Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-02-14
The BIBLE WOMAN.
some Emphatic Statements Of a Con.
tEOyersiaI Character.
To the Union and American;

tEOVeFsial Character.
To the Union and American;
Being, myself, responsible for the spring
ing OF a question in the '1Woman's Bible
Mission of Nashville" which l see treated
Of in an article in last Sundays issue Of
the UNION AND AMERICAN, over the sig
nature Of Mrs. D Ii. McGaEock, l regard
it as my duty, both to the society and the
public, to submit the following explsna-
ton:
The question is Does the law Of the
NJ. L. Church, South, permit any society
within its pale to appropriate and send its
missionary contributions 20 special enter
prises, through any channel itself NAV
choose, without submitting such contribu-
tons to be settled By the regular church
authorities, in the appOriORment assessed
upon the charge in which the contribution
was given? l took the negative side Of
the question before the society.
This occurred Oh the 9Th Of
last month, Just one month
before the ''recent action Of the Board of
Missions, mentioned by Mrs. McCI. which
''recent action was brought about by DIR.
d. G.. Kelley, with evident reference to the
position he had already taken months be-
fore, in the handling Of our funds. When
the subject came up before the Society, he
eyaded explanation, but very emphatically
cOnsradiCted my statement; vet he after
ward applied to the Board Of Missions to
grant a special privilege, in the form Of a
restoration, which, whether valid under the
constitution or not, might serve the great
end Of making his contradiction appear
truthful. Mrs. McG. does net quote the
! whole Of AIT. XIV, but leaves OIL the last
clause, which decides the point in dispute.
Art Nv reads as follows:
"Auy person or Sunday-schOOl, or church
or conference may assume ia whole or
in part, the support Of a Mission
or mission school established by the
board, and send their contributions directly
10 such mission or school, cf which the
General Treasurer shall be Immediately
notified; Provided, thar the Conference in
whose territory such moneys may be given,
shall have credit for the same, IN settling
the dppOrtiORmeHt Of the General Board. >
Please notice that the object in requiring
the reporting Of a special contribution to
the conference in which il is given, IS clearly
stated 20 be, that he proper credit may be
given IN settling the GppOrti0RmeRt, diyi-
ded By said conference among its several
charges, according TO Art. XIV. Now the
question is: Can any power short Of The
General Conference itself change this or
gsaic law? Again, if it can be changed, Or
so construed as to admit the sense imputed
By this late resolution, will not the laymen
Of the church, whose purse il TO supply the
treasury, feel sOrely aggTieyed? IL takes
from HIM the right and power to give d.
reclion 20 his contributions, and al the
same time to support the credit Of his
church-a privilege he has enjoyed all his
life, and one which his fathers before him
heard sounded out from he pulpit in trum-
pet tones, times without number. Now
the moment he suggests what purposes he
wishes his contribution applied 10, that
moment he fOrfeils the right 10 have il
credited on the record Of his church.
Furthermore, claim that in the defense
Of this negative position lies the true in
terest Of foreign missions, no less than Of
the church at home. Our great missionary
system, as embodied in the constitu-
ton, and acted out in the past,
is quite sufficient for all practical
purposes. 1t is the grand bulwaTk
Of the church-the priceless legacy
Of the mighty, the sdinted, the
deGfhless dead. Our money is safer
going through this channel than any
we can devise ourselves; and / can see
nothing good in the beginning or the end
ing Of an attempt TO usurp prer0gatives
which inhere in the very construction Of
the church, and which it cannot surrender
and maintain its OVID existence.
L. 4. ROBERTSON.
p. / see the origin CT the Mission
Home noticed once more. and | take .Ocea-
sion hereby TO donate, and bequeath, and
fully and freely transfer and convey to Dr..
David Campbell Kelley, his heirs and as
signs, forever, to have and to hold what.
ever of credit the public may have hOnored
me with personally in the matter of said
Mission Home enterprise. Most probably
this is the cordial for which the Doctor has
been fretting for, 10, these several months.