GENESEE EVANGELIST.—WhoIe No. 733.
ffiltlfe
: ; THROUGH DEATH TO HFft
Hate you heard the tale of the Aloe plant,
Away In the sunny dime?
By humble growth of an hundred years
It reaches its blaotnlng tinier
And then a wondrous-bud at Its crown
Breaks into a thousand flowers:
Uhls floral queen, In Its blooming seen,.
Is the pride of the tropical boWers.
But the plant to the flower Is n sacrifice,
For It blooms but once, and in blooming dies.
Hate you further heard of this Aloe plant,
That grows lit the sunny ollme,
Bow every one of its thousand flowers,
As they drop in the blooming time.
Is an infant plant that fastens its. roots
In the place where it falls on the ground;
And fast as they drop from the dying stein,
Grow lively and lovely around?
By dying it llveth a thousand-fold
In the yonng that spring from the death of the old.
Have you heard the tale of the Pelioan,
The Arabs’ Glmel el Bahr,
That jives in the African solitudes,
Where the birds that live lofliely are?
Have you heard how It loves its tender young,
And cares and tofl& for their good?
It brings them water from fountains afar,
And fishes the seas'for their food.
In famine it feeds them—what love can devise!—
The blood of Its bosom, and feeding them dies’. ,
Have you heard the tale they tell- of the swan,
The snow-white bird of the lake?
It noiselessly floats on the silvery wave,
It silently sits in the brake;
For it saves its song till the end ef life,
And then, in the soft, still even,
’Mid the golden light of the setting son,
It sings as It soars Into heaven i
And the blessed notes fall back from the shies:
’Tls its only song, for in singing it dies. ,
! You have heard these tales: shall I tell ybu one,
A greater and better than,'all?
. Have you heard of Him whom the heavens adore,
Before whom the hosts of them fall?
How He left the choirs and anthems above,
For earth In Its wailings and woes,
To suffer the shame and pain of the cross, .-4 :
And die for the life of His foes? ’*
.0 Prince of the noble !;0 Sufferer divine I
What sorrow and sacrifice equal to Thinei
; Hav *ou heard of this tale— the hast of them all—
ThetaleoftheHolyandTrue?;
He dies, but His life, inuntoldsouis, -
lAves on in the world anew, , ■
Hie seed prevails, and Is filling the earth
As the-starß fill the Bky abovb;
He taught ns to yield up tho love of life*
For the sake of the life of love. .. . . .
His death is our life, His loss Is our gain,
The joy for the tear, the peace for the pain.
Now hear these tales, ye weary and worn,
Who for others do give up your all;
Our Saviour hath tola you the seed that would grow,
Into earth’s dark bosom must fall—-
Must pass from the view and die awqy,
And then will the fruit appear:
The grain that seems lost in the earth below
Will return many fold In the ear.
By death comes life, by loss ootnes gain,
The joy for the tear, the peace fer tile paid.'
Hhsnr Hab»auoh.
TRI&B'JTERIAiP PUBLIC ATIOK 0011-
; nmm.
ABSTRACT OF THE EIGHTH ANNT7AI. REPORT.
. I. THE COMMITTEE consists of the
lowing persons:— *
( Term expiring May, IB6o.—Rev, John Jen
kins, D. D., Rey, 3. G. Butler, Charles S. Wurts,
.Mv D.j Samuel C. Perkins, Esq., Ron. WilHam
.Strong. '
Term expiring, 1861.—Raw. N. $, S. Beman,
X). D., Rev. Albert Barnes, Rev. Asa D. Smith,
D. D., Her. Thomas Brainerd, D. D., Rev. Geo. E.
Wiswell.
Term expiring, 1862.—‘•Rev. 8. H. Gridley,
D. D., Rev. S. T, Spefor, JD. 8., Rev. William E.
Moore, Bey. George Duffield, Jr., Rev. Hemy
Darling. : ■
The officers of the Obmmittee are:—
Rev. Albert Barnes, Chairman, Mr. William
.Purves, Treasurer, Rev. John W. Dulles, Seere
tety, and Editor of the Committee’s Publications.
11. PUBLICATIONS.—The Committee in
addition to new editions of works previously re
ported, bave issued the following publications:'—
Tracts op the First Series. (Duodecimo.)
No. 9. Permanence in the Pastoral Relation.
By Rev. J. Ambrose Wight. 82 pages.
No. 10. The Presbyterian System. By Rev.
Edwin F. Hatfield, D. D. 86 pages.
The American Presbyterian Almanac for 1860.
48 pages.
Tracts op the Second Series. (18mo.)
No. 8. Little Sins, or What Men CaU Such.
18 pages.
No. 9. Shall I Dance? By Rev. Joseph F.
Tuttle. 24 pages.
Sabbath School Library. (18mo.) To
tho series for the use of Sabbath Schools, the fol
lowing volumes have been added, all neatly bound
and illustrated, as well as valuable and interest
ing:—
The Young Hop-Pidcers. 98 pages.
The Little Orange Setters. 96 pages.
Rose Cottage. 188 pages.
Paul and Harry Fane. 128 pages.
Little Joe Ashton; or, Forbidden Ground.
125 pages.
Other Boors. The Shorter Catechism, With
Analysis and Scripture Proofs. Bv Rev. Edwin
Hall, D. D, .126 pages. This book is pronounced j
by competent judges, superior to any similar work
previously published.
This One Thing I Do. 75 pages, 18mo. An
appeal for earnestness Ip the, Christian ,11% ad
dressed to yoUflgsdisoipies. . ,; .
Martyrs of the Mutiny; or Trials and Triumphs
of Christians in the Sepoy Rebellion in India.
With an Introduction by Rev. John,.Jenkins, D-D
-286 pages, 18mo.
, Forms. A, Letter of Pismissign for Church
i Members, and 1 5 - : :
| A Form for the Report of the Church .'Session
uand Presbytery.
1 Sabbath School Hymn Book. —The Sab-
%ath School Hymn Booh, 820 pages,>B2mo. It
lst, A good number of ihof|e kymns that
are most precious to the church,'those/ being cho
sen which are most readily, .lSarned and loved by
the young; and, 2d, The best of those written for
the young and the Sabbath School; not excluding
those written for little children. The. Shorter
Catechism, Lords Prayer, and Ten Command
ments, are printed with each Hymn Book.
