The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-05-28

ErangeliStic Ldbor.-M. II. Carson. -,
Systematic BeneUoLence. Rev. }. q. DlnWloole'
G. II. Smith, Rev. w. A, Carter
FOreiqn COrreSpOndence.-L. l.. Holaday.
Sunday SchoOiS-W. j. Leake, j. q. Ramsey.
Rev. James Park moved that some names De
added to the committee to consider the relation
of the Board of Trustees to the finances OF the FIX
ecutiye Committees, as he was informed that therc
was no member OF the Committee that was IN the
regular practice of law.
G. II. Smith, NJ. A. Gambler, j. II. Welborn
we're added to the Committee.
Rev. E 7. Baird, DID, presented and read TO
the Assembly the Twelfth Annual Report OF the
Presbyterian Committee of Publication.
An abstract of this report was given last week. J
DIR. Baird also read the Treasurer Report ana
put it into the bands Of the Auditing Committee
with the Treasurer's books and vouchers.
He also presented paper relative to the respon,
sibility of the board of Trustees and their legal
connection with the Executive Committee Mr..
Bowman moved that this paper and that part OF
the report of DR.. Baird which referred to the
difference between the Committee and the Board
of Trustees, be referred to the special Committee
on the subject appointed yesterday. OU]ecton,
being made to the reading the paper, DIR. bairo
wished to make a few remarks. All funds nave
to be disbursed by the Committees. The Commit
tees are in fact the Assembly during the time which
perpetuates the Assembly as to its organization,
and the Committees perpetuate 1t as working
body. He thought it necessary to their success
that the Executive Committees have charge OF then
own funds.
MIR. Montgomery said he thought the paper
should not be read as abored and strong argu-
ment had been presented by the Executive Com
mittees of Sustentation and Publication and there
was no Trustee present to make any reply Ihe
paper was referred without being read.
Dr. Baird read also memorial relative to the
Endowment Fund which was referred to special
Committee.
The Moderator announced this Committee as
follows: Rev. j. II. Martin, j. 5. Moore, w. A
Wood, j. g. Ramsey DE-. j. NJ. Henson.
Rev. Dr. Baird read the Twelfth Annual report
of the Executive Committee OF Education, which
was put in the hands of the Standing Committee
on this subject.
Committee on Bills and 0vertures reported
OVERTURE NO. l.
from the Presbytery of Sac Paulo, asking the Gen
eral Asse nby to consider the religious condition
of the Jews and to put forth some effort to bring
them to Christ The Committee recommended
that this overture be referred to the Executive
Committee on Foreign Missions. ,
The same Committee reported Overture No. =
from the Presbytery of Memphis relative to the
duty of Scriptural family training as follows
ReSolred, That this Presbytery memorlalizes the
General Assembly to address a circular-letter tC
all our churches, in reference to the duty OF Scrip
tura family training in general, and particularly
with view to impressDg upon Christian parents
the importance of accustoming their children tC
worship with them regularly in the sanctuary on
the Sabbath, according to divine appointment, anc
that they 1.-THE chidren) go with them TO the House
of God to attend the preparatory services OF regu
lar communions or sacr8mental seasons
(Signed) R. R. EVANS, Stated Clerk.
The Committee recommended that the request
be granted, and a committee be appointed to pre-
pare pastoral letter on the subject referred to anc
present it to this body at its present session
The Committee on Bills and Overtures reported
OVERTURE NO.
of the Presbytery of Roanoke, asking the Assembly
to relax the rule, so that they may enroll as mem
Der of their Presbytery, foreign minister, TIT
Rev. Thomas Drew, of the Somerset Association
of the Independents of Great Britain, with view
to his settlement as pastor of the churches which
he has been serving since last August, as stateC
supply, viz, Christiansville, BluestOne and Wyes
burg
Your Committee would recommend to the Assem-
bly, to adopt the following
ResolUed, l. That the Presbytery Of Roanoke i
encouraged to employ the Rev. Thomas Drew, ii
preaching and administering the sacrements within
their bounds during the time of his probation.
Resolued 3 That if the Presbytery shall continue
to DE, at their spring meeting in 1874 well satisfied
with the probation of the Rev. Thomas Drew, they
be then authorized to receive him to fall member
ship, and if the way be clear install him into the
pastoral work this being the earliest date for such
action permitted by the ordinances of the Assembly
reiterated in the case of the Rev. Robert Irvine, d
D., in 1871.
The same Committee reported Overture No. 4
from the Presbytery of Brazos requesting that the
text or the substance of all Overtures presented tC
the Assembly appear in the printed Minutes of the
Assembly. The Committee recommended that the
request be not granted, as our Minutes are already
sufficiently voluminous
Mr.. Thomas agreed with the Presbytery. The
Assembly ought to give at least the substance. An
objection migh exist in of discipline and he
was not in favor OF spreading all such Oyertures on
the Minutes, but the substance should be given SC
as to enable brethren to see whether certain sub
iects have been acted upon.
j. d. Mclean said this action will have the force
of standing rule. Often all that is in the Min
utes is Overture not granted, with no intimaion
as to what the Overtures contained Who knows
what was done? 1t is desirable that our Minutes
be full
Rev. Dr. Brown said the question turns upon
whether the Minutes heretofore have been suti-
GENTLY full He thinks the brother would search
In vain for an instance where the nature of the
Overture was not stated in the report. Possibly
there may be exceptions, but they are the eXcep
tons and not the rule.
Rev. j. II. Martin said this was what guided the
Committee An examination of the Minutes showed
that the substance Of Overtures was stated in the
Minutes relative to them. The report of the Com
mittee of Bills and Overtures was adopted.
The Committee also reported Overture No. 5,
from the Presbytery Of BrazOs asking that another
column be added to our Statistical Report that the
amounts promised to pastors and supplies may be
published.
The Committee recommend that the Overture
be not granted.
J. Ii. Martin was sorry that the Committee made
that report. The reports only give partial informa
ton. For instance, he read of one church which
gave seven hundred He learned that they prom
ised one thousand.
He moved that the report be amended by strik-
ing out the word mot
Mr. Park said there is a tendency to add to Stats
teal Reports of the operations of the church, which
will require eight more columns Any man who
has had anything to do with getting up information
knows the troubles which are In his way. Every
stated clerk who tried to get up statistical ia
Ole knows how much work it is. There is no neces.
sty for it. What the brother says shows that there
is no reciprocal report in his Presbytery frepOrts
are made, these things will come out The church
reports to the Presbytery and the pastor reports to
the Presbytery 1t is the duty Of the Presbytery
to call upon the pastor to report. 1t would be bet
ter to introduce resolution requiring these recip-
roca reports, and call upon churches and ministers
to make them.
There is not a minister who cannot tell whether
his church has or has not complied with Its con
tract The spring meeting is the time to attend to
this matter and if any church does not comply, a
committee should be sent to investigate the matter.
DIR. WEIGH said three reasons influenced the Com
mittee to make this report:
First, 1t belongs to Presbyteries to attend to this
matter.
Second 1t is not best to publish to the world all
the Aelinnnennias of the Church