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GENESEE EVANGELIST.
THURSDAY, MAY 22, 1862
JOHN W. NE : RS,
CORRESPONDENCE IN THE ASSEMBLY.
CINCINNATI, May 16, 1862.
Brother Mears:--The Assembly has just
closed the second day of its sessions. I forward
you a hasty resume of its proceedings so far.
Bev, Dr. C ondit's opening sermon was deliver
, ed in the presence of a large audience, including
many. citizens. The Text was Act xvii. 2, 3.
The gist of the theme was in the phrase, "rea
soned with them out of the Scriptures," which
furnished " Biblical Preaching" for a topic.
The discourse was one of practical excellence.
It had the ring of times when the highest art
of preaching consisted in a skilful application of
scriptural authority in imparting impressiveness
to positions, and in making them felt as real
truths, and when it was not regarded as neces
eery to make the subsidiary testimony of reason
and science so prominent that it finally comes to
be regarded as the test of true interpretation.
The preacher spoke of the distinction between
reasoning out of the Scriptures, and reasoning
our human opinions into them, and showed, un
der several distinct heads,,that divine unction
being assumed, this reasoning out of the Scrip
tures is the great power of the pulpit. It was
the preaching of Apostolic days, in the hands of
men like Luther and Calvin it was the lever of
the Reformation; and it made the strength of
preaching for the wondrous spiritual accomplish
ments of the seventeenth century, when such
men as Baxter and, Howe, like Paul, knew no
thing but Christ and Him crucified.
Dr. Condit's preaching has few accessories of
manner. His countenance is calm and indica
tive of evenness of both mind and temperament.
His stature is medium, and his outward appear
ance pleasant, but not impressive. His voice is
not adapted to give the matter of preaching any
more force than what properly belongs to it.
Yet he is impressive, and his audience was evi
dently impressed, and that deeply. It was be
cause every thought was worth the attention
which it claimed; every sentence was unartistic,
and every word well spoken. I hope the sermon
will be published,
How strange that real incongruities are some
times an unavoidable necessityl Here was a ser
mon, preached on an occasion eminently fitting,
the whole burden of which was to show that,
under conditions already named, the highest
power of gospel preaching is found in preaching out
of the Scriptures, and yet the sermon itself was
a mere essay on preaching, not illustrating its
own theme in its substance. And yet it could
not in any other way have met the requirements
of the case. It belonged more to the profes
moral chair than to the pulpit. Yet even this
fact was not felt as any abatement of its fitness
for the occasion. Thus it illustrated the impos
sibility of avoiding exceptions to the best rules.
The daily reports have, I suppose, informed
you of the election of the venerable Dr. Duffield
as Moderator. Dr. Joel Parker was also in nomi
nation, and received a creditable amount of sup
port—some 60 or 70 votes. There were, how
ever, reasons readily suggesting themselves to
those familiar with the history of former days,
which could not fail to secure to Dr. Duffield an
easy election. Many who voted for him would, un
der other circumstances, have cheerfully seized the
occasion for testifying the esteem in which they
bold Dr. P.
The Assembly also paid a deserved compli
ment to our Brother Darling, by unanimously
and heartily declining to receive his proffered
resignation of the office of Permanent Clerk.
Dr. Darling forwarded his resignation, only in
view of the fact that his feeble health forbade his
attendance on the present sessions. As it is not
long since he was obliged to absent himself from
an Assembly for the same reason, he probably
feared that a second excuse of the kind might be
felt by the body as a strain upon its patience.
The Assembly tuck a different view of the matter.
On learning that his health appears to be im
proving, and that there is a good hope of its
restoration, they did as mentioned above, accom
panying the vote with expressions of much per
sonal regard, and of their sense of the value of
his services. Mr. Sterling, of our Synod, takes
his place for the present sessions.
On Thursday evening a meeting for prayer in
view of the present state of the country, was held'
in the large lecture room of the church, which
was densely filled. The meeting was led by Dr.
Parker, who, in the course of his remarks, refer
red to the evident Divine guidance of the mind
of President Lincoln, securing from the whole
loyal part of the country a perfect confidence in
him as our leader through present perils, as one
cause for devout thankigiving, and one encour
agement for continued prayer for our Rulers.
Tie Christian character of many commanders
in our Army and Navy was referred to in similar
terms. The Dr. spoke of the probable speedy
termination of the war, and the return among us
of hundreds of thousands of soldiers, who, if
things took their usual course, might scatter vices
about their homes most destructive to religion.
This, he said, was the real crisis of the hour. The
wants of the hour were eubsiding before the want
of a universal revival of religion. Pray to God
to make our Chaplains faithful, and to help
them. Pray for the conversion of soldiers, and
pray that when they return, they may fall into
scenes of solemn revival. Brethren Dulles and
Eva, of Philadelphia, were among those who took
p a rt in the exercises.
The proceedings of this day (Friday) have
been chiefly such as put the Assembly in work
ing order. Standing Committees have been an
nounced, times dseignated for several orders of
business, and reports heard from two of the Per
manent Committees—those on Publication and
Education. The former exhibited a
_greater
amount of efficient labor than could have been
expected under the .serious embarrassments aris
ing from the delay of the pecuniary outfit which
has so long existed in prommissory resolutions.
Several new publications have been added to the
list of the Committee's issues, and important re
trenahmenth iu expenses carried out.
