New-York tribune., 1871-05-31
THE PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY,.
A STORMY DEBATE ON THE REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE OF TwENTY-ONE.

A STORMY DEBATE ON THE REPOkI Of IHt
COMMITTEE OF TWENTY-ONE.
CHICAGO, MAY 30-In the Presbyterian AS
sembly this morning the report of the Special Com
mitee on the Finances OF the Church was read The
port recommends the establishment OF Committee OF
Is on Finance and Benevoience to be located in New
York. and composed of men skilled In the management
OF financial affairs and one member additional from each
Board who shall all proper means to provide regu
lar and systematic conservation OF property TO the Lord
supervise the collection Of funds for benevolent work
the church kept advised by monthly reports of all
the benevolent works OF each congregations the Com
mtee to report to the General Assembly to be dsbursed
by that body any moneys given without specified desg
nation The Assembly enoins upon churches the prac-
tce OF a periodical giving 10 all the causes recommended
by the Assembly and, TO carry out this plan, enoins
upon every Presbytery the appointment OF committee
on Benevolence who shall arrange to give the pastor
and session information OF the wants OF the various eh
tiles pastors report at stated meetings IN what man
the directions and recommendations OF tnI ~
have been complied with, the standlns oonin,loTs W
report semLannuay To the COMMITTEES Oh beneNoeDce
and Finance Churches not complying Nv Win rc r tanJ
The Rev. Mr.. Edwards spoke AT great leneth aRihet
the board system and charged that PreDy nau
adopted COngregitlonal neibods aHH NJ NJ hri & ~
CONGREGATIONAL harness He claimed that ne p0arus gov
erned the Assembly The secretaries virty created n'
membership the boards by their power 70 make nom
nations Their influence manufactured pubic opnlon
Pastors have been settled unsettled and prevented from
settling the plans OF the seeretares Inc DoarIi @
which were threatening to become numerous were lui
nj uischIpyOuS tendencies,
~ i,a to he feIt The time had come for the Assembly
and not the secretaries 10 nominate boards HE adVo
Gated the recommmen OF the whole subject 10 DE re-
ported Oh next year. ,-----.,--- -. -.
Considerable excitement ensued ueReherdunH intO
wrangle in which unPariamentsry language was lree
used A motion 70 table the whole SUBJECT was decided
out OF order. An appeal was then taken' ana the De
Ide allison OF Philadelphia characterized the speech
OF Dr Edwards wholesale bill OF indictment without
Dr. Edwards replied that he would prove all he said,
Judge Allison continued al some length pronouncng
tho mart of the report Of the Committee Of TwenyOne,
i'm relation ~ the High Commission as abhOLrent 10 e
spirt the Church several Assemblies hhsnt aopi H.
bt the Presbyteres would not kebellon WOulu be the
r fro the moment OF its adoption. He advocated the
substtute offered by the Special Committee OF rive
iftcr more confusion and calls 10 order, the Rev Mr..
uuspaye obtained the floor He thought the control OF
,be treasury would interfere with the specific work OF
the Boards He was old, and soon 10 pass away, but
inust rae his voice OF warning He hoped no apple OF
dseord would De east TO disturb the unity peace, and
harmony of the Church
The previous question was then called, and the report
The report Of the Special Committee the Memorial
rnud was presented and showed that s6074 ~ had
h,en contributed besides than $4,000 which had
objects not belonging properly within
Ii.t The report was adopted. Resolutions were then
passed cOngrauilang and continuing the Committee
another year.
AT the afternoon session. the report the Committee
on Ministerial Installations was amended as 10 pro-
vide the election by the Assembly OF the Secretary
the Supervising Committee and IL was then adopted.
was recommended that the old Board he perpetuated
resolution offered aud tabled, directing that the
Board OF Homo Missions inquire into the cXpcdeney Of
changing the location OF the Board from New York Ia
some other city. After hearing a memorial from the
sJ nod Of Cine nnat, regarding the Christian Union the
Assembly adjourned