The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1885-05-27
For the Central Presbyterian.
General Assembly.
FIRST DAY.
HoUsToN, TEXAS, May q

AVOSIOSi 1EAAsi May Il, 1000.
The General Assembly of the United States
met, according to appointment IN the Presby
terian church at Houston, Texas, on the 2lst OF
May, 1885, at IL o'clock A. NJ, and was opened
with sern on by the Moderator of the last As.
sembly, Rev. t. D. Witherspoon, from Deut.
xxxlr: 26, There is none like unto the God of
Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy
help, and in his excellency on the sky"
! THE sermon will be found on page I'd
After public worship the Assembly was con-
stituted with prayer.
The Stated Clerk reported that he had re
celved official information of the organization.
by the Synod of Arkansas of new Presbytery
under the name of Washbourne Presbytery.
He also announced the names of commissioners
who had been enrolled as members of this As
sembly.
The following communication was then read
by the Stated Clerk:
To the Moderator of the General Assenablv of
the Presbyterian Church Of the United States .
Revd. and Dear Sir,-It is proper that
should hereby signify to the venerable General
Assembly, my resignation of the Office of Per.
manent Clerk, which l have held during the
long period of twenty year, In consideration
OF an advanced age, 1t was not my expectation
to continue under any circumstances in this
service more than a year or two longer. But
since the meeting of the last Assembly my eve
sight has been so seriously impaired as to render
the step here taken imperative at this present
time.
The labors of this Office have been connected
with much that was very pleasant and 1 hope
profitable also l have had the privilege of
seeing from year to year the faces of beloved
brethren, familiar in former times. as well as to
form the acquaintance of those unknown before
to mingle In their worship. and to be brought
INTO familiar knowledge of the work of the
Church. For all this greatful acknowledge
ment IS due. During all the meetings of these
many years, such has been the uniform kind
ness of my brethren, that nothing whatever
has occurred that was of an unpleasant character
desire, especially, to bear in remembrance,
the courtesy, kindness and valuable help ! have
at all times received from my beloved col
league, the Stated Clerk. Be assured that nv
earnest prayer shall ever be that the blessings
OF our covenant God, and the comfort of His
love, and fellowship of His Spirit may con-
tinually rest upon all the General Assembly,
and upon all the Churches under its care.
Faithfully yours, in the Gospel of Christ,
WILLIAM Brown.
Boy VierO, Fla, Feb. %, 1885.
The Rev. E. NJ. Green. D. D., a commissioner
from the Presbytery OF Pennsylvania, was re-
quested to act Permane Clerk until the As
sembly should take actie regard to DR..
Browns resignation of ths Zee.
The Rev. Henry R. Raym, nd, D. D. a com.
missioner from the Presbstery of Tuscaloosa.
was chosen Moderator Of tie Assembly, and the
Rev. P. T. Penick, of the J resbyterv of Com
cord, and the Rev. John F. G unon, of the Pres
bytery of Nashville, were Chosen Temporary
Clerks
The resignation of the Office of Permanent
Clerk of the General Assembly by the Rev.
William Brown, D D., was accepted, and it was
ordered that committee be appointed to pre-
pare a suitable reply to his communication to
this Assembly.
Itwas made the order of the dry for 10 A. NJ.
tomorrow, to elect a Permanent Clerk of the
General Assembly.
A recess was then taken until o'clock this
evening.
NIGHT sEssIos.
The Assembly met and devoted the evening
service especially to the work among seamen'
the Rev. DR.. Witherspoon in the chair
Addresses were made by the Rev. G. E.
Chichester, seamen's chaplain in the port of
Charleston; Rev. A. j. Witherspoon, D. D..
chaplain of the Upper Bethel in New Orleans,
and by the Rev. W. T. Thompson, D. D., of
Charleston. There seems to be renewed in
terest in the minds of the Church at large upon
this subject, and it is hoped that the day is not
far distant when this will be a special depart.
ment of work for the Executive Committees of
the Assembly, and we shall have our own
chaPlains in every seaport along our extensive
coast.
Inc IOllOWlDg nOurS were appointed for the
daily sessions of the Assembly, viz. from 9 A
NJ. to l P. NJ, and from 81 p M to 81 2. NJ
Evening session to begin at 81 P. NJ.
The Assembly then adjourned to meet at 9
A. M. to morrow, and was closed with PRAYER
by Rev. ]. H. Leps.
SECOND DAY.
FRIDAY, May 22d.
The Assembly met and engaged in devotional
exercises. The minutes Of yesterdays session
were read and approved.
The Moderator announced the following
STANDING COMMITTEES.
Bis and Oycrtitres.-T ID Witherspoon, D d.
NJ Woods, G II Buck, John Cannon. II P
Bashaw, T Barrett W P Webb. f McNair,
d d, E McGilvary, J s Frierson, James Doug
las A B Darlington, II NJ sydenstrioker, L
Carter, @ i Arbuckle, II G Moore J w Parrish,
r Campbell, D D.
JldiotnL.-P I Penick, Groves II Cartledge.
II Morrison, ID Mcknight, B w Mebane b
Fuerson, w Boyd, j z Loring W
Graham, r w Shive.
Iheologic0L SeminGries.-E NJ Green. D ID.
/ Handley, d A Penck, Albert Wallace.
w W Mills, James + Jones, J. McAulay,
Paul Venable, John A Hamilton, w G. Ne
Vile
Foreign lfssions.-D Fraser. D D. NJ ] Nc
Lean, n Kef Smith, John 2 TurnbuU. T w
Raymond, N A Flournoy, Alexander Butler,
N Robert, Charles Schuler, 4 II sland w
Rogan A Graybill.
Foreign Correspondence-W A Campbell r
Wilson, D ID, Baxter D Greer G Hoeue. n G
Caldwell, W w Murray, G d saunders, S S