The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-06-07

sembly-a proposition presented by Mr.. Lane one
of our missionaries to that country. We have four
ministers in that country, in the nelghborhood OF
Campinas. Two Of them are missionaries under
the care of the Committee, Mr.: Lane and Mr.
Morton; the others are Rev. W. Z. Emerson OF
the Presbytery of Tombeckbee, and Kev James
r. Baird, of the Presbytery of Bethel. There are
also two ruling elders from this country IN that
region. They have not sent up a written request
to this effect, but Mr. Lane has been requested to
ask the Assembly to organize them into Tres
bytery. They suggest that it be called the Pres
bytery Of Sac Paulo; and they request that 1t be
connected with the Synod of Virginia, as two OF the
four ministers are members of Presbyterles IN that
Synod.
The subject was referred to the Standing Com
mittee on Foreign Missions.
STATISTICS.
DR.. Dabney, from the Committee Of Bills and
Overtures presented the following report:
Overture from the Presbytery OF New Orleans,
to the General Assembly in session at Huntsville,
Alabama, May 1871.
The Presbytery of New Orleans respectfully
overture the General Assembly to reconsider the
decision of the last Assembly, and found upon
page sos of the minutes, substituting. IN the
Statistical Tables for the Presbyterial collec-
TONS column Tor the salaries of pastors; Tor the
reason that this change was made without having
been to any extent considered by the Church at
large and because in the impoverished condition of
our country, public exposure of the state OF such
individual churches would be injurious rather than
profitable, and would be in its operation reproach-
full to many OF the churches who are stranlng their
utmost in accomplishing even the little they would
report
The committee respectfully recommend to the
Assembly the following answer: That the Assem-
bly, believing the evil effects deplored oy the
Memorialists will not follow do decline to rescnd
rule so recently adopted by the Assembly, and
promising good results.
Adopted.
THE PROPOSED UNIVERSITY.
The Assembly agreeably to order, proceeded to
consider the report of the committee upon the re-
port of the Educational Convention. 1.-THE report
had been recommitted the day previous.
DR. Wis, before presenting it, said 1t Will be
remembered that the necessity for recommltting
this report grew out of the 9th clause. That was
the shoal on which we hung" yesterday morn
ing. A number of our brethren came manfully to
our rescue, and think we shall now have smooth
sailing into port. We are greatly indebted to our
brother, Rev. j. w. Baker, who has rendered us
very important service. This paper is complete
compromise So far as we know, it does not re-
present fully the views of single member OF the
We believe that the views Of members are har,,
monized as far as possible at the present time; and
that, therefore, nothing would be gained by fur
Their delay.
Some of US when we came here, believed that
the whole scheme Of great University was but
magnificent dream-a golden vision dancing before
the imagination of some of our brethren. Facts
have been developed which show that there is
very earnest desire, in one part of the Church par
ticularly to establish such institution, and that
there are certain wealthy and liberal men who de-
sire to bestow their gifts upon it. All that the
committee has done, therefore, has been TO pro-
vide Board-a place where these funds may be
safely deposited, without committing the Assem-
bly, That is my idea of the paper as it now
stands | will read the changes which have been
made
Dr. W. then read the 9th clause as in the orig
inal report and continued:
Now what has been struck out of that clause is
the following: while the idea is one that should
be encouraged and its orignation should be deter
mined upon at the earliest practicable period" 1t
now reads:
with reference to the establishment of one
great institution of the higher learning, to be con-
Quoted by Presbyterians, and in the interest of
Presbyterianism, the judgment of this Assembly
is that the people of our Communion at large are
not prepared to enter at once upon the important
enterprise of putting such an Institution into i'm
mediate operation. 1t is believed that the exist
ing want of harmony of views, and the apparent
absence of zeal in this cause would only tend to
notifying failure in any such attempt at present,
while the fact Of the desolated and poverty smt-
ten state of our people appeals to US to- torbear
the urging upon their attention this additional
claim upon their resources
The clause was adopted.
The next paragraph--tle, first recommends
ton was read and adopted without debate.
The I'd, 2rd and 4th recommendations were read
and agreed to as follows:
3 The Assembly would recommend that to this
end the multiplication Of such institutions at
present be not encouraged, but on the contrary,
that those Synods adjacent to such Colleges be adj
viSed to concentrate upon them their interest their
means, their patronage and their prayers, and In
this way most effectually aid them in supplying the
want. now manifestly existing of species OF edu-
cation not attainabe fully with our present means.
3. The Assembly deems it timely to speak a
word of encouragement to those of our brethren en-
gagged in the education of young ladies'. and to eX-
hort our people to send their daughters to inStu-
tons where their, moral and religious training will
be in accordance with the faith of their fathers
f. Iuasmuch as this Assembly has reason to be-
lieve there may be in some parts of our Zion, be-
nevoent individuals of large means, and large
hearts, who desire and prefer to invest portion
of their wealth in the particular form OF great
University, such offerings of benevoence should
be encouraged and the Assembly feels called upon
to provide some authoritative and responsible place
of reception for these funds, to be held in sacred
trust for this purpose, guarded by every security
possible, and prudently invested.
The 9Th recommendation was read as follows:
SO. The Assembly therefore in the exercise OF its
best judgment deems it wisest for the present to de-
sgnate It's Board of Trustees as such authorized
body for the reception and management of all such
funds and recommends to all the benevolent among
our people that they entrust their offerings, for this
object: TO that body"
DIR. Dabney-Before we can vote inteIigently
for that clause we must know what comes after
DR.. Wills read the next recommendation
sc. The Assembly recommends that in the mean
time the said funds with the consent of tie donors,
be used by the authority designated to control
them, in appointing and sustaining, in connection
with existing Colleges, Professorshps pertaining to
the higher learning, using for this purpose the in
terest alone of said funds until such time as the way
may be open for the organization of the University
DR.. DaJney-What is the authority there desig-
mated for giving direction to this temporary en-
ployment of such funds
Dir. WMs-The Board of Trustees OF the Gen
eral Assembly.
Dr. Dabney-To that | object. think it sub.
stantially mars the virtue OF the whole plan, for
this reason: The selection of teachers and modes
of instruction for an institution Of the higher class
is one of the most difficult, responsi e and impor-
tant functions that can be performed in any civil
lized society, requiring for its good performance
combination of the highest sagacty with liberal
culture and with what | would venture to call
the supreme confidence and respect of the fell
low-citzens of those appoiuters This feature OF
the report makes this function of supreme delicacy
and importance, an appendage to the executive
function of set of officers, selected for another
purpose, requiring totally different qualifications
The Trustees of the General Assembly were APP.
pointed for the qualifications of financial wisdom
and fidelity. That is very good reason why they
should be entrusted with the funds-to hold the
shield of the law over them, and see to their safe
keening and profitable Investment. But the fact