Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-05-20
THE FIFTH DAY.
Thu Cumberland Presbyte.
rians in Convention.
Debates on the Condition of Their
Foreign MissiOns-0ther De-
tails Of their Proceed
ingS YesterdAyand
this Morning.


tor, J. S. Order, opening with prayer.
A half hour was spent in devotional
exercises conducted by Rev. NJ. M.
Smith. The minutes of yesterday
proceedings we're read and approved.
At roll call several members of the
assembly were found absent.
The special order of the day being
the report of the committee On mis-
siOns it was taken up, and the first item
was concurred in. 1t reads as follows F..
That the second Sabbath in July,
1879, be observed by all the cOngre-
Cation as a day of prayer for missions,
and that such other services be had as
may be desirable and practicable. This
part Of the report was concurred in.
The second item was amended, and
reads That the lower juridiction be
expected to comply with existing re-
quirements relative to the observance
of quarterly and monthly collections
for missions and otherwise CO.
operate with the board in its
arduous labors." The item was
concurred in after much debate
on the part of the assembly. Among
other light thrown upon the cituatien,
one member estimated that $33,0OO,-
600 of taxable property was owned by
the communicates of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church, the same being
widely scattered Over a very extended
region of this country. 1t was also
stated that after ten years of earnest
effort the church had totally
failed in getting up proper sta
tistics of its members and its
wealth. Another member spoke earn
estly regarding the negligence of the
authorities in making stronger laws
and stronger demands on the commu-
nicants. One said it would require a
standing army to enforce stronger
regulations, and he did not think the
church was at present prepared for
such an emergency. At the close Of
the debate the vote resulted in 6 for
and So against the amendment, which
mOdi6es by saying recommend in
stead Of require After amending
the item was adopted by a decided
vote.
The third item of the report reads
as follows
The board having, in pursuance of
the instructions Of the last assembly
to reduce its members to five, deemed
it best to procure a charter for a new
board from the State of Missouri,
wherein Rev. c. H. Bell, ID. and
Rev. +. Lock and Messrs. A. G. Stew
ard, A. A. Rouland and T. NJ.
Langdon are named as charter
members, we recommend that you
concur in the same and order the old
board to transfer it's property to the
new board and cease to exercise its
functions.
The discussion upon this article was
%protracted and took a wide latitude.
1t was stated that a charter had al
ready been granted by the State Of
Missouri, and the moderator said, in
reply to a question, that the assembly
could concur or reject, as they see fit.
The boards headquarters are at st.
Louis, aud the old board consisted Of
twelve members instead of FIVE, as
proposed. The fitness Of several mem
bers of the proposed board was crit
cised, one being complained of as too
young; another complaint Was thatthe
expenses of the former board have
been beyond what may be termed rea.
sonable economy. Itwas also disclosed
that the old board had been working
under a charter from the State O
Illinois while it had no domicil there
Under legal advice the charter from
Missouri was applied for and obtained
This action was understood 10 be il
accordance with the will Of the Forty.
eighth general assembly. The whole
question involved was whether thu
assembly would reduce the board o
missions from twelve to five. Tn,
charter had been procured from thl
authorities Of the State Of Missouri
after careful investigation by attorney
and by the Judge Of one of the court
at st. Louis.
The Rev. J. P. Honx, of Missouri
who was once a member of the boarc
Of missions, said the policy of tn,
church was to have the members a
near together as possible, and to re
duco it's numbers. A few members
himself included, felt invited to retir
from the board. He paid a compli
ment to the religious zeal and bushes
capacity of DIR. Bell. He believed i
testing the new policy and trying tn
men proposed. 1t is An easy matte
to find fault, but if any prove to b
faulty they can be easily displaced
Another gentleman, speaking of Oh
necessity Of a little youthful vigor an
antbus;sam Ia al anfernrises. All