The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-05-28
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
WOMEN PREACHING, AGArS--rMPoRTANr DIS
CUSTOM on THS ORDINATION OF ELphhs
AND prACoNs-DIREcroRY OF woRshir'

woNrS PREACHING, AGAfS--IMPoRTANr DIS
cusstoS on THG ORDINATION OF ELDERS
| .xp prAcoNs-DIREcroR OF woRsHiP.
fcnsr,estcn rs. ca News and Courier. 2oth.l
Pursuant to adjournment tue Presbyte.
RAN General Assembly met at hali-past J
O'Clock yesterday morning, and was opened
with devotional exercises conducted by tbe
Rev. Jahleei Woodbridge, o. MISSISSIPPI
WOMEN As PREACHERS.
The Rev. JableeI Woodbridge asked 10
\ amend the action of the General Assembly
YESTERDAY on the subject OF women preach'
ing, or that an explanatory resolution de-
claripx that the Assembly bad not gone into
a long discussion Of this subject be passed
and published. He thought the Assembly
had been placed ia false position, and DC
wanted the world TO understand It's true
position upon question now creating sucI
great agitation IN the Christian Church. lie
did not think there was man III the AS
sembly who believed that women had the
right 10 preach, and he was unwilling Tor
the impression to go abroad that the Assem-
| bly had gone into the discussion oil a SUD-
feet already so clearly defined and so den
| nitely settled. he therefore Introduced tue
| following resolution:
Inasmuch as in motion for the adoption
OF the Committee OF Bills and Oyertures on
an overture, No. o, respecting the public
preaching Of women, q long discussion oc-
Cured on a collateral issue, which discus
sion may be misunderstood as referring TO
said preaching Of women, il is distinctly
affirmed that on that subject there is no 6i-
ference OF opinion in the Assembly, 1t
being unanimously forbidden and con-
demned.
The Rev. A. w. Clisby moved TO recon-
slider the overture on women preaching.
Mr.. l.. Il. Johnston wanted 10 know whe-
Their such motion could be entertained.
Mr.. Clisby supposed his brother, the Rev.
Mr.. Woodbridge, wanted to append bis
resolution to the report OF the committee as
a kind Of explanatory clause.
Mr.. j. NJ. Kirkpatrick thought the matter
ought 10 come up and be settled.
Mr.. Morris boped the motion TO recon-
slider would not prevail.
Mr. Inglis thought perhaps IL would be
better to adopt Il preamble to the report as
passed.
The motion to reconsider was lost.
FRATERNAL sALUTATIoNs.
The following dispatch from the General
Il
sembly was received:
MADISON. Wis, May "a, 1880.
The General Assembly Of the Presbyterian
Church in Session at Charleston:
The General Assembly in session at Mad
ison, Wis. extend fratcrnal SITUATIONS TO
the General Assembly at Charleston, S. g.,
and prays that grace, mercy, and peace from
God, the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ,
may be multiplied abundantly TO all its
members. WILLIAM N. PAXTON,
Moderator.
On motion of DR.. Wilson the dispatch
was referred to the Committee on Foreign
correspondence for immediate answer, after
they have reported TO the General Assem-
bly,.
NEW DIRECTORY OF WORSHIP.
The special order of the day for 10 o'clock
came up-the report of the Committee on
the New Directory OF Worship.
The Rev. Mr.. CLANCY thought the recon-
mendation of the Committee on Revision 10
recommit the report TO the same committee
for further action was very wise, and moved
that the resolution be adopted and the COM
mittee empowered 10 take charge OF the
whole matter.
The Rev. j. d. West thought it was OF
the greatest importance 10 have the revised
Directory published and circulated among
The ministers for their information and in
struction.
The Moderator said it was in accordance
with parliamentary usage to print the re-
ports Of all committees.
Mr.. ID. &. Collins, of Kentucky, moved |
the following substitute:
ReSOLced, That the report Of the Commit |
. Ill Of 10 NJ
Worship he accepted and recommitted to |
tire same committee, with permission TO |
have a sufficient number OF copies printed |
at the expense OF the General Assembly, |
and CODY OF the same be forwarded to |
each minister Of this Church and two copies |
to each session; also two copies to each |
stated clerk of presbyteries, with request
that the same be critically examined by each
Dresbytery, and the result OF such eXami- |
nation and criticism be forwarded to the |
chairman of said Committee on Revis on for
their use in making u report to the next
General Assembly.
Or. Woodrow said he had no objection to
heir substitute, but was OF opinion that the
resolution OF the committee covered the
whole ground.
Mr.. Collins did not want tue report to 60
down with the authority of the Assembly,
Dut to be printed and referred 10 the com
nittee. The reference to the committee
should be direct.
DR.. Woodrow moved that the considera-
ion OF the substitute be postponed. Car
lied.
THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER.
On the overture from the Presbytery Of
Florids, sent up through the Synod of
Georgia, asking an answer to the following
question "Can the office OF ruling elder
DR. deacon, as that OF minister, be de-
mitted f"-
The committee report First. That the
word "demit" does not occur in our
and its use produces confusion.
A minister OF the Gospel cannot demit bis
office. He can be Invested of his office only
by act OF presbytery. Second. The rules
or divesting minister OF his Office with
)ut ceDsure do not IN all cases apply to the
uling elder and deacon. For instance, the
provision OF Rules OF Discipline. chapter
2, section 3, has application only to min
ster Of the Gospel, and the provisions OF
Form OF Government, chapter 6, sections
!, 4, and 9, and Rules Of Discipline, chap
!, sections and 10, while applying to the
lder aud deacon, are expressly restricted
o the case where the officer is unacceptable !
o the church.
The Rev. III. II. Raymond said II was the
lesign OF the overture TO get an answer to
he question whether ruling elder or
leacon could be relieved OF his ordination 1
'ows. A man can be allowed to cease from
lis official labors but If he should take
Up the office again would be have to be re-
rdained? He thought the report of the
ommittee did not answer the real question