The New York herald., 1874-05-23
THE CHURCHES IN COUNCIL.

The Presbyterian General Assembly
The Programme or the sessfon-List OF
Committees-Finsncta statistics-The
New Boards.
sr. LOUIS May %. 1874
The second days session OF the Presbyterian
General Assembly was opened with prayer this
morning by the Moderator Rev. J. s. Wilson, and
Q half an hour was spent In devotional exercises,
The programme provides for two sessions each
day, beginning at nine O'Clock A. NJ. and continu-
ing till four O'Clock p. NJ, with recess at two
O'Clock P. NJ, for lunch; the second session from
eight to ten O'Clock r. NJ The Moderator an
nounced the appointment OF
THE FOLLOWING coMMIrrgEs:-
On Bills and overtures, judicial, Polity OF the
Church. Home Missions Foreign Missions. Educa-
tion Publication. Church Erections, Theological
seminaries. Ministerial Retef Freedmen Susten.
tation, Correspondence, Benevoence. Mileage, FL
nance, Narrative and Leave OF Absence.
Synodicai records from large number ofchurches
were handed in; also papers, memorials, over
lures, &c., which were referred TO their appro-
pirate committee, without being read. The an.
nual reports were received from the Boards Of
Home Missions and Foreign Missions. and from
tine following committees Education, Publica-
tion, Church Erection, Relief Fund.- Missions ior
Freedmen, the Sustentation Fund. Benevolence
and OF the General Assembly, Treasurer OF the
General Assembly and the various theological
semlnaries OF the Church. DR.. william p. Breed,
OF Philadelphia; DR.. James L. Robertson and Judge
James L. Drake were appointed committee to
select the place OF meeting for the next General
Assembly. a great part OF the
MORNING sRSsION
was taken up in considering the formula for the
admission of members to the Church. At the last
session OF the Assembly o formula had been pre-
sented by a committee and referred TO this Assem-
0ly. Several members had amendments to offer
and many had new formulas made out. After
considerable discussion, motion OF DR.. Niles. OF
Philadelphia. the whole matter was referred to q
committee OF seven, who were instructed TO re-
port by Thursday noon. or sooner, II possible. on
motion OF Rev. Howard Crosby, OF New YORK.
ALL ACADEMIC AND CIVIC TITLES
were ordered to be omitted IN the records OF the
Assembly. At noon the report of the committee
on the consolidation OF the Boards OF The Church
OF several boards and committees. the figures be-
ing taken from the minutes OF the Assembly for
the year ending May, 1879, and are
AGGREGATED AS FOLLOwS:-
salaries, go, eco; printing DC, ss!se7; travel
s9s,s7s Amount spent on the object, 81, Isl. $50;
total iunds received for the year 81. s44.570; d.
os vaded among the boards as follows Mis-
Erection. slio IA; Susrentaton s7os Education,
sil5ooo; Ministerial Relief, Ssl,so2; Freedmen.
by these boards Is as follows:-Foreign Missions,
$575,5o6; Home Mission. $2s2,056; Church Erec.
@ so Miasteris Eeiea ssss Fresamen
$54,sa4; Publication, s5l.o4s; total $1,25l, $780,
In regard to the consolidation OF the different
departments OF work for tine purpose OF increasing
their efficiency the committee recommend the es
tabishment OF four distinct boards ior the over
sight ana control OF the benevolent work which
The Church carries on at home and abroad, as iol-
lows:-Board OF Foreign Missions, Board OF Home
Missions, Board OF Education and Relief and Board
OF Publication. 1t is recommended further that
the standing Committee on Benevoience and
Finance be discontinued.
The minority report submitted by DR.. Herrick
Johnson provides Tor the boards recon-
mended oy the majority, with the addition OF q
T. THE NEW BOARDS.
The majority report defines the new Boards rec
The Board OF Foreign Missions shall continue
under its present organization afo shan De un'
changed as to its objects and methods.
Tne Board of Home Missions shall comprehend
and supervise all that work OF the Church which
Evangehsation it sna be located IL p1 the e. city Of
New York, and shall, by means OF different bureaus
or such other methods as necessity may demand
exercise control over the interests now separately
cared for by the present Board OF Home Missions
and Of Church Erection ny the Committee OF Sus-
The Board OF Education and Relief shall embrace
the present Boards OF Education and Ministerial
ests properly connected with the training OF
young men Tor the ministry and with the relief OF
needy ministers and their families as at present
provided for, tie Board to be located at Phladel-
The Board OF Publication shall remain as at
present, save THAI the expense OF whatever work
OF donation or distribution IT may see ft to carry
on shall be met by voluntary offerings oil churches
individuals. In view OF this change the col
portage work heretofore performed by this Board
shall be committed to the presbyteries and TO the
n 81 tine aoms Board who snail 6e ea
ture on their heds, and be allowed
percentage on the books they distribute.
Lf oil fhnf anAfn mi ffnn
on benev0ence and finance be discontinued; also
tnat the standing committee on benevolent work
OF the Church shall be composed OF one member
from each Of the Synods, and that this committee
shall determine in advance the amount needed Tor
the different boards, and shall take such advisory
action it shall it in regard to the wtsest and
most enicient mode OF disbursement
1t is further recommended that each synod shall
Bend to the General Assembly carefully prepared
statement OF Its prospective needs and its esti-
mated amount OF contributions for the ensuing
year The report also provides Tor the appoint
ment OF special committee TO report TO the AS
sernbly what action is needed to harmonic the
workings or the different interests entrusted to
these boards and provide for any legal difficulties
which may ARISE from consolidation. The plan
THE MINORITY REPORT
provides that the Board OF Foreign Missions shall
remain as Il IS. the Board Of Home Missions to
Tor freedmen and be located in New York. The
Board OF Education and Relief to be located in
Philadelphia, and have charge OF the education
and relief iund. The boards OF Church Erection
and Publication to remain as now constituted. 1t
also recommends the dlscontinuance OF the Com
mittee OF Benevoence and Finance.
IN THE AFTERNOON SESSION
DR.. r. r. Booth. the Chairman OF the Committee
on Consolidation, in pointed speech detailed the
manner IN which the majority report has been
prepared. One reason why the majority and mi
nority reports were different was that, BY an
order, the first report had been printed
sixty DAYS before the General Assembly met
ners n Of 'e the committee "se TOOK no ' further f
action on 1t. However, he believed they were met
TO represent the interests OF Coo, and for one. f
the other he would cheerfully vote for 1t. In the
matter OF economy he knew the majority report
went little farther than the minority report. In
speaking OF the Board OF Home Missions he said he
wanted
THAT ,NvIpIoUs NAME, 'FREEDMEN,n
bsnished forever from the benevolent work OF the
Church. There time when 1t was needful,
but that time had passed away. Now he hoped
the Church would be color blind before God and
the world. Reference was made to the successful