The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-10-23

pU1luitlSt Iouh az tIlc large CdpltAt glS4ulItu
by others. The Presbyterian Board has Q
capital approaching half million, and
hence is able TO do mighty work.
Now we need capital to accomplish our
mission. We must furnish facilities for the
instruction and indoctrination OF our chill.
dren in our families and Sabbath schools.
In this we have done q good deal, but not
enough. We must create a religious litera-
ture OF our own to meet the wants OF our own
ministers, churches, and people. We as a
Church have the talents and the learning,
but the committee lacks the means. We
must thus become enabled to furnish our
colporteurs to carry the gospel in that
form which commends itself to us to
our institutions-sca scattering books and
tracts as leaves Of the tree for the healing
OF the nations. Moreover, we must furnish
our ministers and Christian workers with
books, tracts. and papers for general distri-
button. We have done something in all
these departments. In the past history OF
the committee we have given circulation to
about $4,000 worth OF our publications to
Sunday schools and to supply restitution.
This is something, but we ought to do a
great deal more. +.
But we need a building. The purchase
OF our house was forced on us as neces-
sity, aud was purchased only after obtain
ing the Assembly's authority. The finan-
cial crisis had not begun when the purchase
was made, though it began about six weeks
afterwards. Thirty-one thousand dollars is
yet to be raised. The property has not de-
preciated in value. Richmond has never
made any pledge rs to what she will do to-
ward this work, owing to the depressed state
OF business. An effort has not yet been made
there, but soon will be, and then, DR.. Baird
said, he believed Richmond would do what
she could-would do her duty. Nashville
had made noble subscription OF 10000,
but it was for book concern, purpose
which the Assembly could not entertain,
and in point OF fact the offer was not made
to the Assembly.
Dr. Baird said the committee desired Its
work to be fully understood by the Church,
and invited the scrutiny OF our brethren
You can see anything you want by simply
asking to see tour account-books, oul
correspondence, or anything else. At the
Assembly we had all the books and paper:
necessary to explain everything we have
done. Everything was there but the build
ing, the stock, and the stereotype-platcs
which are too heavy to tote. AS a commit
tee we have done the best we could; but al
OF us are ready to give place to wiser men
II the Church continues us there, we want
its confidence, its prayers, and its support
The committee had commissioned the Rev
Samuel D. Stuart as m agent to prosecute
the endowment; and for him DR.. Bairt
asked the confidence and cooperation OF al
the brethren.
DR.. Baird was asked to explain some o.
the points OF his address 4 little more fully
by several members, which he did; after
which the Rev. DR.. j. L. kirkpatrick Of
fered the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Synod do heartily ap
prove OF the measures inaugurated by the
Committee Of Publication, under the direc
tionS OF the General Assembly, for the com
petion of the endowment fund OF that in
dispensable agency Of the Church; and II
view OF the pressing demand for immediate
relief in the matter Of the debt on the pub
LEGATION house the Synod do urge on all oul
ministers, ruling elders, deacons, and pr
waite members q prompt and efficient &C
operation with the committee, their agents
and measures.
DR., Kirkpatrick said DR.. Baird had lef
him but little to say. lie had given TIT
material for an address, but had used 1t eX
harlStively himself.
As the house OF publication is in Viz
ginia, Virginia would receive the creates
| benefit from it. 1t is OF material advantage
to the capital and to the whole State. Whel
the agencies of our Church were all a
Philadelphia the money from all on
churches went to this centre. For this NJ
blame is to be attached to any one; it was
necessary result that the community wher'
this money was expended should be bene
| fitted. So it is here.
~
the propriety OF the purchase of the publica
ton house. 1t was done by authority of thu
General Assembly. This action, whe1
taken, was approved heartily by the who'll
Church, with here and there an exception
! The debt rests upon US. and must be met
and now is the time to liquidate it. HI
used to live in the country where :" cotton
was king 1t was proverbial there tina
men never got out Of debt except when thu
price of cotton was low. When it was high
they ran wild in speculation when low
they invested their receipts in the paymen
Of their obligations. And in the presen
pressure is our time to meet this debt o.
the Church. II this depression continues
! he hopes soon to see the Church come for
ward and pay otfthis obligation resting on if
He had voted. as n member OF the Gene
ral Assembly OF 1866, for the appointment
OF DR.. Baird as secretary; and now, after
seeing his work for years, he wished to SAY
solennly that lie had never cast vote thu
results OF which gave him more satisfaction
He wished to sustain the secretary and thu
committee. He would place this work or
stable footing, and what was needed was
that the whole Church should come forward
and take hold Of this scheme. He had beer
pleased with what he heard in the SYNOD
about the efficiency OF the elders; all o.
which he heartily endorsed. This cause
now gives an opening Tor their efficient
services. They can take up this work, anC
raise in their churches what is needed fol
this most important enterprise.
Rev. William Brown, D. d., made state
ment to remove a misrepresentation tha
seemed to be somewhat prevalent. When
man has to pay debt for property which
has become partly or wholly worthless, he
NAV regard it as SO much money that ha:
been sunk. That is not the case here. A;
already stated by others, the property OF the
publishing house is worth all 1t cost, ant
will in the future be worth far more. L
now furnishes lis, in an admirable location,
all the room we need, and ali to be needed
in the future. In the mean time, the room
not needed is, or will DeJ rented out, thu;
bringing us good income. So 1T comes to
this, that the payment Of this debt is simply
form OF completing our endowment and
so much money well invested. I.
Rev. NJ. D. Hoge, ID. D., next addressed
the synod. He believed one Of the: best re-
suits OF this work OF publication was yet to
be realized-the development OF a Christian
literature OF our own. He alluded to what
the Scotch and the Huguenot religious lite