Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-11-20
SECOND DAY-FR1DAY.

lJf- n. IL. hEklk, MOderatOr, ana heYs MM
FLINN, Clerk. PREsBUTERos
SECOND DAY-FRIDAY.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, Nov. Il 18GG.-The
General Assembly Of the PRESBYTERIAN
Church in the United States met yesterday
A. n, pursuant TO adjournment, and was
opened with prayer by the Rev. DR.. Gun
NINGHAM, Of Georgia. After the minutes
ofyesterday were read, additional Commits
sioners from the Presbyterys Of Fayette.
Mississippi, Red River, Bethel, Montgom-
cry, Concord and West Hanover, took their
seats. After the appointment Of various
committees, it was moved that the report of
the Committee on Beneficiary Education be
made the first order Of the day for ten o'clock
Monday A. IN, and that the report Of the
Committee on the Hymn Book be made
the first order Of the day for ten A. NJ, Tues
day.
The Moderator intimated 70 the General
Assembly that a communication had been
received from the Synod Of South Carolina
which would be read by the Clerk 1t was
as follows:
SUNPTER, s. G., Nov. z, 1866 10 tho Moderator
of the Generot Asssmtg of The PrcsbUferi-
an Church in the United .Sfates DEAR BROTH-
ER AT the recent session Of the Synod
OF 6outh Carolina, the following paper was
adopted by that body, and was directed to for
ward Ii rs an overture:
To the General assembly 10 meet IN Memphis. Ten
sncssee, Uiz
Resoluod That this Synod overture the General
Assembly as 70 the propriety Of establishing
through the Committee Of fUrei.n Missions a
mission to South America, in yiewI OF the proba-
bic emigration Of citizens Of our country to that
Fraternally yours.
Isaac J. Long.
Stated Clerk Of the Synod ofSouth Carolina.
This communication was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Missions
The time for the order Of the day having
arrived, Rev. DIR. j. LEIGHTON Wilson,
submitted the following report:
FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT or THE EXECUTIVE COMMIT
TER or DOMESTIC MISSIONS OF THE PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES.
The Executive Committee Of Domestic Missions
respectfully report, that Immediately after the
adjournment Of the Assembly in December last,
they entered upon the work committed to their
care, and have prosecuted u, 10 tho best Of their
ability, up 20 the present time.
The receipts Of the Treasury from all sources
have been S3i,7a6 ~, of this amount Sl2 900 were
from the Kentucky Board of Aid for the Society
OF Presbyterian Pastors, and S6,SjS, 81 from sym
pathizing friends In Baltimore. In both cases
these generous offerings were entirely voluntary.
They relieved much distress among our impoyer-
ished minister's and tho donors are richly entitled
70 the lasting gratitude Of our whole Church.
The general work assigned to the Committee
was Of a three-fold character viz lst. To make
provision for the support ofthe Gospel in churches
that had been impoverished by the war. ID To
aid IA repairing or rebuilding church edifces that
had been injured or destroyed by the same cause.
3D.. To promote the preaching OF the Gospel in the
more destitute portions Of the country.
The tirst of these departments, mt the time the
Committee entered upon their work, was alto
gether the most urgent, and, for time, engaged
their almost exclusive attention. The eOAmittee
at once addressed themselves 10 the task Of fur
nishng such pecuniary aid to destitute brethren
ns would not only relieve their pressing wants,
but enable them TO- remain at their posts, pro,
ella no nItaNl nf md
at the same time shut OF all designing Intrusion
from their aocks.
to act in concert with the Committee. proved %
be wise and judicious measure. In no other
way wonld u have been possible either TO have
ascorthined the condition and wants OF brethren,
or 20 have distributed the funds in the hands Of
the committees in a just and equitable manner.
At the clcsc of the war there much variety
in the condition Of the different sections of the
country, and the circumsunces OF the churches m
those different sections were equally varied. The
Synod Of Virginia, at the time referred TO- was
altogether the greatest sufferer whilst it Is ques-
unnablo whether the second place should be as
signed 30 the Synod of South Carolina or Georgia
the one having suffered most IN the loss Of
church property, and the other having been re-
duced to greater personal dcstitution. Tho Synod
of North Carolina occupies the fourth place on
this roll OF destitution. The Synod of Alabama
suffered but little from the direct effects of the
war, but had its full share 10 the poverty result
ing from the general prOstration Of the country.
The Synods Of Mississippi, Memphis, Nashville,
aud Arkansas, were greatly distressed during the
eomarntive comfort and strength before tts close.
The Synod of Texas suffered least Of ALL but the
great majority Of its churches, as is well known,
ayoalways been IN most feeble conduon-most
Churches.
