The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-06-02

from ordinary life insurance has oeen
stricken out. Tuscaloosa Institute is an
innovation. The accountability of the
agents of the Assembly is not realized, for
in a session of ten days, once year, the
details Of the agencies cannot be inspected.
and experience shows that the expenses Oh
the several departments for years nave
been largely in excess Of the requirements
The fitness of the agents of the Church Is
not realized, for the ministers who MI
these offices are disqualified by the call
of the HOLY Ghost, by their mental tram
ING. and BY the character pertaining to
their calling The confidence of the
Church is not realized as is manifested by
decreased contributions with an anlarged
membership.
The minority dissent from the reasons
of the majority report, relative to the an
tiquity Of the present plan and to the
costs Of the agencies. The force employed
in their management is too large, and the
Assembly should not assume the whole
work There is no necessity for locating
the agencies in the cities with our present
mails, telegraph, railroad, and banking
facilities In the country towns the bust
ness could be conducted at much less
cost. The reason that it is necessary for
the Secretary of Foreign Missions to live
in city because he has to buy foreign
exchange is without strength, for foreign
exchange has q market value and the
personal presence of the Secretary is not
essential to its purchase. If it were, there
are certainly enough members of the
Presbyterian Church in the cities who
would cheerfully negotiate such business
for the Secretary of the Assembly with
out charge. Grant that the presence of
the Secretary is necessary and it would
pay to appropriate two or three hundred
dollars for his travelling expenses rather
than locate him where his salary must be
$4,000 instead of 81 500. In paying such
salaries the church has been wasting
Christ's money. The multiplication Of
agencies is unwarrantable extravaganza,
for one person could manage all the funds
of the Church now 1t is folly to con-
tinue the present expensive machinery in
view of possible future want. The plea
of the majority that the Church is to be
injured by any agitation in the direction
of reform, leaves the irresistible inference
that the present schemes are unworthy
of confidence.
In his report, Mr. Martin offers a plan
for securing greater simplifcation, econo-
my, and efficiency in the management of
the work of the Church; the appointment
of one treasurer who shall hold all the
bonds under the control of the General
Assembly, and who shall be a thorough
man of business, not a minister; to abol-
ish all paid secretaryships and commit
each department to its respective com
mittee; to diminish the machinery in the
several departments; to abandon the
theological seminary for colored students,
because one such seminary is inadequate
to the design and because the principle
upon which the scheme is based is self
contradictory. 1.-THE assumption is that
the negro race can only be evanpelized
by negroes, and if this be true their case
is hopeless" The new plan also suggests
triennial instead of annual sessions of the
General Assembly.
The relief scheme is in direct opposi-
ton to Scriptural teachings If the col
lection of money to be invested in bonds
and stocks for the purpose of making
money for the future wants of the Church
is endorsed, the way will be open for the
Church to engage in any kind of money
making enterprise The good old name
Of the Presbyterian Church is not depen-
dent upon the permanent solvency of
railroad and city bonds The report
upon this point reads as follows: "If the
Lord should appear in our midst to-day
we verify believe He would overturn the
tables of the money-changers and drive
out from His temple those that buy and
sell therein. The Presbyterian Church
lnstruets It's people to exercise faith and
consecrate their substance to the advance
ment Of Gods Kingdom, at the same time
that its highest court induces them to
hoard $4,000 of Christ's money for the
supply of the possible wants of their per-
ishing bodies"
The minority report discusses the sub
Ject In all its aspects and declares that
the adoption of the new plan proposed
would save to the Church an annual ex-
penditure of $4,000, which would edu-
cate ninety ministers or send out eigh-
teen evangelists every year. The new
plan would also enable the Church to
conform its practices to its doctrines, ele-
vate the diaconate to its proper place in
the economy of the Church and relieve
the clergy of their self assumed duties
which are no part Of their ministerial Of
fee.