The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-05-26
Editorial. Correspondence.
Meeting of the General Assembly.
CHARLESTON, S. c., May 81, 80

before 1t then represented the whole
Church North and South. In 1851 the
Assembly held its sessions in st. Louis,
Mo, and when the time came for select
ing the next place of meeting, Charleston
was nominated. Some one objected on
the ground that possibly Charleston
would not be in the United States in an
other year, as even then the question of
secession was warmly debated But the
Assembly expressed its confidence by
voting with large majority for Charles
ton. We meet in Charleston again, after
twenty-eight years, but although Charles
ton Is still in the Union our Northern
brethren are meeting at this time in Mad
lson, Wis, more than 1000 miles away.
We cordially wish them a pleasant and
profitable session. 1t is certainly very
delightful to be here AS the railroads
furnished special facilities from all direc-
lions, it was easy to get here and there is
full delegation-1l2 being present at the
opening of the Assembly, and about doz-
en- more this morning Two of them are
full-blooded Indians, Rev. Allen Wright
and Elder Milton Brown, representing
the Indian Presbytery; the one Chicka-
saw, the other Choctaw. They repre-
sent more than 1000 communicates and
IN the Presbytery there are five or six
native Indian preachers, and our Secre-
tary Of Missions says that we have no
better people in our communion.
Promptly at IL o'clock on Thursday,
the Moderator, Rev Joseph R. Wilson,
D D., opened the Assembly, preaching
the admirable sermon which has already
been given to our readers, from the text,
20 Lord, send now prosperity" Psalm
cxviii 25.
The Assembly was organized by the
election of Rev. DR.. T. A. Hoyt, of Nash
vile, Tenn, as Moderator, who received
small majority over DIR. James Wood
row, of Columbia In 1871 we saw DR..
Hoyt presiding at the Gold Exchange in
New York, of which he was then Vice
President. They said that he ruled bet
ter than any one had ever done before
In that position, but it seemed to us that
1T was the most perfect Babel or Bedlam
on earth The Assembly could have
made no better choice of a presiding Off
Ger, and we are sure that DR.. Hoyt will
have a more congenial work and an easier
time than he had in New York. After
the organization the Assembly adjourned
about o'clock, and the afternoon was
spent by the members in getting ready
for business and in seeing Charleston
The last occupied the most of the time
and every body, even those who had been
here before, felt well repaid for the walks
and rides in and around Charleston. It
Is city SUI generi8 ct bonj ge,,e,58. 1t re
sembles in this respect Venice or Amster-
dam there is no other city like it. The
houses do not front on or towards the
streets as in other cities. The gables are
towards the streets which are very mar
row; and there are large piazzas open
ing IN direction parallel with the street
This arrangement is for the purpose of
protecting the buildings from the sun and
catching the sea breezes; and certainly
those who live in houses favorably stu
ated have no need to go away to find else
where cooler or more refreshing breezes
The Battery a beautiful little park shaded
with live oaks, is bounded on two sides
by the Ashley, and is thronged these
bright, we will not say warm evenings
because no heat is felt there.
We spent most Of the afternoon in
visit to Magnolia Cemetery, the most
picturesque, charming, and appropriate
resting place for the dead that we have
ever seem. It is a natural grove Of live
oaks draped with the long hanging moss
peculiar to this Southern country, and
has been just enough improved not to mar
its natural beauties, or to suggest that