Philadelphia was appointed as the place of
meeting for the next Assembly. A Special Com
mittee, consisting of Dra. Beman and Thompson,
Rev. Mr. Aikman and Elders Booth and Rey
nolds, was appointed to prepare a paper on the
state of the country. The feeling on this subject
is unquestionably sound and unanimous.
At the close of the day's session the Moderator
announced that there were already in attendance
207 members, 93 of Nhom were Eldets, making,
it is believed, the largest turn-out of the latter
element which has been witnessed since the divi
sion. The Assembly is indeed, at this moment,
a noble spectable. I have never witnessed one
since 1836 so numerous, and never one so im
posing in its general appearance. Its members
are chiefly at or beyond what we call the middle
age of life. Three Ex-Moderators (Beman,
Dickinson and Thompson,) are in attendance, and
two others are present as spectators. Dr. Beman,
on the question between Philadelphia and Brook
lyn as the place of the next meeting, said : "Let
us go to Philadelphia, and show the difference
between 1837 and now." If the meeting of next
year comes up to the present, it will do all your
eyes good. I did not mean a pun when I wrote
the last sentence ; but it now seems to me that we
have at least one brother there to whom it will
be "a sight for sair e'en."
More as iftranspires.
Editor
Brother Mears:—The Assembly, as usual on
Saturdays, held only a morning session. While
I write, most of the brethren are off to the Semi
nary, having, I presume a good time generally.
The devotional exercises this morning were
deeply interesting—l think more so than I ever
before witnessed in such a meeting. i The time
was prolonged to one hour. The exhortations
came out of full hearts, and the supplications
were many and tender. All was voluntary—that
is, no one waited to be called out. I saw several
old'inen in tears,- as thought swept along the past
to the years of the right hand of the Most High.
Dr. Hatfield prayed affectionately for the Assem
bly at Columbus, as brethren, imploring on their
behalf peace, prosperity, and the Divine unction.
Would it not be glorious if I should be allowed to
write you next week, that God is coming down in,
power into our meetings; still moreglorious if it
might be the inauguration' of a higher spiritual
tone in , our Assemblies !, Philadelphia might
then look with new desire for its coming next
year. There was a time when the expectation of
of the presence of the Assembly created more of
dread than hope, but that time is, passed—may
we not devoutly hope forever passed ? God will
be with the men gathered in his name, and those
with whom He goes are ever sure to bring joy
with them.
The business of this morning was only the or
dinary routine—chiefly the reading and referring
of the reports of the Church Erection and Home
Mission Committees. Both exhibited a state of
prosperity. The latter, on account of the new
ness of its organization,. excited great interest,
and the efficiency of the eperations of the year,
produced real surprise.
At the close of the session the Moderator an
nounced that 210 commissioners are now in at
tendance, and that the compliment . of ministerial
commissioners lacks only six of being full. Is
there any former Assembly of this or any other
Church of which this can be said ? We are re
joicing over it, notwithstanding it makes our
prospects from the Commissioners' Fund darkly
dubious. The Mileage Committee will work hard
over the problem, but it is regarded as pretty
well settled that, with this unexpected number
of claimants, we shall be on short allowance for
our means of getting back.
The Assembly, this morning, voted to accept
an•invitation to take an excursion to Oxford, on
Wednesday next, to witness the opening services
of new buildings for the Female College—in
other words, to have a nice time among the young
adies. Some one will probably be on hand to
tell you whatever of interest transpires, but it
will not be this correspondent.
I suppose you get daily .reports of the proceed
ings from the Cincinnati papers. They are not
so good as they would be if prepared by some
person familiar with our modes of doing business,
and the details of our organization. I notice the
same thing in the reports of the proceedings at
Columbus, from papers of that city. They are
even worse sufferers than ourselves in blunders
over names, as for example—Barkers for Backus,
and sometimes George Gunkin, and sometimes
George Jenkins, for the hero of orthodoxy in
1836.
That Assembly seems to have been smarter
than ours in reaching the speechifying stage.
We have had as yet absolutely nothing in that
line, and except, as we judge from the known
proclivities of men, we are in profound ignorance
who are to mount the platform, or whether we
are to have anythipg which aspires to the'dignity
of a speech. We shall know better when we
hear from the Committee on Bills and Overtures.
I noticed our good brother Beckwith, the Mes
senger from the Union Convention of the St.
Lawrence. and Ogdensburgh Presbyteries, hunt
ing them up with a handful of papers, from
which I presume we shall hear- something. A
Columbus account tells us of an animated dis
cussion, on the second day, over the report of a
Committee on the revision, of the Book of Dis
cipline, and a speech from Dr. Breckinridge was
in progress when the reporter made up his report
for the evening. In that Assembly Dr. Schenck
has been elected Permanent Clerk, by a small
majority over Dr. Nevin. If that'election is a
test of the relative strength of the server idem
and the progressive parties in that Church, (for
such, parties really exist there,) it will bring to
some hearts the heavy conviction that the long
waiting of patience is not yet over.
By the way, whet, of the General Assembly at
Memphis? We are all in darkness; ean you tell
us anything of them?
Dr. R. J. Breckinridge is to speak here, in
the Opera House, next Tuesday evening, for the
Union. I doubt not it will be a splendid and
patriotic effort. I should love to hear him, but
I miss many a good thing because of my dread
of a crowd. The Doctor is to be regularly lion
ized. There has been a meeting of the citizens,
and a Committee to meet him at the depot, a
Committee of Reception, a Committee to intra
duce citizens personally to him, So., Sze., ap
pointed. It is a well deserved honor. All Cin
cinnati will be out, and not a few of " the rest of
mankind." THIRD.
