The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-05-25
Proceedings OF the PresDyter Ge;l-
era! Assembly, IN Session at EEunts.
[Gorres spondencc of the Courier Journal ]
FRIDAY MoRNIEG, May 20, 1871.

Correspondence of the Courier Journal
FRIDAY MoRSIsG, May 20, 1871.
SECOND DAY.
The Assembly met at 8 O'Clock, and was
opened with prayer by the Rev. J. &.
Strahan.
1he standing committees were an
nounced. Chdirnen: DR.. Dabney, on
Bills and Overtures; DR.. kirkpatrick,
Theological Semiuaries; DR.. Pryor, Edu-
cation, and many others.
NEXT PLACE OF MEETING.
Cn motion of the tev. NJ. NJ. Marshall
D. d.. the Assembly proceeded to choose
the place for its next meeting.
Richmond, VA, was nominated By the
Rev. Nj. NJ. Marshall, d. D., seconded by
DR.. Pryor, ard Wilmington, n. c., by Rev.
A. W. Miller, ID. ID.
DR.. Pryor remarked that it would be
borne in mind that Richmond was nomI-
mated last year, and that there was kind
of general understanding that it should go
to Richmond next year. The Assembly
has never met in Virginia but once.
DR.. A. w. Miller urged again that it had
never met in North Carolina but once-iu
1864.
Judge Mitchell reminded the Assembly
that at that meeting there was an under
standing that it should meet in NirS Sinia the
next year. But in consequence Of the I'M
settled condition of affairs incident to he
war 1t was held the next year in Macon,
GI. Considering the strength OF rreshy-
| terianisln in Virginia, he thought it strange
| that their claims on the Southern Assembly
should have been postponed from year to
| year SO long.
The roll was then called, and Richmond
chosen us the next place Of meeting, eleven
votes being cast for Wilmington.
A letter was read from the Rev. &. II.
| Read, ID. D., pastor Of the Grace.street
Presbyterian Church, conveying cordial
invitation from the session of that church
for the Assembly to meet in that house.
The invitation was unanimously accepted.
The General Assembly will, therefore, be
held in the Grace-strcet Church, Rich
mond, on the third Thursday in May, 1877.
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ON
SUsTENTATlON.
This was presented by the Rev. DR.. j.
Leighton Wilson, the venerable secretary
of suStentation. 1t presents the following
facts
The Executive Committee on Sustenta-
ton, in presenting their fifth annual re.
port, would remark that their work is of Il
double nature-tO assist in building church
buildings, and i'll supporting the feeble
churches. In all cases they endeavor to
work in union with the Presbytcrians.
Since the close of the war tic depressed
| condition Of our country, the poverty OF
our people, and the limited supply Of
preachers, have restricted their efforts
mainly to the support of existing feeble
| churches. New ones have not been organ-
lied except where there was prospect OF
healthy growth. In evangelistic labor 1t
has been the aim that the feeble churches
should receive the time of the labor in pro-
portion to the amount of their contribu-
| tions. Still. we do not forget that the poor
must have the gospel preached to them.
The receipts for the past year have been
| S29, ,209.18, Il decrease of S670.3l. The re-
ceipts for the Iund for the relief Of disabled
ministers have fallen off $33. The decrease,
while much to be regretted, is not a matter
| of surprise nor an indication of retro9res-
sion. In every case in which u feeble
church increases its pastors salary it re-
lieves the central treasury to that amount.
In reports from twenty-seyen Presbyteries