The sums Of money appreciated for the rcliefof
brethren have varied from so and under 70 $500.
The whole number who have received aid from
the sustentation fund, including sixteen families
aud twenty. OF these forty-iOur belong 10 the
Synods q Virginia, twenty-siX 70 the Synods Of
Carolina, thirty-nine q the Synods Of Georgia,
twelve 10 the Synods Of Alabama, ten 10 the Sy-
mods Of Mississippi tive 20 the synod Of Memphis
nineteen 90 the Synod Nashville. six 20 the |
Synods Of Arkansas twenty o the Synods OF Tex
as. The whole amount laid out in this Depart |
meni was upwards Of $500.
lieved an the wants of brethscn, OF placed them |
Id circumstances 0f full comfort.
Upon inquiry. IL was aSccrtained that between |
nincty and enc hundred church edifccs were
either seriously injured or entirely destroyed |
during the progress 81 the war, about one-hat OF
which were % be found m the Synods OF Var.
ginia. Tho Committee nj the outset. adopted |
the rule % make 20 appropriation. except where |
the people themselves had gone 60 work 90 repair /
or rebuild their houses Of worship, where there |
was reasonable prospect that they would be /
rendered az for use with such aid the Commit /
See could extend 60 them. The appropriations
have varied FROM sluo o. Sl.OO0.
Tho Committee are happy 10 state that they |
have been able tosassist every church that has np
piled for nid except two, whose applications were
Of . very recent date, and M every case except Il
one they were able to grautihc iqll amount asked
number Of congregations in Virginia have re- Il
paired their houses Of worship without any help /
outside Of themselves. Others have received and /
from sympathising friends in the neighburing /
Northern States. But many congregations have /
Yet 20 commence the work Of rchuildinr and will /
need an the help that can be extended 60 them.
IL was hoped that, with such and ne had been 4
derived from the Susteniation Fund most 81 our /
crippled churches would by this time have re-
gained their feet. and be able hcncetorth 20 sup
port the preaching Of the Gosncl without further
aid But this expectation, it Is nov feared. viii
not be realized for some time 10 COME
Two things are especially needed IN our present
circumstances.
lst. In the first place ministers ii the Gospel
and the great body of our Christian people alike |
rDusi not only understand our true position but
must be ready 10 make all the sacrifices demanded
10y the present trying emergency; Ministers must
not only accommodate themselves Go habits Of
economy, but must lay themselves ont % perform /
q much larger amount Of labor than they would
la ordinary circumstances
"a. In the second place. special effort must be
made 90 raise the funds necessary % support the |
great body q our feeble ehgrsshes,
not be stated with precision. Aitcr careful con
sidcratiou Of the whole subject howcoer the com
missioncrs have come 20 the conclusion that not
irss Than s50 NiO will be needed for prsshvterv |
Susicnatiun and Church erection the coming year.
The general plan Of lakiug up sub-colleciions.
ax q part al public worship, seems % meet with
great favor aud. II generally carried ont can
scarcely Gail Of securing the happiest results
Oftho.e there are tour which. il is generally
admitted, have snccla! claims upon the churches,
via: lst Domestic Missions which melodies sus-
tcutaiiou, church erection, sud general cvangVli-
ration IN oar country. "a. For Missions including
an that Z 10 De done for the ovanrci1afion 81 the
great hcatheu and papai nations Of the earth.
Sd. The cause Of education. including fhe cdnca-
tion of young mtn for The ministry. supporting
theological seuiinaries, ctg. 4th. The pUohcatun
aud einculation of religions books ana tracts.
Now. in rclatiuu o. raising luuds ior thcse great
uhiects. For sxamrie. let she lrst Sa1bafh NJ
January be dcssTnatcd ~ the day Whcn coilcc-
lions shall te takcu up in ah the ehurehef iuf Do
nestle Missions: the srFi Sabbath IN March for
Foreign Missions the hrsi Sabbath in May for
Education; and the hrst sabbath m November
Cor Publication.
TIE rolieetions takcsi % on Che Sanbsth rould
be dcFptcdt0 either 81 these abieqis az % oh1ecis
Of local bcncrolcnce By vote u the session.
The adYaHtaEcs 81 such - arfHnEemcnt are I
manifold qud Important II reuVfailA eniQrccds I
ID WQeld a oncc bring all oar cburchczs even tbs
Wcakestaue poorest Of them. into riaCicnt ahd
e0Hccfied afiion, and make them feel thar they
haze work % DO bcyond their own narrow
bounisriss, An Of which d respectfully submit-
ted % behali 81 the EAecuiiye COMMITTEES - Do
nestle AissiouA J. LKi0HfoN NrtacS sceg.