The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-11-12

ATKINSON and Armstrong, and Ke'. MessiS.
McIlwaine, Ewing, McChain, ana Lel's, hauo
e,rpest specches on guarding the churches bS
discipliuc and otherwise from drunkenness III
ia members The narrative, after Il lew Seroai
alterations, was adopted
DR. Dahncv, from the committee on inc
Minutes of the General Assembly, reported
tho action of that body, in which it is recon-
nendcd 10 all the Presbyteries TO engage earn
stlv in evangelistic labors; TO cause their va
cam congregations TO assemble Tor worship,
and seek out the elders who have the best gifts
20 minister TO them by prayer and exhorta-
lion, and 10 induce all their unemployed min-
istcrs 10 seek fields of labor and that Synods
inquire into the fidelity OF Preshyteries In
these matters and report TO the General AS
semhly.
Rev Edward Martin rose and said he wished
some affirmative voter TO move n reconSidera-
t.on of the paper adopted this morning Ia re-
ference 10 colored ministers, because ne was
sure il was misunderstood. Members VINO had
voted in the affirmative courteously agreed 10
the reconsideration and Mr.. Martin briefly
addressed the SYNOD with three objections:
LIST; 1t was unnecessary 10 ask the General
Assembly 10 adopt this paper, because an iden-
teal one had been rejected ~ me i's' sess'oii'
I'd The aclion does not represent our con-
stitucucv sd. We are not competent TO ask
nor the Assembly 10 grant Such Il declaration
rs the paper indicates.
MIR. Ieftwich replied in favor Of the paper.
He believed, with a faith which recent events
had not impaired that the relation OF master
and slave was as legitimate and rs approved
in the sacred Scriptures as that OF prince ana
subiect parent and child, or husband ana
Wife II was recognized in the Jewish law,
In the moral law more than once. and sane
toned BY ii i'm who Spake rs never man spahe'
Mr. Lettwitch said his Joy IT emancipation
arose from economical, industrial, and COM
,narcial reasons lie did not propose 10 adFo-
cate a theory of national unity OF the races
| against which Providence had placed Il DAT
rier The civil state OF the negro is matter
| for the legislature. and his social relations
m tier for taste 10 decide but he was entllled
| to ecclesiastical equality. The General AS,
| senbly had acknowledged this, but asserted
that there were 1T this time proridentiai par
riers in the way of allowing IL. Was II tl;lt
our people. slnarting under recent wrong,
would refuse that which it was scriptural 10
grant ard obey an adverse cooe OF puplc
sentiment rather than the WORD Oh sToa
Must the voice of the world control the
Church and the passions of men prevail over
reIirion pure and indebted {! Then the last
step of Christianity has been taken, her last
triumph recorded, and we become cringihE
and submissive victims under the ADVANCING
forces Of Darkness. The laurels OF religion
have not been wen by inglorious concessions:
Had Noah listened 10 popular c!aInor he could
not have MADE IN ark to the saving oil ms
house and the preservation OF the Cnnrch.
4 fter other pertinent historical illustrations
from the Reformation, &c, Mr.. H. proceeded
10 show that the doctrine of any ecclesiastical
inequality is opposed to the distinctive ch;t-
racteristics of Christianity. Religious PRIV.
| leges were 1T first grated upon Inc STOCK o.
Abraham but the exclusive institutions OF the
Jewish dispensatiouS like shadows passed
| away before the light of the Gospel. Inc
| middle wall of perdition was broken GOWN.
First at Samaria, then At Cesarea, "here
Peter preached TO Cornelius and ms mousse
! hold, il was taught that ain every nation he
| that ieareth God and worketh righteousness
| is accepted with him And when tldlhgs
| of these things reached the ears OF the Churcn
s.,.,I,I lad IN
nizc tina; the gifts of grace were no longer
10 be confined TO the Jews, ana thc doc.
trine OF equality in The Kingdom OF Goa
went forth stamped "lth The authority OF Tue
first council. The mission of Pau! was an
illustration of the same doctrine. lie preacned
the Gospel 10 the philosophers of Athens,
the voluptuaries of Corinth, the courtiers OF
Rome 'By one spirit we are all baptlZed
into one BODY "There is neither Greek nor
Jew, barbarian, Sythian, bond nor Tree.
