.1863 aturizzu troitlEtrvizu N D GENESEE EVANGELIST. .TORN W. XEARS, THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 1863 THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN A WEEKLY RELIGIOUS AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER, IN THE INTEREST OF THE Constitutional Presbyterian Church, PUBLISHED EVERT TIHIRSDAY, AT No. 1334 Chestnut St., Philadelphia. TERMS—(in advatlce). By mall; • - • - $2 00 per annum. By carriers, in the city, 250 " Fifty cents additional, if payment is delayed three months. PREMIUMS. Any clergyman procuring us four new subscribers, with the pay in advance, is entitled to a fifth' copy eighteetl m mths, free. Any Rerson procuring four new subscribers, with the pay tu advance, can have a fifth copy free, for one year. For Six Dollars we will send' two copies of the paper and a copy of the'American Re 4 inew, for one year, to new subscribers. Any one procuring new subscribers is entitled to Fiftv cents for each one secured and prepaid. xligiono NM4ipart. Presbyterian. The Geoteral Assembly at Peoria elected Rev. Dr. Morrison, of the Synod of Northern India, who has faithfully served the Church in the missionary work for a quarter of a century, as moderator.. His election was an honorable recognition of that service, and of the dignity and importance of the missionary work in general. This General Assembly, says the correspondent of the Independent, contained an un usual number of young ministers ; yet it was a dig nified and able body, and specially endowed with a talent for speech-making 'The lay element em braced an unwonted proportion of clear-headed and able debaters, among whom may be mentioned as holding the first rank, Hon. H. H. Leavitt of Cin cinnati, who gave the opinion in the Vallandigham case, Judge Clark of Michigan, Judge Lawson of Pennsylvania, Judge Wood of Missouri, Dlr. Con ger of New York, , Mr. Gee. Junkin, Jr., of Phila delphia, and Dr. 'Thoth:is McKennan of Washing ton, Pa. A special interest invested the Board of Publication, from the tact that a committee, com posed of leading men in the Church, had been appointed last -year to make a thorough investiga. trop of its affairs. This committee was created in consequence of assaults upon the Board, renewed from year to year for a•aeries of years. Their report was prepared by pr. Lowery of. Fort Wayne, and was a very able dtamment, elaborate, comprehen sive, and searching. It proposed some important reforms with a view to economizing the funds of the. Church, and increasing the efficiency of the Board ; staying all further accumulations of capi tal, and abolishing the office of . Editor of the Board, and turning over its duties to the corresponding secretary. An important judicial case, being the complaint of Rev. Dr. R. J. Breckiuridge against the decision of the Synod , of Kentucky, that none but communicants are I entitled to vote in the election of a pastor, was Settled in favor of complainant and against Synod'. I Thus we have the deliberate and solemn judgment of the supreme judicatory ; ;the Presbyterian Church, (0.-5.,) affirming that, upon'a just and fair in terpretationef the constitution of the Church, not only members in full communion, but all who regularly contribute to the expenses of the congre gation, hare a right to vote in the election of a pas tor. Two papers ov the state of the country were presented,' being the majority and minority reports of a committee. bne drawn by Rev. Dr. Lowery is spoken of as the more patriotic, the other by Rev. Dr. HUmphrey 'as rather religious in tone. Both were adopted with some dissent, especially in regard to the former paper. The correspondent says: The document, as'a whole, thoug,h thorough= ly loyal and patriotic, is not equal to either of the papers previously adopted in reference to the' rebel lion. Among the most interesting exereises , of the meeting just closed was the reception of delegates from corresponding bodies. Correspondence was commenced this year with three bodies of Chris tians, with whom, until now, the Assembly has never established an intercourse of this nature, viz., the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Churoh, (New-School.) the General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church, and the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Delegates, from these several churches; and also , from the Reformed Dutch Church, appeared on` the floor of the Assembly and delivered addresses, conveying the fraternal salutations and warm Christian affection of the bodies they represented', and replete with information touching their condi. tion and progress. To these our moderator replied iu brief and fitting terms. Tears were drawn from that* an eye during these interesting and delight ful services. The Assembly adjourned June 2, to meet in. the Third Church Newark, N. J. The following action on union between the two brandies was taken by the assembly. • The Commit tee of bills and overtures reporting overture No. 1, respecting the 'union of the two branches of the Presbyterian Church, called the Old and New School, report that they have endeavored to consi der the subject in that careful and serious manner which its importance demands, and would submit to the Assembly, for their consideration and adop tion, the following resolutions, vii :- 1. Resolved, That in the judgment of this Gene ral Assembly it is not deemed expedient to take at this time any decided action with reference to a reunion of the New and Old. School Presbyterian Churches. 2. Resolved, That in the fraternal correspond ence now happily inaugurated, the General As sembly recognize an initiative in the matter of securing a better understanding of the relation which subsists between the two Assemblies, and the means of providing that mutual charity and that just appreciation of the true grounds of Chris-: thin union and fellowship, which may serve to prepare the way for a union that shall be harmeni- . ous and permanently promotive of the interests of truth and vital godliness. 