THE FAIRFIELD Housu, advertised in another
column, is situated in one of the quiet, beautiful
Connecticut villages directly on the Sound, about
two hours' rid 3. by railway from New York. The
house is commodious and convenient, and has
hitherto been the resort of Southern travellers,
who have admired its comforts and accommoda
tions. It is worthy the attention of those *rho
in summer, seek the sea-shore.
amtriratt Vrtollgteriait itud ultlttort
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OP THE PRESBYTE
RIAN (mum
LIE General. Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church met this forenoon in the Second Presby
terian church (Dr. Thompson's), on Fourth
street.
There were twenty-one Synods represented, as
follows:--Albany, Utica, Geneva, Onondaga,
Susquehinna, Genessee, New York, Pennsylva
nia, West Pennsylvania, Michigan, Western Re
serve, Ohio, Cincinnati, Indiana, Wabash,
Peoria, Wisconsin, lowa, Minnesota, and
Missouri.
There were present 104 Ministers and 86 El
ders. This number will probably be increased
by new arrivals.
The sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr.
Condit, the retiring Moderator, from Auburn,
N.Y, who took for his text Acts xsii, 2d and
3d verses.
" And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto
them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with
them out of the Scriptures ;
THIRD.
May 17
" Opening and alleging that Christ must needs
have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and
that this Jesus, whom . I . preach unto you, is
Christ."
He commenced his discourse by saying that it
was a fact beyond dispute, that the pulpit and
the Church are inseparable; that they are so
closely and intimat3ly connected, that the one can
hardly be said to exist without the other. Life
in one gives life to the other, and power and
strength in the one necessarily communicate their
influence to support the other. They are insti
tuted by the same author, and consequently can
not be disunited. Some see symptoms of a wan
ing in the success of the Church; there is creep
ing into its institutions a spirit of indifference,
which is peculiarly painful to those whose whole
delight is in the success and well being of the
Church; and this, he believes to be the result
of a peculiar spirit of accommodation which has
of late insinuated itself into the pulpit, entirely
displacing the biblical element which forms the
vital and fundamental principle of their exist
tenee. Paul's method of preaching was reasoning
from the Scriptures; and that is the only true
and consistent biblical Preaching we can have.
Having thus forcibly introduced the subject of
his discourse, he proceeded to remark that,
Firstly. The Bible in the pulpit is the direct
source of blessing from God; and the term the
"Bible in the pulpit " means, proving the divin
ity of Christ from-its sacred pages; not the in
troduction of petty arguments on some slight and
unimportant technicalities. - But reasoning foun
ded on sacred truths, which is the 'only thing
God uses to bring men's hearts in subjection to
his" will.
Secondly. Biblical preaching is invested with
Divine authority„ and it is the divinity of its.au
thority which gives it the power which is so,
irresistible and overpowering to all that opposes
it.
Thirdly. Thorough biblical preaching will pro
duce complete unity in the church, a unity of
faith and of works; without it we get works with:
out faith, and at others faith without: works,
whereas, it is an essential necessity that there
should be a complete union of both.
Fourthly. Biblical preaching produces the
highest development of power, both spiritual and
intellectual, in the minister himself. The man
ner in which the pr,eacher pictures the allure
ments of the Bible, and portrays its promises, or
denounces its threatenings, demonstrates unmis
takably whether or not he is a biblical preacher.
The history of the pulpit in all ages and in
every era, has proved beyond the power of so
phistry to refute, that the Bible has been the
secret of its success. It is not sentimentality
whill is now required in the pulpit; it is not
the faculty of clothing the precepts of the sacred
volume in attractive and alluring el:dors ; but it
is nothing but the old sound Bible truths that
are wanted. The truths which produced the
Reformation, which taught Martin Luther and
supported the Pilgrim Fathers in their trials, and
which will still continue to make the Church in
crease, and gather to herself glory until the end
of time.
The service was then concluded by prayer, and
adjourned until afternoon.
The afternoon session was opened with prayer
by Rev. Mason Noble, of Washington City.
The following is the roll of the General As
sembly of the Presbyterian Church, in the Uni
ted States of America, Convened at Cincinnati,
Ohio, Thursday, May 16, 1862 :
Rev. Dr. George Diffteld, Moderator.
Rev. Edwin F. Hatfield, D.D., Stated Clerk.
Rev. William Sterling, Permanent Clerk.
Rev. F. F. Fanwood, and Hon. William H
Brown, Temporary Clerks.
Synod of Albany. ,
PRESBYTERY. muusTzas. moms.
Champlain, John H. Stone,
Troy, J. H. Noble, •
Nat S. S. Beman, D.D., LLD.
Albany, Stephen Bush,
Columbia,
Catskill,. Samuel Loomis, John Niles.
,Synod of Utica.
St. Lawrence, B. R Beckwith,
Witertown,,, Peter Snyder, - Lewis Stevens.
Oswego, Thomas A.Weed, Samuel Smith.
Utica, S. W. Brace, Russel Mather.
J: m. B. Hubbard,
Isi Dr ia id ili K er . Butts.
Synod of Geneva.
Geneva, Tim. M. Hopkins, .
B. M. Goldsmith,G.W.Brundatili
Bath, D. D. Gregory, Jas. H. Rote 'es.
