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

the Church-those doctrines Nnica lie at the yer.
foundation and constitute the gicfyof the Presby
terian Church When the 80 - frenzy carried
-away the old church, the SyeadsSes Kentucky anc
Missouri stood in the old paths nnd by the ancient
landmarks, and there we stand to-sia5
The Synod of Kentucky has tps9ea most happily
become blended with you; but the synod of Missouri
for reasons which many of the ;sls sn think fully
sufficient, remains independens heir hearts
are with you. Nineteen-twehEetbi OF them would
| be glad if we were in orgsnlc p-lon, without IN
| volyinp trouble at home. There w7s but one feeling
when l went to that State neaily So years ago, and
that was, that just IS tb9fw srts should be
| determined they would, to 6 nant unite with the
Southern Church. In the meanissae however, many
whose preferences were for tae TtheTn Assembly
settled among us and upitet ~ our churches.
And now these law suits being led brethren say
if we unite with the Southe99 nurch, A. b. and
c., members of my congregation. Ill perhaY@ break
off" This is the only difficulty are one with
| YOU Evervthino that IS pure and lovely in the
| Southern Church may be found ii; The Old School
Synod of Missouri except that ve naye not that fully
developed Presbyterianism which sp snJoy IN hay
ing General Assembl ly-a prit1lsss wiztn humbly
trust shall soon be ours. Our Syom Last al referred
the subject of union to the Presa7eres which took
action ,1non If this snrino OF csr SIX Presbyteries
| two voted in favor of union--ors OF them unani-
mously; three voted against it h5 yety small ma
jority; in one the vote was tied t'ut IN counting
The votes find that there arc la y number of IN
dividual zotes in favor of nnit hsl against il,
and therefore, It may be that this the sypod may
determine 10 cost its lot With tae oufherli Church
.gh,s IS eo,tasainatSen for Yii qnas OF Us De-
I :outiy prAy.
When our SYNOD separated, we s.ld but forty mih-
sters, eighty churches, and aboai.sx thousand COM
muncants. Since that time God has blessed us, and
we now number about ninety ministers, one hundred
| and thirty churches, and eight thousand communl-
cants The suggestion of my beloved brother Plumer
comes to my mind, that the best way of consummat-
ing union much to be desired would be for this
Assembly to ask to be received into that body If
we cannot get into your body am very sure there
is not single man in our Synod that would vote
against receiving the General Assembly of the Pres
byterian Church of the United States Daughter
| The M0d@dt0r.-We heartily reciprocate the fra
terna greetings you bring. [ must say that we are
not in the situation to appreciate the difficulties un-
der which you labour l must also say from obser-
vaton that these difficulties are strengthening year
after year, even according to your own showing
You have not the fully developed Presbyterianism
which we enjoy; your Synod and Presbyteries are
disturbed by the discussion of ecclesiastical relations
rather than those of the great objects of benevoence
which are ordinarily brought before such courts.
heartily agree with the suggestion of the venerable
father, that if you will not come to u.s. we will go
with hearts and give ourselves to you If that is
your ultimatum If we are ons in doctrine and
worship why not have faith in tod to believe that
when you do your duty, all your interests will be
taken care of by him 1t is the duty of the church,
as it is of the individual to folew out conscientious
convictons irrespective of consequences. God will
take of his people, and all their interests II
they will receive his word in faith and act according
to his direction.
The Assembly then united in singing the hymn
One family we dwell in him"
FORMS OF WORSHIP.
The Assembly then proceeded with the second or
der of the day, the consideration of Col Preston 8
resolution.
The question was discussed by Rev. VIM. Mckay,
F. Johnston, T. O. Cassels, G. F. Collier, Rev. DR..
s. r. Wilson, Rev. Dr. Plumer, and Col. Preston.
Their remarks will be published hereafter.
On the question, "Shall the resolution be adopt
ed " the ayes and noes called, and are as fol-
lows:
Yeas.-Alnister.- Mckay. EzderS.-G. NJ
Edgar w. A. Moore, j. ID. Anderson ). l. IL. Pres
ton-5
Nags.-MSniSters. Robert Nall, G. W. Boggs, D.
D. Sanderson, T. r. Welch, M. j. Wallace A. G..
Peden, j. De Witt Burkhead, D. L. Buttolph, +,
Jacobs DID,, ID. III. Porter, ). b. Blaney, H. d.