Eclectic Tone-Book. —Edited by W. B,
Bradbury. 868 pages. The aim of this book
lias been to bring together the most popular, effec
tive, and devotional tuttCS, old and new, now in
usq. The selection based upon actual
returns, contained in mptethan five hundred lists
of tunes furnished ip response to a Circular of in
quiry. To meet , a very general demand for oc
casional pieces, to be sung, by, the choir at the
opening and close of service, there have been in
troduced a somewhat new class of .compositions,
la these, appropriate music is adapted to selections
from the must choice hymns of the present; day.
The Formula for the Public Adimvityyn of
Church Members. - ,
The Church Psalmist has been issued as here
i tofore. A large number of our churches have,
I during the past year, substituted it for other colleo
-1 tions of Psalms and Hymns, and others will soon
I do so.
-Donations for Stereotyping. —Special do
nations have been made to stereotype, Permanency
in the Pastoral Relation, The Preabuterian Sys
iem, Shall 1 Dance?' anA This one Thing I, Do.
Works in Preparation. —The Committee
have, in different stages of'forwardness, and some
of them works, Which
they are anxious to issue. isaphaf to in
vest in these books compels them to hesitate, al-
though tiie. interests both of the churches and the
Committee WoulA claim their publication,
CraoHLATiON OF Bubhoationo The Com
mittlee call attention to the circulation of their
publications. In the absence’W eoiporteuis or
missionaries to carry out their, books and. tracts
,tbej look to . the ministers and elders of-.'the
churehes- tef lend-, their aid, in this important part
,of the work to be done, .There are now, some
who,,are, distributing, hygift or . sale, the'Com
mittee's boekp and tractfl. If. thisweredone by
all, both the influence and the prosperityofthe
Committee would be greatiy promoted.
In Synods or in Presbyteries, a. small amount of
capital might be invested in the Committee’s pub
lications, and these be put into the hands of some
suitable person in a central position to be kept for
said. By re-investing the money received’ frpin
sales, the stobh could be kept up, and thus tpe
publications be brought within the reach of the
pastors and members of our churches.
It is hoped that tliis important point will not be
overlooked by the friends of the cause;
Ml, TREASURER’S REPORT.
The financial vear was closed April lOth, iB6O,
and thus covers but eleven months. ’ It shows
fetich on hand, Ray 10j 1859, j 1740.02
Donations received, . 8095.81
COshfrok 5ate5,............................... 10,942195
-- - - - : t19i778;78
fßrifl for: ; •■■*;..•
. < .u.e...„„...j|1 i 9j692j62
Balance oh hand, April 16, 1866,...„ ■ 16
The* cash received does not show the amount
of sales, as balancesin favof of tie Committee
only in many cases go on the books. •?
The sales of eleven mOnthehave been $15,648.05;
being an advance of fifty per cent; on the pre
■cedingyear. • :-i l V/ '[
Donations of boobs and tfactshavebeen made
to the.amount of $287.91. ‘if--
IV. POSITION OF THE : COMMITTEiI.
JMarks of Progress.— ln the review of the
year the Committee find much reason for congra
tulation. With the very inadequate resources at
their hand; to keep ,on without actual
disaster, is,> '.grout Pni tliey report
positiveand very marked’ prpgress. .
1. The new publications of the year add moral
as well asmaterial strength to the undertaking.
The issues of the Committee have met the appro
bation of our pastors and intelligent church mem
bers. been, and it will be, the aim of your
Committee, so to present the,truth as to give no
just cause for offence to any of the followers of
Christ. In those works in which the distinctive
ymjFS of our own churches are set forth, it is the
desire of the Committee that it may be done with
Christian cpnrtesy and candor. From bitterness,
from sectarian pugnacity,and all uncharitableness
they pray to be delivered! To build up the walls
yf opr own Zion,-not to pull down those of others,
is iiheir axm. The Committee are not aware of
any of their publicationshaving given offence to
those with whom we differ. Though yet limited
in number, these publications afford an increasing
foundation for auseful and influential agency!.
2. The increase of the number of our publica
tions gives increased facilities for their diffusion.
Since the Committee are entirely dependent upon
ordinary sales for the disposal of their books and
tracts, this is an important item of progress.
3. Ip tba aotual increase-ef.sales there is grouhjl
•for encouragement. These have exceeded those
of the last year fifty per cent., and those of two
years ago, two hundred per cent. If, whilst labor
ing under great disadvantages from a lack of
capital, the business of tbe Committee has, made
these advances, there is every reason to believe
that, with a better financial basis, the undertaking
will be eminently successful and useful.
4. Another mark of progress is found in the
fact that works. for publication are coming into
the hands of the Committee.
5. The Committee also mention among advan
tages gained, the experience which jtheirpast
charge of this Important cause,has conferred.
Financial Position.—Whilst the position of
the Committee is better than in any preceding
year, it is stated that without the results of a
special effort made in the city of Philadelphia, the
report must have worn a different complexion., !
Some churches have placed the Publication
Cause upon their docket.of benevolence,!, From
such the Committee receive withsatisfacticm their
regular annual contributions. Bui the mtyoritr/
of ‘ mr churches have done nothing for this cause.
As the year advanced, it was clearly seen that
nothing but prompt and liberal relief would free
'the enterprise from most serious embarrassment.
To stand still vvould be to-waste the resources of
the Committee in expenses; to go back would be
to disgrace our’Denouiination, to discourage its
friends, and to damage its powers for good; to go
forward involved expenditures which the Com
mittee had not incaos to meet.
The-position of , the Committee was one of tryr
ing and painful perplexity. In the emergency
the , friends of our Church in Philadelphia were
called upon once more to lend their assistance to
an enterprise for which they had already done
much. The response was a subscription of Ten
Thousand Dollars. In. this effort the Committee
deem it proper to say that success was insured by
the,generous subscription of five thousand dollars
by John A. Brown, Esq. ■’!
The greater part of the receipts of the year are
due,to .these contributions.. Without this aid, tho
Committee could not have, held the vantage ground
gained at much cost and labor.
In this undertaking, as in the Church Erection
Fund, it is necessary that there; should be an in
vestment of capital before, results are attained!
The .difficulties of the Committee arise from the
i inadequacy of their capital to the work to-be done.
