The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1872-05-29

| '1e"eo y
Texas, and would be most excellent secretary.
Mr.. Fzinn-The overtures touching removal wer
before the Joint Committees, and carefully con
sidered will mention the reasons which controlle
their action The removal of the Sustentatlon Com
mittee to New Orleans would require separate Com
mittee and another secretary, which would involv
additional expense. 1t also occurred to the Commit
fee that the location should be the source o
supply where the money is to be raised and the mel
| to be found and where they might be acquainted
with the men whom they sent out. New Orleans i
also remote from the Seminaries. 1t is distlnctl.
stated that at present. they deem it inexpedient
it is contemplated that it will be done ultimately.
| There was another consideration. The man at tn
i head of this work thoroughly understands It, III
| brain projected it, He has had an experience OF 81
years. and has worked the scheme to the satisfaction
| and delight of the whole church. To make this re
| moval we would either be obliged to take HIM iron
| the work of Foreign Missions (and we do not know
| whom to put in his place. or to take new man fo
| Sustentation, who, however excellent he might be
| would be without his experience, and could not com
| mand the confidence of the churches as the present
| secretary can The idea of the Committee was, thai
by appointing coordinate secretary, to act as trea
| surer, he would gain experience in the work the
church would know him, so that he could more eth
GENTLY carry the work. when it might be desirable
| to make the change.
|. Another. consideration: Texas is an interesting
and vastly important field in every respect but there
4
churches ffty-sevea are in Virginia. This Commit
! tee must operate yer our whole territory There
ere to remove it kouppt bring il INTO the vicinity
/ ef the work to bedone.
3 11osc.ye- g saest-es Nor Oh NJ, keyS a
| much work as they can de- I car speas Sit.s al
thority for them, that while they would not shrinl
from the work. if the church desired them 10 under
take it, they do not wish it, They would prefer that
the Committee remain where it is /; because they
think it is acting efficiently that the arrangement i
economical, and in every particular recommend
| itself TO the church for the present.
Rev. r. r. Egans.-The Presbytery of Memphis
feel that it was wise action when the General Assem-
| bly, first located these Committees. Circumstances
have led to their removal and they have been carried
on Observation-Disclosures and Publication at Rich
mond, and Sustentation and Foreign Missions al
| Columbia. There is no man who understands the
character of the western field better than the honored
secretary No Committee, apprehend will be
more faithful, honest or just. But would it not be
well for this Assembly to ask whether it would moi
promote the interests of this by locating the
Committee west of the mountains 1t is true there
are missionary fields in Virginia, North Carolina, ano
South Carolina but there is an emigration con
stanty from these churches, and whittier? Is II
eastward? Does it not seem, that if you locate the
Committee at point near which the emigrants pass
they will feel /" Here is the Committee by; We
can see the secretary and be assured to the proba
bity of our having the preaching of the gospel neal
our new homes"
| will not say, as to our contributions from the
west, that we have sustained the Committee to the
best of our ability; (perhaps that is too strong al
| expression , but we have endeavoured to do oul
duty. The feeling of Presbytery is, that if 6
change must be made, it would be well to make il
now, and locate the Committee west of the noun
| tains However, for the present, the present Com
mitee will do as well any other and if the change
would involve considerable expense, it had better
| remain where it is for the present
| Req. l.. III. BlantOn.-The removal of this Com
mittee will involve much expense 1t will require
two additional officers and room which at New
Orleans must cost considerable 1t should, moreover
be considered that the city of Nashville asks for the
removal of the Committee of Publication, and will
make, as learn, liberal offer. 1t may be wise to
remove that Committee but doubt not that it will
be well 70 remove both to the west and the Commit
tee of Foreign Missions to some commercial centre
| on the Atlantic But the time has not come.
| Moreover we cannot afford to experiment at this
time. The selection of a coordinate secretary mus
| to some extent be an experiment, even with the
benefit of the experience of Dr. Wilson In the
crippled condition of the country, cannot atforc
| to make the experiment of separating the Commit
| tees. 1t might result in serious disaster.
| J d. AnderSon.-The Presbytery of Western
District, from which come, instructed its commits
soners to vote and throw their influence against the
division of these committees The argument of the
member from the Memphis Presbytery is certainly
not very, forcle. 1t is not probable that en- emi
grant would go 80 miles out of his way to see thu
Secretary at New Orleans; he would probably con
fer by letter. and postage costs no more for thou
sand miles than for so. We are perfectly satisfied
with the location of the Committee; it is our wisl
that it remain there. We have perfect confidence
in its management. They have responded to us ia
vorably whenever they could.
| The motion to recommit was not agreed to, ant
the report was adopted.
Mr. Finn presented the following additional re
port from the same committee:
9th. The following persons are hereby consti
tuted the Executive Committee of Sustentation TO
the ensuing twelve months, viz Rev. j. Leighton
Wilson, D. D.. Secretary; Treasurer
D., Rev. j. r. Wilson, ID. D., Rev. A. w. Miller
D.. D., Rev. j. R. Girardean, d. D., Rev: D.; Nc
| Queen Gen. +. w. McMaster, 9. A. Rowland
ESQ.,, and Joseph A. Enslaw, Esq.
| Rev. Richard McIlwaine was afterwards elected
Assistant Secretary of Sustentation and Treasurer
Rev. Mr.. Flinn-The Joint Committee agree T.
nominate for the Coordinate Secretary the Rev. r
McIlwaine. When this matter was discussed, tn
qualifications of other persons to fill this office wer
fully canvassed. The Committee unanimously re
commended the name which / have announced witt
the single exception of the Chairman of the Com
mttee, who for merely prudential reasons preferre
the Rev. G. A. Stiman, .. d.
DR.. Porter nominated DIR. Stillman.
| Action upon these nominations was, under tn
rule, postponed till tomorrow.
RESIGNATION OF DR. WOODROW.
DIR. armstrong presented the following, whic
was adopted:
The Standing Committee on Sustentation an
Foreign Missions in joint session, to whom wa
referred the letter of the Rev. DR.. Woodrow. ask
ing that he might not be appointed to the Office G
/ Treasurer of Sustentation and Foreign Missions
report to the Assembly:
/. That the reason assigned for this request b
DIR. Woodrow, viz: his impaired health, and th
imperative direction of his physician that he ceas
from all labor for session, render 1T the duty
the Assembly to comply with that request.
g. In view of the long and faithful services {
Dr. Woodrow, rendered in times Of great trial,
the Church, and the knowledge of the fact that
is to this service, in part, we must trace his in
paired health, the Assembly cannot part with hi
without recording its devout thanksgiving to G0C
who has spared him in health to US so loni
and the earnest prayer that He in whose hanC
mans life is, may speedily restore him to perfe
health again.
PREsBYTERY OF oUACHITA,
DR.. Plun,er also presented the following;
) The Committee of Bills and Overtures fepo
overture No. l6, from the Presbytery of Ouachit
respecting some matters of discipline, and recon
mend that the papers be returned to the parti
J from whom they came In this action the Assem-
bly, will probably consult the wishes OF most Of ii
brethren concerned, and will most edify the ChurC
of God.
r Rev. NJ j. Wallace called for the reading of Il
overture. -,
DR.. Rumer-The papers are long; and the d
sire of the brethren from Arkansas was to kee
the matter out of the house, as it comes in an III
desirable form. The substance of the overture r
, lates, that the General Assembly had adopted
! paper respecting fashionable amusements, enjol
!. ipg that those who would not reform should
"separated " from the Church. The Presbyte
of 0uachita took some action on the subject, al