Vol. VII, No. 41.---Whole No. 353.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
PROCEEDINGS OF THURSDAY.
nitritsimy, lifat 28, 1863.
The Assembly met at 9 o'clock, A. bl., and spent an
hour in devotional exercises.
Personal Explanation.
Rev. Dr. SPINAIt baying obtained leave to make a
statement said:
Mr. Moderator: I have 000881011 to know that my
position in respect to the first of the series of reso
lutions adopted yesterday, on the state of the coo n
try, was misapprehended by some members of this
body. I see also, thati am not fairly represented
by one of the daily papers of this city. If, there
fore, the Assembly will grant me the privilege of
making a few remarks in otder to correct these mis
apprehensions; Wee for my own.sake than the cause,
I shall deem it a favor. I wish to be right on the
record et such a time as the present.
Being a member of the committee, and sharing in
the responsibility of presenting a suitable paper for
the action of this body, and moreover,• having stu
died the first resolution with some degree of care, I
detected in it, as I thought, looseness of utterance,
Immo ratty of language, and a great liability to abuse
and perversion by those who are more than willing
to embarrass the Government in this great struggle
against' treason. It seemed to me, moreover, that
the utterance of this body should be made as perfect
as possible.
Now, sir, the resolution referred to 'in these re
marks, alike in its phraseology, several clauses and
general drift,Awhile intended to be a true utterance
in respect to the doctrine of allegiance; involved the
practical error of confounding the present executive
administragion of the Government with the entire
Government of these United States, as provided
for by the Constitution. And this error I wished to
correct. For this purpose I submitted the two fol
lowing resolutions as a substitute for the first regal
lotion of the committee.
Radioed 1, That civil government is an ordinance
of Gud fur his own glory and the beet interests of
manhind s and is therefore divine in Its authority and
sanctions.
Resolved 2. That the officers composing the civil
ntagistraoy of these United Statee, whether legisla
tive, judicial, for executive, are the miniettere of God,
submission to whose authority when acting within
their proper sphere, is a duty binding on the con
science and enforced by the express command of
trod himself.
These resolutions, though not adopted by the
Assembly, I greatly preferred on account of their
exactness of langualre, and absolute truthfulness.
The Government at these United States consists
in the agency which the , people through the Con
stitution have created, and on which they have. be
stowed governmental powers, carefully specifying
those powers; and, as a matter of fact, this agency
does involve the combined action of three depart
ments: the legislative, the 4udicial, and the execu
tive, each acting in its constitutional sphere, and all
three making the National Government. This, sir,
is the express letter of the Constitution; and I
wanted tha utterance of the Assembly on so radical
a question,. and in times like thelie when patriots
are struggling for the life of the nation, to be con
formed with the greatest possible exactness to these
ideas. Heartily as I subscribe> to the excellent
speech of brother Barnes, in support of the first
resolution, and also to the object sought to be gained
by that resolution, I, nevertheless, thought the resb
lutioft in itself defective, because it did not, either
in its phraseology or drift, state the doctrine as we
find it in the Constitutibn of the United States.
That resolution, in its whole scope, obviously refers
to the Executive Department of the Government;
this is what is usually meant by the term, Admin
istration; the people will be likely no to understand
it; traitors and sympathisers with treason will so
understand it; and, sir,
taking • the term in this
sense, it is not true that the Administration is the
Government of the United States, to which alone
allegiance is due. It `is one of the departments or
agencies of this Government, but not the wiwle of
it, It is sovereign in its.sphere, and should be sus
tained by all the people in this terrible crisis of civil
war. This is what =I desired to say', in a way not
to be misunderstood, or liable to be perverted. I
would nut even to kill a Copperhead, which, I be
lieve, is the meanest and most poisonous of all rep
tiles, make an , utterance which cannot be defended.
Ma Moderator, if you please, I will give you my
confession of faith as a citizen, and X hope, a Christ
ian.
I believe in the doctrine of Government as divine
in its origin and authority.
I believe that the Government of these United
States is a government invested with all the powers
of sovereignty, and acting directly on all the people,
and not a rope of sand.
I believe that this Government embraces three
departments or agency, in each bf which the people
have, through the C'onstitution, lodged specified
powers.
I believe that secession'ikom this Gevernment, as
an idea simply, is a political heresy, and that when
put into practice it beecnnes open treason, to be sup- .
pressed by the military force of the nation.
I believe that this Government is the most be
nign and blessed under which any people ever lived.
I believe that' since this . Government rests on the
popular will, and has fully provided for the orderly
ex pression of that - will, there Can be no right of re,
volution against Its authority.,
I believe that every citizen of this great Com
monwealth is bound to support the public authori
ties and obey the laws, except when they conflict
with the lairs of God, and in that case be.tnust obey
God, and meekly suffer the civil penalty, leaving
posterity and God to determine, the question of fact,
whether in thus acting he is.a maxtyr.or a fool.
I thank the Assembly for this brief indulgence.
It gives me the opportunity to correct any misappre
hensions, and place myself just where I desire to
stantl—on the side of truth.and righteousness.
Sabbath Obaervanoe.
Rev. Dr. SPUR presented a reporttrom the Commit
tee on Sitlls and Overtures on the subject of Sabbath
Oetervance.
The report of the Committee was read end adopted.
Committee on Bills and Overtures' reported Over
ture No. 4,' sit follows:
Resolved, let That inasmuch as the Sabbath was
made forma by the omniscient God, and is indle
pensable to our highest, social, civil, and religious
welfare, this General Assembly regards , it not only
as the duty, but the right and privilege uf all men.
to , . Remember the!Sehhath day to keep it holy.o•
Resolved 2d, That,.- as the law of lthe Sabbath is
divinely given without limitation of time and unre
pealed, its claims for our obedience are supreme and
Perpetual.
Resolved 3d, That in order to give fall power to the
Gospel in the saltation of elouls,,professors of reli
gion, and ministers especially, should carefully sane
tify the Lord's day and give no , countenance direct
ly er indirectly to its desecration.
Resolved 4th, That the physical and 'mental, se.
veil es moral interests of man demand the Any of
holy rest, 'and that the entire community ihould.
movii feet a grateful appreciation of this gift utlieavett.
by an tin perverted, sacred observance of the Chris ,
tide Sabbath.
Resolved fAh, That at We time of public strife—of
fearful anxiety and suffering— , while we are heartily ,
loyal to our government, we should most sincerely.
depreciate
and deplore any unnecessary labor, review,
or battle on the Lard's day, lest by disloyalty to:
Gad we dishonor him, and/incur .hicilerce
%tun, and as a sad result, meet. with signal defeat to
nor arms, and terrible , calamities to our nation from
who is the God of battles , and of nations, and
vim honors them that honor him.
Resolved ea, That it be earnestly requested of all
the pastors of our churches fully so iostruetr - their
People as to the duty and importance of c arefully
~ivittifylng the entire Sabbath idividuall,U the,
'inily and community, order that its healttaul.
i noruetione and it. • holy' 'living influencer •may
every where permeate Abe stet, the nation, and the
of Resolved 7a, That each pasr:An stated supply
r churches be requested at os o me t ime e during the
Pre sent. year, to preach especially upon the sanoti
tAtion of the Christian Stibbath.
