The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-05-24
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
PROCEEDINGS ON THE THIRD DAY OF
THE SESSION.
DIR. Girardeau's Report on the DiacOnate-
Bills and Overtures-Receipts of the COM
mittee of Addresses on Foreign
Missions-FraternaI Message.


correspondence of the Richmond Di>patch.l
STANTON. Nav -, 1881.
The Assembly met. and was opened with
prayer by the Moderator.
Rev. W. l.. Kennedy and Ruling-Eidc
William McCurdy, OF the PreSbytery d
West Texas. appeared, and were enrolled
as additional commissioners.
The DIACONATE.
Rev. ]. L. Girardeau, ID. ID. ,(chairman) PIE.
scented an elaborate paper bearing upon the
subject Of the diacOnate in the Presbyterian
Church. The report asserts that the office
of deacon is not included in tie higher
offices OF preaching and ruling, and that a
proper division Of labor gives 10 each officer
his specific work. The functions Of the
preacher is 10 preach and rule. OF the elder
to rule only, and OF the deacon only TO dis
tribute. The deacon cannot rule, but no
opposition Is made TO joint meetings OF ell
ders and deacOns for mutual conference and
advice. The functions OF the deacon are
not confined 10 The care OF the poor alone,
but cover the entire temperatures OF the
Church, while his duties are not restricted
TO the SPECIAL church 10 which he belongs,
but that be an officer Of the whole Church.
Also, that his office, like that OF the ruling
elder, is perpetual. and that no re0rdination
is required in changing from one particular
church 10 another.
On motion, the report was placed upon
the docket.
a communication was received from Miss
NJ. J. Baldwin, inviting the members OF the
Assembly TO attend The commencement eXer-
cises Of the Augusta Female Seminary, and
the thanks OF the Assembly were rendered
therefor.
The Committee on Bills and Overtures
reported sundry Oyertures from Presbyte-
ries, all Of which were appropriately re-
ferred.
IN. Buford, ruling elder from the Pres
byterv of East Alabama. and j. i. Chsse,
from Harmony PreS3ytery, appeared and
we're enrolled as commissioners.
An effort was made Gas telegraphed YOU
to postpone the subject Of
INFRINGEMENT AND REFORM,
which was the regular order Of the day for
10 o'clock, but by large majority the mo-
ton was lost. and the record Of the last As
semblv on the matter was read, and the
subject taken up.
Rev. 4. C.. Hopkins, ch,irman OF the
committee. moved that certain portions OF
the majority report, as offered at the last
General Assembly, be adopted-viz.
First. That the Executive Committees.
as they now exist, be continued, and that
the Committees OF Publication and Educa-
ton publish their receipts in the EaraeSt
Worker.
Second. That the General Assembly eX-
ercise, its Influence over the lower courts
TO procure a rigid inspection OF the per-
formances Of the duties OF the diacOnate.
The speaker earnestly defended his posi-
ton, and ayerred that We have already done
GOOD WORK
under our present machinery. and it would
require a great weight Of argument, facts,
and figures TO cause Us 10 tear down the
complete fabric erected by wise and COM
petent men. He also read statements from
the secretaries OF Home and Foreign Mis-
sions, Publication, and Education, explain
ing and specifying the duties and labOrs
deyoyiDg upon them respectively. With
lis. four men DO the work that is done by
sixteen men in the Northern Church. The
total average OF expense for carrying on
our church enterprises IS only per cent.
Pending the discussion, the hour for adj
iournment arrived.
On motion, it was made the
ORDER OF THE DAY
for Monday night at O'Clock to hear adj
dresses on foreign missions.
The following message OF fratefnai greet
inc was received from the General Assem-
bIy of the Presbyterian Church in the
Halted States Of America-viZ.
"BUFFALO. n. y, May 20.
"The General Assembly OF the Pres0yte-
rian Church, in session at Buffalo, \. l.,
gratefully acknowledge the greeting Oh Tue
Assembly al stanton, Va, and invoke
unon its officers and members grace, mercy, !
and peace from God the Father ana our
Lord Jesus Christ.
Tsjeuedl "HENRY DARLING,
Moderator"
Fifteen minutes were then spent 10 deVo- |
tional services, and the Assembly then adj
iourned to meet on Monday al A. NJ.
TIE WEATHER
has heen cold and cloudy, and the commits |
sioners from the extreme southern heIds |
have been shiyenng for two days past, out
10. day the glad, warm sunshine brighlens
and glsddens all hearts, ana the various |
pubIic institutions OF this beautiful city are
with visitors from the Assembly
during the hours OF recess, wblie the warm
hearted people OF Staunton, OF all oenomi-
nations. vie with each other IN enorts 10
minister to the comfort and pleasure OF
heir guests. .,,o.
On Saturday evening large congregation
6,Ied the First Presbyterian church 10 pay
he last tribute Of respect to the memory OF
Percy, -
SON OF GENERAL JOHN EcHoLs.
The impressive services were conducted py
he pastor, Rev. w. Il. Baker, assisted by
Rev. George ID. Armstrong, ID: d., OF Nor
ok. Young Mfr. Echols died Ia Kentucky;
where he had recently made bis home, ana
rhere he filled an honored and useful po'
,Ition, In S,auntOn he was universe, la
1orite, ana his loss Is deeply deplored ny
N SHIhRI.