The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-06-01

was Oue VI great Interest,". LII. 1fyOf,
chairman of the Standing Commit
tee, presented the report, and ac-
companied it with brief address show
ing that the condition and prospects of
the foreign mission work as conducted
by our Church were never so encouraging
as at present. The contributions from
the churches show an increase of $4,000
over the previous year, and there are
sixty eight more contributing churches.
DR.. j. Leighton Wilson, secretary, pro-
pounded for the serious and prayerful
consideration of the Assembly the ques-
ton, whether it would not authorize the
committee to establish mission on the
continent of Africa? He referred, first,
to the great geographical features of the
continent as recently made known; tracing
on the map the great rivers, the Congo,
the Zambesi, and the Nile flowing from
the Interior one into the Atlantic, one
into the Indian ocean, and one into the
Mediterranean, affording with their va
rious tributaries almost 10000 miles of ma
vigable waters. He pointed out the posi-
ton where he proposed that we should
have mission, and stated that it would
be placed in the midst of population of
more than 100000 of people. He
stated, secondly, that the recovery and
salvation of Africa was not hopeless I'M
dertaking. Already, as the work of
forty years, missions had been planted
not more than one hundred miles apart
along the coast for three thousand miles,
and some had extended into the interior.
1t was his ambition that our Church
should be among the foremost in the
effort to reclaim this dark continent.
DR.. Hoyt followed in one of the best
addresses made during the sessions of the
Assembly. He said that the first and
the nineteenth were the great missionary
centuries; the great epochs for dissent
mating the Gospel. He sketched the
progress of missions in each of these
epochs; pointed out the peculiar facili-
ties now afforded for communication with
every part of the world, and predicted
the triumph of Christianity over every
form of error, superstition and false re-
hgion
DIR. Palmer eloquently urged the prose
cution and extension Of our missionary
work, and anticipated with pleasure the
inauguration of plans for cooperation in
the missionary efforts of the various
branches of the Presbyterian Church
througho the world, so that in heather
lands we should recognize no Southern
Presbyterian Church, no Northern Pres
byterian, no Reformed Church, no Scotch,
or English, or Irish Church, but the
Presbyterian Church of China, of Japan,
of India, of South America, &c.
The resolution authorizing the Execu-
tive Committee to establish mission in
Africa when in their judgment the way
should be opened, was passed unani-
mously.
Nothing awakened more interest in
the Assembly than the report from the
directors OF the theological seminaries.
Union Seminary, in Prince Edward,
Va, was the only one open during the
last session. Fifty students were in at
tendance, and the condition of the insti-
tuition was never better. It's invested
funds are over 100000, and the income
is sufficient to maintain its four profess
sors and meet the current expenses.
Columbia Seminary, which was closed
year ago, will be opened, as the direc-
tors hope, next fall. About $4,000
have been added to the endowment by
recent efforts, and the financial condition
has much improved.
DIR: Girardeau, at the urgent request of
the directors, has recalled his resignation
offered a year ago, and Dr. Palmer has
been elected to the professorship of pas
toral theology.
The Assembly cordially endorsed the
election Of DR.. Palmer but declined to
express its desire that DR.. Palmer would
see his way clear to accept the professor
ship, thus leaving to him the decision Of
the question whether he would 90 to Co.
lumbia or remain in his pastorate at New
Or1eaDe