, Et ". Dr, smug moved that Rev. ,Dr. Cook of. New
have leave to.addressAbe XasernhlY ani the subject
Jet pr esen t e d by the Cumiltpoo. '
Ilia motion was agreed m
to,
list', DR,. Coos. said that the Selibath Committee
;civ)ria he represented, might be regarded as a little
'add of Scouts, or skirmishers, or ae, pOneere sent,
Ittu the enem, r e co uptry—rtbe advents,' gnard,,of tna,
ll•eorated host of Uod'a elect. VieY higt had
11,
a skirmish—he might perhaps kia msnY Oat
. but thank God they had never bad a'rekekietPr
rt . ..:rso. Their foe was active and bitter, combined
by the deepest passion of the depraved soul—the
love of money, and the love of Frleasure. Our strategy,
said he, has been simple, it has been to divide and
conquer—to make simple, singular issues with the
several forms in which the enemy might-appear on
the field, and to give up no contest until victory was
won. By God's 'help this strategy has been success
ful. The operations of the Sabbath Committee have
had respect to the civil Sabbath, the military Sab
bath, and the sacred Sabbath. In attempting to
guard and protect the civil Sabbath, we have sought
the intervention of the` magistracy and the legisla
ture. We have :claimed the enactment of just
and stringent laws, restraining the invasion of the
sanctity of the Sabbath, whether by our own citizens,
or our , adopted citizens. When laws have been en
acted, and their Constitutionality has been ques
tioned, they have been defended. When attempts
have 'been made to repeal those laws, we have 'met
such attempts in the Coinmittees of the Legislature,
without public agitation on our part—resisting pub
lic agitation by the calm presentation
of truth in the
Committee room. We have baffled our opponents at
every point. Those laws have been declared Con.„
stitutional by the Supreme Court of our State, and s
that question is settled forever. The Legislature of
our State has rejected every overture for their re
peal. Public sentimqat has sanctioned them. The
executors of our laws have moved forward to their,
enforcement, and to-day they are as well enforced as
any other laws, with the support, cordial and un
qualified, of good citizens of all classes and creeds.
The speaker then detailed the efform of the Com
mittee to secure the observance of the Sabbath in the
Army. In order to check the tendencies toward a
disregard of the Sabbath by the military authori
ties, they appealed to the Commander-in-ohief, who
promptly issued that General Order which will live
in, history. By the influence of the Committee it.
had been so arranged that no military receptions
now took place in the City of New York on the Sab
bath.
In respect to the sacred Sabbath, the Committee
believed that one of the most prominent means Of
effecting good was by the preparation of a suitable
Sabbath literature. The speak& then concluded by
statements in reference to various publications on
the subject of Sabbath observance, made under the
direction of the Committee.
:sport of Standing Committee on Education.
Prof. DAY, of Lane Seminary, presented from the
Standing Ooturaittee on Education the followinrre
port :
The Standing Committee on Education respect
fully report that the annual statement of the Per
manent Committee on Educatibn, gives' gratifying
evidences of, the wide interest felt in our churches
in this department of, evangelicaLlabor, the correct
ness of the general principles on which it has been
conducted, and the economy, e ffi ciency and wisdom,
with which it has been prosecuted. Many difficul
ties were , to be overcome, before a comprehensive
system, which should secure the hearty and unani
mous co-operation of all our churches could be se
cured ; but such progress has been made as to pro
mise at no distant day the fullest acceptance of the
plan now in operatiah throughout our entire bounds.
The rendering of aid to one hundred and one young
men iecommended by, the Presbyteriee and preparing,
for the ministry, the payment of a large part of the
appropriation required, and the collection of more
than $15,000, by means of which this has been ac
complished, from churches not exceeding in number
one fourth of those which may be expected to con
tribute, shotv that much has been done, and at the
same time, that much remains to be dune. Faithful
ly as some ,of the Presbyteries have endeavored to
carry out the, plan of the Assembly, earnestly as
many pastors have labored to give it efficiency, and
liberally as many of our churches have responded, it
is evident from the printed report of receipts, which
should be carefully examined by every member of
the Assembly for' this object, that the work of seeking
to bring pious young men of promising gifts into the
ministry, and aiding them while in a.course of ,
pre
paration has 'still .an inriperietit" hold' Upon' the'
affections and confidence of not a few who ought to
be its warmest friends. The permanent committee,
therefore, have judged wisely in calling attention
anew\to a number`of important principles and sug
gestions. a careful attention to which is evidently es
sential to the successful, prosecution of this great
work: These are: the importance'of a sense of person
al responsibility m,this department of Christian labor
in the breast of every minister of Christ, and every
Christian parent, thce careful training of children In
the family, and through the ordinary preaching of
the :gospel for self.denying lives, , the faithful atten
dance of Presbyteries to the details of the plans
adopted by the Assembly, and especially the duty of
becoming thoroughly satisfied of the piety, good
sense and aptness to teach those, whom they recom
mend for aid, fidelity on the part of every church in
taking without fail an annual collection f,r this ob
ject and- the desirableness of the establishment of
scholarships by persons of property.
No one.thing, perhaps, has acted more injuriously
upon the church , than alnrking impression in many
minds, that young men) thus' aided, are, in general,
below the average of their fellow, and that many
are helped who ought never to be in the Miniutry.
That the joist expectations of the church are not
in all eases fulfilled none, can deny. That mistakes
and omissions may and will . be made as lung as men
are not infallibl4 must 'be admitted. But such
cases do not stand alone.: Parents are sometimes
disappointed in their children, merchants in their
clerks, the government in its officers. -We have no
right,; therefore, to expect in the selection of
young men to , be aided, en absolute freedom from
error such as is:never demanded in other relations and
such as nothing less than omniscience could secure.
But what the Christian community have a right to
expect ie that very great care should be taken in the
selection of candidates to be aided, and that all who
are in any way concerned in introducing young
men, through the.aid of the church; into the min
istry should do all that human wisdom and caution,
and Christian fidelity and conscientiousness can do
to prevent the benefeotions of the church from being
wasted in the raising up of an inferior and inefficient.
ministry. ,/
According, to the present plan the responsibility
seem, in, the first place, upon the pastor and elders
°Me church to which theapplicant belongs, without
the re,cointnendation of :whom nor application can
ordinarily be considered; and next upon the preaby
tery or .its committee; and if these parties, after
carefully, and thoroughly examining the evidences of
his piety, and in , view of his mental. aptitude and ,
other qualities, present him as in their judgment
called to the work of the ministry, a .very considera
ble degree'of security against error in the selection
of young men would seem, to be obtained. ,
But in view of , the greet-importance of this point,,
the Standing Committee have been led to inquire
whether this security might not be still further in
creased .by the addition of quarterly reports from the
teacher , or teacher's of every candidate aided, in re
spect to,his Christian andintellectual character and.
development, and , other prominent qualifications re
quired of -those who seek the office of a bishop. It is
certain that such testimonials, from time to .time,
would,. furnish the Permanent Committee and the
Presbyteries w,ith some fair nfearai- of judging
whether the gifts and -traits necessary. to make. a
'good minister ofJesus Christ were becoming steadi
ly developed in the young men aided. The quarterly
schedule of ekpenses—bithertu required :against ,
which objections are sometimes urged, might thus,
except in &very general. manner, be omitted. In
the other- bratioh of the .Presbyterian Church. this
medad bat been adopted; and with very satisfactory
results.
