The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-11-27
Ministerial Support.
ACTION OF THE SYNOD OF VIRGINIA.


The important paper adopted by the Synod,
and furnished by the assistant Stated Clerk,
was published in last weeks number Of the
Central Presbyterian, showing the precise Ian
guage of the document as it originally came
from the Committee as we'll as that which was
finally agreed upon We give this week on the
first page the argument of DR.. Dabney, the
Chairman of the Committee, and the reader
will find below las reported by member of
Synod for the Richmond DiSpatch,) the main
points of the discussion to which several of the
resolutions gave rise; particularly the 9Th sec
ton of tie 5th resolution finally stricken OUT
which empowered the Chairmen of Presbyterial
Committees to bring before Presbytery COM
plants from congregations against the pastor,
for not making suitable pulpit preparations
and not devoting his time mainly to their spir-
itual improvement after they had provided him
a competent support. -
The resolutions were taken up ser1otia, and
the debate was mainly about the power which
thew gave to the chairmen of Presbyterial com
mittees to look into the affairs Of churches,
and the constitutionalty of any third party
between the Presbytery and the churches.
The first resolution, requiring weekly collec-
tons, was so amended as merely to recon-
mend I" them.
Rer. Thomas L. Preston objected to the
second resolution, which recommends cooper
alton with the General Assembly in the work
of Sustentation. His Presbytery (Lexington)
had refused such cooperation. DR.. Wilson,
who spoke last night, whom he respected, and
whom every one that knew him or had ever
heard of him respected, had said he was PANIED
at this action of this Presbytery. He would
not have regarded the remark if it had not
CONC IGsaa orc of so much influence IN the
| Ol when a of
TIC y!n Assembly said he was panied at a
Presbytery's doing what they had a right to
do, he regretted to hear such an expression
His Presbytery had taken its position, and If
it was wrong, did not wish to maintain it !;
but if they had right to do what they did
he did not see why such an expression should
be used, as if they had been guilty of crime
Dr. wilson explained. The General AS
sembly had not arbitrarily dictated any course
of action to Presbyteries; they had right to
elect their own method of carrying on their
operations He had intended to use no harsh
ness. He did not censure the Presbytery for
such an election, but was panied by the protest
of the Presbytery, as if the Assembly had
adopted some despotic measure to coerce the
Presbyteries, when their action was only a
mild recommendation. He was glad to say
that out of forty.six Presbyteries forty two
had agreed to CO operate with the General As
sembly. The resolution was adopted.
Dr. Peck objected to the LIST section OF the
5th resolution on the ground that it empow-
cred the chairman of the Presbyterial Mission
airy Committee ito see to it." that the
churches contributed. He would like to know
what this meant. 1t was the duty Of the
Church Sessions to order collections, and we
might as well have an agent to order our min
listers when to preach on justification, and when
to preach on SdnctifcdtiOn.
Mr.. Shearer said that the resolution as it
read now made the Chairman of the Mission
airy Committee censor, and gave him inqui-
sitorial power he therefore moved verbal
change.
ReU. R. McIhoaine said that the express
sion was ''see;" there was no ito al" and
the to it was, he supposed, the hard part:
This (said Mr.. McIlwaine) is new office, and
we may as well discuss it now. He thought it
a most desirable function to be conferred
There is lack Of Presbyterial power. West
Hanover Presbytery had resolved that its
churches should contribute to Foreign Mis-
sions and out of nineteen churches only sew
en- had contributed. | know that brethren
will cry out about Diocesan assumption, and
the introduction of rules not warranted by the
Constitution. Mr. McIlwaine advocated the
resolution on the ground that it gave the officer
in question the power to inquire into pastoral
efficiency. The pastoral relation was too often
regarded as marriage, to continue tor life.-
He alluded to instances in which the continu-
ance of pastors had been an evil, and thought
the measure necessary in such cases.
Reu. Ed,card Martin was glad Mr.. Nell
waine had brought out his point, which he
feared was the point Of that paper. 1t was in
uuisitoral and unconstitutional The Presby-
terry already had the right, by our law, to in
quire into cases of pastoral lnethclency
He begged Synod to pause; it is better for
''Sustentation u to 20 to pieces than for us to
countenance such an invasion of the Constitu-
ton.
DIR. Conuerse had heard the address in be-
halt of Sustentation last night with an earnest
desire that its advantages, through the agency
of the love of God, should be extended to every
church and minister in our bounds. There
was no conflict in the remarks of MIR. Martin
and Mr.. McIwaine, as the agent is the SER
want of the Presbytery.
Rel. Mr.. Miller, of Petersburg, hesitated be-
cause he was chairman of an executive commit
tee of missions and he thought that if these new
powers were conferred on the Office, all who at
present held it should vacate it, in order that
the Appointments might be made afresh. He
had heard so much about the Old Virginia
doctrine of strict construction to- day, that he
was dizzy. He hardly knew where he was, or
where power was, or whether there was any
power at ALL 1t reminded him OF the incred
ulous person who examined the automaton to
see where the man who was in it had hid him
SELF turning it round and round, and looking
into every hole and corner. So we have turn:
ed over the General Assembly, the Synod, and
the Presbytery looking tor power. Mr.. Mil
Ter argued for the existence OF power in the orr