The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-07-25
CONTRIBUTIONS.
THE WORK OF THE LAST ASSEMBLY.
sUsTENTATION.

The F." ,0ork of the Assembly" is chiefly
done by Executive Committees. Their work
is arranged and ordered by the Assembly,
and when done, so far as it commands the
approval of that body, is its work. To these
Executive Committees a wide discretion is
allowed, within the limits of their assigned
provinces of service.
The definite action of the Assembly
on the Report Of the Committee of Sus-
tentatiOn, is very summarily stated, in
two resolutions, expressed in very general
terms. The first expresses ''the perfect sat
isfactiOn" of the Assembly ''with the wisdom
and fidelity with which the Executive Com
mittee of Sustentation have managed the i'm
pOrtant interests committed to their care,
and eommends them for the same" This
must be understood, especially in view of the
sentiments expressed by the Report of the
Standing Committee, predatory to the resO-
luton, as indicating the accord of the As
sembly with the policy of the Committee, and
its sympathy with it, in view of the embar-
easements felt, by reason of the inadequate
support received from the churches.
The Assembly adopts thus the appeals of
the Committee, based on ssrikingly suggestive
facts, and designed to awaken deeper in
terest and excite . greater liberality. Here
are some of these facts the Assembly desires
may be pondered prayerfully. We trust our
readers will comply with this wish of our
Supreme court,
1. Nearly tEO-thirds of our ministers,
wholly engaged in the work of the Church,
are living on very inadequate incomes.
?. Nearly two hundred, for want of sup
port, are without regular work.
3. Nearly two-thirds Of our churches, when
grouped into pastoral charges, are unable,
without assistance, to support stated min
istry," -Four hundred are vacant, on &C
count of not receiving aid. As many as 161
have no houses of worship and 80 are suffer
ing for want of them.
The Committee of Sus.entation may be
termed ministry of the Interior" It
comprises FIVE departments Of service, all re-
lasing to the life and growth Of the Church.
The first and prominent is the collection and
disbursement of means to aid feeble churches
in supporting ministers. Allied to this is
the provision of means to support mi8siona-
ries and eyangelists for sections of the eoun-
try in which We have no organized churches,
or churches not able, even with assistance, to
have stated ministry and for preaching
to the eolored people. To both Of these de- |
partments, that of aiding in the erection of
houses of worship is intimately related
Then to this Committee pertains the delicate
but benevolent duty of distributing the bene-
factions of Gods people to aged and in6rm
ministers, and the widows and orphans of
such as have died in the service of the
Church. The Assembly has also entrusted
the management of the "Relief Fund to
this Committee. This is constituted by con-
tributiOns Of churches for their pastors, or of
ministers for themselves, of sums of money, |
the proceeds of which, by judicious invest
ments, are to be distributed to the widows
and orphans Of those who have been made
participants in the 'Fund." Thus we can
see, in this outline, the value of the services
rendered by this "arm" of the Church, and
more fully appreciate the appreciation of its
work, as expressed in the resolution of the
Assembly.
1t is evident that there are manifest ad-
vantages arising from this uni6cation of the
work Of the several churches and Presbyte-
ries, in this one central organization. So
long as the appointment of this Committee is
made annually, we do not at all sympathize
with those whO express apprehensiOns of the
evils of Capitalization, or the effects of trust
ing interests, 50 widely extended, into the