It 'is therefore recommended that the sth Rule of ,
-the Assembly for aiding: young men be- altered to
read as,fullowitt •
5. Annual ,approptiations to students shall not
ordinarily exceed'sl2o to theological students, $lOO
$BO to academie students.
so 'collegiate etudentst add
nor be such as to cause a,student's annual income to
exceed $250. Bach 'student before receiving an ap
propriation shall forward, or cause to be forwarded,
to the Permanent Committee a particular report
from his instructor or inetruetors, , or from some cor
respondent of the Permanent-Caromittee, showing
,his: standing for piety, talents, scholarship,diligence,
punctuality, prudence, good manpers, freedom , from
expensive and offensive social habits, health, econo
my, and general; good influence. At the , close of the
year,secopy of these quarterly reports shall be fur
nish:et by the Permanent Cammittee to the Presby
tery recommending him. The, student shall, at the
same lime, make to the,Presbytery, , in writing, a re
port as to p r ogreas,-wents, and prospects.
Presbyteries recommending students, shall renew
their application, from year to year, after receiving
•
and considering. such reports; and shall specify the
amount necessaryfor the student, for the year for
Which`the applicatiortis made. The reports. from •
Auburn,: Lane; and Union Theological 'Seminaries
13howtheist,
to
:be lesstunfivorably.:affebted by the.
war than was apprehended, and, on the whole, to
PHILADELPHIA, TIIUASDA_Y, JUNE 11, 1863.
be in, a prosperous condition; but requiring to be
more amply endowed in order to reach thew high : .
est usefulness.
The work of construction in regard to our Edu
cational Systen, is substantially finished. What is
now needed is a united, hearty and persistent effort
to secure the great end before us.
We recommend to the Assembly to adopt the
following resolutions.
Resolved Ist, That the success of our plan of edu
cation for the ministry the past year has been such
as to justify and strengthen the confidence of the
church in its economy and efficiency.
Resolved 2d, That the earnest and hearty co-ope
ration of the Pastors, Churches, and Presbyteries
in the plan, marked out and described in the Edu
cational- Manual, is essential to the highest pros
perity of the Church, and that a careful attention
to the rules and suggestions on the 9th, 12th, and
14th pages be recommended to all members of
Presbyteries.
Resolved 3d, That in order the more effectually
to secure an annual collection for education from
every church, the question be recommended to be
regularly placed upon the docket of business in
each Presbytery at the meeting next previous to
the meeting of the Assembly,—Has the Education
Collection been taken in your Church whitin the
past year?
The Committee nominate the following persons
as members of the Permanent Committee for three
years to take the place of those whose term of ser
vice has expired.. Rev. John J. Owen, Rev. Jona
than P. Stearns, j. H. Benedict, Wm. W. Wickes,
Salem; H. Wales.
Remarks of Professor Day, Dr. Mills and
Mr. Brown.
Prof. DAY in presenting the foregoing report,
said that the Committee had felt that what was
needed.was to put in operation earnestly and hearti
ly, the plan which has been considerately and wisely
marked, out in the previous arrangements of the
Church. One of the leading features of this plan
was that its efficiency depended mainly upon the
several Presbyteries, and without their co-operation
the system must be to a great degree a failure.
This plan he remarked, while it had its obvious ad
' vintages, had also connected with it certain dangers.
One was that the educational interests of the church
might suffer by neglect. Another danger was that in
reference to the certificates of the pastor and the sea
, sion of the chureh, in reference to the suitability of
candidates foe the ministry, sufficient care might not
be taken to give certificates only to such as were wor
thy. To obviate this as far, as tiossible,, the Commit
tee had recothmended that there should be furnished
from quarter to quarter to the, permanent Committee,
and from year to year to the Prestiltery, recommend
ing, any candidate a graduated statement from one to
ten, in respect to every young man, exhibiting his
standing in respect to the qualifications needed for a
minister of Jesus Christ. By this report, at frequent
stated periods, the Committee would be able to decide
in reference to any particular youne.,,man, whether he
was making progress or going bac kward.
Another pointernbraced iu the recommendations of
the Committee, was that the Presbyteries shall be re
quired to renew their recommendations from year to
year: Thus they, would be required each year to con
sider in reference to the candidate, the que.stirm—does
lie still give evidence of fitness to be a candidate for
the ministry, and should he be continued on the As
sembly's books?
Rev: Dr. MlLLS,secretary of the Permanent Commit
tee, was called upon, at the suggestion of Prof. Day for
some remarks on ihe subject under consideration, said,
Ilea the first question arising in connexion with the
work of/ education for the ministry was—ls it a neces
sary work? There was more skepticism on this ques
tion than should exist. Tet the candid inquirer could
not but give an affirmative answer to this question.
Another question was—Can any church which ex
pects to be guided by an educated ministry' hope to
flourish without paying becoming attention - to the edu
cation-of its ministry. In the light of experience, this
queation meet be_answered_ in the-negative_
In reference to the question whether there are now
ministers enough, that is not a question for us to de
cide. It was a well-known fact that whenever a revi
val of religion takes place, immediately numbers of
young men. come forward impressed with 'a conviction
of their duty to devote themselves to the ministry.
This was God's answer to the question, whether more
ministers are needed.
Another question was—ls the present mode of in
creasing the ministry the best? After long experience
nothing better had been arrived at, and certainly there
was every reason to.ipersevere in the present system,,
correcting its:defects, as may be from time to time de
monstrated.
The speaker. concluded with {an appeal for ear
nestness of labor and liberality of contribution for
the advancement of the great educational work.
Rev. C. BROWN said that the feeling in behalf of
ministerial education throughout our Churches was
not as strong as it ought to be. Too many alto
gether failed to realize its vast importance. Expe
rience had shown him that in this-work the main
reliance for success must be upon the ministry and
eldership.
There was in many minds a mistaken impression
that we do not need ministers. This was disproved
by an 'examination of the statistics of the church,
many minister's upon our list being retired from ac
live service on account of the infirrnitiee of age, and
others beineengageti, as professors, or in other em
ployments not strictly pastoral. The speaker then
related some, nteresling incidents in regard to the
education of young men for the ministry.
The subject was further discussed by Mr. Grif
fiths, Rev. Mr. I3ittinger, Mr. Skarritt, Rev. Mr.
Chapin and Rev. Mr. Brownlee, of Kansas.
The report of the Committee was then accepted
and adopted.
Correspondence. with Reformed Dutch-Church.
On motion of Rev. Dr. Cox, the order of the
day was suspended in order to allow the presenta
tion of the report of the Special Committee on the
Proposed correspondence with, the Reformed Dutch
Church. . .
