The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-05-26
FIFTH DAY.
r IT N On
AuSTTN Nav "a. 1881

h.
sembles again this morning at 8 O'Clock,
ia the Han of Representatives.
FIFTH DAY.
AUSTIN, May "a, 1881.
Assembly met; moderator in the chair.
One hour devoted to religious exercises.
Minutes read and approved. -.
Report of Committee on publication
was in order, but the committee not be-
ing ready. further time was granted.
An invitation from DIR. Graham, super
iutendent of the Lunatic Asylum. lnVlt-
ing the assembly to visit the asylum, was
read and accepted with thanks.
Report of judiciary COma1Ittee No. /,
on n communication of =. Il Crider, 10
answer certain questions touching the
matter and effect of letter granted by
session to Il ruling elder. was read. The
committee reported that in their opinion
the general assembly had no Jurlsdlcilon'
Report adopted.
Judiciary Committee No. . reported on
judiciary report No. I, referred to them
from last assembly. The report is as fol-
lows. and the question involved is an i'm
p0rtant one to the church:
: .EThe Judiciary Committee beg leave to
report that they have duly considered the
memorial and reference of BraZos Synod.
presenting the question of the eligibility
of elders for the position OF Moderator1n
the judicatories of the church. Your com
mittee are of the opinion, ana 60 report,
that by the form and genius of our gov
eminent there Is no discrimination be-
tween the ministers and elders copstI-
tuting our presbyteries, synous ana
general assembly as to powers, nutlss
and eligibility to office in SAID courts.
Such Determinations would be disparag-
ing to one-half of said bodies, and destroy
that equalityin dignity and power when
was intended to exist. To produce TINS
effect would require some express proVl-
sion. The omission of such provision,
your committee consider almost conclu-
sive that none such was intended
The long existing usage, which Will per-
hans continue, OF selecting ministers to
the moderatorship is very different from
the question oflegal eligibility. Your COM
mittee are, therefore, of opinion, and SO re-
port that 1t is the right of the judicatOry to
elect any member Ofthe body, either min-
lister or elder, to preside over their uelip-
eratiOns, and that every MEMBERS equal
ly eligible whether he be minister or
elder.
The report of the committee yesterday
recommended that the general assembly
disapproVe of the above report,anu declare
it to be the opinion of this general assem-
bly, that our form of government does not
contemplate the election of ruling elders
to the Moderator Of church courts, eX-
eept as Moderator of the church session,
when a minister cannot be had to pre-
side. The report called forth several
lengthy speeches pro and con. ana IL was
moved that speeches be limited to nVe
minutes, and the vote being uncertain. a
considerable breeze was stirred up and
division was called. The motion then
prevailed by small vote.
A motion was then made that Dr. A.
nj ln oil unlimited
which to vote. Motion prevailed, yeas
9S, nays "a.
DR. Templeton then addressed the as
sembly ut some length, urging that the
report of the committee be adopted
At the conclusion OF his address the as
sembly adjourned until O'Clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The pending business mt adjournment
was taken up and at the unanimous re-
quest of the assembly, Mr. John Frlzzell
delivered one of The most eloquent and
intelligent discOurses upon the suDleet
that has been made during the session.
He dealt with the constitutiOn2lity of the
question, and in concise and forclble
manner demonstrated that no dlserImlna'
ton could be legally made between the
ministers and elders constituting the
presbyteries, synods and general assem-
bly,, and that elders were eligible to the
office of Moderator. DIR. Campbell f0I'
lowed taking an opposite view of the ques-
and insisting that elders were 1nell-
gible.
motion to lay the report on the table
was carried. Yeas. SO nays. 10.
A motion TO lay report No. Z on the Ia
BILE, carried. Yeas; 50 nays, "A. Under
the rules governing the assembly the
whole matter is comfortably on the table
subject to call.
Publication was read. In refer
ence to the Cumberland Presbyterian
the church paper, it was not quite cleal
to the mind OF the committee how reli
gious journal, conducted upon strictly
cash basis, is compelled to report 3 list o.
delinquent subscribers numbering 1926
or nearly one-third its entire subserip'
ton list, and they recommended tia
steps be taken for its reduction, and thai
hereafter the cash system be more rigldlJ
adhered to. The Sunday school publlca
lions are in u healthy and prosperous
condition.
The committee recommended tina
more life and energy be infused into thu
publication of "Tract Literature" to aid
the ministry in their pastoral and eyangel
istic work, and to the dissemination o
the doctrines of the Bible.
1t was also recommended that all Wori
be done at the same place, and that
book depository be established at ST
Louis. The report was adopted unanl
mOusly.
Committee on Sunday Schools submit
ted their report. IL made many sug
gestions calculated to increase the goo'
effects of the schools and to build then
nm and increase their usefulness. Repor
adopted unanimously.
Committee on Correspondence submit
ted their report, which was placed upoI
the docket subject to call.
The Finance Committee reported tha
since the will of John p Finley, deceas
| ed, directed that the principal OF th'
| fund willed by him to the Cumberland
| PRESBYTERIAN church, shall be paid int
| the hands of any man the general assem-
| bIy NAV appoint after. the lapse Of TWEEN
| ty wears that the executors be and the!
| are hereby requested and authorized ant
| directed to pay to the trustees OF Cum
| berland University, at Lebanon, TIL
principal and interest OF the fund
| That the said fund be and is hereb.
made a part of the endowment fund o
the Ewing Professorship oil SAID Onlver
| sity. the principal of said fund to ever re
| main intact, and the interest only to b.
| used as the necessities of the said PROBES
sorship may demand. Report adopted.
A report from same committee recon
mending that certain steps be taken Z
provide for payment OF expenses oil dele
gates attending presbyteries and assem-
| blies was placed on docket subject to call
| Committee on the American Bible So
ciety submitted their report. After civ
ing brief history of the society, 1t mad
| the following recommendations: First
that this general assembly recommend
that the presbyteries adopt such measure
as will secure from all the churches I'M
| der their care an annual contribution o
money to the American Bible Society
| second, that a column be prepared ii
the form of the presbyterial reports whicl
shall show the amount each congregation
contributes to this cause annually.
Rev w. b. Rankin, agent of the soci
ETY., delivered u short and interesting ad
dress, and the report of the committe
was adopted.
Adjourned until 8 o'clock.
NIGHT SESSION.
Committees on the various synods re
ported, Nearly all synods were repre-
scented, and nearly all concurred in max
ing favorable reports as to the work i
their respective sections. A few of tn
reports were referred to Committee o.
Overtures. -
Committee on Prevention of Sabbat
Dissertation submitted their report. ]
called attention TO the importance O
keeping the day holy, and recited In Wig
orOus language the terrible evils that TO
low its dissertation, and advised that tn
church labor earnestly to preserv
IL pure and undefiled; and ure
Il ed an advance movement all alon