The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-05-25

rule, of the elder to rule only, and of the dea-
con only to distribute. The deacon cannot
rule, or hold place in the ecclesiastical courts
OF the Church, but no opposition is made to Joint
meetings of elders and deacons for mutual con-
ference and advice. The functions of the dea-
con are not confined to the care of the poor
alone. but covers the entire temporalities of the
Church. while his duties are not restricted to
the special church to which he belongs, but that
he is an officer of the whole Church. Also that
his office like that of the ruling elder, is per-
petual, and that no re ordination is required in
changing from one particular church to another.
On motion, the report was placed upon the
docket
communication was received from Miss NJ
J. Baldwin, inviting the members of the Assem-
bly, to attend the commencement exercises Of
the Augusta Female Seminary and the thanks
of the Assembly were rendered to Miss Baldwin.
The committee on Bills and Overtures re-
ported sundry Overtures from Presbyteries all
of which were referred to the appropriate COM
mittees.
J. M. Buford, ruling elder from the Presbytery
of East Alabama, and j. P. Chase from Har-
An effort was made to postpone the subject of
RETRENoHMENT AND REFORM
which was the regular order of the day for 10
A. NJ, but by large majority, the motion was
lost, and the record of the last General Assembly
on the matter read.
Rev. A. G. Hopkins chairman of the com
mlttee, moved that certain portions of the ma
jority report, as offered at the last Assembly be
adopted, viz:
First. That the Executive Committees as they
now exist, be continued. and that the receipts for
Publication and Education be published In the
Earnest Worker.
Second. That the General Assembly exercise
Its influence over the lower courts to procure
rigid inspection of the performances of the duties
of the DIaconate.
The speaker earnestly defended his position.
and averred that we have already done good
work under our present machinery, and 1t would
require great weigh. of argument, facts, and
figures, to cause us to tear down the complete
fabric, erected by wise and competent men, He
also read statements from the Secretaries OF
Home and Foreign Missions Publication, and
Education, explaining and specifying the duties
devolvlng upon them respectively. With us,
four men do the work that is done by sixteen
men In the Northern Church. The total aver
age expense for carrying on our Church enter
prises, is only nine per cent. Pending the dis
cusslon, the hour for adjournment arrived
On motion, 1t was made the order of the day
for Monday night at o'clock, to hear address es
on the subject of Foreign Missions.
The following message of fraternal greetings
was received from the General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church in the United States of
America, viz:
BUFFALO, N. y, May 2Oth, 1881.
The General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church in session at Buffalo, N. Y, gratefully
acknowledge the greetings of the Assembly at
Staunton, and invoke upon its officers and mem
bers, grace, mercy, and peace, from God the
Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
HENRY DARLING, Moderator"
Fifteen minutes were then spent in devotional
exercises, and the Assembly adjourned to meet
on Monday morning at'9 o'clock.
FOURTH DAY.
MONDAY, May %.
The Assembly met at A. M, and was opened
with prayer by Rev. Dr. T. Pryor.
Ruling Elders G. P. Simmons, from the Pres.
bytery of Augusta, and A. H. Hansell of the
Presbytery CT Savannah. appeared and were en-
rolled as commissioners.
a message of fraternal greeting was received
from the General Conference Of the United
Brethren, now in session at Lisbon Iowa, and
referred to the committee on Foreign Cores
pondence.
The report of the Judicial Committee on the
appeal OF Rev. j. E. White, from the decision of
the Synod of South Carolina recommended that
the appeal be dismissed. Adopted
The same committee reported on the appeal
of w. S. Turner from the Synod of Georgia and
recommended that the case be issued The re.
port was adopted, and made the order of the
day for Wednesday morning The same COM
lHlItee repoTJeu Jner WORK as nnlshed, and on
motion the committee was discharged
An invitation received from Prof H. L.
Hoover to attend the commencement exercises
of his High School.
The order of the day, Retrenchment and Re-
form, was now taken up, and Rev. A. C. Hop
klns having the floor, resumed his address and
by argument and appeal maintained his position
most ably. Regarding the union of the Earnest
Worker and the Missionary. the speak er stated
that there were no personal reasons on the part
OF the Secretaries for opposing such union but
solely 70, the advantage Of the Church. If the
Assembly will guarantee 10000 subscribers. the
publishers say they can publish the two com.
bined for about 800 less than they can publish
the two separately On this whole subject
whatever result may be reached, let it be re.
garded as final. Only one single Presbytery, as
far as known, fullyendorses the minority report
Two others have taken action looking in that
direction.
PERSONAL.
Rev. DR.. Mutually arose to a question oi
privilege, and desired to make a personal ex
PLANTATION, due to himself, regarding the
word bitterly" as used by the newspaper cor
respondent, in connection with his remarks on
Friday last. He disclaimed the slightest drop.
the slightest tincture Of any bitterness toward
the Northern brethren, and was only moved. in
all he said, by love TO the brethren of the South
ern Church, and toward the brethren in the
NORTH. DR.. Mutually made a most felicitous
address, producing very happy impression
upon the Assembly, and he distinctly protested
that his heart was only filled with love toward