Rev. Dr. Cox, in presenting the report, said that
he did not deem it necessary to say much, although
it would - be easy to say a great deal. They were all
familiar with the history and character of the Re
formed Dutch Church of this country. If any
body had reason to complain of its occasional se
vere construction, it was he. But in relation to
anything which. he might have suffered he was
ready to say cordially, that he forgave it all. There,
were many ministers of • that church whom he
really loved. any of that church doubted his
orthodoxy they were welcome.to their opinions.
The Committee in the course of their action had
considered the speech of Rev. Mr. Game, whom
he loved dearly, and also the acts and proceedings
of the 76th General Synod of the Reformed Dutch.
Dutch, upon which to a great extent the report
waslounded. That report on which the Comnutee
had Unanimously agreed was as follows:
The Committee in the matter from the General
Synod of the Reformed Dutch Church of North
America, respectfully report the- following minute
for the adoption of the Assembly, viz : '
,The Assembly, after cohsidering the kind and
earnest address of Dr. Game, and considering also
the printed:minutes of the acts and proceedings of,
said General. Synod, (see pages 138 to 140, inclusive,
especially .the resolution and its preamble, page
140,) feel with Christian and Catholic regret, con
straiued,in righteousness and truth to decline the. ,
special overture now made to ns. On principles
precisely the same as those with which it is our way
and our usage immemorial to correspond fraternally
with other evangelical churches that are sound in
the faith,.we are cordially ready and shall be ever
happy to correspond, by delegate or letter, with the
General Synod of the Reformed Dutch. Church of
North America,
DR. Cox, in conclusion said that he believed that
the Reformed Dutch 'Church, as well as his own
were in the hands of. God, and that his elect would
be drawn together, more and more, as they were
more like Rim. Re believed that God, with respect
to the.two churches, would direct matters for good.
The Committee believed that if the Assembly could
with due dignity; acquiesce in such a proposition as
that presehted, it would have a good effect; but he
believed that Dr. Game himself appreciated the
views or the Committee on the subject, and that no
ill feeling would be engendered, if the Assembly
should adopt the report. Be then read the follow
ing preamble and resolution from the minutes of the
Reformed Dutch Church, as referred to in the - re
port.
Resolutions of the Reformed Dutch Church.
".Whereas, This Synod considers the interchange
of Christian courtesy ,and kindness between ecclesi
astical bodies as must desirable, wherever it can be
practicable • and hearty, even when differences of
doctrinal views may .preclude that form of corres
pondence contemplated. in. Chap. 2, Art. 5, Seo. 2, of
our Constitution,
Resolved, That the Spied send to 'the neat New
School General Assenay of the Presbyterian
Church, a Commissioner, whose office it shall be to
assure that body of our fraternal affection and in
terest, and to propose to it a yearly interohange of
kind expression by letter."
• It would be observed, said Dr. Cox, that the rea
son assigned, applies especially to us—that they
consider us a unique body, and except us from the
basis on which their communications with other
churches are conducted.
Rey. Dr. SPEAR called for the reading of a portion
of the minutes, iihmediately preceding that just quo
ted.
Rev. Dr. Cox read as 'follows
"Your Committee have also examined with much
carefulness, the following resolution
"/?esdbed, That it be referred to the Committee
on Correspondence; to consider the propriety of
Opening a correspondence by delegates with
General Assembly, of the Presbyterian Chu?*
corn inonly styled New School.
"The grave inportance of action on the topic, at
once awakens serious thoughtfulness, for conflicting
opinions evidently riresent themselves.,
"On the one hand, w hear the voice of our.
Lord and Master, often prensing the duty,andprivi
lege of love to all the brotrhood,
lihrhood, and then, in His
closing instructions •to the Church, offering that
wonderful prayer for those who had been " given to
Him," that they all "may be one," even as He
and His Father is one.
"The same spirit is breathed in the teaching of
the inspired Apostles. They urge an enlarged
Chirstian charity. They set forth the Church as
the body of Christ,' the once gloriOus Head of all,
of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is
named.' They would have all, without distinction
of name, to endeavor to keep the unity of the
Spirit in the bond of peace.' In view of such decla
rations of Divine truth, it becomes us to hail with
joy every indication of God's providence pointing to
a crow and stronger unity of the Church of our
Lord. •
" On the other hand we must not forget, that the,
truth—the truth as it is in' Jesus—lies at the basis
of genuine Christian. union. It is this that gives
life, consistency and vigor to the whole. We are
assured that charity rejoiceth in the truth.' More-,
over, we are commanded to, hold fast the folio of
sound words ;' and not be 'carried about with every
wind of doctrine.'
"It is plain, therefore, that no little carefulness is
requisite, lest by any means we suppress a becom
ing desire fur Christian utigu with all who ' love our
Lord Jesus Christ in sineefity,' or lest ire ferm an
undue complicity and alliktme with what we deem
to be contrary to the'lVo'rd7ipf God.
"The Reformed Dutch Cbiych cherishes-toward the
large body of the Presbiterian Church the most
cordial and fraternal feulipgs, based, as we believe,
on unity of faith. On this. account. a regular cor
respondence has long been maintained with one
branch of that family. We are nut prepared to as
sert with like directness, he existence of the Bathe
feeling, arising from the same.pause, in reference to,
the 'General. Assembly, commonly styled New
Scheel." Yet, during the past few years, our practi
cal commingling and conjunction with that respected
family of Christ, in the interchange of her ministry
and membership, is a well ktitiWn fact. . .
"The question, therefore, May well arise, whether
we should longer remain tie:comparative strangers,
or stall we begin to look_ at and greet each other
with well understood Christian salutations."
The report of the Committee was accepted.
The question then was upon the adoption of the
report.
Debate on the-Question of - Correspondence with
the Reformed Dutch Church:
A DELEGATE, (whose name was not ascertained.)'
said that he thought that the brethren who had made
the report were a little too sensitive.
There might be in the action of the Reformed
Diateh , Ghtrrch acme thingAilichwere-objilietiona
hie ; yet the Assembly could well afford to overlook
then; he thought it more becoming the Christian
character of the body to do so.
Rev. Dr. Cox in reply said, that he had the
warmest feelings of affection toward his brethren of
the Reformed Dutch Church; but the committee
thought that considering the action of the General
Synod of that church, the proper inference was,
that that body was not quite ready yet to corres
pond with this Assembly. He thought by the time:
another year had passed, the Dutch Church would
respect and love more cordially their. brethren of
this church.
Rev. Dr. SPEAR. I very heartily Record with the
report of the Committee; and I should be silent at
this time, if I did not think it due to the dignity of
this body and due to our own constituency, that our
thoughts and feelings in the TretuiFes should have
some degree of expression before we proceed to a di
rect vote.
Now, it deserves our distinct recognition, that the
Dutch. Synod were in correspondence with the .
Presbyterian Church, by delegate or letter, or by
both, up to the year isn. IWwwere also, I believe,
in correspondence with theta. In the year 1837 oc
curred the act of excision; in the year 1838 oc
curred the event of 'division, The Genets( Synod
had sent a commissioner to be present in the Gene
ral Assembly ofthe Presbyterian Church in 1838
and that commissioner or correspondent - acting upon
his own judgment, regarded the " Old School," as
they are termed, to he the true General Assembly;
and was present as a correspondent in that Assem
bly. For that act, until affirmed or sustained by
the General • Synod, the General Synod were not re
sponsible. Bur, sir, when the year 1839 came, the
General Synod were represented in the Old School
Assembly, and they continued to be thus represented
downward until the present day.
