The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-21
CHICAGO, MAY 20. 1871.

CHICAGO May 20, 1871.
The most IMPORTANT report made to the General
Assembly is that oil the Committee OF Twenty-one
the fun text Is as foloHs:-
Tn committee respectfully say 10 the Assembly
mai they held one session Oh tie 20th ana list OF
eep,ember anu another the sIh and 9TH OF March.
an, the TIL. on the 18TH and litii Of April, when
an the members were present excepting tllree, and
sf,er a most careful consideration oil The nrst branch
oi TIE subject arrived with almost entlre unanlnl-
nv AZ the following conclusons:-
Our Church having dispensed IN a great degree
with he paid agency system. the responsibility OF
developing and systemaliZing the nberaity OF our
cuIgrc atoms aud fostering the aggressive interests
ef the Church must necessarily devoivc, under our
denomirational organization on tile members them
selves. the deacouae SESSIONS OF the Prcsbyteries
and Synods and uch general experimenting agen-
eies as the Assembly may establish. The difficulty
hes IN the failure to bring the principles
Of our Presbyterian system into full opera
propose IN order 10 simplify, consolidate and unity
various benevolent OF erar0ns OF the Church; that
there 81 all Dc General Commission, which shall
have supervision over lie benevolent worK Oi the
CnnrcE suoject to the General Assembly 10 he com.
posed OF Eve delegates nom each OF tie boards OF
tie Church, together With a delegate from each Of
the syiiods, u be elected annually by ballot which
periodical delegates snull not only be the medium
o. communication between the boards and churches,
but shall also be OF right corresponding men,
hers OF the several boards entitled TO attend and
lie heia,e with tncul rs they see lii and and con.
Sencnt. This General Commission SHAH meet twice
every year-on the - day OF November, whei they
stall consider the general condition and necessities
hons that may come NJ reiure then. and seek TO
awaken All Interest aid deveiope the benevolence OF
the wants OF the various Objects Of benev olence,
mature plans or The ecclesiastical year, 10 receive
estimates of their necessities Tor the COMING
year. IL shall then make . report 10 the
General Assembly Of which condensed report Is
10 be printed III The appendix OF the Aseembiy's
minutes. the usual pamphlet form beng dispensed
With; aid The COMMISSION al their meeting shall
aho estimate rs nearly as possible, from the iufOr-
nation derived ifo.n The reports then received from
the boards and rom those OF the fre.bytery ana
Synodic1i committees, what proportiou O The Whole
amount IS 10 be expended through the boards. Each
Synod snold be requested % contribute in order 10
meet these wants.
There saal be four executive boards appointed by
the Genea Assembly, IN three annual classes with
power 10 iii their yac;lnc.es-one for homo work
anu one Tor publication each 10 consist OF twenty.
che members, and one for foiecn work and one OF
benevolence and finance, each 10 consist OF fifteen
members Ire present Beard OF Foreign Missions
snail discharge the duties OF The foreign WORK as
cont mplated by this arrangement Tho Board for
hcine hork shall discharge Inc duties now
xSsiehed 70 lAe present Eosrds .! home
Missions, Education and Church Erection and
seriel Re.iel. Tie Eoard OF ruhl.caaoa shall
attend 10 the management OF its appropriate work.
L. s.iail ,e conducted as strictly business opera,
eai such buildings as may be provided for It, from
the Profits on us sales ana rom donai and be-
caess. The Board Of Bcpevo ence and Finance
eEail be composed largely OF Business ncn OF ac-
knoH.edsed SSH ia the management OF financial
a:.,.iis Ti;h one treasurer II shaii have charge OF
t.e funds Tor the ho,nc ana foreiYu work OF the
Church. II shalt meet the drafts oil each OF the
boards, as far as funds may have bsen received for
H. rs may De directed By tue General Commission.
II ssl. also he It's duty 10 use all proper means 10
promote throughout the Church a Regular and sys-
tcnlatc conservation o It's property TO the Lord.