Chemung, A.W.Cowles,D D Robert Wilson. •
Utica, David Torrey, H. S. Walbridge.
Pennsylvania, J. F. Calkins, Enoch Blackwell.
Lyons, LewisM. Shepard-Albert F. Cressy.
Synod of Onondaga.
Onondaga, Hon..J. S. Spencer.
Cayuga, C. Hawley, D.D, Ira Hamilton, MD.
Geo. W. Warner, Owen Hughes.
Cortland, D. E. Whitmore.,
Tioga, Sam. H. Hall,
Synod of Susquehanna.
Otsego, Sam'! J. White, Benj. Jacobson.
Chenango, Alfred Ketcham. Tho. Gale.
D e l aware , P. Bassztt, M.D.
Synod of Genesee.
Buffalo,. John Otto.
Fred. W. Flint, G. W. Tew..
Ontario, Geo. P. Folsom, Ephraim Cone,
Rochester J. P Shaw, DD C. R Adams
F. F. Ellinwood, Harry Allen, M.D
Genesee, E. N. Manley, Stephen Ives. .
Niagara,Joshua Cooke, James Wells.
Genesee Valiy, E. W. Stoddard, Wm. F. Wheeler.
Synod of Pennsylvania.
Wilmington, Wm. Aikman John C. Clark.
Brd rhiladera, B. B. HotehlAn, Isaac Ashmead.
T. S. Johnston, Alex. Whildin.
4th Phiadel'a, Wm. T. Eva, R. Byington, M.ll
Henry & Osborn, T. Trenehard.
Harrisburg, Wm. Sterling, John B. Ra.
The of Col' bia Mason Noble • -
FIRST DAY
THURSDAY, May 15
APTEENOON SESSION.,
OrFICERS.
Synod of New York and New Jersey.
Hudson, H. F. Wadsworth, G. W. Seward.
North River, Elisha . G. Gobb, B. J. Van Keuren.
Long Island, Ed. Stratton, J. S. Skidmore,
New York 3rd, D. M. Seward, Wm, A. Booth,
• Ed. F. Hatfield, Daniel H. Smith.
8, W. Crittenden, James W. Bishop.
N. Y. Fourth, Joel Parker, DD, S. M. Blatchford,
John Spaulding,:. Albert N. Morgan.
Brooklyn, J.W.McLane DD E. A. Lambert.
Newark, C.M.Nichols,DD S. G. Gould,
D D, Seth Magic.
Rockaway, Nathan Leighton; J. J. Fitzgerald.
Montrose, W. H. Adams, Richard L. Seely.
Israel Brundage. Simeon B. Chase.
Synod of West Penny/yank.
Erie, ' Joseph Vance,' Harmon Ensign.
Meadville, Rob't C. Allison,
Pittsburg, J. F. Read, M.D, W. C. Augenbaugh.
Synod of Michigan.
Detroit, G. Duffield, D.D, Horace Hallock.
Monroe, E. 3. Boyd,
Marshall, W. A. McCorkle, Lewis Keeler.
Washtenaw, Benj. Russell, Alva Pratt.
Kalamazoo, Norman Kellogg,
Goldwater, 3. A. Ramsey, Wm. McMechan.
Saginaw,_ David H. Taylor, Horace Rood.
Gr. Riv.ValPy, Louis Mills,
Lake§uperior, Cicero B.Steveus, J. C. Larimore.
Synod of Western Reserve.
Grand River, D. Witter, Erastus Chester.
Portage, Elias C. Sharp,
Huron, F. L. Rossiter, L. Galpin, M.D.
Trumbull, Wm. C. Clark; Erastus Walcott,
Cleveland, S. C. Aiken, DD. F. S. Slosson, M.D.
Isaac E. Brush.
A. R. Clark
Elyria, 2
Maumee, Perry C.Baldwiu,
Synod of Oio.
Athens, Archibald S:Reia Joel Duning.
.Pataskala, Aaron 'Swift,
Franklin, Thos. J. Downey, Benoni Dickman
Scioto; T. S. Reeve, Robert. Wood.
Synod of Cincinnati.
Cincinnati, RevDrThompson F. B. Chamberlain.
John E. Chandler Ed. D.-Mansfield:
Dayton, W. M. Cheerer;
Hamilton, J. P. E. Kumler, Stephen Whitook.
Sgnod of Indiana.
Salem,. - H. W. Ballantine, 011 y Owen;
Madison, John Garish, James Lamb, MD.
Indianapolis, Isaac Del.amater, J. L. Ketchum.
Green Castle, H. L. Dickerson, Charles E. Knapp.
Synod of Wabash,.
Crawfordsville ahomas Griffiths, P. T. McKinney.
St. Joseph, Ed. Scofield, A. J. Westnorth.
Logansport, F. S. McCabe, -J. C. Reynolds.
Fort Wayne, R. T. Cheadle, Hon. J. L. Knight.
Synod of Illinois.
W.lllinois, G. Gallagher, S. W. Ramells.
Schuyler, Wm. Herritt,
Wabash, JohnC. Campbell, J. H. Culbertson.
Alton, Chas. H. Foote,. Ebenezer Cheney.
. ,„
Synod of Re9;lo.
Ottawa,
Knox, W. McKaig, -
Galena, - Aratus Kent, Thomas Wilson.
Chicago, G. L. Little, - N. S. Boonton.
