Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-05-23
Tho Presbyterian Genera, Assembly

wv Tt0oUySVtldU Acss0fuu ASSEMBLY
CHICAGO, May 19.-1n the Presby-
terrain General Assembly, this morn
ing, the Moderator announced the
rest of the standing committees.
The committee appointed by the
last General Assembly to report on
new and final Court of Appeal re-
ported that the court should be con-
stituted on the following principles !:
First-It shall consist Of eighteen
members, nine ministers and nine
ruling elders, not more than two
from any Synod.
Second-The General Assembly
shall choose its members by ballot as
soon as the Prebytcries shall approve
of this overture. There shall be three
lasses Of six, each holding respective
ly for one, two and three years, COM
mencing September LIST after their
election, and six shall be elected an
nually thereafter.
Third-The Court shall sit during
the sessions of the General Assembly,
pending its actual labors.
FOurth-All its decisions shall be
final, except in cases involving doc
trine, which shall go to the General
Assembly alone.
Fifth-Ten members shall be a
quorum and if no quorum is present
sfter three days session the places of
the absentees shall be filled by the
Assembly. ~
Sixth-A majority of those present
shall decide any case, if there is tic
the decision Of the court below shall
stand.
Scventh--All appeals, complaints,
ETC., shall be preferred as for the
General Assembly. 81
Eighth-The principles prescribed
in the book of discipline, chapter Z,
shall be in force in this court in ali
cases. a.5sa
Ninth-Thc court may adopt it's
own rules for its government. All its
decisions shall be reported to the
General Assembly and recorded.
The synodical committee made, in
place Of a report, some discursive re-
marks on the terms of instructions
by which they are bound and express
ed regret that thereby they were
made catechists who stifle rather than
promote benevoleuce, and at some
length they deprecate this view OF
their mission and submit many prop
ositions including the following:
That they ought to devote them
selves solely to stimulating benevo-
lent aid; to draw congregations to
the higher level of q cheerful, system
attic, fruitful and truly chritian CIV
ing. The practice of the Presbytery
of Iowa South, is commended, in
that they secure by means of printed
cards, distributed to all contributors,
aid for each of the eight Causes
Plans used by other Presbyterics are
also commended and many practical
Communications are given.
| Several members criticised the
spirit of this document, as faultfind.
ing and objection was maids to its re-
ception, but it was finally put on the
docket. la
The Moderator presented memo
rial from the Preshytery of San
Francisco, asking that the work OF
evangelizing the hundred thousand
organized Chinese on the Pacific coast
commence Immediately under the
lead OF foreign missions. 1t sets forth
that these people have established in
this Christian country their heather
gods, sacrifices and idolatry, with
heather vices, which they practice
openly in our populous cities with
immunity. The memorial refers also
to the importation of Chinese prosti'
tutes and to the excitement of the
nnhlic mind IN tho Pacific Goa t
This should not be merely an auxili-
airy of the mission in China. Regu
lar ministers should be stationed on
the coast as assistants Of the Board, i
Foreign Missions prove inadequate
that the work be transferred to HON,
Missions. This was referred to {
committee.
Rev. A. B. Hewitt offered resolu
ton for the abolition Of fermentet
wine.