Fqr..this.,endowment they eau.only- look to the
eburohes by which they are appointed, and for
whose interests they labor. They cannot believe
that these churches lack the intelligence to appre
ciate the power of the religious press, or the wis
dom, and liberality needful for its effective use.
The committee very earnestly beg their consti
tuents to remember that they have laid upon them
heavy responsibilities, both moral and pecuniary,
from 1 which they cannot draw back.
, That there , are obstacles to the success; of this
undertaking the committee are well aware. In
its .nature; it appeals rather to the intelligent and
the thoughtful, than to the ordinary mind. It is,
hence, less susceptible of a popular presentation,
than ..most of the objects appealing to Christian
beoevolenoe., ■
The Committee fonnd that it would be desirable
to send out one who could, explain to sessions and
churches the principles on which the undertaking
was'based, that thus it might, gain admission to
their lists of benevolence. They therefore in.v-ited
the Itoy. Charles H. Chester, of Geneva, to
do this work in Central and Western New York,
where ear churches are most thickly studded.
Mr. Chester has labored in this field since No
vember 15th, 1859. He has visited and addressed
sessions, churches and presbyteries, explaining
and enforcing the claims of the cause. He has
been cheered by the evidences of a growing con
viction in the churches, that it is their duty to aid
in- the-establishment of the Assembly’s Committee
upon a proper scale of usefulness.
The Committee, in conclusion, appeal to their
brethren for the moral and pecuniary support
which the coarse upon which the denomination has
entered imperatively demands.
By the direction of the Assembly, they have
entered into heavy pecuniary obligations, for which
they, asjfpembers of the Comniitteeyifre,personally
liable, have sought to carry out faithfully
tneinstructions given them, looking to thechurches
for the neo issary means. But they ore compelled
PHILADELPHIA TfflMH, lAY.3A l»
plainly to. say that they have not received the
i support..which they deem themselves entitled to
expect. Whilst some of the churches cheer them
with them aid,.many leave them. to .struggle on
with no evidence of sympathy./ The contributions
• of the churches' for the past aside from the
' special effort made in Philadelphia, fell' short of
three thousand dollars. In every respect, except
tmiy the prospects of the Comihittee are most
cheering. But they must have k working capital,
• Or leaVe the work undone, and submit to the dis
grace- which failure would entail: They are most
willing to undergo any reasonable amount of anx-
M iety and labor for the promotion of the interests
*of 1 the Church they love, but they cannot assume
• the pecuniary liabilities of so serious an under
taking in the absence of a working capital as its
"basisf • -U : f
.They ask not for funds to invest In presses or
binderies, or in any of the machinery of printing
and boot-making. These the Committee do not
• design to own. Nor do they ask for the means of
. meeting the current expenses of their organization.
But, simply, for such a working capital as will ena
. Me them -to fulfil the instructions oftho Assembly,
to mdet the demands and fulfil the dnty of the
Church.
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
THIRD DAY*—MORNING SESSION;
The Assembly met, and was opened’with prayer
by the Moderator: The minutes of Friday were
* read and approved. The report of the Committee
on the Church Erection Fund was read by the
secretary, Rev. Dr. M'Lane. The/Fund now
amounts to over $109,000, which is all safely in
vested, and in such securities that it can be made
available when needed. Though every application
■for aid has been promptly met, yet the fund is
-increasing. Up to May, 1859, there had been
111 ehurehre added, and $40,418 either loaned
or donated to them. This year the number of
churches; added has been 31, to whom $11,150
has been granted. The whole number of dona
tions thus far from the fund has been 30, and the
number of loans 107. f The report was fall, clear,
systematic, and bighly encouraging.
the synod .and the assembly.
! At 10 o’clock, the members of the /Reformed
Presbyterian Synod came in procession to the
Third Cb.nrch, ! and the Assembly rose to receive
them. The Moderator of the Synod, Rev. Ster
ritt, wsb invited to a seat beiside the Moderator of
the Assembly, and was welcomed by Ml. Mills,
in the name of the Assembly. “We welcome
you,” -he raid, “as a branch of the great Presby
terian famiiy> which we believe to be nearer the
Scriptural model, in doctrine and government,than
any .other. We welcome you also as Christian
brethren;. We here meet together to Unite our
.prayers and praises; ; Let us try to draw near to
Christ; dor-the closer we are to him, the nearer
we shall be to.each other.”
The moderator,of the Synod then gave out a
psalm, .which was sung, and led in prayer. An?
gather psuhntwasrthen sttng, and prayer offered by
Rev, Mr.rfßankin, :«-delegate to the Assembly
from.Ney. England;.: -
Rev. Mr.SteWart, of tbe Reformed Church in
the Fifth Ward, .raid if gave him the : greatest
pleasure to meet this body. He rejoiced; in an
ospecial manper that the stand this, the Reformed
Presbyterian Church, had taken sixty years ago,
on the subject of slavery, was now occupied by
the'; bo'dy. flrhn «re herehdffing'Tthdii‘
Let us aot together in this great matter in hasten
ing the time when the Gospel shall cover the
earth as the waters the sea. s .
• Rev. Mr. Avery, of New York, the venerable
Dr. .Wisher,: of Ithaca, Rev. Jotham Sewall, of
New; York, made addresses.
After prayer by Rev. Dr. Wilson, of Cincinnati,
another Psalm was sang, and'the moderator of
the Synod made a few remarks reciprocating the
cordial feelings expressed by Mr. Miller.
Dr. Brainerd madu 1 the next address, alluding;
with .great appropriateness and beauty, to : the
meeting of;the Evangelical Alliance in London
fourteen years ago. 'He Was followed by Dr.
Wilson, of Cincinnati; Dr. McLeod,:of New
York; Dr. Stearns, of Newark, N. J.; Mr. Bell,
of California ; Dr. McMillan, of Cedarville, Ohio.
All these addresses were brief, . and most ,of them
exceedingly appropriate and interesting.
The closing prayer was offered by Rev. Dr.
Wylie', of-Philadelphia, the' 10,0 th psalm in long
metre was sung,iandithe benediction pronounced
by Mr. Mills. ’•
«, Dr.; Brainerd said > that he had a message for
the sAssembly, *from the venerable Dr. Beecher;
He saw him just before coming here. His great
intellect is failing, but his great heart is as large
and. Warm; as ■ ever. ~ If Tell my brethren,” he said,
“that my heart is tpo; full to speak;” This was
all he could utter.