B. Dickinson,DD Hon. W. H. Brown.
Belvidere,
Bloomington, H. H. Kellogg; David Brier.
synod of Wisconsin.
Milwaukee, Jos. S. Lord,
Fox River John B. Preston, Wilson Holt,
Columbus, Tim'y Williston, John Phillips
Synod of lowa.
Des Moines, F. M. Dim:nick,
lowa City,. George D. Young S. Rogers.
Keokuk, Isaac E. Carey;
Dubuque, Chas. R. French, Richard Elder
lowa Valley,
Chariton, •
Synod of Minnesota.
Dakota, S. R. Biggs, J. B. Benville,
Minnesota, G. H. Bond,
Winona, J. W. Hancock, C. J. F. Smith,
Synod of Missouri•
St. Louis, S. H. Hyde, Jas. Patterson.
Nor' n Missouri Thos. Hi Tatlow,
Kansas, Wm. H. Smith,
Synod of CalifOrnia.
San Francisco,
Sierra Nevada,
San Jose. After the calling of the roll, the Assembly
proceeded to the election of a.Moderator, with the
following result :
Rev. Dr. George Duffield, of Detroit ) , 118
votes; Rev. Dr. Joel Parker, of. New York, 65
~pates.
Dr. Duffield being declared elected, took the
chair, and in a short address returned his thanks
to the Asiembly for the honor . conferred upon
him, and expressed his wish.to eo-operate harmo
niously with it in all business.
The election of temporary. Clerks being next
in order, the following named gentlemen were
voted for, and received the number of votes at
tached to the* names
Hon. Will H. Brown received 107 votes.
Rev. F. F. Fillinwood " 94 "
George W. Warner err 59 "
James B. Shaw, Da " 68 "
----b. Clark , " 10 "
Messrs. Brown and Ellenwood being elected,
entered upon the discharge of theirduties.
The hours for the Session were fixed upon as
follows : From• nine to halt-Pal . at twelve A.M.,
and from three to half-past five P.M.
The Stated Clerk read the`order of business
for the Assembly; also, the rules and regula
tions; all of which were agreed to.
Closed with prayer by the Moderator.
SECOND DAY.
FRIDAY, May 16.
The Assembly met at 9 o'clock, and the first
half hour was spent in devotional exercises.
The minutes of the day previous were read
and approved.
gleven Commissioners appeared, and their
names were added to the roll.
This' Mcderator announced the following com
mittees
Judicial Committee—Ministers : N. S. S. Be
man, D.D.,•LL.D.; B. Dickinson, D.D.; S. C.
Aiken, D.D., and N. Kellog.. Elders : Hon. H.
S. _Walbridge, S. B. Blatchfold, and Hon. John
L. Knight.
Committee on Bills and Overtures—MiniSters:
J. Parker, D.D.; W. C. Clark, P. Snyder, and
James F. Read. Elders Hon. L S. Spencer,
R. L. Seeley, and James Lamb, M. D.
Committee on Polity of the Church—Minis
ters :E. F. Hatfield, D.D. ; A. Raney, W. M.
Cheerer, and J. E. Carey. Elders : %A. Whin
din, W. C. Aughinbangh, and W. S. I3oughton.
Committee on Foreign Missions----J. - P. Wil
son, D.D.; H. S. Osborne, W. A. McCorkle, and
G. H. Pond. Elders Alien•
, MD. , L ewis
Keeler, and D. Briar.
Committee on Church ExtoSnsionL.Ministers
J. B. Shaw, D.D. ; C. M.-Nichols, D.D.; - Eras-
MILS J. Boyd, and Aratus Kent. Elders: Hon.
J, Niles, L. A. Parkes, and P-S. Elosson. M.D.
Committee on Education—Ministers : Charles
Hawley, U.D. ; J. Spalding ; i 4 W. Cowle,s, D.
D., and Ansel C. Clark. Elders : -W. A. Booth,
H. Halleek, and E. D. Mansfield'.
CiAmitteo on Publications- ,, Ministers : J. W
McLane, D.D. ; H. H. Kellogg, J. H. Noble and
E. Scofield. Elders : I. Ashme,ad, J. H. Hatch
'kin,-and Isaac G. Brush.
Committee on Narrative--Ministers :
Hall, D.D.; W. T. Eva, T. I% Reeve, and . Wm.
5: Gallaher. Elders : J. W. 'Bishop, R Ches
ter, and G. Bassett.
Committee on Leave of Absence-- - -Ministers`:
T. M Hiipkins, ,11: 1 416 :and
T. Williston. Elders :G. N. Seward, I. Hamil
ton, M. D; and Richard.,Edwards:
Committee on Devotional Exercise's-11. L.
Thompson, D.D.; G. W. Warner; C. H. Foote,
and T. H. Fallon. Elders : R. Byington, M. I.
Smith, and J. Otto.
• rr
Committee on Mileage— Elders : Ron. E. A.
Lambert, T. B. Chamberlain and G. W. Brun
dage.
The usual committees on Synodical Records,
were also appointed.
Portions of the general rules which govern the
Assembly were then read.
The Treasurer's report was then read, which
`showed the funds of the Assembly to be in a sa
tisfactory condition, and was referred for exami
nation to a committee of two; the gentlemen ap
pointed to said committee being'Hon. L. S. Spen
cer and Albert M. Brown.
After a recess of fifteen minutes, the orders of
the day for Saturday and Monday were decided
on, and the Assembly proceeded to select the lo
cation of the next General Assembly.
