Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-06-03
The Last Days of the Assembly.
REPORT OF THE LAST TWO DAYs-THE
CLOSING PROCEEDINGS.

REPORT OF THE LAST TWO DAYs-THE
CLOSING PROCEEDINGS.
&C., &C., sc.
Our last report of the proceedings of the
Presbyterian General Assembly was
brought up to Thursday night the close of
the 18th days. session. The body worked
until a late hour.
| THE REVISION OF THE DIRECTORY
was taken up, the question being if it
should be submitted to the presbyteries
whether they wanted any revision or not.
DR.. Armstrong argued that preshyteries
acting through their delegates in assem-
bly, had decided upon the revision and the
| Assembly was competent to stop the work
that the work should 60 on and copies of
the report of the committee were ordered
to be printed and sent down to all the
presbyteries and synods for their further
criticism and reports at the next Assem-
bly,.
A long and learned discussion on an
overture from the Synod of South Carroll
ma as to the binding nature upon the
church of its differences from the Scrip
lures, engaged in by Drs. Lefevre, Hoyt'
Girardeau and others occupied the rest of
the session.
EIGHTH DAY-FRIDAY.
Prayer by Rev. P. Fletcher of West Va.
Rev. John G.. Law, Chairman. reported
several exceptions to the proceedings of
the Synod of Virginia as irregular in the
case of Rev. R. R. Howison. DR.. Arm
strong, DR.. Lefevre and others explained
the action of Mr.. Howison's presbytery
and the Synod. Mr.. Howison is the au-
thor of the history of Virginia which
bears his name and in his early life was a
minister, but at his own request on &C
count of i'll health was relieved Of his
| license. ae was for many years consis-
tent and devoted ruling elder and was re-
Gently re-licensed as a minister: The ex-
plantations were considered satisfactory by
the Assembly and the exceptions were not
sustained.
| GREETING FROM THE Y. NJ. c. A. CLEVE-
LAND CONVENTION.
| Dr. Wilson laid before the General As
sembly a telegram from the Convention of
the Dung Mems Christian Association
of the United States and the British Prov
inces, now in session at Cleveland, Ohio,
sending Christian greetings, &C., which,
on motion of DR.. Lefevre was referred to
the Committee on Foreign Correspon-
| dence.
Dr. Adger, the Chairman, shortly after
brought in report. He read the salu-
tation from the Cleveland convention,
which referred the Assembly to Ephesians
LIST chapter, 3rd verse, and proposed as a
reply the 4th and 5th verses of the same
chapter. A smile passed around among
the members when the verses, which an
nounced the peculiar views of Presbyteri-
ans, were read and DR.. Armstrong moved
the report be adopted. DR.. Harding asked
DR.. Adger if he meant the reply as wit
DR.. A. said no. ''Then that makes it all
the better WITT but he was opposed to
sending it, did not think it seemly or re-
spectful to obtrude our doctrinal views
upon body composed of all religious sects.
DR.. Lefevre and others also opposed send
ing the message and quite an animated
discussion sprung up. Others arguing that
it could not be out of the way to follow
up the connection suggested by the mes
sage. The matter was however finally
recommitted and the next day the follow
ing message reported, adopted, and sent:
"The general Assembly met at Staun-
ton, pray that the grace of our Lord Je-
sus Christ be with you.''
STATE OF THE CHURCH.
Rev. DR.. J. R. Quarles, from the Com
mittee on Narrative, reported the state of
religion and the prosperity of the church
most encouraging in Virginia, North and
South Carolina and Georgia. Next in
order came Tennessee, Kentucky, Ala
bama, Mississippi and Arkansas, while in
Texas the shadows seem to prevail and
our people within it's borders are but q
feeble folk.
BOOK.
BY a vote of ayes 81. noes 55, the Assem-
bly, refused to send down to the Presbytery
for an expression of it's views the overture
from Bethel Presbytery looking to the
licensure of candidates for the ministry
who had stood good examination on the
English Bible without requiring classical
education. The overture was we'll main
tanned with a very strong argument by
Rev. III. B. Pratt, of South Carolina, ard
the respectable minority vote he secured
would seem to indicate that the sentiment
in favor of less stringent educational quail
ifica lions is gaining ground in the Presby-
terrain church.
The report in favor of a revision of the
Hymn book. after considerable discussion,
was, On motion of Mr.. futile, laid on the
table.
The report of the committee against
contract with Scribner & Co. for the publi-
an animated discussion.
DR.. D. y. Davis was opposed to proyin-
cialism, and DR.. Mutually thought this
term not applicable to the Southern Pres
byterian Church.
The report was laid on the table.
CoLORED CHURCHES.
DR.. Palmer, to whom was referred the
overture respecting the organization of
colored churches into an independent b.
dy, &C., presented resolutions to organize
such separate churches, if the way shall
seem clear. Agreed to.
FINANCES.
Mr.. Hamilton, of KY, reported the
whole amount contributed for all the be-
nevolent objects last year not qaite $780,
900, little less than 81 per member. Ten
cents per week from every member would
| raise more than five times as much.