The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-06-09

They do not believe they are stewards of Christ;
hat they belong to him. They do not believe the
promises, " He that watereth others shall himself
De watered," p" He that soweth bountituly shall
cap also beautifully" 1t is more blessed to give
han to receive" The bulk of Christians believe
5hese Scriptures just as many unconverted sinners
believe the Bible-they believe that they are sin.
lers and Christ is the Saviour but have no spirit.
lal perception of these truths. So all Christians
believe the above Scriptures because they are the
word of God, but many of them have no hearty
spiritual perception of them that leads them to
rejoice in them and practice them. An incident
will best illustrate my meaning. At the late meet
ing of our Presbytery, when the subject OF Scrip
tural Benevolence was under discussion brother w.
said, early in his ministry he and certain brother
we're conducting meeting in which there was much
religious interest. An old man gave expression to
his joy by shouting, and continued it till it began
to interrupt the services. Brother Fl. said to
brother w. $50 stop that old mans noise. lie
went to him, and spoke few words, and the
shouting man at once became quiet Brother d;
asked brother W. "What did you say to the old
man that quieted him so promptly" Brother
W. replied, &c asked him for dollar for Foreign
Missions"
lieved in Christ and loved him as his Saviour from
sin, and could rejoice in view of his privileges as
a child of God, but he had never received as
precious truth, that sit is more blessed to give
than to receive" and therefore he could not shout
in view of it, He had no hearty, practical faith IN
this truth. Many Christians, like this man, need
to be converted to spiritual faith in the Scriptures
before they are prepared to initiate the practice
of the New Testament Christians. If the bulk OF
Christians had this faith, feeling that it is pre-
cious privilege to give to the cause of Christ Gull
tvating and proving their love to Christ, and lay
ing up rich reward in heaven, we would have no
lack of means to meet all our financial wants, but
they would pour their offerings into the Lord S
treasury literally "the abundance of their deep
poverty Astounding to the riches of their iberaty,
lust as in the days of Moses, when the poorest
people that God ever had built the tabernacle,
they had to be restrained from giving"
We would have no need of Life Insurance Com.
panies to provide for the suffering families Of our
departed brethren. The Church is Gods organ.
lied life assurance company for his people,
Bear We one another's burdens and so fulfil the
law of Christ.
Paul says: 81 have told you all things, how that
so laboring ye ought to support the aceak, and to
remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he
said, sit is more blessed to give than to receive.
DR.. J. Leighton Wilson, as the author OF the
memorial, obtained permission to make few re-
marks. He said his own mind was fully made up
and satisfied in regard to the scheme proposed,
both as to its principle and details, and he thought
he could fully answer all the objections that had
been made. But he saw that the minds OF all in
Assembly were not satisfied, and his advice there
fore was to commit it, as proposed, and let the
Church and the next Assembly have the benefit OF
longer deliberation.
The motion of DR.. Waddell was then passed.
Report of the Committee on Concert with the
Northern Assembly's Committee on Freed
men:
The special committee to whom was referred the
statement of the Secretary of Sustentaton relating
to the subject of proposed cooperation OF the
General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in
the United States of America, with the General
Assembly of our Church in labor among the Freed
men, would respectfully recommend the adoption
of the following resolutions:
l. Resolved, That inasmuch as the correspond
ence of the Secretary of the Committee on Freed.
men of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church in the United States of America, with the
Secretary of Sustentation of our Church, has de.
veloped no practical mode of co operation between
the two Churches in efforts to evangeze the Freed
men, this General Assemblyis not prepared to take
any steps contemplating the proposed concert OF
action.
2. Resolred, That the Secretary of Sustentation
is hereby instructed to communicate the foregoing
resolutions to the Committee on Freedmen Of the
General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in
the United States of America.
Respectfully submitted.
JOHN L. GIRARDEAU,
Chairman.
Rev. Mr. Gaillard inquired whether the cores
pondence between the Secretaries was official The
report seems to convey the idea that our Assembly
had authorized the correspondence. AS under.
stand it, the correspondence was suggested entire
ly by the Northern Assembly. Is it wise thus to
recognize the correspondence
Rev. Mr. Richardson.-As member Of the
Committee, | did not entirely agree with its
action. preferred to say, 1.-The Assembly hail
with pleasure the proposal OF kindlier feeling but
inasmuch as they have presented no practical plan,
we see no present way of cooperation" The
other Assembly has made kindly movement, let
us meet it in similar spirit The report seems to
imply that we have no desire to cooperate with
at the Overture. For my part am glad to see it.
The Overture gives us hope of increased useful
ness. | am convinced that so long as the Northern
Churches pursue one line of policy, with reference
to the blacks, and we pursue another policy, moth
ing will be done, And further, desire to meet
their courtesy with equal courtesy 1 will meet
any man who comes to me in Christian manner,
with like Christian kindness. do not feel willing
to allow that Assembly to do more courteous and
Christian thing to us than we do to them.
Rev. Henry Brown have not seen Mr.. To-
gan's last letter, and do not know what he says !;
but it occurs to me that the result to which the
Assembly must come The efforts of Northern
tration of our efforts. Now when they have failed,
they come and ask us to join in repairing the mis-
chief done, or in helping them out of their posi-
ton of defeat.
Mr.. McAllster. agree with Brother Richard
son that we ought to hail the first symptoms of
repentance and change of view on their side
Were they not sincere? True, there is no practi-
cal plan, but | can and gladly would answer with
the greatest courtesy.
Rev. j. r. Bowman-I trust we shall not strain
our courtesy so far as to leave the impression that
we feel ourselves to have been in the wrong. l
would render all due courtesy. Michael gave an
example in his reply to Satan in fOrbearing to re.
turn railing accusation. lat this point the reso-
luton of the Old School Assembly was read, call
ing-in substance-for correspondence between
the Committees of the Old School, New School,
and the Southern Presbyterian Churches, with
view to concert of action)
Mr.. Bowman see nothing in this but formal
ity. We have the question before us, what will
the world think of us? Since the war we have
been sensitive to the opinion of the world. for
see that brother Richardson remarks would imply
that as soon as they offer practicable plan, we
will 60 in with them. [ am not ready to 60 so
far. | am we'll satisfied with our own plans, and
our superior knowledge of the blacks.
DR.. McPhail.- This is subject of the highest
Importance, and | trust that no pressure of time
will interfere with the most deliberate considera
ton. We should be careful that no room for
doubt should be left in the minds of the Churches
at the North, or in other lands in regard to our
of responsibility, and our heartfelt socitude
the colored race. In the Providence Of God, with
out any act of their own, several millions of freed
men have been thrown on the hands of the South
ern Church in state of ignorance and scarcely
more than one of semi civilization. They are EN-.
phatically our neighbours Christ has taught us
that every one is our neighbor, to whom we have
Il. l.