Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-10-10

MEMS CnfiStian hHBOclltlon.
The report of the committee on foreign
missions was read and adopted. 1t said:
Cheering news comes from almost every
part of the mission field, which would
encourage us to redouble our energies.
The report of the board to the general
assembly says that calls for enlarged
effort, especially in the great Mongollan
empires which lie directly across the
Pacific, were never 40 great or urgent as
now. The board reports that the total
receipts fell short Of the previous year
and urges upon the church the fact that
it can go farther in meeting these great
needs than it is empowered to do by the
gifts of the church. The total amount
contributed by the churches OF this pres
bytery, as reported to the last assembly,
was $3,429. All churches in the
presbytery, except very few Of the
weak organizations, generally those with
out stated ordinance of religion have
contributed to this cause. II would be
we'll for all sessions to consider how they
might induce the people to contribute
more largely, especially to bring
the subject to the attention of in
diyiduals. We cannot speak too highly of
the efficiency of the auxiliary of the
woman's board In this respect and hope
that the time may come when the male
members of our churches may be led to
take equal interest in this good cause.
We wouid also recommend that some
method like that recently recommended
by the board should be instituted in our
Sunday schools for an increased interest
in the subject among the youth Of
the church. Members of your COM
mittee met with similar committees
Of the presbyteries OF Washington and
Baltimore last spring and effected an
organization with q view to greater
efficiency of the presbytery in foreign
missionary work. II was resolved by the
committees to recommend series Of sim.
ultaneous meetings ia tho various pres-
byteries and, although because Of the ex-
tent Of territory the secretary could not
be expected to meet ell the congregations
tk.s ministers of contiguous churches
iirht assist each other, devoting week
to the holding OF public meetings in
various parts of tho several prssbyteries.
Your committee have not been able to
arrange for such meetings for this year,
but wodld respectfully urge pastors to
observe the week appointed by the assem-
bly, for that purpose in such q manner as
may be advisable to themselves.
W. O. Axes, after being examined as to
| his religious experience and his motives
for seeking the ministry, was received
under the care of the presbytery and rec-
commended for the usual aid.
The oommittee on languages asked
leave to retire with James T. Marshall
and subsequently reported, recommend
ing his examination in languages be ac-
cepted. The examination was sustained.
The Beys. w. f. Swsrtz and George
VI. Hickman and Elder d. W. Hnrian
were appointed committee on narrative
to general assembly.
The Rev.J. Howard Nixon, D. D., was
dismissed to the Presbytery of st. Louis.
The committee appointed to examine
the minutes Of the lest general assembly
reported having examined the same and
found the following items, to which the
attention of presbytery was called |:
Action enjoining upon each presbytery
the appointment OF permanent standing
committee on church property; change
in rules governing appropriation of funds
of board of ministerial relief; recon-
mendation that each presbysery hold
popular meetings in this interest in con-
nection with its stated fall meeting ;
direction that the Sunday preceding
Thanksgiving Day be set apart for con-
tributions from the children in the Sun
day.schools to the mission school work
of the home board Recommendation that
the first Sunday in November Of
this year be observed as day
of special supplication for missions
through our entise church; advice that
preabyteries at some regular meeting an
nually call their churches to account in
reference TO their compliance with the
assembly recommendations; question
overturned to presbyteries on the revision
of the confession Of faith; reply to our
overture concerning enlargement of the
Synod of Baltimore; provision made for
exhibiting separately in statistical re-
ports contributions TO Bible societies
from our churches; reply to our
memorial with reference to oheapsr
edition of the standards; action of the
assembly urging all our presbyteries to
consider and devise some means OF intro
dueing in all our churches copy OF our
standards; action of assembly warning
Presbyterians Of their responsibility to
see that ministers who enter our church
from other denominations are not only in
full harmony with cur system of doctrine
and polity but that they are competent
to pass the same tests of preparation
which we require of our own sons; di-ec-
tion to each presbytery to keep perma-
nent register, in which shall be recorded
the names Of all the students that come
under its care, their course and place Of
study aud if possible their subsequent
fields of labor; also, TO inform the board
OF education when any candidate fails to
carry out his original pledges; action of
assembly mGking it a condition Of assist
auce to any one Of our churches from
any OF our boards that the church SO
aided shall for that year, when aid ia
needed. make an offering to each of all
our boards.
DIS. Gayley and Marks were appointed
committee to defend presbytsry in
synod in three complaints lodged against
the presbytery.
The committee on temperance recon-
mended: That the pastors and Sunday
school superintendents in our boards be
instructed to seek suitable opportunity to
present the subject Of temperance; that
the churches be advised where possible
to contribute to the work of the general
assembly committee; that the presbytery
unite in the request TO the international
Convention of Evangelical Alliance, over
the signature Of the stated clerk, that one
entire day of the Week of Prayer be de-
voted 20 prayer for the removal of the
drinking ussges OF society and the aboli-
tion OF the traffic in alcoholic beverages,
and of the opium habit and trade;
that we, as prssbytery, look forward to
the time when the traffic and the bever-
age use Of alcoholic drinks shall be en-.
tirely suppressed and thst TO the accom-
plishment of the end we pledge our