The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-06-16
GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
OF PUBLICATION.

the Committee, which is as follows:
The Executive Committee of Publication
presents its eighth annual report to the Gen
eral Assembly under more encouraging cir
cumstances than we had any reason to anti
eipate one year ago. The Southern country
was then passing through period of unex-
ampled financial trial, which pressed on the
commercial interests of all that region with
increasing severity, until the close of the
year. Since that time business has begun
to revive; and as one of the effects OF this
change, we find our condition much better
than we had hoped; for which we desire to
record our gratitude to the King and Head
of the Church, whose servants we are, and
whose cause is, in part, entrusted to our
keeping. This report is presented with the
greater pleasure, because we feel assured
that the results of our efforts, during the
past year, viii meet every Just expectation
of the Church; and that although our opera
tiOns come far short of the necessities of the
Church and our desires, they are, neverthe-
less, fully eqnal to the work accomplished
by any one Of the great publishing houses
of the country, at the same period in its
history.
Since our last report two vacancies in the
committee have been occasioned by the re.
signation of brethren beloved, who have re-
moved from our midst to other fields of Ia
Dor, viz: the Rev. Thomas v Moore, D.
D., and the Rev. Philip B. Price. DR..
Moore was connected with the committee
from its first organization, and shared in all
its trials and labOrs, and aided it much
by his wise counsels. Mr.. Price had been
an efficient member Of the committee for
about two years. According to the discre-
tion conferred on the committee, these va
cancies were filed by the election of the
Rev. E. H. Rutherford and the Rev. Thos
L. Preston.
The Treasurer report, which is herewith
submitted, will give a careful statement of
the actual cash receipts and disbursements.
The cash receipts from the sale of books
were ST., ,947 80; from subscriptions to the
Chilaren's Friend, $3.50 Oh, and from
collections in the churches, etc., 1891 So;
last years balance, S1,047 so. Total cash
receipts, $29,746 20. The cash expendi
lures have been; extraordinary expenses on
account of orders of the General Assembly
800; on account of stock, S1S,029 81;
ordinary Office and store expenses, such as
salaries, rent, insurance, taxes, stationery,
postages, etc, 1924 50; for publishing
the Children's Friend, S2,097 35; making
the sum total of cash expenditures to be
$27, ,501 "a, and leaving balance in the
hands of the Treasurer, on the first of May,
of S2,244 66.
This, however, is only cash statement, and
takes no account of any of the transactions
of the Committee, which does not involve
the edirectreceipt and disbursementof of money,
No adequate nor just estimate of our busi-
ness can be had from the Treasurer report
alone; otherwise this report from the COM
mittee would be superAuous.
In the last annul report full exposition
of our business was laid before the General
Assembly; and by the order Of that body,
it was published in pamphlet form, and was
accompanied with full tables of the receipts
and disbursements from the beginning, iD IL
lustration of its statements. For special
reasons. it was deemed advisable, at that
time, to mention mary facts, and to give
financial details which are usually and for
wise considerations withheld from the public
The committee does not deem it necessary to
initiate the example of last year, in this
respect; but is of the opinion that the full
and exhaustive exposition of its affairs then
made, renders any such detailed explanation
superogatOry at this time, even it there
were no prudential reasons for reticence.-
We shall, therefore, withhold the minute
details of our business, and shall satisfy the
demands of this report by recording the
general results of our work. AT the same
time full statements on every point will be
cheerfully submitted to the Standing Com
mittee, and to the Assembly, if it shall be
found requisite. Moreover, the Book of
Records of the Committee is here, and also
the Treasurer's vouchers
The actual business done by the commit
tee during the year will be better understood
by some additional facts, derived from our
ledgers, than there can be from the Treasur-
er's report alone In that report the cash
receipts from the sale of merchandise are
stated to be S10,947 SO. In addition to
this. the books of the store show that there
have been sold S1,4O3 90 worth of books,
for which payment has been received in
merchandise. Moreover, our Colporteurs
are paid for their services out Of the money
which they receive from the sale of books.
In making their returns of sales, they are
authorized to retain what is due them
Consequently the amount of cash which
reaches the treasury does not show the ac
tusl sales, but is short to the amount of the
compensation thus paid to our cOlportcurs,
This wear it amounts to the sum of 81 ,444
62. Moreover, the grants of books and
tracts made to destitute churches and Sab
bath Schools, or for general circulation Is
really sale to the Church on behalf of its
benevolent work, and is paid for, out Of the
funds contributed by the churches to this
cause. The value of the grants made the
past year is S3,359 Oh. So that the whole
amount of merchandise disposed of for cash,
or its equivalent, is $24124 81. Add to
this S3,359 Oh, received from subscriptions
to the Children Friend, and we obtained the
sum of S27 ,4S3 81 as the amount OF business
done by the committee during the year.
Moreover, the expenditures of the commit
tee were greater than shown by the TreaSur
er's report. For to the sum of SlS,O29 81
paid in cash for stock, to get the true amount
we must add the $1,473 80 worth Of mer
chandise paid for by the sale of publications
giving the total expenditure for stock Sl9,
500 66, besides the cost of publishing tn
Childrens Friend. Moreover, the item o
S1,444 90 is to be added to the expenses
on account of salaries to cOlporteurs, as al
ready explained.