The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-11-13
,cbeme nv which the minds of the people

were diverted from the true object. His
first objection to the sustentation principle
was that it was Scotch, and substitute fol-
the regium douun, and he did not think II
fully up to the need required. His second
objection was that the people did not, I'M
der its operations, feel that full interest ir
it which they would do if they were giving
directly to the pastor. He had never known
an instance In which a minister should g
into a neighboring parish and speak to the
people about the subject of salaries but
what much good was done by it. Salaries
are largely deficient by hamilton: they are
not paid Just because they are not paid
that Is all. In the East Hanover Presby
terry there are twenty-seven self-sus
tanning parishes, and If the salaries of the
ministers are not paid, the Presbytery
should know why. There is money ant
willingness in the parishes, and it only re
mains for the Presbytery to do its duty il
the matter, and the thingis done at once
He hoped the sustentation scheme would D'
pushed aside, and the report of the com
mittee adopted in full.
Rev. William Brown would not detalr
the Synod, but he wished to correct al
impression which had been made. On
churches are in no danger of extinction
many of them were suffering, he knew; bu
he did not believe that our pastors have
been suffering during the year Just passed
as q class, more than any other class. =
Prcsbytery which brother had said SUI
fered very much during the year had made
an addition to their membership OF 3OO
Let us thank God and take courage. H'
thought that there was enough suffering u
call forth the greatest energy OF the PEG
pie. He thought that if the sustentatloi
scheme be adopted, it should be done are
the most mature deliberation. II TINS Sy
nod would address itself to the simple
scriptural rule of asking benefactions from
it's people every Lords day, it would bt
productive of more good in this direction
than any other scheme. 1t had worked
well wherever it had been tried.
After some discussion as to the rea
question before the Synod, the Moderato
stated the position of the question. 4
vote to lay the substitute on the table wa
decided in the negative.
DR.. Berkeley, elder, of Prince Edward
said he would not consider that he hat
done his duty unless he were to express
his opinion on this subject. His idea wa
that the ministers had not done their duty
They have not the proper confidence o
their people, because they do not know
them as they ought to, and the reason 0
their ignorance arises from the fact tina
the minister does not visit his congregation
as he should do-as it is his duty to do
The minister does not let his people know
his wants. lie had never known a strict
adherence to duty to fail of its effects. l.
was his solemn conviction that no power
under Heaven but the minister himsel
could correct this evil.
Rev. DR.. Pryor said that the elders to
night had done their duty they bad beer
preachirg to the pastors. and he felt that i
had done him good.
Mr.. Carter said that it was the duty a
well as the privilege of the people to gee
They can, as general thing, support thel
ministers, and it should be required 0
them to pay up their dues promptly.
Rev. Mr.. Houston said, while nc was un
willing to detain the Synod, he was still
very anxious to make q speech. lie wa
opposed to all innovations. The plan o
the Presbyterian Church was rs perfect a
man could devise. Prcsbytery has contro
of the whole matter. If Prcsbytery put
into his hands call for $500, when 1t wa:
known that the church could pay muci
more, it was dcrelict in its duty if it SET
that the salary was not increased. Pres
byterv had put calls into the hands OF min
listers which they should never have enter
tanned for a moment. Members of the Sy
nod had said that ministers were to blanc
in this matter, and others had said tina,
conere cations had failed in their duty
He thought that both were more or less il
fault.
Rev. Mr.. Berry moved that this whole
matter be laid on the table. Decided IL
the negative.
Rev. Mr.. Harrison said, before we aban
don the present plan let us see that the
new one will probably succeed. Wha
prospect is there that the sustentatlor
fund will succeed ! With any new ar
rapgement there must be men at the wheel!
to give it start. When our people, after
hearing the excellent speeches made her.
during the evening, go home, he believed
that thew would do much better than here
tofore. Whenever any project needing
money was fairly and fully set before an!
people they always responded to it.
Rev. Mr.. Seay had substitute to offer
it was already written, and was in these
words: "Scek We first the kingdom Of Goo
and His righteousness, and all other thing
shall be added unto you.''
Rev. DR.. Dabney said that wiser head
than his had advocated this scheme. Mem
bers had said we want no new system, bu
the fact is apparent that we are no bette
off than we were fifteen years ago. In
evils still remain. There is defect,
not in the system, in the way we work
we fail in rcaping all the fruits OF ou
system. What is the solution? Iheo
retically it was sufficient, practically it wa
not. The provisions of a system may b.
sufficient if applied. The theory of Presby
terians is that the Church of Christ
united in one head, and as it is unite'
there, it should approximate in its organic
form this spiritual unit. There is defect
and it requires legislation. The question
has been asked, Where are the ways ant
means to come from 1t has been an
swered in part, by making these week..
collections. The laity of our Church have
shared in the destirution of which tn
ministers complain. The inefficiency @
the ministers is caused by their lack of ser
vice. The church does not get the ochol
labor of the pastor. 1t is a fact: it is n
novelty and to this great fact he aske'
their attention. He said that the minis
tiers should be fed, and the Presbyter,
should make them rork. Do not act on tn
principle that we are wiser than others
let us learn from them.