Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-05-26
CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN
/, CHURCH.
Meeting of the General Assembly.

: ceived and cOncurred in: q,
The Committee on Judiciary to who
were referred divers memorials, have co
sidered them ali, and ask to make I
following report: ts
Three questions are asked by VIII
appears to be the church session Of U MI
congregation, Logan county, Illinois,
follows:
I. Has Presbytery the constitution
authority TO divide congregation and
form new one within its bounds Of o.
Grafton, when such division is not pet
toned for by said congregation, but 9
humble and earnest protest entere
against such organization 2 ai
2. Can members, regularly snspeude
from the communion OF the church, b
| received into the communion of such ne'
organization, unless their suspension b
first removed
| 3. Can Presbyteries remove such suS
pensions without first reviewing the re
cords of the session, and then basin
their action upon some departure fron
discipline on the part Of the session, o
insufficient cause for such susps asion
The questions seem to have grown GU
OF the Presbytery, which has the contro
of Union Congregation. If persons ar,
dissatisfied with the action Of Presby,
terry, the proper course is to appeal t
the Synod, and thence to this body
II the Grand Assembly should permit
disaflected parties to interrogate it in
this manner, it would be encouraging .
virtual appeal in an irregular manner
and without the whole record being be-
fore it, thereby probably inaictiLg in
justice upon the Presbytery. While,
therefore, your reverend body have the
power to give expression of its opinion
in the premises, we believe it is inexpe.
dent 20 do so, and should decline an
answer. .F ,e F
2. A memorial from the Presbytery
of VaAdalia, asking the advice of this
General Assembly in respect to certain
matters of dicipline. The memorial is
as follows: 1904
Extracts from the minutes Of the
Presbytery of Yandalia, Spring session,
1869. -..-. ..-..
ave hereby memorialise the next Gen.
eral Assembly to declare whether church
members refusing or wilfully and habitu.
ally neglecting to bear any part in the
financial burthens of a congregation,
believing it to be the duty Of every one
to do so in accordance with their ability,)
shall be retained as members Of the
church in good standing, and if not, then
what course should church sessions take
to rid their rolls of those names? And
further, what shall church sessions do
with those members who are not charged
with any positive immoral practices, but
who also habitually neglect the public
means Of grace.-A true copy.
Al. NJ. BONE, Stated Clerk.
'DONNELsoN, ILL.,, May Ii, 1862"
The committee respectfully submit
that the matters contained in the memon
rial are in the control of the church
Every church must rest upon
its own circumstances and the session
should administer a wholesome discipline
calculated to bring about reform, and
must be its own judge of the extent of
the punishment. No two propositions
are more plainly taught in the scriptures
than the duty to support the ordinances
OF God with our substance, and the duty
to worship him in his earthly temple;
but this General Assembly having no
power to make laws which would be
applicable to such cases, should decline
in this instance also, specific answer.
3. The Presbytery of Union, ask
your revere nd BODY whether PreSbv-
cation.
This question has been before the Gen.
eral Assembly at former sessions. AT
Evansville, Ind, it was resolved by this
body that the Presbytery has the power
to dissolve congregation, provided it
makes some suitable disposition Of the
members, and srranges for their cons
nection with some other Congregation (;
but that the Presbytery can not dissolve
congregation so as to deprive the indi
viduals Of membership entirely, but that
this is the promise Of the session. ~
4. The Presbytery Of Vandalia ask
your reverend body whether section three
chapter 8, form of government entities
two or more vacant congregations en-
bracing thirty members, in communion
to 0ay) representation in Presbytery,
provided their united membership equals
thirty in number.
The committee after careful examinaN
ton of the section referred to, respect
fully answer that they are of the opinion
that the congregations indicated in the
question may unite and be entitled TO lay
representation. Respectfully submitted,
NATHAN GREEN,
J. NJ. HowRY,
j. B. GREEN.
On motion of Rev. j. A. Bowman, the
Committee on Leave Of Absence was ap-
pointed. The Moderator appointed as
said committee Revs. s. G. Cowan, w.
], Vineyard and G. w. Mitchell.
The various committees appointed on
the minutes of Synods submitted their
reports, which were concurred ia.
The select Committee on Finance re
ported that the action Of the General As
sembly of 1868 did not repeal the pre-
yious action Of the General Assembly in
regard to the contingent fund, and, there
fore, that Presbyteries were required to
pay fifty cents per ordained minister as
we'll as ten cents per member.
After some discussion the report was
cOncurred in.
Moderator Anderson reported that, &C
cording to appointment at the last Gen.
eral Assembly, he had attended the Con-
yention of the National Division Of Sons
Of Temperance, held at Cleveland, Ohio
The credentials of Rev. Il. B. BOude
of the Old Presbyterian School (South)
were presented by Rev. G. 7. Stainback
D. D., and received, and his name ems
rolled.
On motion IL o'clock o-morrow was
set apart to hear the address OF Rev
Mr.. Boude, and the Moderator appointed
Rev. IL. B. Warren to deliver the re-
Spouse.
On motion Of Rev. L. G. Ransom the
business of selecting place for th'
meeting of the next General Assembly
was taken up.
Wsrrensburg, Mo-, and Evansville
Ind, were placed in nomination.
Warrensburg was elected on the frs
ballot, and ii O'Clock the third Thursday
| in MAY was fixed as the time for meeting
On motion of Rev. G. I. Stainbacl
the General Assembly adjourned unit
| 8 O'Clock tomorrow.
FIFTH DAYS PROCEEDINGS.
| TUESDAY, May 25.-Ths General As
sembly met and was opened with praye
by the Moderator.
One half an hour was spent in religion
ceremonies conducted by Rev. Corneliu
8. Yeager. -E