There are no traces of race, 81 color, or blood:
Dr. Dahnev obtained the floor and synod
agreed 10 resume the consideration OF this
subject n 9 A. NJ. tomorrow.
In the evening DR.. Dabney preached 1T the
Presbyterian church, and il was found neces-
sarv TO open the Episcopal church 10 accom-
MEDIATE the crowds who wished TO hear MIR.
Shanks preached 1T the latter.
DR.. Dahncy'S theme was the SF-frldfnc'ny
PytDer 0f The BibEe' founded on the words OF the
woman of Samar!a: " Come see man which
told me all that ever did" An able and in
structive discourse, in which the law or Goa,
His providence and His redemption, us re-
realed III The Bible, were shown 10 be adapted
to the majesty Of God aud the misery of man,
and tha; religion is indicated by its beautiful
effects upon The hearts and lives OF the truly
dcvouJ. The sermon WAS strong IN argument,
and in the latter part eloquent ana Affecting.
Mr. Shauks's theme was 1.-THE final abode
of The righteous" lie argued that this world
would be regencrated and be their home. The
sermon was exceedingly interesting, even III
its speculative parts.
al the close of the services in the Presbyte-
rian church. Synod was called TO order, ana
Dr.. Wilson was invited 10 address the bodS
and the audience present; on the General AS
Srmb!y's work OF Snstentation by its commit
tee OF which he is the secretary
Dir. ". assembled the pulpit, and spoke IN
substance as follows: ,.,
He had visited he said the Synods of North
and Suuth Carolina To advocate TINS c'lust.
Both these Synods had agreed 10 aaop' 'ls
AsS,mbly's plan and co. operate Win us com
mittee, of which he Is the secretary, IN inns
,vorl, He hoped that the Synod OF Virginia
would do the same; and on this subject the
,,bnie Church from the Potomac TO the Rio
C3r,nde would be united in their efforts. He
then proceeded 10 show what were the rel-
sons which determined the General Assembly
~ recommend the Cent trail Committee for the
work of supporting feeble churches and do
nestle missions.
The Impoverished condition of the Church
ut the close of the war rendered it necessary
strong might sustain the weak. When DR..
Chalmers went out III the head of four hun
dred ministers from The Is Enlistment TO or
ganZe the Free Church Of Scotland they
made common cause. The result had been
Immense If, under similar circumstances,
We do the same, he predicted for our Church
q future not less glorious.
The sustentaticn plan does not take the con.
troll of domestic missions out of the hands of
presbyteries Nothing is done by the Central
az " the bOuuUS of PreSby tery
cept with the advice and consent Of the mis-
sionary committees of Presbyteries. There Is
entire harmony and cooperation with Pres
bytcrieS in the distribution OF the funds How
ing in 10 the treasury of the Central Committee.
The chairman of your PreSbyterial commit
tee is our only agent in your bounds, and il IS
his duty TO see that all the churches make col
lee tons for the cause. And no man is APP
pointed TO labor III PreSbyterial bounds with
ont the consent of Presbytery or its commit
tee.
The first reason for doing our domestic mis-
Sionary work by this general committee was
this defect in the old system-Yiz., when Pres
byteres did their own missionary work the
weak Presby had no helpers. 1t was
then said that the strong would give their sur
plus to the poor but such surplus had always
been insignificant.
Another effect Of that plan was to disin te-
CRATE the Church and 10 promote IN indepen-
dent congregational tendency
Dr. Wilson passed in this connection TO con-
slider the relations Of the Presbytery and the |
General Assembly. Spiritually they derive
their authority from the same source-the |
Head of the Church. But constitutionally the |
Assembly has its powers defined, and may not |
transcend them by reaching its hands over
Synods. Presbyteries, and Sessions. So long |
as The General Assembly confines itself 10 the
Constitution and the laws we are bound to
obey it rs the authority of Jesus Christ. II
the PreSbyteries may not obey the Assembly,
the Church may refuse TO obey the Presbyte-
~. There will be 4 general INSTRUMENTATION
in all iudicatores And where will this land