Hearing/Mr. Rankin, the delegate from Ver
mont, was made the > special order for -10 o’clock
on Monday. -c i -f
!•; Reports. on synodical records Were ordered to
|be presented on Wednesday afternoon. .f.
! At 12 o’clock, the Assembly adjourned tomeet
! 9 o’clock,Monday morning; Closed with prayer
»y the venerable Dr. Wisner.
FOURTH DAT, MONDAY. .MORNING SESSION.
-The Assembly met at 9 o’clock, and spent the
first half hoar in devotional exercises, under the
direction of the Moderator. The minutes of
yesterdaywere read and approved, i
. The Committee to nominate a preacher on
Some Missions for next year reported, recom
mending the appointment of JEtev. Dr.-Nelson,
•of St. Louis, as Principal, and Rev. Dr. Ches
‘ter; of f.Buffalo, as Alternate. The report was
.accepted' and adopted,
] . Rev. J. E. Rankin, delegate from the Gene
ral Convention of Vermont,, addressed the Ast
hembly. presedting the ebristian -salatations of
that body. He said- that the Con'gregationalists
of Vermont are not sectarian, but feel a cordial
interest in the Presbyterian Church. There
are ih the Convention one hnndred*and ninety
two churches. To these have been added?
daring the'last year, an average of ten mem
bers, the largest increase we have had for many
years. Our congregations are larger than ever
before, and the results of the revival, thus far,
have, been. permanent and happy.' There is a
great deal of activity in Vermont in the Sab
bath school cause. We suffer largely ffrom emi
gration to the .West, and yet,we,are increasing.
Our churches are so many of them .feeble, that
we have few .pastors, and the pastorates are
short. This is felt to be a great evil, and en
grossed,the Attention of the •Convention. We
are warm friends of the Hotne Missionary So
ciety—and yet we are weary of this recrimina
tion and suspicion which has prevailed so of
late. If this cannot cease, we thihk it better
that we should separate in peace, one going to
the right hand dud the other to the left. Mr.
Rankin closed with the expression of the warm
est good wishes in behalf of the Assembly.
The Moderator responded, requesting Mr?
Rankin to bear home to ht's Convention the
assurance of our C hristian regard and best wishes
for its .prosperity. The General Assembly has
been in a partnership with our New England
brethren in Home Missions. If we think it ne
cessary that this partnership should be brought
}to a close? it will be not from the impulse of
jiectarianism, but because we regard the separa
tion as for the highest good of both parties—
and whatever the Assembly may do in the pre
mises shall be characterized by candor, kindness
•and.brotherly charity. ; '
I Rev. C. P. Wing, D. D., of the Committee
jonßills and OveYtures. reported Overture No.
'l-An Inquiry—ls it' forbidden by our stan
dard to baptize adult converts on a general con-
p' r
fession of faith prior tojtheif being received into
a: particular church, aMsubscribing to its stan
dard?: To. this the Committee recommended
the following answer: • ;
i Baptism is a> aacram'ent whereby the parties
baptized.are solemnly admitted: into: the visible
ehureh [Larger GatechiamjQ. 1611}r-and they
ought to be regarded/aslenititifed- to allthe pri
vileges of that chnreh; /which - are -consistent
with: their knowledge hhd:'theirs character; but
just as? none by birth become members of
the .human -family' without. a- special connexion
with some particular household', just as: all fruit
must have.an immediate connexion with some: par
ticular branch of the parep t tree; - so. by hig bap
tism every one, whether infant or adult, becomes
a member of that particular church in which bap
tism is administered; ' Inf a< legion where local
churches: abound, it would} therefore unqhestiop
ably be-irregular for any of Our? ministers-to-bap
: tize: any personsiwithout>a6iing/in' connexion'with
some church under whose dißciplipg such -persons
ire to be thus regarded.: T
i I .OverfuresNo.;2,.being a> memorial from Alton
Bresbyteiy on. 'was/presented by
Ttevi O. 'fcTaylor pf the Gohnnitfee
of which-he is a member:As .Mr. Taylor was
proceeding to read the memorial, 4 Rev. -Dr. Clarke
objected to the reading at lijiis> time; and moved to
posfcpone?the reading until after the report of the
Gommissioners on Home Missions; Dr. Chester
amended by moving a wferphee of: the memorial
to tbelChnrch Extension Committee; This amend
ment was accepted by Dr. Clarke. After some dis
cussion theCmbtion wastwitifdraWh by leave of the
Atsemblyy and the memorialiwas read. It asked
the General Assembly ito.take into its own hands
the whole work of Domestic Missions ; giving rea
sons why such a cause: would be both right and
expedient; after reading, the memorial was re-'
ferred to the Committee on Church Extension.
:-i The report of the special.. Committee on the
.demission of the ministry was taken from the
docket. . • ■ .. . .
Elder P.F.-Snrith, of- Philadelphia,, opposed;
the adoption of the.report. <He said: “I want to;
magnify my office,- an held,-by the Apostle
Peter, who also was an Eldon The action of, the
General Assembly MpSTd®pl?iTe and bind
ing pn this subject, an evasion of it,
while that ministers,
may demit jfcheir
ter 13 in the FormofGovernment were read, and
ire contended that in I 'the respectunder considera
tion there was no- difference ;j between ruling elders
and preaching elders or minigters. An elder who
had ceased to act would hot he received as a mem
ber of the Presbytery or General Assembly. Why
then should- a minister, who had laid aside the du
ties pf bis office, still claim ;ite privileges?. The
genius of onr church polity in equality in officers
r-reqnaiity/at least in numbers. 'But in most of
our ehurch courts the bishops are,far more nume
rous than'the elders, and are . so, because we have
so mapybishopswho aire not actively engaged in
the duties of their office. The Book provides for
the representation.inPresbytery.oEvacant churches,
but none for th? representation of vacant,ministers.