treasurer shalt DC appointed b. the General Com
mtsSion 10 DC under the supervision ana direction
y 'he hoaTo Oh Belevo.ence and finance. When
the General Co.ninlssoa not in he shall
an sr cgcto ncnocr aud o-cer or this Board. rhe
Board u Foreign and Hcnie Work, together with that
oil the Bcnevoence ANA Finance silad b. located in
New York, an the Ecard Of Fublica snail be
located IN Philadelphia; and these boards sl..l be
allowed to nave such Officers and assistants as may
te necessary Tor lie eibcient anL economical ad-
nIinisJaiioE OF ifc,r work. and SidL sab.n report
ci their Work ana It's needs 10 cac. spring meeting
Q. The General Commission. In order TO carry out
this plan let The General Assembly enJoin upon
every r. esDytery TO appoint Standing committee
Oh the benevolent WORK oil the Cntucn, o. which the
STATE clerk shall be secretary Let II he the duty OF
this committee TO use al means IN It's power to have
brought b fUre all conventions or the PresDytery
plans That may be recommended for sccdring con.
hiouions aud TO give each pastor and session In.
formation oil the wants OF The various objects aud
What is expected Of each congregation. Let every
PrcsDytery be required 70 question each pastor,
e!ated clerk and elder present al every
stated ueelny in the sprug and fall
whether he .!re,tiols and Recommendations on this
SUBJECT have been compiled with, recording the an.
sHers on the MINUTES. No church not complying
with The directions OF the Assembly 10 make collec-
mons Tor foreign missions, home missions. educa
non for the ministry anu cnuron erection, or suca
them 10y tic General Assembly. AT least ns often as
once every SIX months, shall receive any aid nom
rhali report to the Board OF Bcneyo.ence ana
Finance, far as tncy can, In relation To the differ
ent objects for which contributions have been made
by the churches within the limits Of their respective
Presbyteres with the amount contributed Tor each,
the general peneyole II work OF Their churches aud
fresbyterics as shall seem necessary TO them
or sha ee called fr 6y tue General nn s,D Con-
These committees shall also ascertain and
Ispor, TO tie proper Boards. as well as to The
Synoiicai Collintlee provided Tor III this place,
what vacant churches and destitute Deighborhoods
within The bounds OF the presbytery need aid 10
hneiitiates and candidates are willing to become
pastors stated supplies. &c. what sm.nns
s &C raised Ss the and wns
additional amount will be needed TO sup
por the Gospel In each; also what church
buildings and oneJs are necessary, how much can
be raised az the place and what amount Will be
needed from the church erection fund.- and further,
eeived under he OF the Piesbytery and recon-.
ncnded Tor aid and iurther stii what amount OF
contributions can probably BE- secured from each
aud all churches under The care OF the PIesbytery
for different benevolent objects which are pre-
vented y se snsra as%o iS aSa
Work OF The Church. These Synodlcal Committees
mall he subject TO instructions rom the General
Commission exercise supervision over the Presby-
teIfan Committees In tler work, receive reports, as
above directed TO be made 10 then ascertain whe-
taer unemployed ministers. liccniiaies and cand-
dates who reside within the bounds OF tier synod
en- flnd work In o;ner Presovteues tnan their
and as bsseo complete tsos d .Sssc,S 81 .Os al
report the same 10 the General commission For
sgn Presby'e1es and synods. as also the more dls.
when II IS found hnpractcable or announcement 10
tcnd de.esatc
Let toe Assembly euioin upon all churches the prac
0ce OF periodically giving 20 al causes commended
~ the General Assembly according 10 the principles
recommended In tue Word OF God, and pariicu-
orly IN tue specific direction Of the Apostles, In
lCorinillans. XVI, 2:-"Upon the first day OF the
SssK le eyels one Of you 10y BY HIM in store as God
All the provisions Of the General Assembly for the
regulation OF part VI the Church work here tn
0nue In opcratiop ana All PROVISIONS tuat connict
WITH or are rendered unnecessary py the foreg Jng
shall be and are hereby annucd. Tie present ar
fAnoeruenfs or this Church work shat continue
unIl the above Board and General Commission ore
y operation.
the General Assembly Is recommended 10 appoint
Edeegate iscm each synod 10 be member oil the
General Copims~siol, and ~ bod omce
until euch time AZ their places NAV be