The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-05-31

Soux CALVIN PLAYING AT NiNN-fiNs.
lconaeused from chssls,,on News and Courier
The General Assembly met at the usual
,,,r Yesterday morning. and was opened
with nrayer BY Mr.. Donald MacGiegor, OF
Texas.
DELEGATES TO PRESBYTERIAN ALLIANCE.
Dr. Hooper presented report from the
Committee Of Correspondence suggesting
tho following names as delegates to TIE
PRESBYTERIAN Alliance: The Rev. Allen
WRIGHT. OF the Choctaw nation, instead OF
DIR. Peck, declned; the Rev. W. X. Mar
shell. u. D., OF Texas, instesd OF the Rev.
u n Farris. u. d., alternate. declined;
The Rev. w. j. Mccormick, OF Florida. in
Mace Of Alternate W. +. Boggs, ID. d., who
iskes the place OF the Rev. II. c. Alexan-
der. ID. D., as principal.
rRATERNAL sALUTATIoNs.
The Committee on Correspondence re-
rorted communications TO the Cumberland
pre,bytcrians, 10 the Associate Reformed
Svnod Of the South, and 10 the Reformed
rniscopai Church. containing the fraternal
salutations Of the General Assembly. The
reports were adopted IN turn, and the let
Ter. will be duly forwarded TO the different
bodies.
BURIAL SERVICE.
On the overture from the Presbytery OF
Orange asking the General Assembly TO
nroyide and have bound with our collection
~ psalms and hymns u suitable burial SER
vice for the optional use Of laymen, the
committee on Bills and Overtures recon-
meuded that the overture be referred TO the
Committee OF Revision OF the Directory OF
worship. The report Of the committee
was adopted.
SABBATH SCHOOLS.
The Committee on Sabbath Schools gave
the number OF presbyteries reporting in
1850. 80: number of schools reporting, 900
number OF teachers, 5000; number OF scho-
lars, 69.S90; number of teachers added 10
the Church in 1880, 21l number OF scholars
added. ,707; total contributions OF schools,
sos. Gas: number of colored schools, II.
Xone of the schools are under the control OF
the session, and are using the Church pub
LEGATIONS more than ever before. In view
Of the fact that fewer presbyteries have re-
ported than last year. and IL order TO more
thoroughly and Systematically organizing
Of Sabbath. school works, the committee re-
commend that the presbyteries appoint
SUPERINTENDENT OF Sabbath schools. or
a permanent committee with the spe-
cial duty OF promoting Sabbath-School
work: that all Presbyterian Sabbath
schools be conducted under control OF the
session. and thus cultivate the idea that the
sabbath school is not something apart from
the Church; that the sessions institute
teachers meetings and normal classes Tor
the more thorough training OF teachers ;
that the schools use the Caurch's own pub
licltons as the textbooks OF the schools, SO
that so-called helps, whose doctrines are
al. = asFafNr
sible, NAV be shut out; that measures he
taken to increase the attendance in the
schools and encourage systematic giving ia
all the objects of beneyolence in the Church
that stated clerks be more careful IN sending
ND full and accurate Suuday-school Stats
ties, with concise answers TO the questions
propounded in the seasonal reports.
The report Of the committee was dock
e;ed
DOMESTIC MISSIONS OFFICE.
On the overtures from the Presbyteries
Of Missouri, st. Louis, and Dallas, asking
the removal OF the office OF the Committee
on Domestic Missions TO ST. Louis, Mo-, the
Committee on Bills and Overtures recon-
mend that the request be granted, and that
the Executive Committee Of Home Missions,
with tue Rev Richard McIlwaine, ID. d..
as secretary, be transferred from Baltimore
TO ST. Louis, the transfer to take place not
later than the 1st OF next October. Several
members OF the committee do not think thi:
favorable time for such action. These
overtures and the report OF the committee
were made the second special order for to-
day.
AUTHORITY OF CHURCH COURTS.
The unfinished business OF Wednesday
the consideration Of the debate on the an
-. a. han
NAV be welIjust here for the information o.
the public to say that deliverance in heS
is a declaration Of an ecclesiastical cour
concerning a matter OF doctrine or. dis
cipIne upon which its judgment bias beer
asked, which is only ddactic tteacbing) o
declaratiye in its nature, and has no refer
ence 10 particular case. The discussion
was opened By the Rev. James Woodrow
ID. D., in reply TO DR.. Girardeau. the gis
OF whose remarks has been reported. Dr
Woodrow made a most finished and l0gica
argument OF the whole subject. He sal
that he was the only member OF the Louis
VILE General Assembly present, and he fe
il TO be his duty TO say something upon ID
subject.
THE SOUTH CAROLINA 0yERTURRs.
DR.. Woodrow entered into detailed re
view of the propositions laid down in tn
overture from the Synod OF South Carollns
which he pronounced uttegly illogical ant
unconstitutional. He did not hold that be
cause John Calvin was right in some thing
he was right in all, for Calvin had no
thought it sin to play nine-pins on Sunda
aftercoon, and Gillespie held to the doctrin
that the decisions OF ecclesiastical court
should be enforced by the civil authorities
and Martin Luther had declared that &C
pernicus was a fool" He thought til
authority" OF these grand men was not
be followed, but the teachings OF God
Word as explained by the Constitution
the Church.
DIR. Smith then proceeded to discuss th
question.
During the delivery of DR.. Smiths speec
the hour for adjournment arrived, ana, o.
motion, the Assembly took a recess unit
half.past 6 O'Clock, TO meet in Glebe-Stree
church for the further prosecution OF tn
debate.
THE NIGHT SESSION.
The Assembly met at half-past s O'Clock
The special committee appointed TO review
the majority and minority reports OF IN
Committee on Retrenchment and Reforr
reported that they were unable to recon
mend unanimously the adoption OF eithe
OF the reports Is whole, and recommen
that the Executive Committee OF Education
be discontinued, and the matter OF educa
ting candidates for the ministry be referre'
10 their respective presbyteries; that tb
presbyteries be requested 10 send any sur
plus Of funds for the cause OF education
IL any that NAV remain after prOyidin)