Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-05-14
ASSEMBLY TO MEET.
Matters That will Come Before The
Presbyterian Body a! Macon.
REVISED FORM OF WORSHIP.
Changes Noted I'm q Neat Pamphiet-Io
Adopt Dr. Kerr's Hymn-Book-fer'
sonnel OF the Body.

Adopt Dr. Kerr's Hymn -Book-Per.
sonnsi OF the Body.
The General Assembly Of the Southern
Presbyterian Church will meet IN the First
Presbyterian church of Macon, Ga. on
next Tuesday. the 18th of May. at IL o'clock
A. NJ. The opening sermon will DO
preached by the Rev. Samuel A. King.
d. D.. of Waco. Tex. moderator OF the last
assembly. The other officers are the stated
clerk. Rev. Joseph II. Wilson, u. d.. who
is the official organ OF the body through
whom communications are received and
all papers or orders are issued. ana the
permanent clerk, Rev. Robert ID. Farrls,
ID. d.. editor of the st. Louis Presoy-
teridn, who records the proceedings OF the
assembly. Whilst moderator is elected
annually, these clerks continue from year
to year at the pleasure of the body.
There are seventy-two presbyte-ies en-
braced in this Church. Zach IL repre-
sented in the assembly by one minister
and one elder; but those that have more
than twenty -four ministers on their roll are
entitled 10 send two Of each OF these
officers. Last year sixteen presbyteries
were entitled 10 double representation.
making the full roll of the assembly
elghtv-eight ministers and eignty-eight
elders. This year there will doubtless be
some increase in tho number of commits
sioners." as the delegates are termed.
SOME WHO WILL ATTEND.
The commissioners who will represent
East Hanover PresbyterY, IN which the
Richmond churches are embraced. are
Rev. William S. Lacy. ID. D.. of Norfolk;
Rev. A. T.. Saunders. of Fredericksburg;
J.N. Cullingworth, Esq, OF Richmond,
Judge w. II. Burroughs. of Norfolk. was
appointed rs one ofthe commissioners. but
as he cannot attend his alternate. Mr. Nor
gan. takes his place.
Rev. DR.. Robert p. Kerr, of this city,
who was commissioner last year,
will be present, but not as member OF
the assembly. lie is member OF two Im-
portant al inierjp, committees that VIII
make their reports TO the assembly.
Among other prominent members VINO
will go from presbyteries OF the synod pr
Virginia may be named hev. pr; ". y.
Murkland. of Baltimore DR.. M. l.. Lacy.
of Monroe county, W. Va; DR.. 4. w.
Hooper, of Chrrstiansburg; DR.. H.. Nj.
White. of Winchester. and Rev. X. V. Lam
caster, of Hongchow. China, now IN this
country. Among the well-known elders
who go from this synod are 9. y. Janney,
ESD, Of Leesburg: Hon. j. l.. Iredway. OF
Chatham, and Judge J. ID. Armstrong. OF
Romney. ,,
Rev. DR.. NJ. II. Houston. of Nashville,
Tenn, will be- present, not only as sec
of the assembly. DR.. +. Nj. Green. or
Danyille, Ky. will be one OF the
most able of the commissioners. Among
many others also well known may be
mentioned DR.. n. NJ. Woods, of Memphis /;
DR.. j. +. Cannon. 81. Louis; DIR. }. Albert
Wallace, Bristol; Rev. John e.. Anderson.
of Harrisburg. n. G., formerly at Williams
burg, Va.
THE SECRETARIES.
The several secretaries will be present TO
| report on the respective causes intrusted
| to their administration, but not as NOM
| bers of the assembly, except DIR. Houston.
above named as q commissioner. They
are DR.. J. X. HaZen, of Richmond. secre.
| tary of publication; DIR. j. A. Craig, OF
| Atlanta, Ga, secretary of home missions !;
Rev. ID. c. Rankin. associated with DR..
Houston as assistant secretary OF foreign
missions: DIR. +. NJ. Richardson, of Men,
phis. secretary of education. and Rev. A.
L. Phillips. secretary of co.ored eyangeli-
| Zation.
Under the jurisdiction of the assembly.
according to the reports made last year,
there were ,239 ministers. 2,572 churches
and ls2.516 communicates. The total ol
contributions for all purposes was II ,92l,
$50. Partial reports published in the pa
pers show that there will be u considerable
advance on these nun bers this year.
POWERS or THE ASSEMBLY,.
According to the Presbyterian system OF
| government, which is by q gradation OF
courts, the General Assembly Is the high
est court of appeals and decides finally
all cases of discipline brought up to 1t. IL
directs whatever pertains to the general
administration of the affairs of the
Church: but notifications IN the consti
| tutlon which 1t may propose must be
ratified by q majority OF the .presby teries
or by two thirds, if a Modification OF the
| confession of faith Is proposed. Ofter
| many of the most important acts OF an az.
| semi biy are its answers 10 overtures senl
up b. synods and presbyterIes.
AN IMPORTANT REPORT.
During the past year the Church ha:
| been quite aggressive IN its home mis-
sionary work. As some of the synod:
conduct the eyangelistic branch OF home
missions independent of the assent bly,
Executive Committee of Home Missions
an nd interim committee was appointed ts
| consider plans for harmonizing tho worl
| port of this committee, of which DIR. >. A.
King, the moderator. is chairman. and the
action which the assembly may take
upon it are looked forward to will
| much interest, as having an i'm
portant bearing upon the future of thi
department OF the Church's operations
since eyangelists are the chief agents TO
occupying new territory. Far more has
been done in evangellstic work during tn
| e.. hafn in, .
tory OF the Church. both under the aus
spices Of the presbyteries. the synods. ant
the assembly's committee. The action Il
be proposed by the al dtterim committee
will look to bringing these separate opera
tions into such harmony "a TO secure still
greater efficiency.
FOREIGN MISSIONS.
The efficiency of this Church IN its for
eign missionary work is appreciated b.
others. The Presbyterian Bd,,ner. pape
of the Northern Presbyterian Church
says IN q recent editorial
The Southern Presbyterian Church !
not only doing grand work at home. bu
II Is vigorously and successfully reachin!
out TO the foreign field. Ii has alread.
100 foreign missionaries actually at work
and will send out during the present yea
thirty more. We doubt whether any othe
Christian denomination III the world. ex
cept possibly the Moravlan, Is doug NOR
or better work in proportion to its mum
bers and wealth IN extending the kingdom
of CnrIst."
The Rev. DIR. NJ. II. Houston. who II
secretary of foreign missions has for som
yeays past conducted this week most etii
GENTLY. mas signified his purpose TO retir
from this service. He has recently reach
ed the conclusion that the present method
of conducting this work are not in accor'
with scriptural example. He closes re
cent communication III the Central Presbs
terinq as follows
II think that no man does wisely &
work after methods which he believes I
be unseriptural; and therefore propose
as soon as the next General Assembl
meets, TO ask leave TO retire from this par
of the mission servlce.p
4 The secretaries are only appointed for
single year. but usually reappointed TO
many years. Should DR.. Houston. as b
has indicated his purpose to do. declin
reelection one or the most important act
of this assembly will be the choice of hi
successor.
THE PUBLICATION INTEaEsIs.
The publishing house of the Church |
located in this city. Ii is under directio