Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-30
PRESBYTERIANS.
NINTH DAYS PROCEEDINGS OF TIE
SOUTHERN ASSEMBLY.
Erazil-systematic Benefeence Columbia
Seminary. Again-Dr. wOodrow's
Dismissal Recommended.
lsreciaI telearsm TO The Dispatch. I

49, W Otbtf bt~ibt'-s
motion Of Or. smoot, were limited 10 i've
MINUTES on all motions.
Several reports Of the Committee on BIS
and Oyertures were adopted. One declares
II constitutional for a Presbytery TO pu'
deacons or private members on it, Home
Mission Committee.
BRAZIL.
In reply to an overture from the mis-
slonaries II Brazil. asking that they he eX-
cepted from The action Of the Assembly
that prevents the formation OF mixed Pres
byteries in the mission iielG-that j., com
posed both Of themselves and natiyes-the
Assembly answers that the action does not
abTidge or modify any right which the mis-
sionar q bad prior 10 such actions.
ON the report OF the sane committee II
was decided that when minister OF another
Prcsbyteiy is invited to preside over ses-
son he has no night 10 vote, and that a
minister cf our Church cannot preside n
moderator Of q session.
STATE OF RELIGION.
Elder Blackburn Hughes read the nara
tive Of the state Of religion. II shows graft
fymg condition 81 the Church and marked
Improvement in many particulars as 10
faiihiulness Of officers In the discharge Of
their duiies, attendance upon worship, out
pourings Of the Holy Spirit, general growth
IN grace. and increase IN members. Cause
frr sorrow i expressed in three PARTICULAR
neglect Of family worship, the Observance
Of the Sabbath. and full consecration In the
matter OF giying-and IN view OF these
iacts The first Thursday Of October was aI-
pOInted ss a day OF humiliation and prayer.
The report OF the Committee on Leave OF
Absence show ed that large number OF the
members had gone.
SYSTEMATIC BENETICENCE.
On recommendation Of the Committed
on systematic BenehceDce. presented by
Dr. St-1ckler, the Assembly declined 10
change IT, policy Of authorizing the eXecu-
tive committees 70 make appointments
among the Presbyterics Of the amounts
needed for their work. As requested by the
PIesbyiery 81 New Orleans.
COLUMBIA SEMINARY.
Columbia Seminary and it, Perkins pro-
icssor. Dr. Woodrow, occupied the atten-
ilon Of the Assembly chiefly through the
morning session.
The committees report was called up.
After several amendments had been dis
1usSed and adopted these were embodied
into one. and the following resolution.
the latter part Of TIE report, was adopted
tv recorded vote OF C5 ayes and - noes
EfSOlred. That whereas the General As
s,mbly i convinced that Rev. James Wood
row. u. D.. one OF the professors OF Co
lumbia Theological Seminary. holds views
repugnantto the Word Of God and 10 our
Confession OF Faith, q, appears both by his
address published In TIE Southern Pre>bg-
teridH Rerietr for July, 1881. and
in other publications. and by his
statements made upon the floor OF
this Assembly: therefore. this General
Assembly does hereby, in accordance with
it, action Yesterday in regard 10 the over
sight Of theological seinluarics, earnestly
recommend 10 the SynOds OF south Caro-
Vna. GcoTgia. Alabama. south Georgia. and
Florida. which direct and control the said
seminary. 10 dismiss the said Rev. James
" oodrow, u. D.. a. professor in the said
seminary, and % appoint another IN h's
place. and speedily take .uch other steps A.
IN Their judgment Will be best adapted to
restore the seminary TO the confidence Of
The Church.
The oyancclistc work Of the last section
Of the report on theological seminarleS,
adopted after brief discussion and amend
ment, is a. follows:
In reply 10 the overture from Lafayette
PTesbytery touching eyangelstic work,
Your committee would recommend
!. That the Assembly express it, coinci-
denee Of judgment with that OF the Pres Pres,
attached to the eyangeiistic work and Office,
and that perhaps this lack OF zeal may be
attributed 10 the rise Of so much irrespOu.
,ible evangelism through the land.
9. Thai the Assembly remind the
| churches that Presbyterianism cannot &C.
complish its mission unless 1t becomes
more aggressive: that constant aggressive
| pcss-in other words, preaching the Gospel
| TO the regions leyond-is one great missl01
| Of the Church; that preaching The GospeI
! 10 the poor i the disiin gushing CHARACTER
! i,iic oithe true Church.
9. That the Assembly hereby recommend
our seminaries 10 make due provision FOL
| plCIer instruction upon this sublect,
| either bv procuring annually a series OF
| lectures Lv some Tegularly-ordalned anC
! cxpsricnccd evangelist. OF by adding TOT Tho
| course Of pastoral theology the full IN
| ,truction concerning evangelism which II
| pressing importance demands.
An ANIMATED DISCUSSION.
There wa, An animated discussion on tn
amendments 70 the report on ColumDi
seminary limited 10y the iiyeminutes' rul
ard by calling the question on seyera
! PROPOSITIONS. Rev. K. Il. Mosely onere'
an amendment substituting for the recon
/ rncndatiouS 10 close the seminary tn
Recommendation 10 take steps to reator
| confidence m n.
| pr. woodrow seconded this amendment
He thought II fair. and expressed the opin
| a. ,,,,. AFGTIl1 show IN
the state Of things set forth in the pre-
amble would be traced 70 other causes thal
that which many supposed.
Rev. j. 4. Preston said the way 70 reac,
| the evil was not % close the seminary; VI
need that: but 10 lay hands on the probes
sOr.
Or. Hooper said that Is q member OF on
% The controlling Synods be would b
thankful lor the advice Of the Assembly.
After further discussion this first amend
ment was adopted. No one spoke in fayo
Of closing the seminary.
Or. DinWiddie then introduced as II
amendment so much Of the above resolu
tions a. refers 10 Or. Woodrow, hayin
direct " where recommend nO'
stand. This sent. thrill through "a
| house. The mover said he thought thi
the true. manly course for the best interest
Of The seminary and OF all concerned.
Governor Marye seconded il and express
cd Ike opinion.
! Or. Junkln had been convinced by Ia
able argument OF Mr.. W. W. Henry O
Yesterday a. 70 the powers Of the Assembl
10 do this. This action is the logical out
| come Of the action then taken.
| DR.. Strlckler said II the Assembly Is no
! prepared 10 take the action now propose
| he did not care 70 take any further action
We are now brought to lace the music
| do the thing that ought 10 be done. II IN
| real difficulty De removed the vacant chair
will be filed and the seminary will prospei
Rev. J. \. Bradshaw said the Synod'
through the Board, had twice asked Dr
| Woodrow 10 resign, and had not seen To
way clear q DO II. Now, let the Assembl
direct them 10 remove him. II they refus
10 obey, the responsibility viii rest d
themselves.
Mr.. Hughes advised that the Assembl
leave the action OF yesterday 20 have rs n
fuenoe on the SynOds and 90 no farthe
now.
The question was called and recOrde
| vote taken. several members cut Oh frot
speaking by the call Of the question ca
| planned their votes.
Dr. Smoot SAID il was better 10 remoy
the man. We have the constitutional righ'
Governor Marye had doubts at the mrs
as TO our having the authority to do thu
but the discussion yes.erday had remove
those doubts.
DR.. Richardson thought the Synod
ought to do what Is proposed. but woul
be more likely 10 do it without IN lniun'
ton.