New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-18
EDUCATION AND THE SABBATH.
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS PRESENTED By TIL
cHAIRMEN OF COMMITTEES.

CHAIRMEN OF COMMITTEES.
Professor z. d. Morris, of Lane Theological
Seminary, read the special committees report on
Education in Its Relation to Vacant Churches ard
Unemployed Minister'S II was an exhaustive report
discussing the question at great length showing that
the complaint of lack Of ministers was due Gas much
or more than anything elsel, to lack Of neaas TO
support ministers. There are, IN round figures
atout 1000 vacant Presbyterian pulplts In the
country. The committee divided the churches into
groups, and showed tho membership Of each. The
figures were startling. For instance, lob churches
had an aggregate membership OF 36o; had only
II members; IL had 90 members; had 90; and so
ON From 400 TO 500 churches only had from TO
ce5 members. These and other poorer churtheS
needed ministers and It remained for tho Assembly
10 consider what steps could be taken to supply
thom The committee said that tho secretary Oh
tho Board Of Home Missions estimated that at least
600 new missionaries would DO peeded thls year
The number employed in 1878 was stated to be lloo
and ,4s6 in 1888.
Tho committee closed by making among o'herS INC
following Recommendations
a.. J. The General Assembly Is compelled To recognize
Qac present and prospective needs OF ministers as a
ubor Of independent churches, many OF them vacant
and perishing for the lack OF the stated 9i
which cannot be contemplated without painful soisi
tade Tho Assembly feels itech constance Sn l. S az
waI moetnc a necessity so immediate and so vital TO
me tatOU rs Prescribed n our organic law must Of
course DO faithfully REGARDED, A..s,,h,v NAV gropr
these small churches Together IN Joint pastorae or In
WIDER circuit; II mag associate weak church with
stronger Sns s be ' fn the ns the m and
shepherd the little hock Il may bring In tho scr
vice . 81 ng to bc engaged IN such oversight
a The Presbyterian Church welcomes
into tie service All who arc drawn into such service
who the Quall atoms
ycqaisite to useful ministry In It's communion Yet
the General Assembly fees constrained at The same
ia The reception Of ministers from other denomina
tons 1t involves no hardship to subject them 70 tha
4 CThis section deals WITH the education Of ca .1
ddatss for the Tnisry 10 WnTRsSsr Inc i ~,
or partial, but h,l, Of three years in some
introduced whenever possible By a least one yeal
of special preparatory training Tho eanfdate iol
twenty five years Of age, OF special promise a
talents and capacity for usefulness. and of approves
eunisisncsd providontaiy that he can prosecute Il
The osd whatever studies tho Presbyiery may pro
scribe.
AS soon as DR. Morris had finished the question
a. 10 the pleasure OF the Assembly was put. In
sfsntly q dozen Commissioners were on their feet
A motion was made that the report be printed and
its discusslou be put down for next Thursday morn
ing. Tho motion was adapted.
TO OBTAIN BETTER SABBATH OBSERVANCE
The report Of tho Committee on Sabbath Observance.
sppon,ed OF the last General Assembly, was read by
coionei Elliott r. Shepard. ny motion Of tho General
Assembly II ordered 10 DO considered at &c
.. M. on Friday, Msy "a II contained the following
tssolntions.. ,., '..
Resolved. That the seven persons appointed by the
General Assembly Of the Presbyterian Church in 1888
e members Of eomniuee in respect 70 the sabbath
nays ss ana are continued nnfn others may be
Apfs,h ntaiH N tSsir places, respectively nnd -
shesQtyed, That the general plan Of tho American
N"A..oetn Union be aud Is commanded and
=. heenHed That would cordially invite all other
van sabbath Uninn " -
amenament TO the United States Rsvised statutes
whsh yonh designate the Arst wsdnesisg Of Mairh
~ ~ tof ne inauguration % the President and
FicePreshentof the Unitcd States ~
In the report the committee referred to the efforts
Aae % secaec better Observance Of Tho Sabbath In
various parts Of the eounfry E.pset,l ns,,,on o..
ade OF the lesseuing OF Sunday trains on the Wander
bit hnes ana the stopping OF sunday stages On FIfiS
ave. The customary REMARK about the sunday nsy
not omitted. P~P0N'