The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-11-13

| commence in the family. Our people did
not, he feared, understand the full meaning
of a conservation to God. These radical
defects are what we are called upon to de-
plorc. The cxigency had to be met in some
way. and he wanted to see the application
of some principle which would meet the
wants Of the people.
Should the world last ten times as long
rs il has stood, we could have no better
plan than that laid down in the Bible. We
| all want something so constructed that it
will move on while we stand and gaze in
wonder and admiration; and in trying to
devise it, we pass by the plain, simple
truths of the Bible, that great fountain of
wisdom.
He here read the following paper as EN-.
| bodying his views on the subject:
The subject of inadequate ministerial
support having occupied much of the time
and enlisted the deep interest of Synod, it
is hereby resolved,
/. That the best method Of insuring a
sustentation fund for this purpose Synod
enjoins upon all the churches within its
bounds the immediate discharge Of the
great duty enforced both in the Holy Scrip
lures aud in our Presbyterian standards, of
regular collections upon the first day of the
week.
.. The faithful and universal compliance
with this order will not only secure to the
church fund for other objects of benevo-
lencc, but will result in such an increase
of the contributions properly devoted to
domestic missions as Immediately to di-
minish the evil of inadequate ministerial
| II ,,it,p,nt,I.y 20, alto
| gether.
3. That each Prcsbytery within its
| bounds be required at the next meeting OF
SYNOD to make such a thorough report Of
what has been accomplished by the plan
| during the year as TO enable Synod TO de-
termine the progress made thus to test the
efficiency OF the scheme proposed.
4. That this Synod recommend to the
| General Assembly renewed and earnest
call 10 all the churches under its .Jurisdic-
ton to put into immediate operation the
divincly-appointcd method OF weekly Sab
| bath collections as the most citeCtual means
OF securing an adequate support OF minis
| tiers. as well as of other contributions ne
cessary to sustain, the great enterprise of
| the church and, also, that the wisdom OF
the Assembly be directed to plan for the
more general distribution of these contri-
| buttons to ministerial support.
DR.. Hogc further remarked, that in pre-
pairing this paper he had not given his own
views alone, but those Of a number Of
brethren with whom lc had conversed.
This plan, if properly carried out, would
supply all we want. He did not believe
that this scheme would at once do all We
wanted, but it would in time accomplish
the whole thing.
The Catholic Church, the wiseSt in the
wisdom of this world, makes all of its
churches free for all to come in, and its in
dividual contributions Of "Petcr's pence"
supplied all lis wants.
Some of the striking advantages of this
matter are, that it is practical. Every
church should keep its treasury full. Every
man would weekly feel that he was a
steward of God, and if he gives us God
| has provided for him, he will feel indeed as
steward. Persons in moderate circum-
stances don't give because their contribu-
tons are so small. This is not right.
Sands make the mountains. Drops make
! the sea.
| lie quoted from an editorial in the Dis
Dafrk in regard to the Relief Association
! to this effect: that if 600 persons in Rich
mond would give fifty cents week, 1t
would raise large sum, and they should
do it, even at the REIMBURSEMENT OF cigar
or n cOuviyial drink and this was The plan
which he wished to see adopted in the
churches. This system had worked well
| in the Sabbath school in his church, and 1t
might be made to work as well anywhere
| else. He had not known OF single in
stance in which it had been proposed but
! it had worked we'll. The apostolic rule
was to "gve as God had proSpcrcd you,'
! and il took in all classes. 1t has been dor
mant in the Church for years. Let Us now
Use il, and it will meet all our wants. We
are poor, but we can say from our hearts,
"Our lives have fallen iii pleasant places"
Is there one of our ministers who would
exchange the little, humble house where
he breaches Sabbath after Sabbath to sin
ccrc hearts for any one Of those gaudy and
tinscllcd temples where, to quote the
words Of the poet,
! Men display to congregations wide
Devotion every grace, except the heart
81 had rather be the pastor of the poor
est church in Virginia than be Moderator
of the Northern Assembly, with the largest
salary given in that church. They have
rcyolutionized the principles which made
our Presbyterian Church what it Is. We
sometimes wonder that we are so deeply
afflicted, while they, who have so wrongcd
us, enjoy such prosperity. But if we could
see what terrible judgments have fallen
upon them in the blight and mildew that
has come upon the Church, we would
stand aghast with trepidation." DR.. Hoge
made very feeling allusion to the suffer
ings of those who, being like-minded with
us on these ecclesiastical questions, have
suffered such prosecutions that their con
dition is rendered so uncomfortable as that
some Of them would gladly escape, If they
could, to q home i'll our impoverished
country. One OF them had received in the
last four years peck of anonymous let
tiers. Some of these were filed with low
abuse, some contained advice to him as 4
poor dcludcd man, and others were of &
threatening character. DR.. Hoge said The
times are fallen unto us in pleasant places
He thanked God that lie had permitted
him to spend another year in his presen
place OF residence and labors, and for thu
tokens OF blessings upon his imperfec
efforts. He mentioned the interest exist
ing in his own and other congregations IL
Richmond and elsewhere, and closed will
a powerful appeal to his brethren to recog
nize the goodness and mercy Of God in tn
blessings which they enjoy, and take cour
age for the future.
The Synod and congregation presen
were evidently deeply affected by tn
| ha ha1 no