The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1878-05-29

by the blessing OF God upon the IaoOrS "
toe Committee during the year which closed
30th April, 1877, every claim was fully met
and the Committee had the great grstitica'
tion of reporting to the Assembly of 1877 nc
deficiency. But the experience Of the Com
mittee teaches them that it is not safe 70 rely
upon the hope or expectation that this result
will invariably be realized. To bring the
matter properly before the Assembly, sub
committee was appointed to consider and re-
port upon the whole subject to the Executive
Committee, and this having been done, the
Report was adopted and ordered to be laid
before this venerable court, to be acted upon
finally for the guidance of the Executive
Committee in settling this much Vexed cues
ton.
REPORT OF SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE EXEGU-
TIVE COMMITTEE OF EDUCATION ON APPRo-
PRIATIoNs TO STUDENTS, ADOPTED, AND
PROPOSED TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR
THEIR CONSIDERATION.
"The Committee appointed at your last
meeting for the purpose of considering the
question of the propriety and wisdom Of
making the appropriations to benefciaries
absolute, or of making only pro rata distri-
button to them of the amount of all funds
contributed by the churches to our treasury,
hereby present to the Executive Committee
of Education the following Report, as the
result of their deliberations
l. The Committee are unanimous in the
fundamental proposition that the Executive
Committee should never incur debt.
2. 1t is also their judgment that inaSmuch
as the churches, and people of God, are the
sole resources whence the funds for Education
can be drawn, the Executive Committee is
not under obligation to pay more, or to
pledge more, than is furnished by the
churches.
3. Furthermore, the Committee hold the
opinion that each ecclesiastical year should
close up its own financial matters, and that
it is inexpedient to levy contributions on a
succeeding year to meet the deficiencies of
previous year.
4. That it is the duty of the Executive
Committee to use every legitimate effort to
raise the largest amounts from the churches
for this object, so as to make as near an ap-
proach as possible to the limit of pecuniary
aid established by the General Assembly for
our benefciaries, and that at the close of the
ecclesiastical year, having made an equitable
distribution to these benefciaries of all
moneys in the treasury, each student on the
list shall be considered as paid up in full and
the pecuniary obligations of the Committee
should be considered as fully discharged.
5. While the Committee hold these propo-
sitions to be beyond controversy, at the same
time they do not feel justified in recommend
ing that this system be put into immediate ope'
ration, for the obvious reason that the sys-
tenn of absolute pledges having been the
policy of the Executive Committee during
all former periods, and the present year
having been allowed TO reach this late period
without any intimstion, on our part, of
change, the young men have right to ex-
pect that they shall receive, as heretofore,
the amounts appropriated, and have made
all their arrangements in accordance with
such wellfounded expectations.
6. Finally, your Committee recommend
the adoption of the foregoing system, to take
effect from the beginning Of the next ecclesi-
astical year, subject to the approval of the
General Assembly.
It will be observed that the Committee
does not contemplate making unconditional
and absolute pledges to candidates that any
definite amount shall be paid to them. But
it is always carefully to be stated at the very
beginning of the term when the candidate is
accepted and his name enrolled on the Com
mittee's list, that the amount asked for shall
be paid to him provided the churches furnish
the funds, and it is furthermore understood
that the Committee shall use every reasona-
bic effort to raise the amount that may be
needed to meet the wants of the candidates.
If, however, there should occur at the close
of any ecclesiastical year deficiency in the
sum requisite, the Committee desires to be
allowed to make pro rata distribution of
the funds in the treasury among the candi-
dates, and with this to close the accounts of
students for that year, so that no draft shall
be made upon the current income of the en-
suing year to meet any deficiency of the year
preceding. 1t is perceived that no repudia-
ton of pledges can be ckargeable to the
Committee in adopting such plan, since the
candidate is informed, at the outset, that ne
is to expect payment only to the extent Of
the means furnished by the churches, and he
is thus warned to make his own arrange
ments with corresponding prudence and care.
It is even hoped by the Committee that
when the churches learn that the sums paid
to candidates are contingent upon the
amounts contributed in the course of the
wear by the churches, this fact may stimulate
their ibershty and induce them to increase
the amount of their contributions. This I'M
portant subject is submitted by the Commit
tee to the superior wisdom of the Assembly,
in the hope that such a decision may be
reached as will best promote the prosperity
of the cause and work no injury to any one.
It is hardly necessary that the Committee
should say that they have no wish to curtail
the mesgre allowance of candidates. On
the contrary, it would be gratifying to the
/ Committee to be able to restore the appro-
priations to the original amount fixed, from
which they have been compelled to reeede,
for the past two years, were such thing
prudent or even possible. But it may be
we'll asked, why delude the candidate with q
promise of certain amount when, accord
, ing to past experience, it is always matter
of doubt as to the ability of the COMMITTEES
to paw it? Is it not safer, and does it no
place the matter upon more honorable bs
sis, to keep the appropriation within limiti
! to be determined by the aggregate of church
contributions, giving the candidate notice o
, this fact at the beginning of the year ! Th'
| Committee will dismiss this subject by simply
, stating that one great object which they de