Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-06-29
From the N. G. Presbyterian.
Our ChuFch-The Mobile As
Sembly.


Two or three things of a very
gratifying character in relation
to our Church, are at once ap-
parent to the attentive reader
of the proceedings eff the recent
Assembly at Mobile.
|. The evidence of healthy
progress, both in spiritual and
in material interests, is strong
ly marked. This progress is,
indeed, much greater than we
had supposed ere the reports of
the Assembly s Committees were
made, hopeful as we had been
that every thing was going rea-
sonably. we'll with us as a
Church. The contributions for
the year were larger, and all
the interests relating to the
working of these Committees
were more prosperous than had
been anticipated. We knew
that there had been a large in
crease in candidates for the
Ministry, we did not know
that the number of these candi-
dates was so much greater than
we had ever before had within
the bounds of our Southern
Church. We knew that the
Publication cause was prosper
ing under the energetic and
skilful management of DR..
Baird but we did not know
that results SO gratifying had
been accomplished upon the
meagre means furnished the
Committee. We knew that
Sustentation had been doing
well, in its efforts to maintain
our feeble and impoverished
Churches, and in supplying
many waste places with the
bread of life, but the advance
towards securing support for
every minister engaged in faith
full work in the vineyard, as
exhibited in the order to make
$3.50 the minimum of a minis
ter's salary is greater than was
expected. We knew that the
Foreign Missionary cause had
received a very decided impulse
within our bounds, but even
this had grown beyond our ex-
pectations. For these evidences
Of growth and prosperity, we
should all be devoutly thank
full to the Great Head of the
Church. He has been favora-
bic unto us, and we hope is
making the heavy Affections
through which He has caused
us to pass in these last years
a great and permanent bless
ing. The progress that has
been made in the matter of con-
tributions, indicates advance
also in spiritual matters. In
terest in the various church en-
terprises has been increased -
The grace of giving, one the
the most difficult to bring up
to a healthy standard of devel-
opment in the people of God /,
has been promoted in no small
degree.
2. The utmost harmony and
good feeling prevail through
out our borders. There are no
elements of discord or division
amongst us. The Assembly
was of one heart and mind on
all great questions and all i'm
portant issues presented. Diff
terences of opinion in some mat
tiers existed, of course ; but only
such as are necessary among
free thinking men, to secure a
healthy canvass of important
questions up for deliberation.
Nothing appeared that indicat-
ed any serious differences a.
mong our people or their repre-
sentatives in the Assembly, in
regard to any matters Of inn
portance. DR.. Palmer, in his
address before the Assembly
when the subject of Sustenta-
ton was up, said Sir, there
is not a church on the face of
the earth as united as this
church. You cannot get up
any protracted debate on alb
stract principles. = x