Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-11-30
Eighth pax.


ing in apt Illustrations and most felieitoI
| illusions. esd Is rr l5e
Eighth Day. ..s..f
/ . FRInAY, Nov. 29-91 o'CIocK A. M
| The Assembly met, and was opened wit
prayer by Rev. Z. Price.
The minutes of yesterday we're read an
approved. The word seat was substitute
instead of sphere in the resolution {
yesterday, concerning the removal of th
ExecEtiFe CaDanittsss e. Riehmouds 1
Baltimore.
Rev, Dr. Lapsley, from the Judicia
Committee, reported that no business ha
come before them, and asked to be dis
charged. Agreed to-
Rev. j. K. Dow, from the Committee Of
Leave of Absence, reported that leave hat
been granted on .rft r.--.
November 25, to Wm. Letford, Eide
from Florida Presbytery. j; az
November 26, to G. M. Watkins, Eide
from Rappahannoek Presbytery.
November p, toJ.g w. s. Frierson, Eide
from North Alabama Presbytery.
| November %, H. w. Raymond, Minis
ter from South Alabama Presbytery.
November %, J. B. Long, Elder from
| Knoxville Presbytery. 4s sd Ell
November 20, ]. NJ. Hutchinson, Eide
| from Concord Presbytery. MI. ~
November %, f. McMurray, Minister
from East Alabama Presbytery.
November 20, /. A. T. Painter, Elder
from Abingdon Presbytery.
November %, j. Hemphill, Elder from
Bethel Presbytery.
November %, J. P. Scott, Elder from
West Hanover Presbytery.
November IS, s. Currie, Elder from
Ouachita Presbytery.
November %, G. w. Lee, Elder from
Harmony Presbytery.
November 20, j. McRae, Elder from
Harmony Presbytery.
November %, Jas. M. Holt, Elder from
Montgomery PresbyteTy.
Rev. J. A, Lyon presented the following
paper: .
Whereas, The Presbyterian Church has at all
times been distinguished for the high degree OF
mental culture of its members and people-an
honorable precedence which it will be commend
able for us to try still to maintain. Therefore
Resolved, LIST, That in the Judgment of this
Assembly, it comes clearly within the province
of the organized Church Of God to lock after
people of God, with the view to their highest
attainments in active and vital piety.
Resolved. End. That in view of this fact, this
Assembly deem il of the utmost importance thai
the church elevate its standard of learning and
widen its domain in prosecuting the educa-
tiOnal interests Of the people over whom il ex-
ercises a controlling influence.
Resolved. Bird, That the Assembly request the
PTesbyteries throughout the bounds of the
church, to take this subject into consideration
at their next regular meeting. and report their
action TO the next General Assembly. s-.
After receiving a second, Rev. DIR. Lyon
supported his motion by few brief hut
pertinent and comprehensive remarks.
Rev. ID. G. Boggs followed, giving the
history of the effort so far az the members
of this Assembly had had TO do with it.
He mentioned the favor given 90 this
project by the late lamented DIR. Thorn-
we'll.
Rev. J. G. Shepperson thought the
founding of a University TO teach science
by the church in an organized capacity,
was a new doctrine in the Presbyterian
Church.
The church has indeed planted colleges
to promote ministerial education.
This has been the general practice and
opinion of the church until within a few
lfdiS past II ~ INV sOlllihoi iit oChiS
places to teach all science as if il were
good gospel. As means simply, he did
not object to the founding of schools.
Rev. j. A. LefeVre was in favor of the
idea but opposed to the UheredseS. These
he would strike ont and substitute "peo
| pie Of God in the place of man.
These were accordingly stricken out by
consent of the Assembly, and the paper il
az reported above.
Rev. B. M. Smith, DID, moved to re-
| fer the whole matter TO the Presbyteries tC
report to the next Assembly instead of re-
| ferring TO committee. This was accepted
by DIR. Lyon and agreed TO by the Assem-
bly,, and 80 amended was adopted.
Rev. T. r. Markham, from the Commit
tee on the Narrative, presented their re
port, which was received and approved
and is as follows:
The Committee on the Narrative report tina
| they have examined and compared the Nara
tives of thirty seven Presbyteries with the fol
lowing results The greater number of theil
| Narratives indicate an increased desire amoni
| the people for the ministrations of the Word
| Congregations are reported az large and grow
/ ing while vacant churches ask to be supplied
| and in destitute communities the descendants o
| Presbyterians manifest, by earnest calls, a
| yearning after the church of their fathers.
The PresbyterieI also report weekly meetings
| for prayer as usual, in their churches, A gen
eral heartfelt interest is manifested in the re-
iieious instruction of children and youth in Sab
bath-schools and Bible classes. One Of the Pres
| byteries records that the Bible, the Catechisu
| and the Child's Paper are loved and studied By
| its youth and another makes special and hon
| orable mention of one school within lts bounds
containing more than six hundred children, IL
which, at late gracious season, nine teacher:
| and sixty-seyen scholars made profession o.
faith in Christ. While these are special and un-
usual instances, a widespread and increasing in
| terest is evident IN this department OF the
Grateful mention is also made Of the zeal and
/ fidelity and efficiency OF ministers In preachIng
the Word and in giving diligent attention te
/ the pastoral oversight of their hooks and
| Ruling Elders are reported as aroused TO a high
sense Of the grave trusts and duties OF theiI
| The grace If giving grows ia appreciation and
| observance amoug the churches. Weekly col
| lections and the practice Of systematic beneTo-
lence are establishing themselvrs as habits, and
! many Of the churches, though poor and greatly
strsitened, are making the depths OF their pow
| erty abound TO the riches OF their hberslity
| Our churches are learning the power OF the
Titles and II may be mentioned IN illnstra-
ton that a sabbath school in one OF OUT Pres
| byteries is supporting by its contributions 9
day school. attended by seventy INDECENT child
rem
And as his people thus use the means Of grsce
| God answers, As they assemble TO worship and
| pray as they teach in those schools. as pastor
| aud elders labor and rule. and the tithes are
brought into the stOrebouses, he gives cleai
tokens of his favor, The windows Ot. heay eE
open and blessings descend. Reyiyals are re-
| ported in one half of these Presbyteries ia one
| or more churches, and in all of them a steads
| normal growth in many churches At their con
| munion seasons In one Presbytery ten church
Is averaged thirty additions while another re
| ports greater than known for thirty year, witt
| a continuous revival in one church kdurlne
eighteen months. One narrative mentions ina
| aboundins grace brought to Christ a mau
| eishty-four years old. the sinner almost OF al
| hundred years
Added To such blessings. a healthiul, vigorous
active tone prevails IN many churches, and I
spirit Of peace harmony and brotheFly klhd
mes perv ades them all.
But other words than those Of cheer come
| from the churche5. Some Preshyterles and SONS
| churches in all tue PTesbyteries lament, saying
Our leanness" some narratives speak OF IN
| difference, cOldness, foTmality, worldly minded
4 mess. covetousness and even Of spiritual dsarth
| and mention the prevalence in their communl
res Of incompetence, profanity, Sabbath break
! ms and spirit Of preieFIlng sam 10 sodiIness
| Many destituiiOns srerepoTted, and IN FseAn
churches spiritual life IL declining from the lacs
| OF ordinance. "
| Ia one PresbyteTy. coy eTlng from thirty u
| foFty thousand square miles. there are but slN
or seven ministers la many churches they VII,
| serve the altar do not live hy a. bal exc out !
| slender salary BIZ other work, only one PTesby