Blanton, s. r. Wilson, j. S. Grasty, J. L. Hend1ick,
d. p Young M. Van Lear. w. A. Gray, r. Evans,
w. T. Savage, j. o. Sullivan, a. III. Meckln, D. H.
G. Doremus M. w Trawick, W. Finn, @. Harring-
ton s. j. Love, j. d. Tadlock, j. A. Wallace, >. d.
McNeilly, J. S. Frierson, Wm W. Pharr j. II. Coble,
b b. anderson, u Hines, j.. y Johnston j. Kelly,
J Lov,rie Wilson, Cssss=fosgs, VilAam s. PIumer,
d. &. Frierson, R. F. Bunting, j. 4. Smy1e, W
X. Marshall, W. NJ. Fitzpatrick j. Lyons, J. W.
Lupton, G.. ID. Armstrong; M. l.. Lacy r. j. Taylor,
l. w. K Handy, p B. Price, W, III. Matthews, ).
NJ Wharey, G.. w. White.
Elders: H. H Smith, A. M. Sheriff., j. A. Bill
lups, It. Chunn, G.. Dowse, W. X. Moore, P. b.
Brokaw D. F. Wilcox, t. Q. Cassels, VIM. Killen,
G. Chambers, w. H. Clark, w. @. Hanna @. ID.
Reike, W. H. McAfee, P. f. Witherspoon. A. Q.
Ewel, E. r. Gill; E. r. Mclean, z. Pond w: IL.
A EvviOo
j. s. McDonough w. II. Smith, r. c. Mcclure, A.
c. Mcintosh j. S. Reid, N. M. Roam, A M. Nc
Pheeters, W. J. Boney, j. r. Schorb, W. j. Robert
son, T. c, Law, Fl. l.. MCGOWAN, +. b. Harrison, u.
McGregor, A. G. Matthews, G. +. Anderson, u +
Collier J. NJ. Sydenstricker ]. Lane, F. Johnston,
w. G. Friend, f. e. G. Carr, f. S. Welton-lO2
Non liquet-J. B. Adger.
So the question was decided in the negative.
Dr. Adger, when his name was called, said:
would like to be excused from voting, on the
ground that no vote which | could give would fully
express my views, as / had not the opportunity OF
speaking.
The request was granted.
STATISTICAL TABLES.
DR.. Pletn,er reported the following:
The Committee on Bills and Overtures report
oyertures Nos. 10 and II, asking for changes in
the form of statistical tables Your committee re-
port adversely to any change at thepresent time
Mr.. FyinYa-One of those overtures is from the
Presbytery of New Orleans 1t was sent to the
Assembly last year, and received substantially the
same answer. l will read il, because it presents the
grounds of our objections.
Mr.. Finn then read the overture. He contin-
ued:
The primary objection you perceive, is, that the
rule was imposed without ascertainng the wishes OF
the Church. We wish to know what it is proposed
to accomplish by it. We have not the information
II had not been discussed in the Presbyteries, the
Assembly or the newspapers. Thinking the rule
in many respects seriously Objectionable, we nave
sent this overture asking its repeal ask to be IN
formed what is the object proposed TO be accom-
plished When we learn that it will work good for
the Church, we may coincide with it, but so long as
no reasons are gven must be pardoned for press
| ing the matter and asking for information.
| DR.. PLotaner-1me whole subject OF STATISTICAL
tables has been in the power of the Assembly -
There is not word about them in any of our stan
dards. The sole object of such tables is to gain
correct information of the state of the Church
The object of this rule waS ~ ascertain how much
is paid in our whole Church tor the support of pas
tors. | am told that previously, some had reported
what they had promised to their pastors instead OF
what they had paid.
Mr.. Finn-The object then if understand it is
to find out to what extent the churches comply with
their contract, and to publish list of the den'
onents The funds contributed by the voluntary
iberality of church to our benevolent schemes i:
one thing; the money paid for the support of pas
tors is another The is their free gift, the Other
is the execution of contract protected by lega
| forms. If the Assembly wants to know how much
ministers get, we have the right to ask, Why do they
want to know it? What use will they make of the
knowledge? Do they intend to supplement deficient
salaries? Or, to make the churches pay what they
have promised? The Presbyteries claim the over
sight of this matter, and in most of them reports
made respecting the fulflmen of their engagements
The Presbytery is the only body that can legally ac
in the matter The rule amounts to this: it is roc
held over the churches to stimulate their liberality
or as one of the member Of the Committee said