3. ResolAd, That as a still further preparative to such a desirable union, the General Assembly d eem i 6 important, and this in reference to both these branches of the Presbyterian,. Church,. that the . Ministers, Elders, and such as have the , :care and instruction of the young, be increasingly careful to ezhittit clearly the distinctive principles of Christian dactrinelust Church polity as held by the Presbyte• igen Cliurch; tlint the ministers of these two branches of the Church cultivate fraternal inter course, and the interchange of views and feelings, and in all suitable .ways• encourage and aid one another in the appropriate work of the ministry, and that the members of one or the othet branch connect themselves with existwg congregations of either rather than cast in their influence and their aid with bodies whose principles and forms of gov ernment are foreign to their own. The report was accepted and adopted. The Committee on Bills and Overtures also re ported on an overture from the Presbytery of Saline, re _pasting further action upon the subject or slave'. ry. It was adopted, and is as follows :—Overture No. 16, a request from the Presbytery of Saline, rtii the that the General Asrmbly sOleitinlY 'resift testimony of 1818, in regard to slavery. The Com mittee report : "The Assembly has, from the first, uttered its sentiments on the subject of slavery in substantially the same language. The action of 1818 was taken with more care, and made more clear, full, and explicit, and was adopted unanimously. It has since retained that true and scriptural deliver ance on this important subject, by which our Church is determined to abide. It has never been repealed, amended, or modified, but has frequently been referred to, and reiterat' d in subsequent Assent• blies ; and when some persons fancied that the action of 1845 in some way interfered with it, the Assembly of 1846 declared, with much unanimity, that the action of 1845 was not intended to deny or rescind the testimony on this subject previously uttered by General Assemblies; and by these deli verances we still abide." Dr. Humphrey moved an amendment, introducing the word "all,"• so as to include the action of 1845. His motion was laid on the table. He then moved to lay the whole subject on the table, which the Assembly refused to do. Memorial to Calvin.—Next year will be the Ter-centenary of Calvin's death. Various proposi tions suitably to mark this era in Geneva have been made, but serious hindrances are met in the rationalistic character of the Reformed churches in that city. The French correspondent of the /V: X. Observer thus speaks of another plan':—While our brethren in. Geneva are thus impeded in theirplans, three professors of the Protestant seminary of Strasburg—Messrs. Reuss, Baum and Cunitz— have conceived the idea oferecting another monument ,to consist of nothing less than the Reformer's com plete works. This is a great undertaking ; it is calculated that this edition will fill 75 to 100 quarto voltimes. I must here give some details which will 'interest I;our readers. It ,is a strange and sad fact that a very large part of Calvin's works have never been published.- When theologians of the second and third order have filled. libraries with their books„ is it not surprising that many writings. Of the greatest theologian of the Reformation have never been printed? And yet this is perfectly true. There are in the public archives of Geneva and elsewhere—in Paris, Germany, Holland, &c.,— a large number of Calvin's manuscripts, such ,as his letters, sermons, religious tracts; &c.; still un published. The present editors have examined with the strictest care the manuscripts of Calvin which have survived the ravages of time; they have collated and copied them. • This publication will comprise: 1. The doctrinal and polemic wri tings of the Reformer; 2. His commentaries on the Old and New Testament; 3. His smaller wri tings, tracts, letters, &c., 4. His sermons and works of popular edification. We shall have truly a Calvinus redivivus, and what an inexhaustible treasure for men who are studying theology! General Synod of the Reformed Presbyte. rian Ohurch.—This venerable Body has just ter minated an interesting session of eight days, in Cedarville, Ohio. Rev. Dr. Crawford, father of General Crawford, of the army, being Moderator, and Rev. Dr. McLeod of this city, Stated Clerk. Chaplains Wyatt, of the 79th New York, and Mc- Millan, * of the 82d Pennsylvania Volunteers," were present, and interesting reports of their services in the army were given to Synod. The reports from Presbyteries were full of interest. An improving state of religion was indicated, and an earnest patri otism pervaded them all. They showed that the Government was receiving a hearty support from this department of the Church of Christ. Several of the ministers are in the army. Ruling elders and 'members, and many of the baptized youth, had laid down their lives on the field of battle.' Synod appointed a mission to the freedmen. 'Rev. David Steele was elected an additional Professor in the Theological Seminary. Measures were taken to prqcure additional missionaries for Northern India, and for the domestic field. Rev. W. Sterling was present as a corresponding delegate from the Gene ral Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, and Synod was enlivened by an appropriate address from him, to which the Moderator responded. • One of the principal acts of Synod of public interest was the resolution to re-ommend to other Christian denonti nations, and to Congress, by memorial, the taking of steps to procure in the mode provided by itself; such amendments to the Constitution of the United States as . would secure a recognition 'of the being and sovereignty of God, and remove the ambigui ties regarding Slavery in that doquinent. Dr. McLeod, of this "city, offered a Paper on this sub ject, which was substantially 'adopted; and the whole matter was referred to a committee to give effect to the 'resolutions passed. Synod adjourned to meet nest year in 1)r. Wylie's church, phia. And so terminated ap active, harmonious, business session of this department of the Church of God.