Now, for reasons which I shall assume to be ap
propriae on their part, .courteous in their minds;
they have sought a correspOndence—with what
Why, sir, not with the General Assembly of the?
Presbyterian Church of the United States—a body,
which for twenty-four long years, they have not
'
known • and by the act of i gnoring it, they have
virtually declared that the , General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church of the United States, by the
special designation of " Old School," is the true
General Assembly.
Now, sir, they have not yet corrected that error ;
they have not discovered either that they ought not
to have made that discrimination between two bo
dies, both of which claimed to be General Assem
blies, and in both of which'they ought to have been
represented, or that it is. ise to inaugurate a corre
spondence with a new body--the General Assembly
of the Presbyterian Church of the United States,
".Veer School." Sir; "I ido not know 'any such
body as that.; that is not our recognized title.
Moreover, I humbly submit that we could not, in
view of the antecedents of the past, accept their pro
position for a correspondence without ignoring and
forgetiing our own dignity. What is the manner in
which this proposition is submitted to its? Now,
sir, while I admired greatly the poetry and the rhe
toric, and the piety of the speech of my belove
brother (Dr. Ganse ;) yet the manner of approval is
such as to involve a species of ecclesiastical discour
tesy, which has been, , I think, very politely and
very suggestively recognized in that report.
Now, sir, when the General Synod shall approach
us courteouslY, without any implications or inti
mations of unsoundness of doctrma7-when they de
sire correspondence with us on the same basis as .
the Old School brethren—when they approach us
on the same basis as that on which we approach
them—l shall with all my heart, greet them cheer
fully and delghtedly, thanking God for the privi
lege. But sir, while charity and love and unity are
very proper qualities, in their place, be it remem
bered that self-respect is also a charaeferistic'which
is to be commended. One of the errors of our New-
School brethren in former times. •
Rev. Dr. COX. We do not know any such body
as " New School." •
Rev. Dr. SPEAR. Well, sir. I use the term accord
ing, to its common interpretation. One of tbe errors
of our brethren in fortuprirtiines is, that they have
allowed their assailants to pat them all the while on
the defensive. If a man says to me, " Sir, your or
thodoxy-is in qUestion,"fscout him with indigna
tion. My orthodoxy in qhestion ! Why, sir, lam
a subscriber to the standards of the Presbyterian
Church. Do you questioa my orthodoxy ? Do you
mean to impeach my integrity? Do you mean to
assume that l'am dishonest? If you do, I preferto
pass the implied impeachment in a dignified and
sublime silence.
-I am glad to see that, after we haie passed through
the trial of disintegration, and have passed through
the incipient stage of cohesion, we have reached the
harder stage of combination, and as a body, with-our
March Erection Fund and our noble committees,
are beginning to stand. up in the ripeness and energy
of our Presbyterian character and ecclesiastical man
hood. lam glad that we are at the same time ac-
quiring the cardinal elementof self-respect, combined
with due Christian courtesy. I admire the report ;
I hope: e shall adopt it.
Rev.. Mr. LEa.vrrr.—l shall not vote against the
report if it should appear to accord with the sense
of the Assembly ; but I wish to utter a profound
conviction, entertained for many months—in fact
ever since I examined this question—that the dig
nity and the self-respect of our Assembly will be
best maintained by, accepting the proposal of the
e lteformed Dutch Church, and taking no notice of
the appaient discourtesy which may have preceded
that action. It seems to me that our dignity as
gentlemen and as Christians calls upon us to take
this course—that we are not required to resent im
putations upon our orthodoxy--that we can afford to
pass them by in silence ; and that in the acceptance
of this proposal there will be a magnanimity which
will be far mots comforting in the retrospect than
the mere thought that we have " stood upon. our
digpity.
. Dr. SrEas suggested that the report might be re
lieved of what might be considered a pharisaical ap
pearance by striking out the words "in righteous
ness and truth." in other respects he most cor
dially, endorsed the report, as be did the remarks of
Dr. Spear.
Remarks of Rev. Mr. Ga-nse
itiV. GAME. Mr. Moderator, I 'wish to re
ply to expressions which I find renevved mpon this
floor, which intimate distrust of the kinthiess and
courtesy Of niy Synod. • I say to-day, that-whatever
may be the individual feelings of a few men in my
church', the Reformed Dutch Church of North Axne
tica cannot be changed with a design -to put upon
her minutes an imputation: upon the soundness of
• this body. If you should ask that .cliurch-to deolare
distinctly that she does count your body sound, ac
cording to her private home notions of soundness,
she might demur, and her committee might advise
her to demur. But if it be proposed to 'my Synod
that it, upon. the other hand, should lay the faintest
imputation, direct and intentional, upon the sound
ness of this body, she cannot be induced to do it. 'lt
is my duty to my church to say this.
The fact that the Old School body sent to you
commissioners' without any such preamble FICCOIII
ponying the resolution appointing them as that
which we had need to consider here, rote simplyiAut
of the difference between the two forms of govern
ment—yourymok of Discipline and our Constitution.
If our Constitution had.read just as your Book of
Discipline does, that preamble you never should
have seen or heard. Make not, then, a distinction
of spirit. It is not there. We meant to say to you
all, that we eon, think the Old School General Asseni
bly, or any other, can mean to say , to you, i‘lake not
the nuiddent of our constitutional law, which our fa
thers put upon us, a diminution or a pervert:Atm of
the real kindness that is in our hearts.
Sir, it- is considered as an indication of something
less than kindness on our - part, because this body was
designated in our resolution as the "Noe School Gene
ral! Assembly." Sir, what should we have called it in
rid Assembly." Sir, what should we have called, it in
order to designate it at all ? The very brother, who
in the course of his 'remarks, criticized my church for
the "use of that epithet eauld not keep his tongue from
repeating it. repeat as . .l sail yesterday, that we
never dreamed of offence. We thought you bad a'
chatinctive. theology; we shall think ao; and we do
you honor when we think so. Sir, that man. who de
nies to tilis body a distinctive theology is not a wise
friend of it. What holds you together? Mere outside
pressure? Are you a flock of sheep driven between
fences which others have made, and with a master be
hind you'l No, sir; you are a power in the laud.
God has set the marks of your distinctive theology
where you cannot move them—in the soul of Ameri
can piety. God's truth is, great; and human. minds
are narrow. We look upon that truth in perspective
from one view or another. We, who are the more ri
gid Calvinism, if we may so term ourselves, may looks
upon it from the stand-point of God ; and you may
justly look upon it from another stand-point that be
,ginsatthemanfeeling. Your_theology
_has influenced
your preaching• '
and year preaching has helped our
preaching ; and Amertca to-day owes thanks to the
distinctive theology of the New School Presbyterian
General Assembly. And when we recognise your
glory, do we do you shame ? When we recognise your
glory, shall you hold up your hands before blushing
checks and shrink from the Reformed Dutch. Synod.
because she recognises you where God has put you?
