The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-06-07
Or. 7 r. Wilson moved to approve.

call the attention of the Assembly to this
fact: There is an overture in due form pend
ing before that committee for the appoint
ment of totally different Executive Com
mittee of Sustentation. If the Assembly
choose to negative that overture without read
ing it, which is the effect of the motion now
pending, | have not word to say. My
duty is fully discharged.
DR.. Kwkpatrick-I move that the resolu-
tons be taken up seriatim; and then that one
can be postponed
The motion was decided in the affirmative,
on division, by vote of So to "a.
The first resolution was read and unan-
imously adopted as follows:
This Assembly expresses its cordial appro
baton of the fidelity and success with which
the Executive Committee have discharged
the duties to which they were appointed.
The second resolution was read as follows
This Assembly most earnestly enjoins
upon all the Presbyteries faithful and partic-
uar attention to all the interests and duties
connected with the Sustentation cause and
in order to attain this end, it hereby recon-
mends and instructS every Presbytery to take
the following measures, viz: At its first reg
uar meeting held after the meeting of this
Assembly, to set apart some particular and
sufficient time for special prayer and consul
tation in regard to this ayole matter, to in
quire into and review it's own action and that
of it's churches in reference thereto, and to
devise some plan by which the interest of
each member may be increased, and contri-
buttons from each one secured for its aid !
DR.. Kirkpatrick-I' move an amendment
to that-to strike out the words sand in
struct" 1 have no objection to the word or
to the principle involved, but some of our
ministers have, In the Presbytery with
which | am connected a complaint was pre-
pared for the Assembly on that score. l
think the word will do no good, and it will
come in conflict with some prejudices-
though / hold the right of the Assembly to
instruct
DR.. HM-We have an independent sys-
TEN of Sustentation in our Synod. Our
circumstances are very peculiar. We are
right on the border where the Northern
Board offers $500 to any church accepting
minister from their General Assembly ;
and we feel that for the present we are
bound to act Independently. | wish to ask
therefore whether we shall be considered as
refractory if we continue our present sys-
TEN. If it is understood that we Shall be
allowed to 90 on according to our present
mode, until our circumstances change, | will
vote for the resolution. We hope the time
will come when we can cooperate with the
schemes of the Assembly.
THE Moderator the mouthpiece of the
Assembly, have no instructions on this
subject, but will express my own personal
conviction, derived from observation, chat
there is no intention whatever to interfere
with the arrangements in the Synod of Ken
lucky. If any member of the House wishes
to do so, he will please say so by motion.
Mr.. Cater--I would inquire respecting
another fact. A very large proportion of the
contributions of the churches for Sustenta-
ton have not yet gone to Columbia, and [
suppose never will CO. Is it the object of
this resolution to force the Synods who are
doing part of the work themselves, to do
all the work th'ous ; -hie Gcrysaittce? The
different Synods contributed for the work of
Sustentation proper, $43,776. The total
collected by them including the Relief Fund
was something oveF $4,000. The amount
of appropriations BY the Committee as re.
ported last May, was $25, ISL; the amount
which they received from the churches was
$21, 022, as reported by the Treasurer. 1t
thus appears that more than one half of the
contributions by The churches does not 90 to
Columbia; the Prfsbyteries and Synods are
disposed to do their own work. The ques-
ton then comes up whether this resolution is
to be considered as imperative-that all the
funds raised for Slstentation shall 90 to Co.
lumbia. Even the Presbytery of Charleston
last year raised according to the statistics,
50, 121 of that, $499 went to Columbia, and
they drew out $3.50, leaving a balance Of
only $40 in the treasury at Columbia. Now,
must the Presbytery of Charleston give the
whole amount of money which it may raise
for Sustentation. to the Treasurer, and then
draw it back? Virginia contributed SIS, 314
to this cause; she sent to Columbia S., 1874;
she drew from Columbia, $6,915. 1t is also
stated that the several Synods have generally
received back the whole amounts contributed
by them to this cause. The Secretary said
last year in his report on page $40 of the
Minutes: cit will be seen, notwithstanding
all these notifications, that, with the excep,
ton of Texas, which must for time be re
garded as our great field of domestic Missions,
the contributions and appropriations of the
different Synods very nearly balance each
other, so that the stronger and weather
Churches and Presbyteries of one Synod are
made to support the weaker Churches and
Presbyteries of the same" Now, if our Pres
byteries are supporting one another, why
should we erect any barrier, either to the
Synod of Memphis, or Nashville, or any
other, undertaking its evangelistic work for
itself, if it should judge it right and most
practicable to do so? Why, we feel out here
in the West that the committee at Columbia
cannot get into sympathy with our people
and feeble 4ches. With the greatest
possible ANA nent,1 heard the excellent
brother recommend to this body that those
weak churches be dissolved Instead of
making an increased effort to build them up,
the direct proposition is to crush the life out
of these little struggling churches Why,
sir, when we in our Presbyteries, knowing
our own wants and our own churches, receive
these delegates coming up with their tales
of distress and need of help, our hearts beat
in sympathy with theirs at once. But we
are compelled to send our recommendation
to Columbia to the committee; it is over
hauled the recommendation of the Presby-
terry through its Committee on Sustentation
is subject to revision, and it depends upon
circumstances whether it is answered affirma'