Invitations were received from. the First
Church of Philadelphia, the Lafayette avenue
church, -Brooklyn, N. Y., and the Fourth church,
of Indianapolis. The Assembly decided in favor
of Philadelphia, the following votes being given:
For Philadelphia - 116.
For
For Brooklyn - - 60 .
For Indianapolis - - - - 13
It was resolved that a .committee of two be ap
pointed - to nominate a committee to make the
necessary arrangements ; the committee to be ap
pointed by the Assembly.
The-report of the Publication Committee was
then read by the secretary, Rev. J. W. Dulles,
and.was approved, and the Assembly adjourned
until the afternoon.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The .Assembly convened at 3 P. M,• prayer by
the Rev. Dr. Beman, of Troy.
Minutes of the morning session were read and
approved:
The Moderator announced that tbe.next busi
ness in order would be the receiving of reports
from delegates appointed by the late General As
sembly to visit corresponding bodies, and also re
ports from corresponding bodies.
The Secretary read the report of Horace Ea
ton, delegate to the Association of •New. Hamp
shire; also from the delegate to the Presbyterian
and Congregational Convention of Wisconsin; also
from J. F. Stearns, from, the General Association
of New Hampshire.
These reports were ordered to be printed •in
the appendix. -
Rev. Daniel L. Moore from the. Free Presby
terian Synod, was heard in behalf of reopening
the correspondence between. that body and the
General Assembly, with a view of closer co-ope
ration in the work. Mr. Moore asked to be re
cognized as a corresponding delegate. He had
no proposition to make at. present.
On motion of Dr. Beman, the request was
granted on the usual terms with corresponding
bodies.
Mr. Moore, in reply to a question from a com
missioner, stated that the Free Presbyterian Sy
nod. was composed of four 'Presbyteries, of fifty
ministers and something over 100 churches. The
territory
_occupied was Ohio, Western Pennsyl
vania, Illinois and lowa, but chiefly Ohio.
Dr. Boman moved the appointment of a com
mittee of five on resolutions on the state of the
country, and. to express the views and feelings of
the Assembly on the present war. Adopted.
The report of the Committee on Education,
relative to the Theological Seminaries, was pre
sented, and read by the Secretary, Rev. Dr. Mills.
It gave a brief history of the operations, of the
Union Seminary at New York ; that at Au
burn, and Lane, Cincinnati, showing them to be
in a prosperous condition.
Dr. Mills also read the sixth annual report of
the permanent Committee on Education.
The following committee was appointed. to
make preparations for the meeting of the Gene
ral Assembly at Philadelphia next spring, viz :
Rev. Albert Barnes, Rev. T. J. Shepherd, Rev.
John W. Dulles, and Elders W. J. Crowell, , B.
Kendall, Samuel Work and Alex. Whildin.
On motion of Rev. Mr. Eva, the rules on de
votional exercises were amended so that, one hour,
instead of half an hour each morning; be devoted
to prayer and other exercises.
The Moderator announced the following gen
tlemen as the Committee on Resolutions on the
state of the country, viz: Dr. Beman, Dr. Thomp
son, Rev. Dr. Aiken, Rev. Horace Rood, and
Rev. J. Culbertson Reynolds.
The session then closed with prayer,,and the
Assembly adjourned to Saturday, at 9 A. M.
Services were held in the evening, when the
Rev. Dr. Hawley preached on "Publication."
The Rev. Dr. Thompson announced that om
nibuses would be at the church at 2} P. M. Sa
turday, to convey members to Lane Seminary, free
of charge.
THIRD DAY.
Met at 9 o'clock, with two hundred and ten
members present. OPened with prayer by the
Moderator. The 207th hymn was then sung in
congregation, after which the. Moderator read
the 81st Psalm. Several members then followed
in prayer and with remarks.
Business being then in order, the minutes
were read and approved.
The Commtttee on Commissions presented the
following names of commissioners, who had just
arrived ,t
Presbytery of Onondaga Montgomery M.
Wakeman; minister. Presbytery of Schuyler.:
John H. Catlin, elder.
Presbytery of San Jose : Laurentine Hamil
ton, minister.
The first order of the day, the eighth annual
report of the Trustees of the Phurch Erection
Fund, was presented by the President and Sec
rotary, Samuel T. Spear and James W. McLane.
The report was a lengthy one, prepared in pam
phlet form.for the consideration of the members.
After,referring to the state of the country, con
sequent upon civil war and its effects upon
church erections, the report presents in detail
the distribution and -present condition of the
fund, which at present, after deducting the ex
penaes of the year, amounts to e 114,654 45.
" That part of it which is yet unused, is either
deposited in bank, or is invested in such a man
ner. as, to be perfectly safe, and convertible at
once into cash. This portion of the fund,has pro
duced an average interest of about six per cent.
It consists of what has been appropriated by the
General - Assembly to the several Synods, but
which has not as yet. been called for by them
in the'amount, any one case, :is sinall ranging
SATuRDAY, May 17.
from three hundred dollars up to a littloover,
feur thousand,- which is the highest amount yet,
unused in any Synod, and exists only in - two
stances, namely, 'in that of the Synod of lowa
and Missouri. The general average of these un
used apportionments is only about two thousand
dollars. It is only as this fact is overlooked that
any surprise can be felt in any quarter that a
part of the fund should be in the hands of the
Treasurer, when there are feeble churches which
need assistance. The simple question is, whe
ther each Synod shall have some portion of the
found with which to aid its feeble churches when
they need help, or whether it shall all be appor
tioned to a few Synods, and in greater sums than
the plan at present allows. The Board suppose
that each Synod has the right and will claim a
part of the fund, upon which it can draw when
ever, necessity requires it to do this. If so, then
there will generally be some portion, of the fund
in the Treasury unused. But in this connection
it may be well to state still further, that every
application for help that has come within the
object of the fund, and has been conformed in its
particulars to the requirements of the plan, has
been granted.