The framers of onr Gonstitutipu .held the idea
His connexion with the Presbytery, but with some
church. The Refolded: churches dreaded hierar
chy and prelacy, and hence sought to keep down
the ministerial element. ;THe ;cnurch courts are
representative .bodies,., for. the,edifica
tion
charge are members, you nnglWliyve meetings of
Presbytery when there was no representation. ,He
further argued the point by referring to the provi
sions of the book for the payment of the expenses of
members to the Assembly. Sis view was, that the
framers of the Constitution contemplated the minis
ters fmlely in connexion with a church, and not as
ministers at large. The cui bono of these views
was stated in conclusion, to give the elders their
true places in the courts and the government of the
church, and to put an end to tiie overshadowing
influence of the ministry. The want of permanence
in the pastoral, office results from the gradual de
parture of the church from the original spirit of the
system. There are a third of our ministers without
charge, and a quarter of our" churches vacant. The
tendency further is to se'oulafize the ministry. Mr.
Smith referred to the case of the late Rev. J. P.
Wilson, D. I)., who after he was- laid aside from
the active duties of the ministry, ceased to attend
the church courts. ,
Mr. Smith closed his speech at 12 o’cloek, and
the Assembly took a recess to 2 o’clock.
NEW COMMISSIONERS.
The appear
ed to-day, and their names were added to 'the’roll.
Bev. 0: HiSeymoinrj and M. Scbermer
horOjOf GourtlaridPres sElderJamesß. McDonald,
San Jose, California; Elder Ebenezer Jenkins and
Heniry. Smith, of Chicago ; Henry A. Wilson,' of
Logansporf, IndianajSamuel P.Capen, of Bloom
ington, 111.; Prof. Chas. A. Young, of Portage,
Ohio;' F. W. Fry, M. D,, of CrawfordsviUe,
Indiana; and George C. Glppp, of Dacota, Min
nesota. i:. rs-
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Opened with by the Moderator; mi
nutes of’ the morning'session read
The credentials of throb additional Commission
ers submitted and received. The subject of de
mission of the ministry came up. >
Elder J. K. Osbornb, of Maumee Presbytery,
took the floor. He contended there was nothing
in the constitution of the church recognizing the
equality of the elders and ministry; In the low
est order %f otir church there is no order for the
equality of representation in the ’ judicatories.
What does the ministry represent ? ’ It is admitted
here that they have no constituency.. The elders
represent their churches. My opinion is, that
the laity should' come forward' and sustain the
Mids'tiy int?t6eir' trouble is, jthat
the. eldership does not perform its duty.
' Elder Mason, of Milwaukee, said that the true
Question is, whether it;is competentior-a minister
to demit his office without deposition. The re
marks which have beeninade are aside ’ from the
question. lie moved that the report be commit-:
ted to the Committee on Church Polity. .It was
so committed. : ’
It Was moved by Dr. Wing, of Carlyle, to re
consider the. above vote, and it was carried.
: Dr. Clark, of New York, said if he understood
the last speaker, he had said that it was not com
petent to demit ; a-minister Without deposition.
After some further remarks, he moved that all
that part of the report delating to ordination be
Stricken out. [This set forth that ordination was
a mere form, indicating that the ordained was set
apart to the office of the ministry.]
Another member asked to have the closing sen
tences, relating to an ’overture of* Philadelpha
3rd, read again. This was in relation to the dan
ger of the secularization of the church from the
demission of the ministry, which was read. In
fine, it was voted to strike out all but theffeonolu
sion of the report. This demands that in case
any minister retire from the,miaistryof his own
accord, to require the reasons such a course.
Drs. Clark, .Seelye, Curtis autPoth&rs, made re
marks, and proposed amendments,-when it was
moved that the report,’with the pending -amend
ments be committed to the Committed ton Church
Polity. Dr. Hatfield-said that they had- already
taken away the foundation, and the ’superstructure
would not stand.' It would do no good to re
commit. . :
A motion to reconsider the motion by which a
part of the report was struck out, was carried.
After-much discussion add many points of or
der,-the Assembly, came 1 hack to the discussion of
the question of striking out all that' patt of the
repMt ; between,' : the r ''firsti'aft<hlasfe: ; sentenoei Mi?.
Latimer, of Huron, -made some remarks;’ after
which Dr. Allen said, that to contend that a man
wh;o had abandoned the work of the; ministry,
-could not giveup his office, or be.demitted, was an
absnrdity, It has a, bad influence upon the cause
of education-forthe ministry. - People see,ministers,
in banks,, in stores and in -various business, and
gay, we don’t desire to give, money to educate any
more such ministers. If .-to demit guchy should
cut down the number ofe our : ministers, be it so.
I shall never vote, fora report that ties men to
thu ministry, who do nothing in the work. ’
Dr. Hatfield read.the overture submitted at the
last Assembly, from the 3rd Philadelphia, and
said .that the report -was ap answer to that, and no
more.
' Rev. Mr. Scofield, of Michigan, said that a
man, when.he wasprdained, acknowledged before
God and man that lie consecrated his life to the
work. The* Presbyteries in which,these ministers
who have entered.upon secular business'belong,
are delinquent if they have not acted in-this mat
ter. - He bade h Stirring speech.
j - ,Clark ’moyed rthat ijweideelarerfit l as onr
judgment' that,'the- office of the' ministry being
once received, cannot be demitted without con
sent of the Presbytery, and for good reasons.
Dr. Seelye, of Albany, discussed the question
still farther, and- spoke of the ill-effect of the de
mission - of. the -ministry, and desired to see; the
way of demission made as difficult, as is just or
right. He referred to the temptations of minis
ters in the West to demit. He instanced cases
in point. He thought that every bond should be
thrown around us to hold us to goodness and re
ligion; As a matter of expediency, he- was op
posed to the, stand proposed by the resolutions.,
Dr. Wisner. said, that if theconstitution of the
ghurch and the scriptures did not contemplate
the demission of the ministry, he cared nothing
about expediency one way or the other. The ef
fect of relaxing the laws in marriage has been
had, and so it will be here. St. Paul, when he
couldn’t support himself, by preaching went to
tent-making, but he preached - Christ also; .Dr.
.Wisner; had- always felt ithat death or exeommu
:cation .were the only doors out of the ministry.