—.N: Observer. . ` Editor Presbyterian, Union in Seotland.--The Week ly Review for May 23, is largely occupied with a report of the able and deeply interesting debate in the Synod of the United Presbyterian Church on Friday . May 15th, upon t l6 e various overtures brought before it on Union with the Free and other non-established Presbyterian bodies of Scot land. Rev. Mr. Kerr and Dr. Cairns of Berwick Presbytery, Rev. Mr. Taylor and Mr. Powers of Lancashire, Rev. Dr. A. Thomson, Rev. Drs. King' and Edmond of London, Professor Harper, Rev. Dr. Robson of Glasgow, and others supported a motion for a Committee to confer with any. Commit tee that might be appointed by the Free Chutelt on Union. The opposition made was slight. The Review calls it rather a consensus than a " discus sion" on Union. The points of difference between the two bodies, especially ,on the questions of Church Establishments and the'mode of supporting the ministry were referred to in the most frank and manly spirit, and it was felt that only upon the freest avowal ;of such differences and a fall agree,- tuent to tolerate them in each other could a cordial union be reached. The discussion occu pied a large part of the day and evening,when the motion of Dr. King for a Committee of Conference was agreed to by a vote of 178 to 17. The result was received with loud ,oheers and Dr. Cairns, one of the chief promo ters of the movement, was called to lead in prayer. On Tuesday, the Moderator submitted the following names as the Committee on Union, and in doing so, remarked that it was very large list, and very properly so, as showing the very great importance which the Court attached to the subject : Professors Eadie, Lindsay, Harper, and M'Miehael ; Drs. King, Cairns, Robson; Thompson, George John ston, 'William Johnston, Smith, James Taylor, Joseph Brown, and Frew; Rev. Messrs. M'Leod, Glasgow ; Alexander M'Ewen, Glasgow ; Calder %sod Thomas, Marshall, Alexander Leitch, Beckett, Barr, Jedbnrgh ; Brooks, Johnstone ; and Scott, Manche.stcr ; , and (elders) Messrs. James Peddie, James Mitchell, James Marshall, Thomas T. Dunn, Peter Hamilton. James Paton, Samuel Stitt, J. B. Kidston, Dayid M'Cowan, Andrew. Fyfe, James Young, William gown, with the Moderator—Dr. Harper, convener. On the suggestion of Dr. John ston, Litnekilns, it was agreed to invite the co operation of Mr, Henderson to work with that Committee. What the Free Church will do with this question—or rather by this time probably have done—we shall soon see. Meanwhile m; the sugges tion of Prof. Gibson, the Free Presbytery of Glas gow has agreed to overture the assembly advis ing caution in dealing with the subject, and a due " respect to the maintenance in their integrity of the'principles of the authorized Standards of this Church, and especially of those distinctive princi ples for which this Church had been honored to contend and to suffer." Prof. G. in a speech made in support of the motion,expressed his fear lest too hasty measures should create a new division or send back many from the Free Church into the estab lishMeht. : Intritalt Pcsiqtrtian and 6tutort 6.l.angtliot. A religions man writes.from the Army of the Cumberland :—" Do turn a flood of reading matter ou us, That we may be able to quench the thirst of these brave soldiers. Every page of reading matter has been read over and over, and reread, and then given to others, who use it the same way till it is worn out." U d tip iu , The Siege of Viaksbutg, though vigorously pressed is proceeding hut slowly compared with the expectations raised by Grant's rapia and successful movements in the rear. Reinforcements are going to our forces, the Ninth Army Corps having been ordered to that duty'from Mt. Sterling, By. The rebels have picked up courage since Gen. Grant's unsuccessful assaults on the works and are trying to send reinforcements to the beleaguered city. As yet nothing important has transpired on the rear of our lines. .Expeditions North and East for fortyfive miles have failed to discover the enemy. The Cin cinnati Convnercial of June 8, however, published a letter from Memphis June 3d. which repeats Pem berton's intercepted despatch to Johnston about being able to hold out ten days, etc. It adds the fol lowing: Gee (Medians is on thp west side of Black River bridge, with his entire division, watch ing Johnston who appeared on the first and second with five thourAnd infantry and some artillery. Shots were exchanged and the rebels retired. Johnston is said to have 18,000' men, poorly armed and defi cient in artillery. Siege operations at Vieksburg are pressed with increased vigor. The siege guns commenced a gene ralhombardment on the third instant. Result un known. The two armies are close together—with in talking distance. A general attack was to be made on the 4th inst. The formidable batteries albng the Mississippi, on the first line above the water batteries, are all silenced, save one at the ex treme upper part of Vicksburg, where the Chicka saw Bayou comes into the Mississippi. It mounts two heavy guns, and two 28 poundep.. Another expedition bas been sent up the Yazoo ricer to capture and destroy - the rebel transports. The rebels burned two of the, best of theii vessels and the expedition report nine steamers destroyed valued at $700,000. As the result, the