The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-06-02
Minister'S.

H. NJ Smith,
J H.. Wilson,
James Woodrow,
VIM Neil,
E. r. Baird
j. Matthews.
Referred to the Committee of Bills and Over
lures.
They subsequently answered as follows:
The Committee on Bills and Overtures in an
swer to Overture No. 10, being memorial from
oer tin of vur Ministers and Ruling Elders, asking
the attention of the Assembly to the Importance
of prosecuting and completing the work OF reyls,
ing our "Form of Government and Discipline,
recommend to the Assembly that the requests OF
the memorialists be granted, and that Special
Committee be ct once appointed to carry out the
ends contemplated, to wit: to revise the Book OF
Order and Canon of Discipline in the light of OBJ
iections and suggestions sent up by the Presbyte-
ries to the General Assembly OF 1867, and report
the result to thiS assembly, so that, if approved,
the Assembly may send down the revised Book to
the Presbyteries with request that they express
their assent to such portions thereof as may meet
their approval and send up also TO the meet ASSens-
blu objections to any portions they may disapprove
of and with a request that the portions disap
proved of be revised by that Assembly and sent
down for the action of Presbyteries with view to
final action by the Assembly OF 1871.
JOHN N. WADDEL, Chairman.
The reports were referred to Select Committee
of three. to act in connection with such members
of the late Committee as may be present.
Rev. W. Richardson moved that the Moderator
be chairman of that Committee. Carried
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY.
10 the Gent Assembly of the Presbyterian Church
IN the United States
In the absence of formal report, ordered by
the Trustees as a body, TIE undersigned consider
ing it important that this corporation should be
kept in view of the Church, asks the liberty Of
presenting to your respected body the following
statement: a.
The Trustees, about year ago, were organized
into q legal body, with capacity to take and hold
property for the uses and benefit of the said
Church. They have procured seal which they
think is neat and appropriate, and makes pretty
and perfect impression, as will be seen by those
hereto attached. To Or. Howe is due the credit
Of the design and execution Of the seal.
Up to the present time the Trustees have not
been informed of any devise, bequest or donation
to them for benevolent investment This seeming
neglect of the interests of the Church may be &C
counted for by reason of the pressing necessities
of the different committees to whom the work OF
the Church has been assigned, for the immediate
expenditure of money,
1t is hoped that your body will continue, from
year to year, to publish in conspicuous place, with
your minutes, the form of devise or donation
prescribed and communicated to the General AS
sembly&t its last meeting
All which is respectfully submitted,
THOMAS G. PERRIN.
Columbia, S. C., Nay 18Th, 1869.
REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
The Committees Of Fiuaneo report, recommend
ing the following assessments upon the Presbyte-
ries for the year 1869, to meet the expenses OF
this Assembly and that these assessments shall be
continued for the year 1870:
The following Presbyteries shall be assessed at
$25 each
East Alabama, South Alabama, Augusta. Mem
phis, New Orleans, Nashville, Concord, Orange,
Wilmington, Bethel Harmony, South Carolina,
East Hanover, Lexington, Montgomery, Chesa-
peake, Louisville and Fayetteville.
The following Presbyteries shall be assessed $50
each:
Tuscaloosa, Atlanta, Chickasaw, North Missis-
sippi, Western District Central Mississippi, Misss-
sippi, Charleston, Wilmington, Abingdon, Green
brier, Roanoke, West Hanover, Winchester, Macon,
West Lexington, Ebenezer North Alabama, Tran
sylvania and Tombeckbee.
The following Presbyteries shall be assessed SO
each:
Arkansas, Ouachita, MuhIenburg, Cherokee,
Florida, Savannah, louisiana Red River and
Holston.
The following Presbyteries shall be assessed s.
EACH
Central Texas, Eastern Texas, Western Texas,
Indian, Knoxville, Brazos, Central Ohio and Pa
ducah.
ANSWER TO OVERTURE NO. T.
The committee on Bills and Overtures in answer
to Overture No. I, from Bethel Presbytery, in re-
ference to the propagation of the gospal in the
Empire of Brazil, would recommend to the As
sembly to refer the whole matter of the Over
ture to the Executive Committee on Foreign Mis-
sons instructing that committee to investigate the
subject and authorizing them to take such action
in the case as in their discretion may be deemed
proper. Respectfully submitted,
JOHN N WADDEL, Chairman.
The Report of the Auditing Committee was
read and approved.
The Auditing Committee report that they have
examined the accounts Of the Treasurer Of the
Assembly, and find that all the disbursements are
sustained by proper vouchers, and the accounts
properly kept. We find the balance due to uni
form assessment fund is twenty-eight 66l00 dol
lars, and balance in his hands due Commissioners
fund, Of ffty-fve $4,000 dollars
J. j. GRESHAM,
JOHN W. BURTON.
DR.. Jos. R. Wilson presented the following Over
ture:
OVERTURE NO. III.
The undersigned respectfully Overture the Gen
eral Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the
United States on the following question, viz:
Can any number of ministers and elders from
too Presbyteries alone under any circumstances,
be regarded as constitutional quorum, for the
transaction of Synodical business?
ISAAC j. LONG,
r. X. SMooT
THOMAS WHAREY,
j. LEIGHTON WILSON,
JOHN Ii. RICE,
j. w. NEIL,
L. w. HOOPER.
Referred to the Committee on Bills and Over
lures, and answered in the affirmative.
COMMITTEE ON AMENDMENT OF FORM OF GOVERN
NIENT. u
The Committee reported as follows:
Report of the committee to whom were referred
the answers of the Presbyteries to the question
whether or not chap. 10, sec. 4, Form Of Gov
eminent shall be stricken out:
l. Responses have been received from ten Pres
byteries.
2. In favor of striking out the Presbytery of
Knoxville, Presbytery OF Arkansas, Presbytery OF
Nashville, Presbytery of Orange, Presbytery OF
OhlchasdW, IIesOyVoIy VI LiAluSUon, ola III mum
Der.
5. In favour Of not striking out-Presbytery of
Brazos, Presbytery of Concord, Presbytery of
Savannah, three in number.
4. In favor of indefinitely postponing the con-
sideration of the matter, one Presbytery, viz:
Presbytery of Bethel.
5. 1t appears, therefore, that Of the votes cast,
those in the affirmative were to those in the mega
tive, as six to three.
g. Whilst this is not decision of the question,
owing to the neglect Of the Presbyteries to reply
nevertheless, this result is so strongly indicative
IF the sense OF the church on the matter, that