The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-06-16

for truth open. Southern Christians have
stood up for the truth-the truth as it was
held in the Church by our fathers in the
DAYS of its purity and power. And now
when journals of civilization (many of which
are journals of barbarism) when these jour
nails, pamphlets and books, full of deadly
evil, are spread over the land, let us cherish
this Committee in its noble efforts to publish
the truth of God.
Many even of our religious books are
mere frivolous stories, and suited to make
wrong impression. The land is flooded
with them, and you can no more drive them
out of the land than you could have expelled
the frogs of Egypt. The only way open
to you is to give them the precious truth;
1t is too late to try to carry on the Gospel
without. the press. 1t has been an error In
the Southern Church that while our brethren
were men of eloquent speech, they have not
been as ready with the pen. We must write
as well as speak.
Look back, for moment, upon the past
In the midst of your poverty you have had
the faith to come as the poor widow in the
Gospel, and in the midst of your want you
have cast in your mite into the treasury Of
the Lord. Now, brethren, just go on in this
spirit, and, depend upOn it, the blessing OF
God will rest upon you, and your work will
prosper. A publishing house in New York
would hardly undertake any considerable
operation with capital less than $500, ,0OO
But while you need more than you have,
God has so smiled upon you that it fills the
whole Church with wonder and with grati6-
cation. Let us 60 home and stand by this
Committee of Publication, and next year we
shall have still greater cause to say: "The
Lord hath done great things for us, whereof
We are glad"
DIR. BAIRD's ADDRESS.
Rev. E. 7. Baird, Secretary of Publica-
ton, said
I am much obliged for the kind and en-
couraging words of the last speaker. They
render it unnecessary for me to make more
than few remarks. But l especially de-
sire to explain to this Assembly the matter
to which attention has been called, the rails
ing Of our endowment fund. This people
know something about it, and | want the
Assembly to know it,also.
Three years and a-half ago the General
Assembly, met at Macon, found all our
Church interests bankrupt. Our missiona-
ry committee was bankrupt; our Publica-
ton Office was in ashes. That Assembly
laid hands on me, and appointed me its
Secretary of Publication. l found the treas
ury bankrupt, and no money in it even to
pay my travelling expenses.
My first efforts to put this cause in mo
tion were here in the southwest. went to
New Orleans. l met with men who did not
know what they actually had left from the
war. We held meeting in the First Pres
byterian Church. DR.. Palmer said to me,
'This is test meeting. AS soon as you
have accomplished what you can, shall
make an effort to raise SSO,OOO to pay off
the debts of our city churches" Ireplied,
"Tell them about it tonight. Don't let
them say that 1 obtained money by keeping
them in ignorance Of their own local liabili-
ties" 1t proved to be rainy night-there
were but thirty five present. l told them
what the Assembly wanted; and he told
them of tfhis heavy 1tt, which had to be
met. That meeting subscribed more than
S1,S00.
Thence 1 went to Mobile and conferred
with your pastor and the other pastors of
the city. They thought that possibly they
might raise $500 We called the people to-.
gether in this church, and had full house.
| addressed them on the position, the pros
poets, and the mission of our Church. The
result was these pastors sent me to Rich
mond over So, 100. =.
l started for Memphis. There met the
great commercial crash but | got $500.
From Jackson, Louisiana, an intelligent
and liberal member of our Church sent on
ahead of me $4,000. Thus with some small
er gifts, / went on to Richmond, from my
Mississippi home, to assume my duties; [
had $4,000, received from the southwestern
cities, with which to commence my opera
tions. The receipts of that first year were
only little over $1,000, the rest of the
Church contributing about $4,000.
l am glad to be able to say to this people,
that their money is there still. We have
had S44,50O contributed, and have given
away about $4,000, which would leave a
balance of about $34, 900. Notwithstand-
ing the heavy expenses of our collecting
agents, we have now $4,000 invested. 1t
has been built up by hard work. We want
still more funds 1t is large business and
needs large capital. We are conducting
a publishing house, with both wholesale
and retail business, and we are issuing eye-
ry month 29,5OO copies of the "Children's
Friend" | shall not detain the Assem-
bly, by presenting other considerations. l
would like to explain to them our plans for
accommodating our brethren and the public,
but shall only say, we have arrangements
made by which We can furnish any books
desired which are on sale, with but few
days delay; and can obtain for them any
books published an any part Of the wOrld,
which are accessible to the trade, with as
much facility as any other house.
EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE EXECU.
TIVE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN MISSIONS.
The Executive Committee of Foreign
Missions,'in presenting their Eighth Annual
Report, feel thankful to the Great Head of
the Church, that they are enabled to report
a good and encouraging measure of success
in the prosecution of the great work that
has been committed to their care. 1t must
be borne in mind, however, that as Church
we are yet but in the incipient stages of this
great undertaking, and that what is being
done at present, and perhaps for several
years to come, can only be regarded as pre-
paratory to greater results hereafter
FINANCES.
The receipts from all sources during the