The Benevolent Work of the Church, and the Report of the Committee of Twenty-One [pp. 246-272]

258 THE BENEVOLENT WORK OF THE CHURCH. [April,
erty to give to each Board, or other object, in its turn; or, to
a common treasury, wifl~ the understanding that il~e distribution among the objects is to be in a given proportion. The
simple purpose of the Commission, and its sole power as to
all this, is to consult and devise the best methods, and allow
each church to determine its own, and every person to select
his favorite objects. We doubt not that the effect of such
comparison of views and experiences would be, sooner or
later, to secure for our entire communion the very best methods in all these respects.
Besides, how else is the great end to be accomplished? By
~V!!~! lMk, if not by this, can we connect together the Presbyterial Committees end the benevolence of all sections? How
with sufficient ibree reach the pastors and church members?
The Assembly can not adequately further fl~e efforts of the
C~mmittee o{ Benevolence and Finance. It has the authority, but lacks 4~e requisite facilities. It never has really and
thoroughly done anything of the sort. Its supervision of the
Boards, and of the benevolent work, has iii sober truth been
only nominA and perfunctory. Th such a body as our General Assembly, il~ere is neither the thue, patience, nor convenience for such work. Besides, in that Body, the timid,
modest, and m~racficed in managing, are apt to be in the
background. 1~ven i~ heard, they are seldom influential, as
compared with a few bold, resolute, skilli~l, and possibly interested parties. T/~e e1uesKon rc~il~1 is,uhc[1tc~ t/~is`jnc~[!er sItall
bc dj~itc(i ~y the 485c)4-()Iy ~fl(1) Uh~~i( J c~[i~c1y to the Boards,
(s() ce~(ed) or to a Ce~ci~~1 Cer;~ri:sio~~ o$ th9 ki~d dcscri~cd.
As things now are, it leaves all to the Boards. Then pra&
t~~r~?t?i the Boards defer to il~e Prest'~yteries on]y so far as
suits their purposes. Not that the officers of the Board mean
to ~ssume unauthorized prerogatives. But they can not, under existing arrangements, satisfy, or even consult, all the
Presbytefles. The views and preferences of different sect~ons arc so conflicting, U~at there is no way of harmonizing
them, except through such a conference as the proposed General Commission would afford-a Commission elected by the
Synods, authorized by and subject to the Assembly. But