Year: 1877

of the Church, than among the members Q
that committee. / have said all that | thin


needs to be said. We had no idea of takin


anybody to task all we wanted to do was


put the Assembly in possession of the facts


If the language is too strong, it did not g


appear to Us at that time.


Rev. Mr.. Neel heartily endorsed DR.
Woodrow's remarks, which he did not con
slider as captous. The committee had fallel
into the error of preaching to the Assembly
What we wanted from the Committee was tn
information that our brother has given US
but we also want the poor privilege of acting
for ourselves. aud let the facts stimulate US


The Assembly adjourned until 8 O'Clock
this evening.


EVENING SESSION.


The discussion of the report of the Com
mittee of Sustentation wss resumed.


DR.. Rutherford stated that he concurred
in what DR.. Woodrow and Mr.. Neel had said
about the sacredness of the rights of the
Presbytery. But the Committey had posi-
lively avowed the unwillingness Ito censure
the Presbyteries, but it was thaSSr duty to
bring to the attention of the Church the ac.
tion of the Presbyteries, and especially to
qatisfy the Church, whenever any of the
Presbyteries withdrew from cooperation; it
was their duty, too, to notify the Church Of
the effect of that withdrawal. There was no
difference of opinion in the Standing Com.
mittes on this matter. They did not think
that the Assembly's Executive Committee had
used any too strong language on this subject.
Let it be remembered that neither the Exec
tive nor Standing Committee doubted the
rights of the Presbyteries, but there is some
weight to be attached to the fact that this
scheme is that of the combined wisdom of the
Church; and been tested and found success
full, as was shown by brethren on this floor.


DR.. Armstrong-East Hanover Presby-
terry is represented as having withdrawn, and
of doing less than formerly. Well, Modera
tor, our position is peculiar; we embrace
one-third of the State of Virginia, a large
proportion of our churches are feeble, and
ours is an old worn-out country. A rule of
the Committee requires churches to be drop
ped after the five years. We applied to have
the rule changed and failed. That rule
would have cut off all our churches from aid.
And it was that that led US to take matters
in our own hands.


Well, it was said that though our Pfesby-
terry contained some of the weslthiest church
es, yet we have taken more out than we put
into the treasury. We determined to stop
that-so we resolved to give ten per cent. Of
our collections to that committee, and to use
the rest for our own purposes. This we have
done.


This is the fact in reference to East Han
over Presbytery. Ours is peculiar case,
and we had to meet it in this peculiar way.


Mr.. Daniel said that, as member Of the
Assembly's Committee, he had approved of
the report. His reason for approval was
that the secretary had only done his duty,
and in referring to the action of the Presby-
teries the secretary only referred to those
matters that affected the general cause. 1t
was his opinion that the attitude Of these
Presbyteries was injurious to the general,
plans and while not doubling their right to
withdraw, yet We would have them consider
the evil resulting in their withdrawal. There
was too great tendency on the part of Pres
byteries and churches to stand out of line
The Assembly asks the Presbyteries to come
up and join in pushing forward some plan for
the general good. When Presbyteries refuse
to do this, is it wrong for the secretaries to
inform the Assembly Of the fact?


We talk about the unity of the Church.
What we want is not sentimentalism, but
practical unity; hearty cooperation in the
work of the Church.


Mr. Isler of the Wilmington Pfesbytery,
said that they had no complaint against the
Sustentation Committee. Their separate ac-
ton was not based on any fault found by
them with the Assembly's committee, but
there were peculiar circumstances in the case
of the Presbytery that justified their separate
action.


The report of the Standing Committee Of
Sustentation was adopted.