No, no. Take your place, sir.; God has given it to
you; let Israel rejoice in Him that made him.
That which we say to to-day, you may by mis
take shrink from; but what we say to you, history
will say to you and Of you, ond'eternity will say it.
-You are yourselves—you are not us; and we, who
are ourselves, put forth our hands of cordial greeting
to you, with no thought of imputation upon your
doctrinal soundness. As I said yesterday, we are
sound for us, you are sound fur you, and we are
both sound for God. [Applause.]
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Report of Mileage Committee.
The Mileage. Committee respectfully reoort that
the following named Presbyteries have paid their
full quota of 0 cents for each communicant.
LHere follow the names or all the Presbyteries ex
cept, 1. Watertown, Utica, Onondaga and Rockaway,
which palate the Contingent Fund, sixty or seventy
five:mats for each rainister,.and have paid, in addi
tion, a portion of the Mileage. 2. Athens, St. Jo
seph, Glenesee Valley, Champlain, Steuben, Logans
port, Rochester, Meadville, Columbia, Albany,
Franklin, Detroit, Otsego, (13) have paid to the Con
ting,ent Fund, at the rate of sixty or seventy-five
cents for each minister. 3. Troy, Cortland, Che
nango, Niagara. San Francisco, Sierra Nevada, San
.t 1 ose, District of Columbia, Portage, Elyria, Patas-
Ilea, Chariton, Oswego, (10) have contributed no
thing to the expenses of the General Assembly.]
The amount received by the Mileage Committee,
is $4987 81-10 d. The amount of bills audited ; and
allowed for Mileage expenses is $4607 60.
The Estimate prenented by the Stated Clerk for the
Contingent expenses of the General e Assembly, is
nine hundred dollars, lesoiing a balance. toward the
payment of the Mileage bills of $4,087 81; a sum
that will• pay eighty-five cents on the dollar,. of the
amount of said bills.
The Com mittee would therefore recommend that 85
per cent of the bills for Mileage and necessary expen
ses of the Commissioners to this Assembly, as audited
by the Committee, be paid to theii, and that the
balance be paid to the Stated Clerk of the General
Assembly, to be applied to the Contingent Fund.
The Committee's recomMendation to assess the
Presbyteries at the rate of six cents per member was
lost and the old rates retained. As thus amended,
the report was adopted:
Correepondenee with the Reformed Dutch
Church
The Assembly in the course of the afternoon ses
sion resumed the consideration of the report of the
committee on the subject of the proposed correspon
dence with the Reformed Dutch Church.
Speech of Rev. Dr. Fowler.
Rev. Dr. FOWLER. If this subject could have been
disposed 'of with a clear understanding without dis
cussion—if the motion now before us could have
been carried as I heartily hope it may be, with such
an understanding of the spirit, which, as I think, ani
mated this body—l should have been glad.
I fully accord with the conclusion of the Commit
tee which they ask us to endorse; but not at :,all for
the reasons which have been assigned by some bre
thren who have spoken on the subject, and with whom
I have been very happy to accord on all questions
previously before us. My objection to accepting the
proposition of our brethren, of the Reformed Dutch
Church. does'not arise from any belief on my part
that there is embodied in their proposition anything
like an intentional indignity to us—anything like an
insult. Ido not believe—l never could be made to'
believe that those brethren, while extending to us the
hand of fellowship, and asking a reciprocation on our
part, meant to reflect upon our orthodoxy, or to in
timate that they are orthodox, and we, heterodox.
'['his construction which has been put upon their
proposal, appears to arise solely from the infelicitoub
language in which it is presented. A. specific appli
cation is very naturally given to some general re
marks which occur in the course of the report of the
Committee on Correspondence, raised by the Synod
of the Reformed Dutch Church. That report in sub
stance proceeds in this manner: They declare that
Christian charity requires' of all churches that they
should extend their fellowship to those who sympa
thize with them on the. one great subject of 'salvation
but then they go on to say that at the same time this
fellowship ought to be captiously exercised—that
care should be taken that it should not be indulged
at the expense of truth and righteousness. Now, I
conceive that these are remarks to which every
brother on this floor will cordially respond. 'We be
lieve that charity requires us to extend Christian
fellowship to the utmost limits possible i we believe,
further, that we ought not to extend it 'so far as to
infringe upon the claims of truth and justice. These
are simple, general declarations on their part; they
do not undertake to assert that their offer of fellow
ship' with us involves any complicity on their part
with radical or important error. They then go on to
say that it has been their practice to hold correspon
dence with the brethren of the other General Assem
bly, and that they find themselves in fall accord with
that branch of the Church ; but that they are not at
liberty to say, now, that they are in full accord with
us in reference, to our views on doctrinal points. This
is the substance of the paper, though of course not
its exact lfinguage. Well, sir, is there any objection
to that? They say that they are not yet .sufficiently
acquainted with us and the facts in the case, to de
clare that they
° arc in as:full accord with xis as with
our brethren of the • Old School General,Assembly.
Is there any ground of offence in this ? think not.
They then go on and add to the previous report and
preamble, a resolution containing the deliverance
which they give.
• I say, then, sir, that my objection to an immediate
acceptance of the proffer of our brethren of the Re
formed Dtitch Church does not arise from any idea
that there was the least disposition - on the part of
any member of that bodzfe r ,qger akinsult. It can
not be - that such. was the fact i certainly was not
the, faCt. Ner does my objection arise from the cir
cumstance that our brethren of the Reformed Dutch
Church,, at the time of the disruption - , cast their lot
with our brethren of the other Assembly. They felt
at that time that they were more in accord and sym
pathy with that body—that they were more in agree
meat with it in reference to. doctrinal views. They
did not think that they were fully in accord with us
perfect harmony with us in spirit—in perfect
agreement with us in doctrine. But they were
obliged to live and learn;`and it is to their credit,
that they make the confession that after a course of
years they have 'learned us better, and know now
that they are in sympathy with us, that they are in
substantial agreement with us ; and for that reason
they offer now, in a kind and courteous spirit. as I be
lieve, to enter into fellowship with us ; -and I hope
that, instead of rejecting this, proffer, simply because
in the days of their former ignorance they were cau
tious, and as they now confess, mistaken—l hope,
that, when they are now ready to extend to us the
hand of fellowship, we shall grail) that hand with
cordiality.
But why do I object to the immediate acceptance
of the proffer ? For three reasons. First, because.
of certain circumstances attending the adoption of
that resolution by the Synod. Let me very briefly
state what I understand to be the facts of the case.
The proposition was introduced into the Synod of the
Reformed Dutch Church by a brother who bears a
name which justly is highly honored among us—a
brother who went out from, us and who is still one of
us in spirit. That proposition, it appears, took the
body entirely by surprise. I think that was the re
mark made by the beloved commissioner from the
Reformed Dutch Synod.
Rev. Mr. GANS'S. Not entirely by surprise—some
what by surprise.
Rev. Dr. FOWLER. Generally by surprise.