Mr. MoGiffert at. this point withdrew his mo
tion to strike out all after the precedents in re
port, and -Dr. Clarke moved the amendment as
above reported. Dr. Wing took the floor and
spoke on the amendment. He thought the report
had been well considered, and could, not' be easily
improved. - -Let us not take extreme ground. ;Do
not hold out the idea that a man cannot demit,
bnt that he - ought not. Tho report seemed to
him well drawn npy and; needed no amendment.
-Rev. Mr. Avery said that when one becomes
a member of the church, he can get out only by
death or expulsion, and this is also true of the
ministry. ■ -.r-... . .
Dr. Hatfield read the declaration of a former
Assembly, declaring that a minister cannot demit
except by deposition, and showed that Dr. Clarke’s
amendment, while re-kffirming that action,, de
clared that ministers could deffiit without.deposi
tion.
Rev. Mr. Darling renewed the motion to com
mit to the Committee on the Polity of the Church.
On this, Mr. Bell, of California, made some re
marks. At length the question, on commitment
was taken, and a division being called, resulted,
ayes 65, nays“ 72. -So fhe-motioh to commitment
was lost. - - , -
Dr.- Wisner called; for, the question.
The call was seconded and - sustained. The amend
ment, of Dr. Clarke was losly and the original re
port adopted-. • r -
~ Rev. S. T. Seelye moved a reconsideration,
pending which the Assembly adjourned until 9
o’clock this morning.
FIFTH DAT, TUESDAY. —MORNING SESSION.
The Assembly met at nine o’clock, and spent
half an hour in devotional exercises. The mi
nutes were read and approved. •
The unfinished business of yesterday, the mo
tion of Mr. Seelye for a reconsideration of the vote
to adopt the report on tho Demission of the Mi
nistry was taken np. *
Mr. Seelye, having the floors stated that ,he
wished reconsideration in order to move to strike
out of the report so much ag refers to the nature
of ordination.
Mr. Scofield 'opposed the re-consideration, and
contended earnestly for the report as it is. ■ ■
Drs. Nelson and Clarke spoke in favor of re
consideration.
The m'otion was lost, and the report stands as
the judgment of the Assembly on this subject.
Itev. Dr. Williamson, missionary among the
Dacota Indians, offered'the’following resolution : ;
Resolved, That the Committee on* Church Ex’-
tension be, and they are hereby instructed, to ex
tend aid to no church which has among-its'mem
bers ’one or more communieants who 'are slave
holders, and that they-instruct those whom they
may send, but as evangelists ’ to receive to ’the com
munion of-the churches they may.’form, ho person
who is knowaatOibe to slaveholder.'
; .-This resolution: was’;referred to .the Committee
on Church Extension.. . ’<•'
Beports from delegates-to corresponding bodies
were in order.. The delegates to the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church and. the U. P. Church, made
no report. ; Reports of the delegates to the Gene
ral Synod of the .Reformed Presbyterian Church,
and of the German Reformed Church, were-sub
mitted. .• . i :
The report of the,; delegate to the ;Geueral As
sociation of 'Massachusetts referred to the question
of Home Missions. This Association, it was stated,
lias always favored .the extension of missionary ef
forts :by the united efforts of different bodies of
Christians.. They, had passed a resolution, which
was submitted, that they considered', the .action of
churches for thp extension of : sectarian views in
new fields, as a .breach of good faith. The report
wag;quite long..;r 4jJ »,
. The delegate .to the -of
'Vermont, reported. Mr. Holmes bring present,
report as delegate to the Presbyterip.l and
Congregational Convention of. Wisconsin. Synod
of the Presbyterian Church of|GanBda,;and,of.the
U.'P. Church of the sante; pkpe: Rev. : M‘Leod
read the report, as delegate to these bodies. He
had visited the bodies in session, in Toronto. Of
the Reformed Church, there are in that province
144 ministers, and 183 chiirehes; and of the U.
P. Church, 66 ministers, and 119 churches. A
theme of interest wasjat the time before them—
viz., To unite both bodies in one. They, in fact,
consummated an agreement as to terms, and the
two bodies will hereafter act together.
Rev.. Dr. Brainerd read the report from the Ge
neral Association of Connecticut. -He visited the
meeting in 1859 at Norwich. Previous to his ar
rival, he haying been detained’on the road, they
bad'disciiiiid and passed a series of resolutions
touching ! the deliverance of the Alton Presbytery-'
and expressing decided suspicion of our course in
the work of- Home Missions. Dr. Brainerd was
given terf' minates to express salutations of his
church. If Hb used twenty, and defended the posi
sition of- the Presbyterian body in the matter of
Home Missions. He himself was treated with the
utmost;courtesy and kindness, but he thought he
saw in that body in general a spirit of peculiar
distrust. With all his hereditary and acquired
love for the-ministry of New England, and admi
ration of-the zeal and labors of ! lo ve, he is of thb
opinion that a longer connexion trith. the Cbngrb
gationalists of New England in the Home Mission
work#i]l be of little avail, and that it were better
it should cease.
Dr.-/Hatfield moved the acceptance and publi
cation 1 of the reporta in the appendix to minutes.
Adopted.
A.oommunication was read droin the Presbytp
rian jand'Oongregational State Convention of Wis
consin; and also from the WahJensUn-Church in
Praline. Dr. > Brainerd introduced Dr. TW: J.
Wyl&of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of
Philfipphia.
Rev. Dr. Allen read the report from the Society
for the Education of the 'Ministry as follows: [We
print it entire.]
The Standing; Committee on Education for the
ministry, to -whom was referred the report of the
Permanqnt Committee on the same subject, re
spectfully submit the following report.
The attention of the Assembly is called to the
Occasion of gratitude to the great Head of. the
Church, for the'increasing interest which is felt
in this cause throughout our. church, for the - con
tinued prosperity of our Theological Seminaries,
end especially for the. success, which has attended
the efforts to enlarge, the endowment of Auburn
and Lane Seminaries.
