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

The committee respectfully say 10 the Assembly
that they held one session Oh ne 2otn ana isl Oh
eepeIubef anu another on the sth aud sili OF March,
and the til, d the 18TH and litI oi April, when
all the members were present excepting lllree, ana
after most careful consideration oil lie hrst branch
q TIE subject arrived, WITH almost entire unanim
nv, al the following conclusions:-
Our Church having dispensed In great degree
with he paid agency System. the responsibility OF
developing and sYslematlZing the lberllity OF our
gulg and fostering the aggressive interests
ef the Church must necessarily devoivc. under our
denomiEational organization, on tile members them
selves, the deacouate sessions OF the Prcsbytcries
AMI synois aad uch general surcrintepdi ny agen-
eies as the Assembly may establish. The difficulty
N the was to successfully accomplishing thus work
mes Ia tile failure TO bring tine principles
Of Presbyterian system into full opera
ton through these agencies. To ouviate his we
propose, IN ordcr 10 simplify consolidate and unity
various benevolent Operations OF the Church. that
there 81 all Dc General Commission which shall
have supervision over lie benevolent WORK oi the
Chnrch SUBJECT to the General Assembly, 10 lie com.
posed OF FIVE deiegales nom each OF the boards OF
tle Syiiods, To be elected annually by ballot, which
periodical delegates snull not Only he the medium
o. communication between the boards and churches
but shall also be OF right corresponding mem.
bcrs OF the several boards entitled 10 attend and
ae iheIa,e with tncnl rs they see III anu ind con-
Senicnt. This GeGcral Cuml.lss on shall meet twice
every year-on the - day OF November, vhea they
sEal! consider Tie general con,ition and necessities
nj the Chuech's benevolent WORK, determine gu IS
hons tiat may come NJ neure them. and seek TO
awaken an Interest a.d deveore the benevoence OF
The Church, and on the day OF May 10 learn
the wants OF the various Objects Of beney olence,
mature plans or the ecclesiastical year, TO receive
the reports oil tbs several boards and uleir
estimates OF their necessities for the coming
year. II shall then make report 10 the
General Assembly. Of which condensed report IS
0be printed III the appendix OF the Assembiy's
minutes. the usual pamphlet form being dispensed
Win: aid The COMMISSION at their meeting shall
also estimate rs nearly as possible from the infor-
nation derived ifo.n The reports then received from
the boards, and rom those OF the Fre.pytery and
synoaicii committees what proportoo OF the Whole
amount IS 10 be expended through the boards. Each
Synod should be requested 70 contribute In order 10
meet these wants.
There saali be four executive boards appointed by
me Genelal Assembly IN three annual classes with
power 10 Ill their vacancies-one for homo work
and Que Tor publication each TO Consist OF twenty
one members and one for foreign WORK and one OF
benevtence aud finance, each 10 consist OF fifteen
members. Ire present Beard Of Foreign Missions
snail discharge the duties OF lie foreign WORK as
con. mplatcd by this arrangement. Tho Board for
Home nork shall discharge inc duties now
Sssiehed 70 tie present Roards Of Home
Missions Education and Church Erection and
~ the Committees Oh Freedmen and Minis
teriel Relief. Tie Euard OF Iubl.calon shall
attend TO the management OF It's appropriate work.
Gon, sustaining iiseli III tins with the present capi
e,, such buildings as may be provided for IT, fr1m
the profits on It's sales an1 rom donaii ms and be-
Giesis. The BOARD OF Bcnevo ence and Finance
etail be composed largely OF business OF &C.
AnoEed.ed ssiii Ia the management OF financial
as.,iIs Wlih one treasurer. II si'a have charge OF
tie FUNDS for the nc,ne ana foreigu work OF the
Church. II shall nee; the drafts OF each OF the
boards, as far as funds may have bsen received for
H. rs may be directed by tie General Commission.
u s!i.sl also he ,s duty 10 use all proper means to
tomato conservation 0i It's property to the Lord.