Rev. Dr. GANSR. Yes, sir.
Rev. Dr. Fowlßa. Thus the brethren of that
Synod hardly knew what to do with it. The sub
ject Was discussed pro and con for, I think, four
hours; and finally . a proposition was made to refer
it to their Committee on Correspondence. That
motion was carried by a majority of two. The
Committee on Correspondence brought in a report,
embracing the first part of the paper which ap
peared in the minutes of the General Synod, and
which has been read to us this morning by the
chairman of our committee, (Rev. Dr. Cox;) and it
closed with a recommendation that the subject
should be refbrred to the Synod at its next ses
sion, to be held during the wining month. The
report of the Committee on Correspondence was
amended by the adoption of the proposition em
braced in the preamble and resolution as contained
i d n ay t , heir minutes as they
have been read to us to-
Now I say that in view of the fact that the pro
position took those brethren so much by surprise
that they hardly felt themselves ready to act upon
it, and inasmuch as there was more or less doubt
fulness in regard to the expediency of inaugurating
the correspondence, it is better for their sakes and
ours that those brethren should have a more favor- .
able opportunity for deliberating upon the matter;
and if after such deliberation they should still think
that such'a correspondence is desirable, we shall no
doubt all of us be very happy to enter into corre
spondence with them.
[At this point the hour of adjournment arrived,
and Rev. Dr. Fowma retaining the floor, the As•
sembly adjourned.l
FRIDAY. MORNING, MAY 29.
The Asisembly met at 9 o'clock, and after.an hour
spent in devotional exereise4, the Minutes of the pre
vious session were read and approved.
Report on Home Kossions.
On motion of Rev. Dr. Clerk, of But£nlo, the order
of the day was postponed. to allow the presentation
of the Report on Home Missions, which was as fol
lows:
Report of the Standing Committee on Home
Xiat3i9ns
,
The' Standing Committee on Home Missions beg leave
respectfully to report: •
That they have given careful and protracted atten
tion to the matters entrusted to them, to wit: To the
second annual report of the Permanent Committee on
Home Mission's ; to a memorial from the Presbytery of
S,ciota, end to certain verbal communications made by
individuals, who have bad access to our sessions.
Among the many topics of interest thus brought tothe
attention of the Committee, the following solicit and
seem to deserve tile special regards of this General. As
sembly, viz::
The very instructive history of this first full year's
experiment of Home Missions, conducted upon the As
sembly's plan.
The remarkable reply, of the Executive Committee of
the American 11. M. Society, to the General Assembly,
in which it is set forth as, the rule of that. Society, to
withhold from the Presbyterian Church all, share in the
monies which it receives from Presbyterian sources, ex
cept on the impossible condition that the party seeking
aid shall disown its organic relations—dissolve its cock
aiastical bonds, and desert a church to join a society.
The employment, of Presbyterial missionaries; the
work in hand for the coming year; the measures to be
adopted for its accomplishment, and the relative impor
tance of this particular branch of Christian activity.
Upon these several themes, the Committee would offer
the following suggestions:
The history of the first year of any Christian enter
prise, involving as it does the birth of some new reli
gious movement, and the infancy of some unfolding force
in the kingdom of God, has in every case a prophetic
interest, since it appropriates, and iu some,seuse deter
mines-the future. The first year of our Christianity,
after it was left in this world by its absent and iumended
Head; the first year (.1' this same Christianity entering
among a new people, Greek or Roman. or Celt;
the first year of this religion in any single convert
ed soul 7 -what trials—whet conflicts—what lessons—
what hopes—what issues are wrapped up in these little
vernal periods, these seed times of the kingdom of grace.
Within this lastyear, pregnant of so many canses, and
decisive of so many results,we have tried our Churches
whether they had the zeal, to sustain--:-our Committee,
whether they possessed the skill to manage—our Mis
sionaries, whether they felt the courage to hazard or the
devotion to abet the• new undertaking. Nay, we have
made our appeal to the Supreme Arbiter and Judge
Himself, whether, sitting in the heavens and surveying
our work, He would impress upon it the seal of His
own approbation, and adopt it as His cause and ours.
And over all these tests and issues we have received,
and in 'w twelvemonth, omens of such auspicious import
that we are enabled at the end of this first stadium of
Our Home Missitinary career, to erect's monument of
humble assurance, and say with devout thanksgiving,
that all things • are working together for good to this .
cause which we love,
• ln December last• the Permanent Cominittee having
been instructed thereto by the previous AssemblY, ad
dressed a note to the Executive Board of the American
H. M. Society, asking that Board to ad9pt some rule
that should enable' them to deal, out of their abundant
charities, an • occasional. moiety to such' Presbyterian
Churches as might be in temporary distresathrough leak
of immediate assistance from our stinted and over-taxed
and incapable -treasury. We 'had just embarked upon
au arduous enterprise, which was us difficult as it was
complicated and just.
It was well known.that the. American Society had in
its Treasury, in the form of legacies and contributions,
more than thirty thousand dollars, tbat had come ; to.it
from churches still in connection with this AsSembly-
It was equally , well known that this money,ba.d been
given not with the intent qn the part of the donors to put
it beyond the reach of the Presbyterian ChUrches, but
for the very purpose of putting it within their - re - itch.
' Aiiare of these facts, and suppoiting that the PreaL
byterian Church had the same; right to receive from'
the American Home Missionary Society that it had to
GENESEE EVANGELIST.--.-Whole No. 890.
•
give to it, the General Assembly sa id to that society:
I Here are some of our poorfreely ye have received,
' freely give.. The answer' of the Executive Committee
has been read to this Assembly already. In it the so
ciety reaffirms the so-called doctrine of 'cooperation.
The Presbyterian Church in assuming its own Home
Misslonary work has ceased to make the American
H. M. Society the exclusive channel of its charities, and
the single orgadof its endeavors. That act, the com
mittee say, severe the ancient bond and terminates the
former cooperation. Be it so : what follows? Our co
operation with the American Home Missionary Socie
ty, consisted of two coordinate factors, which must in
their nature stand or fall together. We were to share
with that Society in a reciprocity alike of gifts and re
ceipts. We were to xender because we could receive,
and to receive' because we had rendered; sowing and
reaping, watering and being watered, that was to be
the law of love and interchange so long as we continued
together. If, then, the action of the. General As
sembly'establishing a Home Missionary Board for its
own uses had been, as it was not, a violation, of their
previous compact with the American Society, and if
there had been just causes, as there were not, for de
claring the cooperation null and ended, the act of the
society so deciding, should have included both the ele
ments in which cooperation consists. The American
Home Missionary Society should have said to all our
churches, cooperation is at an end, bring neither
your gifts nor your needs any more. Your Assembly
has ruptured the ancient compact, so that you have no
longer a right to our charities, nor .we to your contri
butions. But the society has made no such decision.
When our wealthy churches approach their exchequer '
to cast in their gifts, they are as welcome as if coope
ration were in full force as of old. It is only when
our needy ones draw near—only when hiving dis
charged the duties of cooperation and put thousands
into their treasury—we ask for its benefits, imploring
a pittance of what is oar own, that we are reminded of
the consequences that' ensue from cooperation con
cluded. By mutual assent, cooperation has ceased,
say the Executive Committee, and the effect is, that
the Presbyterian Churches may give but not receive,
the Home Missionary Society may receive but not give.
