rock upon which the old AS
sembly strickland, therefore, this AS
sembly should exercise the utmost caution
in the appointment of its officers. | am
aware that there is an antagonlsm between
theory and practice, and while theories cap
tiyate us by their beauty, difficulties will
arise in our minds, when we endeavOr to
put them into practical operation We are
always safe in standing on well establ shed
principles, and if the theory that we en-
brace is a truth, if we endeavor to put that
theory into prqctice. though many Difficult
ties ma arise. yet eventually truth will be
victorious. Now a difficulty seems to have
arisen from the apprehension that there will
be an antag1nism between the Secretary
appointed by the Assembly, and the COM
mittee which is appointed by the same AS
sembly. Let it be borne in mind, that the
appointments are made by the same party.
How, | ask, can there be any antagOnism
in regard to the details of the workI Will
not other members of the committee differ
with each otber7 Are we not all liable to
differences Of opinion? As to the choice, |
, think that the Assembly is just as capable
of choosing a Secretary as they are capable
of choosing a committee, Some one said
that the Assembly would not have the re-
quisite knowledge to select such an officer.
What? Has not God endowed his church
with all that wisdom which is indispensable
, to the accomplishment of that great work
which has been entrusted to 1.-THE evan
gelization of the world? And if agencies
are needed, if guidance is sought from Oh
High, will not He give that which Is neces
sary to direct. AS in the case of churches
in need of pastors, God directs to the Sc
lection, so when his servants are gathered
E together in such a capacity as the present,
is there not equal reason to suppose that
the same guidance will be grantedf |
hope, Moderator, that the Assembly will
see fit to retain the right of electing this
important officer.
Mr.. Gillespie-The suggestions of DR..
Dickson are entirely impracticable. These
various committees will be selected at the
various points where the committees are
severally located. 1t is not contemplated
that these boards will be selected out Of
: this body. Brother Curry's motion is no
better. The first name on the committee
whom he wishes to make corresponding
Secretary may be totally unqualified for the
work. | was originally of the opinion that
the committees should be the electors, but
the last Assembly completely changed my
E opinion on that point. The central z alton
of power which it causes, is too great and