treasurer Shalt be appointed By the General Com
mtsS;cn 80 DC under the supervision ana direction
81 the BOARD or BeDeyoeuce ami Finance. When
the Gene al co.nnssion Is not in session he Shall be
Board u Foreign and nonie Work, together with that
oil the Dcnevolence ANA Finance, sla,l b. located In
New York. ana the Ecari OF fublcaii u snail be
located IN Philadelphia; and these boards stall be
allowed to nave sdch Officers and a assistants as may
te necessary for lie eiecient aud economical ad-
ninisiTaioR OF ttcr work, and shat sah.nit report
oI their aork and its needs 10 each spring nlee,ing
9. The General Commission. I'm order to carry out
this plan let The General Assembly enJoin upon
ever, I. esbytery TO appoint standing committee
Oil the benevolent WORK oil the Chucb, o. which the
this committee 10 use al means In It's power to have
brought b fOre all conventions or the Presbytery
plans that may be recommended for securing con-
hleu ions, aud 10 give each pastor and session In
formation oil the wants OF the various objects aud
What is expected Of each congregation. Let every
Presbytery be required 10 question each pastor
slated clerk and elder present NJ every
stated IueeIny in the spr;rg and fall
whether Inc ..res,iois and Recommendations on tina
eHers on the minutes. No church not complying
with The directions OF the Assembly TO make colec-
uols Tor foreign missions, home missions, educa-
hon for the ministry ana churoh erection, or suci
other objects shall from time TO time be laid upon
them by tic General Assembly. AT least as often as
once every SIX months shall receive any AID from
Cue funas a the church. These standing committees
ehali report to the Board OF Bcneyo.ence and
Pinance SO far they can In relation to the differ
ent objects for which contributions have becl made
by the churches within The limits OF tneir respective
Presbyterles with the amount contributed for each,
tcgcthcr with such other general information as 70
thc general benevoleat work OF Their churches aud
fresbyter,cs as shall seem necessary 70 them
E.sslon or Board OF Benevoienoe aud Finance:
These committees shall also ascertain and
report TO tie proper Boards, as well as to The
6ynoiical Coniinittee provided Tor IN this place.
what vacant churches and destitute Deighbcrhoods
within The bounds OF tue presbytery need ail 10
support the Gospel; wnat unemployed ministers,
hneitia,es and candidates are willing to become
q saiary can be raised by the ehurche:
snd nelghbosloods respectively, and what
additional will be needed 10
port the Gospel In each; also what church
buildings ana oneJs are Necessary now uCn can
neeued from tie church erection fund; anu further,
what candidates for the ministry ought 70 be re.
ceived under he care OF the Piesbytery and recon-
ncnded Tor aid; and urther stu, what amount Of
contributions can probably be secured from each
lented BY the General Assembly; also each
Work OF the Church. These synodlcal Committees
ghal he subject To instructions nom the General
seian Comm tiees In the work, receive reports, as
above directed, to DO made To them, ascertain whe-
Her unemployed ministers nceniaies and cand!-
dates, who reside within the bounds OF tbcr Synod,
en- Ind work III other Presovenes than their
own. and, maxlng complete digest OF al
The Information gathered OH these subjects. shall
report the same 10 the General commission. For
Ssgn Presbyferes and synods. as also the more dis.
yhcn u IS found Dnpracucsbe or announcement TO
send delegates.
Let tue Assembly cnioin upon all churches the prac
tzce OF periodically giving 20 al commended
b the General Assembly, according 10 the principles
pecommendedn tue Word OF God, aud more par,icu-
orly In tue specific direction Of the Apostles, In
1CorIntllans. XVII 2:-"Upon the first day OF the
week e. every one oil you lay by him in store as God
hath prospered him.
AL the provisions Of the General Assembly for the
regulation OF part VI the Church work here tn
e30ded not inconsistent with the above, shall con-
0nue Ia operation, ana all peor,sions tuat connlct
Snh or are rendered unnecessar, py the foregoing
rsnaeens :or this Church work snail continue
Inth the above Board and General Commission are
n operation.
Jhe General Assembly y reco'nmenned 70 appoint
gdeieyate i.om each synod 10 be member OF the
General ConimiSsl0l, and ~ hold once
Until such time AZ their places NAV be
SnpplIed by the regular elections In The
ycspecuve synods; and the Assembly Is also re-
guessed fix the time aud place OF the mrs, ieetng
churches that fro and after sucn meetings al con-
tI1bniions for the benevolent wNk OF the CbnIcn