Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-05-21
WILMINGTON,
The PresbyterIau General Assembly. I
Especially reported for the Co nmercial.l !
eHtls BALrImoHR, May 40, 1878
A CENTRAL TREASURY.

A CENTRAL TREASURY.
The sessions of the General Assembly yester
day were of unusual interest The report Of the
Committee on Benevolence and Finance was de-
bated Very earnestly. Many speeches were
made, and much opposition was shown TO the
creation Of Central Treasury for the whole
church operation to be located in New York.
Among others Rev. Cyrus Huntington, OF Do
YER Dell. opposed the establishment OF CEN
tral treasury and the system of regular stated
contributions. He believed that what was given
to the church should be given freely and spoil
taneously Requiring liked contributions per
week is like the Siamese manner of praying.
Their petitions are written on a wheel turned by
water, and while they are attending to business
the prayers are always moving. So with these
stated contributions they must come at the Rp-
pointed time. But more may be said Of the
plan which secures them as financial scheme,
than religious and proper one LLaughter.l
As far as he was concerned he believed in vol
untary contributions. He left it with the con-
gregation to pay for his services, and his salary
has been increased every year. Laughter ~
The report was materially amended and finally
adopted.
RECEPTION by GEN. GRANT.
The committee of arrangement, reported .
communication from Gen. Grant naming Thurs
day, 2 p. M ,as time when he would be glad to
give reception to the members of the Assem-
bly,. pe
The Assembly will also visit Annapolis on Sat-
urday afternoon and pay their respects to the
Governor Of Maryland. --
An invitation of Mrs. George Brown rendering
a complimentary reception at Lehmans Hall on
Thurday evening was also accepted. e.
CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION.
A motion TO reconsider the action in regard to
the Centennial Exposition was lost by vote of
237 to 140.
Much feeling was manifested about this mat
ter, as many think the church as church should
have nothing to do with such an affair, though
her members in their private capacity should be
ever loyal and true to the State.
THE TEMPERANCE CAUSE. b
Rev. d. f. Mcfarland offered a resolution
that this General Assembly does most heartily
endorse the efforts made by the Friends of Tenn
peranee in aud out of Congress- last session to
suppress the sale of intoxicating liquors as q
beverage in the territories under the control of
the United States Government and we do most
earnestly hope that such law will be passed at
the earliest period. He advocated the passage
of the resolution. The resolution was adopted
by unanimous vote.
REPORT ON HOME MISSIONS.
This report was read by DIR. H. J. Van Dyke,
Of Brooklyn showing nearly 1000 men 10 the
commission OF the Board in 38 States and Teri
tories. 1856 new churches organized during the
year and a contribution by the clutches to this
cause of 1904 705. Lid
Very able and intensely interesting speeches
were then made by DIR. Van Dyke and by Drs.
Kendall and Dickson, the Secretaries of Home
NJ ssons.
1.-The audiences throughout the whole day, hal Q
been very large, crowding the huge church 60 its
utmost capacity.
Foreign missions will occupy the attention Of
the Assembly to-day j. Ct. I'll.