The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-11-21
orSERAI. ASSEMBLY OF THE PREsBY'
TERRAIN CHURCH tsOUTH,.
THIRD DAY.
yrxrnrs. SATURDAY, November II.


,,nr,ved. The whole series of rules for
""sfrr-ning dciiberative bodies was adopted,
cvccrt that the twcnty.eighth was struck
cat. and the forty-third made to apply to
1.-TWO or more"
TUE CANYONS OF DISCIPLINE.
The Cancns Of Discipline were then
taken up and read by Rev. DR.. Adger,
rrairman Of the committee on the same,
l.t was stopped by Rev. DIR. Miller. 1t is
duc here 20 state that these canons have
lccn under consideration and adyisement
Nv a special committee for the last nine
ycarS, and arc as able and theological as
ANYTHING Of the kind that is cxtant.
Dr.. Miller wished 10 ask whether these
rules recognized baptized children as sub
ictt 20 these rules Of the church, and TO be
governed by them' DR.. Miller then en-
tered into a lengthy argument, which was
shlc and decisive, that children baptized
by CT istian parents were as much men,
hers Of the church as those vino are adults
Spoke Of the covenant made with God and
His children, accepting their children into
tie covenant. He then drew very strik-
ing parallel between the Old Testament
Church and the New, and from that con-
communication for disbelief, as much as the
parent.
DR.. Adger thought, with all due defer
cHcc 10 the brothers opinions, that he had
some wild notions. Did not think the
brother had any authority for his views.
Said the children were not accountable
consequently the VOWS Of parents were not
obligatory on them only so far as the
duties OF child to parent. That the Church
could not "haul them up" try them for
ug'clief. and turn them out.
The order Of the day for reports OF
executive committees having arrived, Rev.
nr. Wilson, chairman of the Executive
Committee on Foreign Missions, read the
report, which was appropriately referred.
DR.. +. T. Baird then read the report of
the Committee on Publications, with one
frcnt treasurer of the committee, which
we're also referred.
CLAIM OF PRESBYTERIAN BOARD.
The committee has the pleasure of re-
i,or,u- that claim which the Presbyte-
ian Board of Publication had, nominally
against the Rev. W. J. Keith, of Georgia,
lu, really against this'committee, has been
adjusted finally and satisfactorily.
The history Of this matter is this. Be-
frc the war Mr.. Keith was employed as an
agent or colportcur of the Board, and had
u his charge a large amount of its books
for sale in liduciary capacity. After war
became tiggrant, the Confederate Govern
meat passed an act sequeStering the pro-
pcrty # aliens. Under this act, the books
q the Board were about TO be seized and
serurstcrcd, when Mr.. Keith very wisely
SIT up a claim for the books as the property
If the Presbyterian Church in the Con-
tolerate States of America, as the actual
and lawful successor Of the old Church
e.. thatpart OF the country included within
i'g Confederate StateS--a principle which
wogll undoubtedly have been acknow-
hirl everywhere had the revolution sue
caeGcd. Mr.. Keith was required to give
his bond for the safe-keeping of the books
I.nding the action of the General Assem-
lily. That court justified the course Of
Mr.. Keith al its sessions in Columbia, S.
G.. in 1868, and promised to indemnify him
for any loss he might sustain in the case
moreover, ii ordered the books to be sent
- Richmond TO be disposed of by this COM
miitcc. 4 portion of them were Soda
portion given away to the soldiers; but
tie bulk Of them, with the money received
..ma their sale, persisted along with the
ether property of the committee at the
fail of the Confederacy and by the great
Ire.
When this committee learned that the
Board had called on Mr.. Keith for a settle
Mcnt, il promptly informed the Board that
& assumed all the responsibility, and would
discharge every just claim against Mr..
Keith arising ont Of this business. After
careful investigation of the matter, and
obtaining a settlement from Mr.. Keith up
70 tie time when our civil troubles began,
Tie Board, by unanimous vote, ordered
the claim against Mr.. Keith to be cancelled
AID lis account squared. The amount thus
cancelled was about $4,000. OF this ac-
ton the corresponding secretary, DR..
SaheHcE, gave us information in very
tourtcOus note, the closing sentence Of
which is in these words ave recognize
with pleasure the honorable conduct of
Your committee in assuming the response
h..ly Of this balance; but are glad to leave
TIE money in your hands, that You may use
Il in doing what you can toward supplying
tie sad dcStitution of books among the
southern churches and Sabbath schools"
TO this letter suitable reply was returned,
chasing in these words: ave beg TO assure
tie board that We highly appreciate the
honorable, kind, and just spirit which has
larkcd their action in this case.'
Thus this matter has happily terminated,
leaving no unpleasant recollections behind.
The conduct Of Mr.. Keith has been marked
blythe s;cicteSt integrity and honor, and de-
~Tycs, as il has received, the commenda-
tim Of both the Board and Of this COM
4iltec.
DONATIONS FROM ABROAD.
t. The donations from Great Britain
r.r obtained through the agency OF the
AMMAN of the committee, the Rev. DR..
orc, while in Europe. Other donations
obtained through his exertions have not
1,cA beard from at the time of the writing
u Tins report, leaving us in uncertainty as
Jlleir fate. In these valuable efforts on
bcaaiof The committee DR.. Moore enjoyed
lie cooperation and assistance Of the Rev.
). D. Stuart, Of the Synod of Virginia, who
was il England with him prosecuting other
duties.
These donations, together with the tracts
and Bibles which happily came into our
lands, have been the only resource OF the
Committee for making donations to our
aalc churches and Sunday schools, and
.r distributing religious truth to the desti.
%c-wAitc and colored. In the brief
t''i'I during which this means Of useful
-e> las been within our reach, many
sehtS have been made which brought Joy