The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-05-21
THE GBNERAI ASSEMBLY
OF THE pREsBYTERIAN CHURCH IN
THE SOUTH.
First Day or the Session ut staunten-sermon
By Rev. r. A. Hoyt-O officers Chosen-Report
ON Foreign Missions Educational and Pub
location Reports-warm Greetings from the
Reformed Church-T tuscaloosa Institute
Imuor,aut nd Interesting Proceedings.

ON Toreigu Missions -Educafionai ana run"
fyration Repcrts--wnrm Greetings from the
l. Reformed Church-T tuscaloosa Institute
| Important and Interesting Proceedings.
Especial Correspondence OF the DlsDatcb.I
STAUyrON, May 10, 1881.
The General Assembly OF the Presbvte-
rian Church In the United States convened,
according to appointment. in the FIST
| Presbyterian church, IN the city OF StauD-
ton. Va. on Thursday, May 10, 1891, at III
A. NJ. and was opened with sermon by
the Moderator, Rev. T. A. Hoyt. ID. d.. OF
Nashville, Tenn, on Galatians l., 8 and Z:
al marvel that We are 30 soon removed"
II was sermon OF great power and beauty,
and large congregation Of commissioners
and citizens filled the church. The pastor,
Rev. w. u. Baker, made a graceful and APP
propriate welcome. address to the members
| OF the Assembly, and announced that the
homes and hearts OF the people OF Staunfon
were opened wide To receive and care Tor
the gathered delegates. He also stated the
remarkable fact that the Presbytery OF Lex
| inoton antedated in its organization the
| formation OF the United States Government.
| and that venerable as it was in years, 1t had
never before been honored with meeting
OF the General Assembly.
After the close OF public worship the AS
sembly was constituted with prayer by the
Moderator.
The permanent clerk then reported the
list Of commissions as far as enrolled, and II
was ascertained that there were in attend
ance at this opening session sxty.six minis
tiers and fifty.eight ruling elders.
The Assembly then proceeded to the
ELECTION OF A MODERATOR,
whereupon Rev. r. Z. Farri>, d. D.. Of st.
| Louis, Mo-, was chosen TO that Office.
Rev. q. A. Trenholm, OF the Presbytery
OF Bethel. was elected temporary clerk.
On motion Of Rev. j. Il. Adger. ID. D., il
was resolved TO take recess until 3 Z. NJ,
and nc that hour TO hear the reports Of the eX-
ecutive committees of the Assembly and to
attend to any other business that may come
before the body.
The Assembly then adjourned to meet at
7. NJ.
| Afternoon Session.
Rev. J. Leighton Wilson, ID. D. pre-
sented the twentieth annual report Of the
Committee on Foreign Missions. Thi, re-
port noted the death OF A. Obrr, ESD, a
member OF this committee, and Rev. b. +.
| Thompson, a member Of the PernamDucO
mission.
Mr.. j. H. Fisher. Of Baltimore, was APP
pointed to dill the vacancy made by the
death OF Mr.. Obor.
A considerable increase in The cOniribu-
tions OF the Church is Il pleasing fact regard
ing The past year.
The entire force now engaged in the
MISSIONARY WORK
under the direction OF the Church, and
supplied by her contributions, consists Of
eighteen ordained missionaries, one mis-
lsonary physician, twenty->iX assistant mis-
>onaries from this country, thirteen or
dlined native missionaries, and thirty.f0ur
native assistants. The whole force consists,
therefore. OF ninPty-three persons, being an
increase OF ten during the year. Twelve
new missionaries have been sent out in the
mean time. The aggregate receipts for the
year amount to $50, 2l5.09, being an increase
OF Sl0.73iH over last year. The present
indebtedness is S6,0lj.07 on general account
and $4,000 on the Campinls debt, aggrega-
ting S12,0l5.07. The amount Of property
now held by the Church is about $4,000.
the principal part OF which is in China and
Brazil.
The Missionary has had obs paying
| >ubcbllbCi' hhiihH 'hN sN"As nN'b- "' ~
crease OF 425 over the previous year, while
more than 1000 copies have been cratui-
t0usly sent to the ministers. The commit
tee expresses a strong conviction that the
| highest interests OF foreign missions are ln-
VOWED in continuing the Missionary just
las it j., and also announce that arrange
menls have been made by which 1t shall be
published hereafter without cost TO the mis-
sionary fund. and also be sent free to all
ministers having pastoral charges.
The report also dwelt upon the question,
d" Shall the southern Church have a mission
on the continent Of Africa?" aud urged its
importance upon the attention OF the AS
sembly.
| EDUCATION.
Rev. L. NJ Richardson, secretary of edu-
cation, offered the twentieth annual report
Of this committee, detailing its work during
| the year, and pressing its needs for the fn-
| ture upon the churches. The receipts for
the year were S10,335; disbursements for
students, SS,7l0; and los for expenses.
Aid has been asked for and granted to eighty
students.
The committee deprccates the SmallnoSS
OF the contributions received from the
churches and the dearth Of candidates, and
recommends great care by Presbyteries in
the examination and reception of caudi-
dates.
PUBLICATION.
Rev. James X. Hazen. ID. d., secretary.
presented the twentieth annual report OF
the Committee OF Publication.
The total contributions for The year were
SS,0lG.7l. There has been a decided in
crease in the contributions OF the past two
years over preceding ones, indicating an
increased interest in this cause, and atten-
ton i, called 10 it for the encouragement OF
all who are interested in this branch OF the
work. But little has been received from
Old accounts due the committee, and more
than $1,000 Of such accounts are now
counted as worthless. The amount re-
ceived from royalties during the wear Is
about $1,000. The present actual debt OF
the committee, exclusive OF the mortgage
on the publishing house, is sl0,S70. and the
rate OF interest on all remaining debts has
been reduced to per cent.
The circulation Of the Earnest Worker
has steadily increased, and some growth is
also noted in the subscriptions 10 the ChH-
dren's Friend and the Lesson.Papers. The
issues from the press during the year have
been as follOws-yiz., Chitdren'S Friend,
1000; Earnest Worker, 100000; Lesson
Papers, 240, 600; Lesson Quarterly. 10000
Annual Reports, 1000, and Circulars, 90
900.
| The donation work has. to a limited eX-
tent, been resumed, and grants have been
made amounting 10 some $3.50.
The committee also laid before the Assem-
| bly, a statement regarding the Hymn Book,
asking directions as TO the course 10 be pur-
sued regarding it.