At the: same time we are called upon for more
earnest prayer to the Lord of the Harvest, in vies?
of the fact that the whole number of students in
these institutions, and.so far as we can learn the
whole number of candidates for the ministry in
any stage of their education, is scarcely at all inj
advance, of that of .the preceding year. The num
ber entering the ministry of our church, from year
to year, is entirely inadequate to meet the de
mands for-our home field—even if we should do
’nothing toward, furnishing a supply for foreign:
lands.- While as an Assembly we are endeavoring
.to awaken in all our Churches a deeper interest
both in foreign hud ‘ domestic missions, it should
not be forgotten that the interest must necessarily
be but transient unless we have men to send
abroad; who shall-constitute our best and strongest
bonds of union with far distant lands; and men
to cultivate the new fields which may he opened
and occupy the new churches which may be
•formed at home. All our attempts to enlarge our
-borders and to gather new churches by means of
.exploring missionaries are greatly embarrassed, and
many of them rendered comparatively useless, by
the want of men to enter the fields as permanent
laborers. This, so far as instrumental agency is
concerned, is emphatically our great want. That
this want may be rapidly supplied-—let all. Chris
tians be exhorted to remember the command of
,the Master—in their families and in their social
circles—“ Pray ye the Lord of the harvest,” &e.
ThcTabors of the Permanent Committee through
their Secretary, , have .done much to deepen the
interest op this subject in the Churches, Presby
,teries and Synods, and especially .among the young
men ip the .various institution's whieh. he has vi
sited. 1 Your committee are persuaded that if the
condition of this whole cause at this time eould
he compared with what it was four years: ago when
these labors commenced—the Assembly and the
Churches would.feel that the money necessary to
sustain them could not have been better expended,
ana that these labors must on no account be dis
continued. * Their report has already informed you
of; the embarrassment under which they have la
bored, ..on ;aceount of the fact that the interest in
the cause “has gathered itself,around local cen
tres,” instead of around one common centre, so
that what they have done cannot be embodied
and made manifest to the Church at large.
The most serious . question whieh presses upon
the minds of your Committee is—cap these causes
of embarrassment and difficulty be removed—
wholly or in part? : '
They .believe that they can be removed, and
that it is the sincere desire of all parts of the
Church'that they should bo.
■.As conditions to this end, it.is indispensable,
Ist, That in all parts, of the Church, especially ip
the represen tatives .of ; the severgldpealdb terests,
-there should be mutual confidence in each other,
and confidence in the ability and readiness of the
whole Church to provide for all her candidates for
the ministry, the aid they need in the prosecution
of their, studies. 2d. That every Presbytery,
Synod and local organization of any lcind should
be willing to contribute their proportion of the
expense necessary, to sustain the Permanent Com
mittee.
3d. That Synods act as supervisory bodies, in
quiring what the Churches and Presbyteries have
done in this work and adopting such measures as
will promote the general prosperity of the cause,
hut that they do not constitute local organizations.
4th. That those local organizations which by
reason of their chartered right's, bequests and per
manent funds, must continue their action, should
as far as "practicable conform to- the principles
adopted by the' Assembly, and become in fact, if
not in form, auxiliary to the Permanent Com
mittee.
,sth. That the Presbyteries .should be regarded
as the working bodies, each oh its own field,whose
duty it is to secure in: some way the presentation
of the cause annually in every .church, to search
out, encourage and direct the young men in, their
churches, who should be preparing for the minis
try, and to see that the funds which the field may
furnish for this object: be appropriated to sustain
young - men under, .the care; of the .Presbytery, dr
forwarded to the Committee according
to the wishes, of the donors.
RESOLUTIONS,
iln accordance with these suggestions, your
Committee recommend the adopting of. the fol
lowing resolutions: , .....
1. That the Assembly regard with increased
interest the endeavor to develop the energies of
the. whole Church, and to give them unity and
efficiency in the-work of increasing the ministry.
The plan already adopted by the Assembly is well
fitted for. this purpose. It is only necessary that
it he heartily adopted by the lower judicatories,
and’by‘the churches, as the channel of their bene
factions to this cause, and, by the blessing of God,
we may expect to see the happiest result. The
Assembly, therefore, in concurrence with previous
Assemblies, urge upon all the Synods, Presbyteries
and sessions of our Church to unite in giving to
this cause, as represented by the Permanent Com
mittee, such a vigorous supporte-that no young
man in all our bounds shall be .turned away from
the,ministry of the: gospel, for want of the .neces
sary moans of obtaining an education.
2. That a general Treasury be established under
the charge of the Permanent Committee for the
assistance of students under such 1 regulations as
have been heretofore adopted—or as may yet be
adopted.
8. That the Permanent Gomiaittee be instructed
to take special charge of those portions of the
field'covered by Presbyteries' arid Synods which
adopt the Assembly’s plan, co-operating with those
bodies in the endeavor to. seoure the means of sus
taining the beneficiaries who are members of the
Churches, or under the care of the presbyteries
within the field, wherever throughout the land
those beneficiaries shall pursue their' studies, so
that when all the Church shall unite in the .plan,
all the: candidates for.,the ministry in the Church
who may need aid shall be provided for. .
Provided, That the rights of any donor or
Church to give specific directions' to their donations
shall not be infringed upon. They are also in
structed to take measures to.induce those Synods
and Presbyteries, if, such there be that have taken
no action on this subject, to do so at an early day.
4. That the Permanent Committee be author
zed so to modify their by-laws, if; necessary, as to
conform them to the principles of this report, and
that-they report their option in (thismatter to. the
.riext Assembly.
§. .That a committee of three be appointed to
tonfer with the Western Education, and a like
committee be appointed to confer with the Phila
delphia Education Society, to .endeavor to secure,
j o far as may be found practicable, a hearty eo-ope
•ation between those Societies and the General
•Assembly through its Permanent Committee.
| 6. That the Permanent Committee be instruct
ed to prepare rules for the equitable distribution
jdf such scholarships as may be committed to tbeir
ware among the students ofithe several institutions
j,n which our beneficiaries obtain their education,
rind submit the same to the pext Assembly...
7. That John J. Owen, Jonathan E. Stearns
VOL. IV. -SO. 40.—Whole Ho. 205.
9 ~ ? (
William Jes-ttp, J. W. Benedict, and W. W.
Wickes, be elected members of the Permanent
Committee, to serve three years, and that T. L.
Ouyler be elected to serve two years, in the place
of Itev. A, Augustus Wood, who has resigned his
place in the Committee.
Dr. Brainerd said the details of the plan he
•had no particular interest'in. The question was,
would this report bring us- to a practical result.
He had the highest respect, for what llev. Dr.
Mills (Moderator) had done. He esteemed any
plan that reached the desired result a good plan.