" The whole number of grants made during
the year is. twenty-two, of which twelve have
been in:loans and ten in donations. The whole
number of grants made from the beginning is
182. The whole amount granted is $64,471.
The whole amount of loans is $54,766, and that
of donation is $9,975. The General average of
the former is $424, and that of the latter $lBB.
In some cases the character of a grant has been
changed, at the earnest solicitation of the parties,
and with the approbation of the Synodical Com
mittee, from a donation to a loan, and vice versa.
The tendency for the last two years has been in
the direction of donations, and the general aver
age in that line of grants has increased in
amount. The Assembly's plan allows only one
fourth of the amount appropriated to any Synod
to be granted in donations. That limit has not
been exceeded, except in one ease, where confor
mity to the rule would have obligedthe Board to
make a fractional grant, which they have never
made in any case. In this practice they have
been uniformly sustained by Assembly from year
to year.
" Sixty-four per cent. of the. fund has helped
to secure more than four hundred and seventy
two thousand dollars' worth of church property.
It will also be seen that the fund has thus far
been used for the end for which it was designed
by those who established it, The size and cost
of the houses of worship erected, show'very
clearly that, in most cases at least, the churches
that have been assisted from the fund, are "feeble
congregations," and the help thus afforded them
met a want which could not otherwise have been
supplied. Another fact of great interest in this
connection may be stated, that these churches
hale not been left with a debt resting upon them,
to embarrass their efforts and to crush their spi
rit. The plan of the -fund requires that the
churches aided from it shall own their property
in fee, and be free from debt, and thus secures a
most desirable end."
The second , order of the day was the report of
the Standing - Committee on Home Missions,
which was read by the Secretary, the Rev. Dr.
Kendall. The report shows that though the
year has been one of civil war, and consequent
financial embarrassment and pecuniary pressure,
it has not been without its encouragements. Dur
ing the process of organization, and on ceasing
to act through the American Home Missionary
Society, it was to be expected that some would
not see the necessity of the new and independent
movement, and.would continue to make use of
he Society th rough which they had previously
acted. But such cases were much less than was
anticipated. There has been a very general ac
quiescence in the wisdom' of the act of the last
General Assembly, which, by a unanimous vote,
constituted the committee of Home missions.
The committee are greatly encouraged in their
work, and the successful beginning promises well
for the future. If all the churches unite in this
good work, as they doubtless will, the enterprise
of the Assembly's committee will soon make the
wilderness and the solitary , places glad.
The sum of nearly twenty thousand dollars has
been paid to Home Missionaries during the year.
' The reports were then referred to proper com
mittees for consideration.
The consideration of the report of the Com
mittee on Presbyterian House was postponed.
The Mileage Committee reported that those
members who had paid full fare to Cincinnati,
would be returned, free of charge, on the follow
ing named railroads
Indianapolis and Cincinnati, via Lawrence
burg; Terre Haute and Alton; Terre Haute and
Richmond; Lafayette and Indianapolis; Michi
gan Central, from Lafayette to Chicago; Peru
and Indianapolis; Bellefontaine railroad line;
Indiana Central; Madison and. Indianapolis;
Jeffersonville railroad; New York and Erie rail
road.
Any arrangements with lines to the East will
be announced on Monday morning.
Dr. Thompson presented an invitation from
the Directors or the Female. Seminary at Oxford,
requesting the Assembly to visit the Seminary
to participate in the exercises of dedication, to
take place on Wednesday next. Considerable
discussion ensued upon the expediency of ac
cepting this invitation, and the question was de
cided in the affirmative.
Dr. Thompson then announced that the Cin
cinnati and Dayton Railroad Company would
arrange trains so as to pass the Assembly to and
from Oxford on the same day, free of charge.
Closed with 'prayer, and adjourned until nine
o'clock Monday morning.
THE SITUATION.
GENERAL HUNTER'S emancipation proclama
tion, which is, found in another column, has been
disavowed as wholly unauthorized by the Presi
dent, who, properly enough, insists upon retain
ing the sole right of inaugurating such a policy,
if at any time- it is necessary. Meantime, he
earnestly calls upon the,slave States to consider
the offer of assistance in emancipating their
slaves, suggested by himself, and endorsed by
Congress. A Convention has been called for
this purpose in Missouri, to, meet on the 16th of
General McClellan, nothing daunted by the
repulse of the fleet from Fort Darling, is still
slowly but steadily advancing to Richmond.
llsßeek's army is also stelklily closing around
Corinth, and we are in momentary expectation
of a great battle at either place.
According 'to the Pension bill recently passed
in the House, the widow or children of a chap
lain deceased in the service, will receive twenty
dollars a month. Four hundfed and twenty-one
- million's have been appropriated by the House
for the army for the year commencing June lst,
1862.-r- In , both houses of Congressitoonfiscation
bills are under discussion.. Stringent measures
will be adopted The House has refused to pro
hibitjhe arming of neg Toes or fugitive slaves.
