The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-06-24


in case of his declining to accept this ap-
pointment, to supply that department Of in
! struction for the year.
: PUBLICATION.
The Report of the Standing Committee on
Publication was taken up. (Plblshed last
week.
Reu. r. L. Breck read the report, and
made some explanations. Tae report was
, prepared after the Secretary had been ques-
toned by the Committee for two hours. He
was satisfied that this business was conducted
with marked prudence and economy. lie
compared it with publishing houses of other
churches, and said there was more done by
this house, in proportion to its capital, than
by any of which he had knowledge. The
question as to the charter had been care
fully examined by the committee. The at
tention of the legal members of it had been
directed to this point; and they had called
into conference with them two Virginia law
yers, members of this Assembly, and familiar
with Virginia law, namely, Col. Collier and
Mr.. Waddell. They were fully satisfied as
to the safety Of the property under the char
trick as to limiting investments ia stereotype
plates, he said the capital was too small now
to allow of much to be SO invested. This
met the appreciation of the Secretary.
The report was unanimously adopted.
The Narrative was read by the Rev. DR..
Turner and adopted. Published last week.
The Report of the Standing Committee on
Systematic Benevolence was taken up and
adopted. Published last week The Rev.
j. 0. Lindsay and the Moderator, were ap-
pointed a committee to prepare and publish
q Pastoral Letter to our churches, as pro-
vided for in said Report.
NEW PLAN FOR PAYING EXPENSES OF COM
MIssIoNERs, AND CONTINGENT FUND.
The Committee on Bills and Ogertures
presented scheme for this purpose.
DR.. b. M Smith inquired whether this
scheme was intended to throw all the money
into hotch potch; all the Presbyteries throw.
ing in, and all drawing out.
DR.. II. N. Smith replied that it was in
tended to make the plan uniform and equal
in its operation. 1t was not so now. Some
Pfesbyteries the weaker pay forty-six cents
member; others, the stronger, perhaps two
or three cents only. The plan proposed has
been tried for three years in the Northern
Assembly, and has worked we'll A Presby-
terry which does not pay gets nothing. lie
made calculations to show that an assess
ment of ten cents member would be enough
for all the travelling expenses of the COM
missioners, and all the contingent expenses
of the Assembly.
DR.. Marshall argued that as all the Com
missioners came to attend to the business of
the whole Church, they ought to have their
expenses paid from common fund. That
was the equal and fair way. The report was
unanimously adopted, and is as follows:
Overture No. 7, is request from the
Synod of Texas and from the Presbytery of
Brazos, and also from the Presbytery of
Texas, that the Assembly adopt 8 system of
per capita assessment to defray the expenses
of the commissioners, and contingent sana,
and that the vote of assessment, at present.
be fixed at ten cents for each communicate of
the Church.
1t is recommended that the request be
granted, and that in order to initiate the plan,
the Assembly adopts the following rules, sub
ject to such notifications as experience may
show to be advisable, to wit:
1. There shall be appointed at each meet
ing of the Assembly q standing committee
of the Commissioners Fund, who shall pre-
sent an estimate of the amount needed to
defray the contingent expenses of the next
Assembly, and also the travelling expenses
of its members; with statement of the per
capita rate necessary to secure it.
2. PresbyterieS at the next stated meeting
after the adjournment of the Assembly, shall
apportion, as they may deem best, the amount
required from the communicates within their
bounds.
3 Churches shall be instructed to pay
over their respective appointments at the
stated meeting of Presbytery next preceding
the meeting of the Assembly, and the amount
due from the Presbytery shall be forwarded
by the commissioners.
4. The appOrtionment of each Presbytery,
and the bill of the travelling expenses of its
commissioners, shall be presented to the
Standing Committee as early as the fifth day
of the sessions of the Assembly.
5. The Standing Committee shall reserve
from the amount received enough for the
contingent expenses of the Assembly, and
shall then proceed to audit the bills of the
commissioners, and pay the pro rata, as far
as the funds received will permit, the sur
plus, if any, to be placed in the hands of the
Treasurer of the Assembly.
6. Presbyteries must contribute their full
proportion, according to the per capita rule,
in order to avail themselves of the proceeds
of this fund.
T. Every church contributing to the fund
shall be entitled to copy of the annual
minutes of the Assembly.
g. The travelling expenses Of Commits
sioners from Presbyteries in foreign lands,
shall be estimated from their place of resi-
dence in this country.
g. Every Presbytery therefore is hereby
requested to forward to the Standing Com
mittee on the Commissioners Fund of the
next Assembly, an amount equal to ten cents
for every commitment under the care of
their churches, as determined by the statisti-
cal report herewith printed.
Their Commissioners will consequently be
entitled to full share in the apportionments
of the fund, and it is believed that if the
PresbyterieS comply with this requirement,
all these expenses of the contingent fund of
the Assembly, will be fully met.
The answer to the protest of Rev. DIR.
kirkpatrick was read and adopted. Pub
lished last week.
The thanks of the Assembly were ten
dornd 70 the Mndnratnr 70 ,rhinh ho rnadn a