The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-07-08

y
their evidences of divine call and their
views in seeking the gospel ministry
have been approved. If God calls them,
and they are without the means, there
is also corresponding call from God to
his Church to take them up and carry
them forward to the completion of their
course. The Committee holds it to be
its duty, therefore, to grant aid to all
candidates properly presented by their
respective Presbyteries. In doing so,
we are compelled to throw ourselves, with
all confidence, on the liberality of the
Church. But it is Gods Church, and
that same Spirit which calls these beloved
young brethren into she gospel ministry
animates and guides the Church also.-
Faith in God, therefore, requires us to
exercise faith in his Church. Hence,
when we hear the voice of God calling
his young servants into the ministry, we
have no right to distrust his providence,
but are bound to expect that the Church
will be led by his Spirit to respond to
this call of God, and to provide the means
which may be requisite to enable our
consecrated youth to furnish themselves
with the needful gifts and requirements
for the work. Wherefore, the Commit
tee has resolved, in reliance on the grace
of God and his providential favor, to re-
spond to every application which may
properly come before it from any of our
Presbyteries, and to grant the aid that
may be requisite, in every case; expect
ing the PreSbyteries always to exercise
wise economy in asking appropriations.
In few instances, we have requested
the Educational Committees to reconsider
their requests, and to see whether the
amounts asked for could properly be
made less; but in nc instance have we de-
clined the deliberate and we'll considered
application of any Presbytery. In this
course we mean to continue, with Gods
blessing, so long as it is the pleasure of
the Assembly to intrust these RESPONSE
bilities to us, unless the Assembly shall
instruct us otherwise.
According to the order of the Assem-
bly,, the Secretary issued his circular
calling for information from the various
Presbyteries, as to what has been done
in their respective bounds, in order to
report the results of all the efforts of the
Church on this behalc. to this Assembly.
A few responses have been received but
from the majority of the Presbyteries no
answer has come. The annexed state
ment will give all the official information
which we have received.
The Presbyteries of Orange and Har-
mony report seven candidates each; S.
Carolina, six; South Alabama and Au-
gusta, five each; Bethel, four; Fayette-
vile, Tuscaloosa, East Hanover, Mont
gomery, and West Hanover, three each;
Chickasaw, Mississippi, North Missi8sip,
pi, New Orleans, and East Alabama, two
each; Cherokee, Macon, Florida, Sa-
vannah, Georgia, Memphis, Tuscumbia,
Central Mississippi, Louisiana, Red Riv-
er, Holston, Knoxville, and Winchester,
one each. From Arkansas, Indian, Qua
chita, Atlanta, Western District, Tom
beckbee, Nashville, North Alabama, Con-
cord, Charleston, Brazos, Central Texas,
Eastern Texas, Western Texas, Abing-
don, Greenbrier, Lexington, Rappahan-
mock, and Roanoke, there is no report.
Candidates reported, seventy-two.
Tuscaloosa reports $3O8, from twenty
churches; Cherokee, 1929; Florida,
S1OO; Savannah, SIS; Augusta, $500;
Chickasaw, $40, from one church; Mis-
sissippi, S163, from four churches; New
Orleans, $500; Knoxville, $56.75; Fay
etteville, S14230; Harmony, S3519S;
South Carolina, $1O9; Greenbrier, $26.-
S5; Montgomery, S376. The remaining
Presbyteries make no reports of contri-
buttons.
The Committee begs to call the special
attention of the Assembly to our embar-
easements. The great majority of our
churches have contributed nothing to this
object; and this is the whole cause of
any deficit. Many of them cannot re-
spond to our appeals as they formerly
did; but if by any possibility every church
could be induced to give even of its pow
erty, there would be no lacking. The
remedy for this evil is not in the power
of the Committee; but the whole subject
is commended to the prayerful consider
alton of the Assembly. Unless some
adequate action be taken, the Committee
will be compelled to abandon that trust
which it delights to repose in the Church,
and to suffer our young brethren to cease
their preparation for the great work of
preaching Christ. Moreover, the Com
mittee asks the attention of the Assembly
to the fact that heavy calls will come on
our treasury at the opening of the col
leges and seminaries in the fall; whereas,