Thus by a skilful adjustmentof the penalty in question,
it is brought about that the Presbyterian Church shall
lose much and gain nothing, and the aforesaid society
gain much and lose nothing. Protestitig against such
a decision,nur churches can yet endure it. By it we
are deprived of much money, it is true. But there are
instances in the history of the world where to lose
is to gain, as there are others it may be remembered,
where to gain is to lose.
The answer "of the Exetutive Committee to which we
have referred is doubtless authoritative and final.
No part of the funds or revenues that flow down the
declivity into their exchequer will ever reverse its
course and return to us. Our only resort, therefore,
and'only safeguard for tbe future must be in wise and
timely forecast. Our churches must be informed, and
that at once as to the certain consequences of casting
their gifts into that treasury. The hopper will gladly
receive the grain, but the mill stone will be Sure to re
turn no bread. .Purther than this, there are great
numbers of our people who have laid by in their deeds
and wills, large bequests to that society, with the ex
pectation of benefit to accrue in coming time to our
own churches. The General Assembly owes it to these
benefactors, and to the cause which they would foster.
to disabuse them of their great delusion, and let them
know that every dollar distributed- by their executors
to the American Home Missionary society, is a dol
lar alienated forever from the uses of the Presbyterian
church.
The report of the Permanent Committee and the
Memorial of the Presbytery of Scioto. lay great stress
upon the question of employing missionaries at large,
or as they are styled in these documents, Presbyterial
missionaries. And it is only natural, and a thing
to be expected, that pastors. and Presbyteries, and
sessions, whose field is on the frontier, and around
them the eternal desolations, should earnestly desire a
force of moveable ministers 'who can be sent at their
suggestion to help an enfeebled brother, or fill a de
serted pulpit, or explore an unknown wilderness, or
discharge any other occasional and desultory service
which in their judgment the cense of Christ may de
mand. But this is obviously a subject on which the
Permanent Committee must be allowed to exercise a
large diecretiou i. and advance slowly, acquiring light
in the' safe or possible - WiW, - liftlie - leilkins Of an
experience which, however tardy it may seem to our
impatience, is, yet our only reliable guide in the pre
mises.
In no part of the Home Missionary work is there more
danger of waste and unwisdom than in this. Besides,
we have but just commenced this grand undertaking,
and have as yet neither men nor money, nor information
enough to justify much of experiment or expansion on
this subordinate, and for the present only secondary
field. Our first care must be to seize and hold u and for
tify and develop the points already in our hands. We
are laying the foundations of many ages and at what
ever cost of time or money or patience, we must do
this first work drat, and do it thoroughly and well. The
Standing Committee have given the most careful and
candid attention to this subject,- hearing and weighing
everything that has been said on both sides. And they
are fully convinced that the Permanent Committee of
this Assembly have adopted the right maxims, and are
ready to do, and in fact are doing all that a wise regard
to the interests concerned can possibly demand.
The work of Home Missions which this Assembly has
deliberately undertaken to carry forward to its full
achievement, is on a field,and under a dispensation, and
in a period of our national history which necessitates
its ceaseless expansion and calls for a continual in
crease of zeal, and sacrifice and labor. If our graces
unfold, and they must unfold or perish—it is that they
may possess a larger area, and illumine an ampler
field in the kingdom of our Lord. Or if our field enlarges_
and our limits expand, it is that our graces may have
a broader scope, and our religion a more perfect de
velopment. God has set upon our Home Missionary
enterprise during this first year of its history, the
three most convincing sisals of his approbation, and the
three most certain marks of his assistance. These
have been, first, our great trial at the commencement.
(2.) Our great successes at the end, and (1.) the mighty
field that opens upon us for the future. Kansas, Co
lorado, Nevada, yes, and on the other side of the
mountains, California as well—this whole empire—the
destined site of a rich, populous and Christian people
—the Head of. the. Church offers this entire realm to
his advancing children. 'And the most important ques
tion which this General Assembly has to, discuss or de
cide at its present sitting, is, whether it will march at
the head of its own Presyterian hosts and go up and
take possession otthis goodly land.
The work of Home Missions is of necessity a divided
and two-fold work. Part of it is to be performed on
the neglected and needy field; part of it in the hearts
of our people at home. To 'diffuse intelligence, to
awaken zeal, to arouse, and inspire, and organize the
whole Church, filling it with the Spirit of Christ the
Master, thus to get ready the sacramental host for
its appointed achievement in this outer field, the Ge
neral Assembly must give 'attention to ibis primal
work in the Church at home, or it can never accom
plish that derivative task that waits and beckons on to
the field without. Nothing is so much needed in our
communion at this moment as a general baptism of the
Spirit of God. If the tire of devotion could be rekind
led in all our tents, and among all our tribes, we have
men enough, we .have money enough, we have means
enough of every kind to arise, and take possession of
this broad middle zone that, belts the continent, and
covering it with our churehes from the Atlantic to the
Pacific, make it ,a grand Vresbyterian galaxy—a
queenly girdle on the.bride of Christ. In view of the
considerations presented to them in the report and
memorial already' named, the Committee recommend
to the General Assembly, therefore, the adoption
of the following resolutions:
1. Of devoutgiving to God for all the thanks
en
couraging omens by which, he has heen pleased to ac
knowledge and assist the calla° of Home Missions in
our Church during this first and most trying year of
its history. , ,
,
2. Of entire confidence in the judgment, zeal, and
fidelity of the Permanent Oomniittee in their adminis
tration thus far: with the desire and expectation that
they Will in the future conduct the difficult and re
sponsible work which they have in hand upon the
same just principles and according to the same impar
tial rules as hitherto.
3. That this General Assembly, recognising the neces
sity and , duty of immediate enlargement in the Boma
Missionary work, earnestly 'exhorts all its associates,
the Synods, the Presbyteries, the Churches, the pastors,
the children to co-operate with its Committee with zeal,
purpose and liberality equal to the exigencies of our po
sition, and to our high calling in the kingdom of God.
4. This General Assembly would most earnestly re
commend to all members of our communion, who have
made bequests in their wills to the cause of Limns
4)163i0136, or who contemplate such acts, to provide with
especial cure
,that their 'benefactions shall reach the
church for whiohihey , were intended.
6. Thit Jonathan P. Stearns, D. D., Henry Darling,
D. 8., Rev. Charles S.,ltobinson. the Lion..l , seph ?Wi
sed, Dr. Alfred C. Pest, be hereby re-elected to the
places made valiant by the dipiration of their: term.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
Signed: W. Clarke, A. T. Norton, T. Bird, A. Duncan,
D. Clark, D. M. Moore, 8.. Soarritt, T. Kingsley, W. C.
Hari, V. D. Moore, A. 3. Dallas, Standing Committee.
The report of the committee. was accepted.
A motion being made fur its adoption,
Rev. Dr, Kendall made a few remarks in emplane:
Coniinued on Fourth Puge.