The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-06-20


The Assembly, at the outset. Were you
wrong to trust him? Sir, any man that comes
accredited by this Assembly has an access to
nv confidence and my heart. If this Com
mittee is liable to censure, let the Assembly
have its full share of censure, too. ls the
Committee to be blamed for what you have
repeatedly done before? You appointed a
Secretary yearly. So much for that.
Then as to the debts; some, all concur, are
legal liabilities. Others not. This Commit
tee could have refused to have acknowledged
some six or eight thousand dollars, for which
there is d doubt whether they are responsi-
Bile. But they shoulder the entire debt, ask
for no diminution to that extent at least.
But, sir, upon the other question, has it
been shown that the Committee as moral
agency has been failure? In this grander,
nobler aspect, so far from being failure, it
has been grand success. We take different
views of almost every question presented
every object in nature appears 6ferently to
different beholdefs-the Sir, II We are thus
constituted, may be pardoned for saying
that as regard it, the question of dollars
and cents sinks into utter insignifcance when
compared with the grander results of the
Publication work. Do you measure the value
of your Missionary scheme by it's return in
dollars and cents? No, sir. No. But you
do seek return of tldings that the instru-
mentality you employed has given salvation
to a single SOUL That is more than all the
wealth of Indies "What shall it profit
man if he gain the whole world and lose his
own soul?" Attempt to measure this work by
its money value is vain, inconceivable. At
tempt to marry Immortality to death and with
the unsubstantial breath of time fill the en-
brace of all eternity Then, Moderator, bid
these men God,speed rather than throw an
obstacle in their way.
Of the eloquent Henry Clay, of Kentucky,
it is said that on one occasion he had voted
to increase the pay Of members; he went be
fore his constituents who did not approve
his vote; but he put an end to the entire
opposition by one single speech. Among
those who disapproved his course was an old
huntsman, much trusted in that locality, and
when confessing his fault, he said, calling the
huntsman by name, "Should that truSty old
rife of yours, on one occasion, fail to fire,
and the game escape, would you throw away
your rifs?" "No! Mo-" replied the rife
man. "No, I'd pick my flint and try her
again ?" So let us try this Committee again.
Mr.. Tomlin moved to confine the debate
to five minutes from each speaker on this
subject, on re- assembling tonight.
The motion was adopted.
Mr.. anderson said he had not had his
heart so saddened as by the course of this
debate. He had hoped that the Southern
Church would be that one which would give
ideas to the people, but now it is said no, sit
takes too much money" He then read and
commented on the resolutions, showing that
there was no real objection to any one of
them. The resolution to sell the Publishing
House was untimely, but he would vote for
it. He did not see how any one could OBJ
ject to these resolutions. They had been
carefully prepared by the committee, and
with unanimity.
The Assembly took recess to o'clock.
EVENING SESSION.
Mr.. Dodge thought the expenses of the
Committee on Publication was just subject
of criticism. In making comparison of the
expenses Of the different causes, he did not
think he was transcending the proper sphere
of discussion. The expenses of Publication
were much greater than those of Foreign
Missions and Education. He did not oppose
the Publication cause, but ne did oppose the
expensive way in which the work was car
ried on.
Prof. Campbell said, in response, that the
expense of the new method of conducting the
work of Publication would be. reduced one
half. But the matter ought not to be dis
cussed in the light of dollars and cents. If
it was needful to be done, it must be done.
If this amendment in regard to the sale Of
the house is to come up, | would say one
word on that point. 1t has been asserted
that the Church ought not to hold property
of this sort. What difference is there in q
church investing its money in a parsonage
or lectureroom to obtain one important
end, and the investment of funds by the AS
sembly in publishing house to gain another
important end?
Mr.. Bedinger moved to take up the reso-
lutions Seriatim.
DR.. Woodrow moved to amend the motion
of Mr.. Bedinger by ordering that the mo,
tions should be put without debate, but with
out cutting off the right to offer amendments.
Mr.. Conan opposed the amendment on the
ground that there were some facts that were
yet in the dark, and they could not be brought
out without discussion.
Mr.. HoUeU wanted the discussion of the
{ question of the sale of the Publishing House
, Gov. Marye thought it the wrong way tc
get at the sense of the Assembly or of any
deliberative body.
J DR.. Woodrow, to save time, withdrew nil
amendment.
The motion to take up the resolutions seri
I atm prevailed.
, The first resolution was adopted.
The second was read.
! DR.. Smith asked whether the design wal
: to authorize the Committee to make con
tract for the sale of books with some existing
publishing house, or are they authorized tt
4 contract with parties not now in business. l
o the Committee, for instance, were to Civ
!; this contract to any bookseller, ne might sci
y other books you would by no means approve
: He would be introduced to all your patrons
This plan may do more harm than good. Th
result might be to lay a snare for our peOpl
j. and ourselves.
It Gov. Patton thought it would be imposs
d BILE to give exact directions to the Commit
d tee. Something must be left to their discrt
d tion.
8. DR.. Hoge said the Committee would lik
10 to know what was the exact expects
70 ton of the Church as to what they wer
le to do. We may have difficulty in fut