What is the practical difficulty in our way! If
the General Agent in Philadelphia would take the
pains to collect the money for this object it could
be done. The Church has never had full con
fidence in the, plan of this society. Give us the
assurance that the .whole church will act in this
great matter, and the local societies will disband.
Dr. Mills has gone about'from ebiireh to church
idoingunuoh geod, -but- no such fesult has been ac
complished as one might expect. With his know
ledge of men and things he regarded the Secre
tary of this society as the main spring of the work.
If you will establish a Treasury and make it use
ful in this work, we will disband our local societies
at once.- Dr; Oox wasqent through the churches
and made sueh speeches as. no one else probably
ever made. He came back and reported, and’
when Dr. Patton heard him tell how he "bad
thrilled congregations he asked “ How much money
he had got, Dr. Cox said he was not after money
but after mind.”
Mr. .Mills, the Secretary on Education, called
Dr. Allen to the chair, and replied to the remarks
of Dr. Brainerd. He said that he would take the
field of the Philadelphia Educational Society—
take care of all their students, and meet all their
responsibilities, if they wonld transfer to him the
field with the confidence and good will of the
churches. Mr. Mills gave a history of the origin
and progress of the General Assembly’s Permanent
committee on Education. That committee was
located in New York as the result of a special
agreement with the Northern in Philadelphia;
their faith was pledged to it, and yet they have
continued to give all their money to local societies.
The contributions to the local treasuries have been
increased, by my labors, so that as regards money
that has not failed.
Our plan is to lay the responsibility on the
local Presbyteries, and then combine them for co
operation and mutual aid. We want: to put
ideas into men’s minds that will burn there and
move them like a steam engine. Idp not want
to be a pitiful beggar for money. My work is to
stimulate Christians to do their duty freely in
this great cause. lam compelled to- speak thus
of myself,. and if I am a fool in'glorying,' I have
Apostolic example; Paul was so before mq, When
I went to Philadelphia, I found there among the
laymen’ a commercial competition With New
York, and a jealousy growing out of it. I found
too, that some were afraid of me as an aboli
tionist. These, things hindered the work. The
proposition to the Philadelphia Presbyteries was
that thqy should take the matter into their own
hands, collect their Own' funds, support their bwii
beneficiaries, and pay over the surplus to the Per
manent Committee for the general work.
At this point Mr. Mills’ remarks were sus
pended by the arrival of the hour for adjourn
ment. . ...
The AsahnfibJy bpcDqd 'prayer-by the
Moderator.! 1 Thehearingof the report on Publi
cation, . was made the first order for, to-morrow
morning. The unfinished business of the morn
ing being resumed, Mr.'Mills continued his re
marks.'- 1 " ''' ' ” V'-
At the meeting of the Synod of Pennsylvania
in 1858, it was voted that the Philadelphia Edu
cation Society be the agent of the Synod to carry
out the plan of the Assembly; that it make col
lections only in Pennsylvania, support its own
students, and pdy over its surplus to the Commit
tee in New York. This vote has not been carried
out., Qur ministers in Philadelphia are embar
rassed by some difficulties on the subject, but they
will do wliat they can to carry out the action of
the Assembly, whatever it may be.
When he went to New York, the Central Edu
cation Society was still in 1 existence, and legacies
amounting to nearly §30,000 have been given to
it. The organization must be maintained for a
time on account of them. Hence the collections
made when I preached, were given to that Society.
I resigned a pleasant and: important pastoral
charge; and entered upon this Secretaryship, not
to identify myself with any institution or locality,
but to labor for the whole church. The plan
contemplates uniformity pf action throughout the
church, and that the weaker shall aid the stronger.
It seeks to link the East arid the West together.
The brethren in New York would come fully into
the plan, if the.whole eburqh .would, enter effi
ciently upon the work, jf united an appeal could
be made to the church, that would secure the means.
We need only 40,000 ; it is about 35 eents from
each member, per year; to s meet the demands be
fore us. Many of the Synods are doing: but lit
tle. The best specimen of the kind of operations
we need, is seen in the plan of the Synods of
Ohio, Indiana, Cincinnati and Wabash.
Our aim is to bring the work close to the
heart of the church, and to keep it there. The
work of education is too sacred to be entrusted
to voluntary societies. It is the church’s own
work. She is to be a great educational insti
tution. We are aiming at self-development,
not to collect a pile of money and say to young
men, conie and get it. The plan can work, and
does work. > ...
Mr. Mills proceeded to answer the objection
that a large amount of money has not been
paid, and re-stated the plan of the Assembly.
Its leading idea is to make every Presbytery an
efficient working society, in this department of
Christian effort, and beyond this it only seeks
to, link the- Presbyteries together, so that the
strong may help the weak. The Permanent
Committee want the opportunity of doing some
thing for Christ’s sake, or of retiring. The
faith of the Assembly is pledged to us, and
that faith should be redeemed.
Dr. Clarke .illustrated the state of things iu
regard to onr Education. Societies by a story.
The'select men of a New England town voted
to build a new jail on the site of the old, and of
the materials of the old ; and then voted that
the; Old jail should stand and be occupied until
the new jail was completed; when the contrac
tor came to begin his work he was told, “ hands
off,” you cannot go to work on this site, or use
these materials, for this jail is to stand nntil the
one which is to be built on its site, and out of
the material in it, is done.
The plan was. an excellent one, as adopted by
the General Assembly, except that they added
to it the authority for local Educational Socie
ties to do their own work in their own way.
He explained at length how this embarrasses
the action of the Committee. Synods and
Presbyteries who have men to be. educated but
no money, are ready to wheel into line, and co
operate with the Permanent Committee; but
those who have money say “hands off-” We
cannot do anything under these circumstances,
and the plea of the Committee is do wn with the
oldjaiL
Rev. Mr. Darling, of Philadelphia, com
menced making some remarks, but the hour for
the regular order having arrived, the said order
was taken up, Mr. D. having the floor.
•Mr; Wylie then gave the report from his
church, (Ref Pres.) in Philadelphia. He pro-:
ceeded to give a sketch of the history and belief
of that church. They profess to derive their
church from those planted by the Apostle John
in Asia, they have about 10,000 communicants
nowthey holdChristto be King of Zion, and
Continued on third column, second page.
AFTERNOON SESSION.