A single instance of what the slaves may do for
us, is seen in the escape Fof the rebel tug Planter,
from Charleston, May 13, which was most bravely
and skilfully brought away and delivered to the
blockading squadron by her slave pilot, Robert
Small, with her armament of two heavy guns,
and seven guns on board designed for new works
in Charleston harbor.
OIJ ilittiCk fan.
A STEADY and powerful revival has been in
progress at Albion, N. Y., for six or eight weeks.
Some eighty or, a hundred conversions are spoken
of, and the work still goes on. The anniver
sary of Lane Seminary, was held on Wednesday
evening, May 14th. Of the twenty churches
under the care of the Presbytery of Rockaway,
but three receive missionary aid. The contri
butions of the Presbytery suffice for the wants
of these churches, and show an average besides
of $1 20 for each church member. Rev. Barna
bas King, recently deceased at the age of 81,
was for over fifty years pastor of the church of
Rockaway. In Lancaster, N. Y., thirty-seven
persons have recently been received into the
church, thirty-one being the fruits of a revival.
—Rev. S. H. Willey, pastor of the Howard
street church, of San Francisco,—one of the most
faithful and energetic among the pioneers of the
Church on the Pacific, has been called to the
Vice-Presidency of .oaklind College, and has
accepted the call.
" E.W." in the Evangelist, thus characterizes
a sermon delivered before Long Island Presby
tery, by Rev. A. Luce :—" He preached from
John v. 39, on the truth and worth of the Scrip
tures ; and it is perfeltly safe to say that the
sermon was worth more,
s even to educated men,
than a whole volume of 'Aids to Faith,' such
as very learned and very lumbering Diocesans
and University Professors give us. The irresis
tible proofs from within and without the Word
were grandly set in array, and filled with life and
energy by fit and , forcible illustrations drawn from
almost every department of learning. The con
tributions of history , were made especially useful.
In displaying the worth of the Scriptures, beepm
ing prominence was given to their testimony
of Christ. The grand argument was now and
then mellowed with touches of pathos that filled
the eyes with tears. The whole sermon was a
discourse not soon to be forgotten, coming as it
did with freshness and life from one who, in the
course of the sessions spoke with much feeling
of his contemporaries, the Rev. Drs. Beecher
and Spring."
TICE PRESBYTERY OF MADISON, at its meeting
April 9, licensed to preach Messrs. Joseph B.
Little and George 0. Little, of Lane Seminary.
They are sons of Rev. H. Little.
REV. NELSON WILLARD, of New York, has
received
_and accepted a unanimous call to the
church of Montclair, (formerly West Bloomfield)
N. J. He will be ordained and installed on the
13th May, in the evening.
REV. I. WA_RICEN has resigned his connection
with the American Tract Society (Boston) as
district secretary, and accepted a call to the Pres
byterian churches at Ripley and Quincy, Cha
taque county, N.Y.
EXAMINATION m WABASH PRESBYTERY.-
The first examination of .s candidate for ordina
tion in twenty years in this Presbytery, took
place at its last meeting. The correspondent of
the Herald says of it :—" The examination in
Greek=Western Presbyteries =are raising the
standard, young Theologians!—was tolerably well
sustained by examiners and examined. There
being no Hebrew books in the Pastor's study, he
having lent them some years ago, we passed by
that. We hope to -have them on hand next
time."
THE PRESBYTERY OP SAN FRANCISCO. adopt
ted - the following memorial to our Assembly on
This Presbytery, satisfied that there is a grow
ing sentiment in both branches of the Presby
terian family in favor of a reunion of our divid
ed Church, wish to express ourselves as unani
mously in favor of this measure, and we would
urge General Assembly to take each action as
will secure this most desirable end.
We believe theihe ministers of both branches
of the Church on this Pacific coast are in favor
of the reunion.
We have the fullest confidence in the piety
and orthodoxy of, one another; we agree in poli
ty and in doctrine; and we labor together in fra
ternal fellowship and esteem in building up the
kingdom of our Lord. There is no reason there
fore why we should not be one.
We therefore hope and devoutly pray that the
great Head of the Church will by his Spirit dis
pose the minds of our brethren in the coming
councils of the churches to such action as will
restore the unity which we so much desire and
need.
Adopted unanimously; Presbytery rising to
their feet and engaging in solemn prayer, led by
Dr. Anderson:
The consideration of this subject elicited the
deepest interest and a spirit of fraternity and
concession, which only needs to be felt by the
Assemblies to meet in. May to insure a speedy re
union of our too long divided Zion:
Rev. L. Hamilton was elected delegate to the
General Assembly, and Rev. W. W. Brier alter
nate; Elder a. M. Selfridge lay delegate, and
Bider John Eels alternate.
Rev. P. G. Buchanan, of the Presbytery of
Sieria Nevada, was invited to sit as correspond
ing member.
The Committee on Statistics reported that the
Presbytery consists of ten ministers, and has an
der its care eight churches. The Report also
showed that there had been an increase of fifty
members in the churches.
The Pastoral relation between Rev. S. B. Bell,
D. D., and the Presbyterian Church of Oakland,
was'dissolved by mutual reque,st.—The Pacific.
THE HOME for little children adlertfsedin our
paper, is one that canbe confidently commended.
The heart as well as the body will,he there cared
for with the most selifiloils - attention.
MAY 22,