The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-05-31

breathless interest. When the vote was an
nounced 81 yeas to ~ nays it was fully an
tlcipated. In the evening session the telegram
OF greeting from the Springfield Assembly was
read, with much satisfaction, but the reading of
the accompanying dispatch relating to the ex-
ceptlon OF expressions regarding loyalty"
served to dampen the effect of the announce.
ment: An awkward feeling overspread the As.
sembly which was only relieved by the refer.
ence of the papers to the committee on foreign
correspondence The reply is intended to make
a murky matter clearer, if, indeed, the forth
ern Assembly desires it to be any clearer.
Fraternal greetings were received from the
General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, and a suitable response was re-
turned.
DR.. Girardeau, from the committee on
Foreign Missions. submitted their report 1t
commended the diligence of the Executive Com
mittee, reported an increase over last year in
receipts of eleven thousand dollars returned
thanks to Mr.. George B. Murray, of Illinois
for donation of S11, 600 urged the necessity
of raising 100000 for the foreign work during
the year to come. 1t also announced the settle
ment of the Campinas Mission matter urged
the definition of the powers of evangelists in the
foreign field. The committee elected Dr. J.
Leighton Wilson, secretary of the foreign mis-
sionary work, DR.. McIlwaine retiring. The
separation Of the Foreign and Home Missions
Executive Committee is proposed The report
was placed on the docket, to await future &C
ton.
The committee to whom was referred the
appeal of w. S. Turner, from the Synod of
Georgia, reported, through Rev. E. E. Gordon,
Its readiness to report. The commission consists
of twenty-seven members The appeal grew
out of case in the Central Presbyterian church
of Atlanta, in which the clerk of the session
permitted one of the witnesses to overlook and
revise his testimony. The case went from the
Presbytery to the Synod, thence to this body.
The commission ruled that the clerk erred in
allowing the witness to revise his evidence as
there was proper tribunal before whom the
witness might have gone, but as no harm re
suited toward the rights of any one, there was
no need of action on that point; IN regard to
the case itself it was referred back to the care
OF the Synod. On motion of DIR. Lefevre the
report was approved. DIR. J. H. Nall read the
report OF the committee on Theological Semi.
narles, which exhibited qualification with the
reports. In this connection the following reso,
lutlons were offered by Rev. J. R. Jacobs, of
Corpus Christi, Texas, and unanimously adopted
by the Assembly:
&" In view of the alarming fact that while
within the history of our Church never have
there been so many fields of labor earnestly
but vainly, seeking ministers, there appears to
be marked diUiaation Vi .ue increase OF the
number of our candidates for the ministry. Be
it resolved,
l. That this sad and alarming truth be hereby
solemnly brought to the serious attention of our
Churches that they may be led to call more ear
nestly and continually upon God who as Lord
OF the harvest, can alone with authority and
power, lend efficient aid in this our hour of
need that lie raise up and qualify among us
many laborers whom He Will own and bless
2. That the Church be urged to contribute
liberally of her means for the education of our
candidates for the ministry.
3. That the attention of Christian parents be
directed to the especial propriety of bringing at
this Juncture their pious sons before the throne
OF DIVINE grace, and there rendering them unto
the Lord for his peculiar service.
4. That our ministers be recommended to
present earnestly and faithfully this general
subject before their several charges, thus Law
ing before the younger men and middle aged
IN our Church the urgent necessity for an in
crease of laborers among u.s.
This was followed by the report of the com
mittee on the Revised Directory for Worship.
1t was recommended that a committee should
be appointed, whose duty it shall be to report
to the Assembly of 1888, to whom shall be re-.
terred all criticism upon the work The com
mittee was instructed to prepare the work with
view to its final adoption by the Assembly.
The Park Case.
The business on the table being thus disposed
OF, the unfinished business was the considera-
ton of the Park case, the pending question be
ing the expressions of opinion by the members
on call of the roll. DR.. E. P. Palmer regarded
1t as question of conserving law on the one
hand and of policy on the other l like that
policy which is intended to Christanize the col.
ored people. There is no danger from the
church in admitting the claims OF Mr.. Park.
The Presbytery of Memphis violated the law in
ordalning him, but being ordained the act is a
| fnality. We have no half way ordination.
Mr.. G. G. Duffee said the only path of safety
was the path of duty. The question before us
is deeper than the color of Sam Parks skin-the
ordination of our ministers is at stake There
is no fear, as was indicated by my distinguished
brother from South Carolina, that the church
would be Africanzed. If then, leaving a man
of color in the possession of his rights will
Africanize the church then let it be AfTicanized
Mr.. J. j Johnson did not think it a political
question, but an ecclesiastical one l am not
afraid of danger from Park status as a minister.
We are capable of self protection and when the
danger comes we can meet it.
Mr.. G. w. Lane, Of Athens said that all desire
the best interests of our colored brethren, and
some of the best practical workers for them are
opposed to the right Of Park to vote The ne
gro, though living with u.s. is as essentially in
this foreign field as any of the people to whom
we send missionaries Dr. Stacey pointed out
that discrimination would affect the colored
church as well as the colored minister so it
would bring up the question: what is the status
of the colored church ?" To be a minister he must
belong to the church. If Park is a minister he
must be in church connection With what
church? Suppose he were to commit dis
clpl1nable offence, who would try him. He
should be tried by the body of which he is a