New-York tribune., 1872-06-05
RELIGIOUS CONVOOATIONS
THE PREsBYTERIANs.

THE PRESBYTERlANs.
ADJOURNMENT OF THE GENhhAL ~, ~ .SD
GENERAL CHARACTER OF TIE ABS Assnnnpri ,l ~
Tur WORK TT HAS ACCOMPLlshED-bE-
Spyo1EST oPERATIONs-UNION MOVEMENTS |
Il PLuCKY sYNOD-POPULAR QUESIlONS'
rvpow AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF thh thlpVNNd
DrrRorr. MAY 29--The General Assembly VI
Tho Presbyterian Church, which convened IN the ,
c,,rcb In this cty, on Thursday, the l6th' "'V' 49,,
- having spent u working days in renal A'DI
,,o.a and weil-sustaned attention to business - W,
- ro,oerbered as one OF the most spiritually iu,n'
semooratca ly-composed and successful AsSc,u'NVs
the hlstory OF the Church. The hour az ~ 80,
~ each mornings business was observer WIN
,esl An exercises Of devotion AT these thoS
~ orsbip and OF desire for faithfuness IN Ihe uuso
ina Christian nfe had ample manifestation pu' VIZ
,,oo n.rnonv with which all debates ana proceeu-
mos were conducted throughout the business hours' was
nror test The reunion between the former prancneS
=, the church. so far as any indications pom tho
hches or in the Assembly have been afforded mere, Is
,ss,ionably assured. Tho consolidation OF all the
"a oshvteries and synOds has been most cordially ac-
r,ad and has served as an example 70 many local
churches uniting feeble organizations into sluEo
strong one to semnaries OF theology wmcA nave
out themselves without distinction into symmetncany
arranged subordinatOL TO the General AssemDyi anu
ot wonderful Of ALL TO the theological reviews OF the
two marta. The Princeton Rcriew and The American
pr,sbyl,rian and theological Reriep, which have now
nied under the harmonious editOrshp Of Prof CDares
Hodge and Henry B. Smith. With such evidences tno
Presbyteian Church shows herself concerned ho' ioI
theological speculation, but for true Christian WorA.
The Assembly has been noticeably composed not OF
eat leaders nor Of the titled clergy, IN their usnai
nroportiop Very many Of the home missionaries
as wen as few from the foreign field, have been mem
bcrs this year. Certainly the Assembly has lost nothing
by drawing 30 largely from what some call tine rank
and he" Of the ministry and eldershp for never was
there more closer attention to business greater mar
mony or, probably, wiser decisions
The work Of the Assembly may be reviewed as fOo"s
The rotary-eldership question the principal cause
OF debate occupying the best part OF four days Inc
Assembly declined Q73 TO 1i5) to sustain the complaint
AGAINST the Philadelphia Synod for allowing the ELDERS
IN Great Valley Church be elected for term OF years.
and furthermore adopted the following minute:
Tie SEEMED to present judicial form the question o the inter
preA Of our Constitution concerning ae & es'R 81 % r iSTVng
,i question Hence efurg It's action the Assembly no, 20
b. n5sTs A. deug the scta4 service Of The elder
dip should either pnn.1t ha.sd Bat S.. Will, ID, CSS %
K m 70 & church Itself according TO the mode approved
of snd o usein n sueh church.
The yrxed question Of the proper management OF funds
raised by the systems now In vogue for the churchs
benevolent operations taken up, discussed, ana
brought 20 very satisfactory issue. The last Assembly
discussed the subject and appointed the Committee on
Beneyoence and Finance which appeared at this Assem-
n1e S TS t n Was o felt that that discussion did
afford entirely satisfactory conclusions Ihe dsPositSn
year. least point the enurCn %
Xyizn consent
centrazaon Of funds in treasury Dut prefers even
he present large number Of boards with their seVeal
secretaries ana teaTu nrfdd on the following plan next
year and hcncelorth, 80 lar as the deeSlon VI tS
&ors Ta order the sysematang and developing Of S:
Hheraiy OF people and fostering the aggressive Vesu
hA seom shng assigned the providence Of God
shall BE- Committee Of BeuevOene and flnnee ~'eo w , s
s ain 10 s of sHs1 ,asTs shan be located in
rooe The Church regular systematic conservation OF
g s * e bssos0t La s 70 sof Of d. CSUrsS The
.rsoon ,1a be sen, seI IF le Cbyrb or to this Commit.
for dtuqioa sorng TO the direction Of eoasqoaSs % & % % S
designated the Treasurer Of this Comm ee. II Ssa M
ss & s ~ ,, & ts sanes condition Of these boards as vsn
bDe,oea Of each congregation na be at all tines be,
e6s pom any expressly for this purpose TIE AZ,
N e,u recommended by Aseab according the PriDdDles
ysn Ss Ge5r assembly, eon upon every pres6ysy . AZ
& & Of 'Sa - s. saf .se cS e. & m Se s SsaSSn' sas be *.
diT Of s Committee 90 us AZ means ITS power 70 nave ooosn
coneei m securing give each pastor and
ere d each congregation pbyte required TO ash each
pastor .is' supply and SdeT pa' a. 81 , Ss, @sI @ S & M ,S nv
l been complied with recoUng The suswers on be mnGeS AZ
po Committee eaeTos1ee lnance nE they
IN relation which contributions have been made
b he ehaIele within ihe limits Of i5t eeeys rex 1--WE gst%s % % Tso
de e.oent WORK presby shSl
s,0 e called @ By iL Ccmaes No saa5l not ,
sgyer boards aid fon The funds Of the Churea
This scheme differs materially from that adopted last
then appointed became separated into two parties, which
did NOT come together again until the light Of this
Assembly fell upon them. The Committee last year had
not only the business men, but member from each
board additional these latter are lett out. The
Committee last year was to receive and report to the
Assembly moneys given without specific designation by
individuals churches nothing Is said about such
this year. The expenses OF the Committee we're
then assigned TO be borne pro rata by the several
Boards this time they TO depend on nothing but
funds expressly gwen for them.
Ong-fet want OF some means by which the churches
which arc OF pastors and the ministers who
want Of pastoral charges might be put into cOmmuni
cation with another has been attended TO. 1t is
recommended to the presbyteres TO have standing
committees procure and furnish to both parties all the
needed information possible and it is determined that
the Assembys stated clerk shall be general secretary
with salary additional 20 that OF his cershp. 20
be medium OF communication between these standing
committees and the churches and the unem-
ployed ministers An advisory committee Of several
members and the secretaries Of the Home Missions
Board are 80 aid the general secretary in his
duties, and he is TO make annual report
the Assembly. The value of this agency may APP
pear from the fact that of the 4S46 ordained minis
ters excluding the 81 lcentiates of the Church,
without charge and Of the 4C6 churches
without pastors The unconstitutional barnaCle known
a. the stated supply system. by which minister is
hired for year by church. and not Installed pastor by
presbyteryhe only mode Of assuming pastoral duties
known the constitution Of the Churchwas not acted
upon this year, the Church trusting at present to the
hopeful OF the sustenatiOn scheme for that
matter That branch OF the work Of the Church
fairly started.
The reports Of the boards show prosperous year,
though donations Chicago and the forest country
reduced their incOue 1t did benevolent
organizations all world The total receipts for
benehcence stated until the tables furnished
BY the presteres for the minutes appear, that vol
but the receipts OF the eight boards aud commit
tees for 1912 show contributions amounting In all
hls6.oO The appOrtioned calls on the churches for
next years contributions having been rearranged since