The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-06-04
General Assembly Of the Presbyterian
| Church tHoulsi).

4
sioners were borne by the Presbrteries they
represented, all OF which resulted in the re.
mote and poorer Preshyteries becoming bur.
| dened with heavy travelling expenses, while
| the burden of the more central and richer
Prcsbyteries was comparatively light. A
plan was adopted yesterday morning, after
considerable discussion, by which The option
is given each Presbytery OF leyying an as.
sessment Of eight cents per member for pay.
ing the expenses OF Its commissioners, and
| levying, beside, an assessment Of two cents
per member for " contingent expenses"
| ELECTION OF PROFESSOR.
The election to ill the professorship of
Ddactic aud Polemic Theology In the Theo-
logical Seminary ut Columbia. 8. c.. was then
taken up. On rising vote Dr.. j. L. Grar.
deau was declared the unanimous choice OF
the Assembly.
In response, Or. Girardeau made feeling
and eloquent speech, thanking them sincerely
for the proffered houor-an honor higher
| than be had ever conceived it possible for hR
to attsin-aud yet asking that, If on final
consideration be should be placed In the un.
happy position be had so deprecated OF ap-
nearing to resist the unanimous will OF the
court. they would presume that be was iEfiu-
enced Only by solemn sense Of duty.
10 answer 10 overtures from several Pres-
byteries it was resolved, on hearing the re-
port Of Dr.. Jupkip, from the Supplementary
| Committee on Foreign Missions, 10 transfer
the headquarters of that committee from
Columbia, s. c., TO Baltimore. The removal
Of the Committee on Sustentation 10 tne
same place wns also ordered, but, on further
discussion, the resolution was Reconstructed
and the matter postpoBed.
= soIv nn
| ing resolution was added to the recommend
ations of the Sabbatb.Scbool Committee:
RESOLVED, That our Presbyterian churches
be encouraged and exborted to establish and
conduct Sabbath schools for the colored peo'
pie wherever practicable, and that separate
| reports Of all such schools be sent up for the
| information of the General Assembly.
Tue question Of sending delegate to the
Presbyterian Confederation, next taken up,
elected warm discussion. -.
Dr.. Stuart Robinson offered the following
! resolution:
Resolved, That committee be appointed
| by this Assembly 10 consider the propo.al
for federation OF the Presbyterian churches
Of the world IN General Advisory Council ;
which committee is authorized TO correspond
with similar committees of other Presbyte-
rian bodies, and to make suggestions az TO
the provisions Of the constitution proposed
for such General Council, and, if 1t is
deemed wise, tn appoint delegates to the Con-
ventiou to be holden In London on the Oath of
July, 1876, for the purpose of preparing The
way torsuch General Council.
In presenting the resolution DR.. Robinson
said that while he did not think the Assem-
oily could afford to send a delegate to Lon
don, his feeling was that we were making a
mistake by iSolating ourselves too ouch from
the Christian world, aud by leaving this mat
ter to a committee we don't commit our.
selves, nor even if we send a Delegate.
| Dr.. Palmer made the point that the passage
of the resolution committed the Assembly 10
confederation, because the committee were
au, horiZed to appoint delegates.
! DR.. Irving said it was generally supposed
by those familiar with the matter that the
would be held in Edinburgh in May, 1876.
when the Assemblies of the Church Of Scot.
land, the Free Church of Scotland, and
United Presbyterian Church would be in
session. He thought the Assembly could
not do better than 10 send to the Council DR..
Plumer and DR.. Palmer, whose names.
through their writings, were familiar to
Presbyteriars in all parts OF England, Ire
land, and Scotland. ~.oy a
DR.. Girardeau was opposed to sending a
delegate. This confederation, by whatever
name il choose to call itself, Is mere volun-
tary ASSOCIATION, and all the preccdentS Of the
Presbyterian Church, in tie present aud in
The past. can be brought TO bear against the
! high court Of the Church giving her endorse
ment to any voluntary association WhasafVer.
We are asked now to be factors in the organI-
zltlun Of this association. Are we prepared!
sending delegate, he would be clothed with
the authority of the Assembly; and while
this Couucil merely proposed 10 be advisory
it would necessarily exert moral Influence
which would ramlfy and permeate all the
veins Of the Presby terrain body. HeadVised
| the Assembly to make haste slowly in mat
ter 50 yitally important TO The whole Church.
Rev. Mr. Murkland made brief and elo-
uuent speech in favor OF the proposed step.
| lie rel ,ced to stand forward as the advocate
of plan Of Presbyterian confederation, be-
cause it was a step in the great movement TO
which the providence of God was calling
| the whole Church Of Jesus Christ. He re
terred TO the TACT that memorials bad come
no from four different PIesDyteries begging
the Assembly to reconsider It's former action
and to take part in this great movement OF
the Church OF God. In regard to the argu-
ment of Mr.. Girardeau, one Assembly Is
compe!ent to overthrow the action OF It's
predecessor. This great Confederation
was in the order Of Presbyterianism, and In
accordance with the prayer OF our Saviour
for the unity OF His Church upon earth.
DR.. Stuart Robinson mace proposition
10 the effect that insteai of deciding upon
the question at once committee be ap'
pointed 10 enter into CORES dence wi b
other Commuters. and decide upon the ex.
pediercy OF sending delegates.
Mr.. +. o. Frerson spoke strongly in favor
of sending delegates.
Judge Clapp followed, advocating the
same course.
Colonel Ogden, of New Orleans, made q
long argument against the proposition. He
saw great Oar ger to the Church 10 It.
Rev. e. S. Hill supported DR.. Robiason's
proposal.
Dr. B. NJ. Palmer, in an eloquent speech,
onnosed the scheme. He said that many
wears ago he had expressed wish that he
might live to see General Assembly OF the
whole Presbyterian Church, built up from
The Session, Presbytery, Synod, General As.
sembly. to a General Assembly Of the whole
Presbyterisn world but the proposal nov
before them vas not Of this character. IL
vas without checks or limitations to its
power. II we were 10 have anything let II
he real General Assembly. The proposed
plan was not acting on the principles OF the
order: it was something new. Their Church
in this country bad always suffered when she
deyiated a hairs breadth from Der established
principles. HIS first objection was that II
would be creating power that would stano
mon the apex OF the Presbyterian cone. ano
is utterances would be looked upon as thf
organ OF the whole Presby terrain world. he
wis afraid of it, and hoped it would break