The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-05-29
fr.nnrtea Tor The nasnatch.l

Il an mn. the question beng whether the
IN, ,tcr,e> should say whether they de.
49, ~ snv revision. the proposition having
S''v" submitted by DR.. Hopkins. The AS
',hlr voted in the negative, and so the
,".,ion VII not be submitted TO the Pres.
SS",crleS. The other questions submitted
y. NJ. Hopkins were Withdrawn, and the
s;.rn Of the committee providing for print.
80 me revision and sending copies 10 the
..iri,iers. clerks, and Sessions WAS taken
~ discussed. and adopted. The revision
IN GOES back 10 the PreSbyterles, after
INC prinled, for further examination.
The chair appointed Rev. MessrS. Shanks
IA uonkins and Mr.. Buford the commit
tes 10 prepare The minute in the case 81 Mr..
Turner. ,. -,
ana OvcriureS. presented report on an
overture from the synod OF South Carolina
N.t,pc deliyerance Of the General Assembly
mon the question as to The law OF The
Ssrrcb. which was discussed at length bv
NJ u,yi. Mr.. Leievre, Dr. Girardeau, and
a,bar>. The question came mp upon the
;,cpirv . TO whether good and sufficient
-, .eouences from the Word OF God are
So',,l authority with the law OF God, and
o,.fber this principle i to be applied TO
fN. D n
Ater 4 very warm discussion the Assem-
bl, shortly before IL O'Clock, adjourned.
To Days Proceedings.
PRAYER hy Rev. L. Fletcher.
When the body commenced business this
morning Rev. Mr.. Law. from the commit
tas apoo!uled 10 examine the proceedings
~ me synod Of North Carolina, made a
favorable report.
Si,nil9r reports were received from TtXls.
ALBANIA. Nashville. Memphis, Virginia, &c.
Rev. p. Il. Law. from the Committee on
The Virginia synod Records, offered several
criticisms tised upon that SynOd's action in
the east Of the relIcenSure of Rev. X. L.
Howi.on. all Of which exceptions were re-
ifr, d By the Assembly.
CHRISTIAN GREETING.
pr. Joseph Il. Wilson, stated clerk, laid
before the General Assembly telegram
from the Convention Of the Young Mems
Cnri,iian Association of the Uoited States
and the British Provinces, now in session
al Cleveland. ohio, sending Christian greet
iD,>. &C.. which, on motion, Of DR.. Lefevre,
W. referred to the Committee on Foreign
correspondence. y proper reply was sent.
REFORMED CHURCH or AMERICA.
Or. Wilson also laid before the body
letter from Rev. W. c. Handy, Of the Re-
formed Church OF America, who had been
annotated a delegate 10 this General Assem-
biz. but WAC had been prevented from at
tending, a., who urges that the delegate
from this General Assembly will attend the
melting of synod Of which he is q member,
which meets in Hud' on, y. Y, June 1st.
Referred TO Committee on Foreign Core
spondence.
STATE OF THE CHURCH.
Rev. ]. Il. Quarles, from the Committee
on Narrative, presented a report giving an
account of the state Of religion within the
bounds Of the General Assembly. The re-
port saws: Looking over the entire terrific
~. and Observing IFS hills and valleys, ii is
noticeable that the highest points, where
the sun OF prosperity is most fully seen, are
upon the Atlantic seaboard in the Synods OF
Virginia, North Carolina, South C1rOllna,
and Georgia. Ia these parts OF the field the
work appears encOuragingly prosperous.
In the SvnOds OF Memphis. Nashville, Ken
tucky. Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, and
Atklnsas. the hilltops are not so high and
the valleys seem somewhat deeper; and yet
the view upon the whole has more OF light
than Of shadow. We enter the lowgrounds
OF weakness and need as we 90 into the Sy-
nod % Texas. Here the shadows seem 10
prevail. and Gods people ind their falth
some what sorely tried. Texas is mighty
empire in prospect. but our people within
Il, borders are but feeble folk. Following
the points upon which the Assembly has
asked information, the committee find:
!. That there Is record OF othclal ndellty
sent up from all paris OF the Church. Many
OF the reports emphasize the zeal, the self
denial, and the faithfulness Of the ministry.
some OF them complain OF the right OF The
pastoral duty of visiting on the part of the
ruling elders. A few declare that the Of
fee of deacon is not filled IN some OF the
churches, while others lament that their dea-
cons are not alive 10 the importance OF their
work.
>. As TO am attendance upon the ordi-
nances OF Gods house. and an appreciation
OF them, the testimony is SUBSTANTIALLY unanl-
nous that the condition is decidedly en-
3. Not many Of our Presbvieries, and but
few of our churches, have been visited by
special outpourings Of the spirit OF conver-
sion. The church at Fulton, Mo-, has pro-
badly been more highly hOnored in this re.
Spfct than auy other. But the majority OF
The reports indicate that the Spirit has been
adding 10 the Church such as should
De saved.
4. Intemperance is everywhere bewailed
a. the monster evil Of the day. But few
churches, however, find 1t amongst their
Worldly amusements seem 10 De
giving but little trouble. CoyetousneSs Is
mentiaped in some Of the reports as pre-
Yailing TO an alarming extent.
5. One Of the most painful features OF The
situation is the general report OF the ne
gec. Of family worship. The family Is the
ln'eger Of the Church. Indeed, 1t Is the
Church 10 miniature. Detection here de-
hiAhds The earnest consideration or our pas
tors and sessions.
D. IL Is painful TO learn in this connection
tndt the eateehetcal instruction Is 50 largely
neglected 10 our Christian households; but
IL IS, on The other hand, encouraging 10
Know thar our Sabbath schools are almost
universally attending faithfully TO IL.
.. That the Sabbath Is everywhere, ac- |
c0rding 10 our ideas, desecrated. by the
Government, by common carriers, ana Dy |
worldly men, is fact too well known. IL
IS, however, pleasant 10 know that In the
general community and IN the Church the re-
ports show healthier sentiment and cor
espOndinely better practice.
5. In w0rshipping God with their SUD-
lance the reports, almost without exception,
how an increased and growing fidelity on
he part Of Gods people.
8. Except 10 Texas, from few weak
elsewhere, the reports would
ndlcate that our fields are well supplied
With spiritual husbandmen.
10. The colored population seems to have
assed, for the present at least, our reach.
hey prefer their own preachers ana ser,
he's all