their trust, and did what was exacted of them,
they were bound to go forward and sell the
house over the head of that little church and
let it pass into the hands of others, even if it
might be infidels.
Dr. Clark did not want the charge of repudi
ation thrown out in such a loose way.
Judge Allison said he did not wish to impugn
the motives of any Church or of the Board of
Trustees, he spoke of the plan as it now existed
and the effect of it when carried out.
The vote was then postponed, on motion, to
12 M., and the speeches limited to-three min
utes.
Dr. Knox said he would have been one to
have attended the whole report to its funeral
and have seen it buried in the Mississippi
river. I was of great importance to maintain
our character as a Church, and if we did not it
would be like Biddy, who came one morning to
get her char-ac ter from the lady of the house
where she had served last, and when she did
not get it she was forced to go somewhere else,
or to some other neighborhood. Whatever is
done to carry forward the work of Church
Erection must be in the shape of donation and
not of loan.
Rev. Mr. Wimer—We of the West don't
want loans to press us down is the earth; we
want funds to help us build our churches. If
you do anything for us give us means but don't
give us loans.
Rev. Mr. True, of Illinois—l only wish to
echo the sentiments of the last speaker. The
ministers West of the Mississippi don't want
loans to build churches.
A minister from Minnesota, also agreed in
the opinion that the Western churches did not
want loans.
Mr. Tindall inquired what was the question
before the Assembly?
Mr. Moderator—The amendment of Dr.
Clark.
Mr. Tindall looked upon Dr. Clark's amend
ment as a proposition to divide the fund.
Dr. Clark, in support of his proposition said
it was designed to lend the churches money on
the most liberal terms.
Mr. Ranny thought if the plan proposed by
the Committee was rejected, we would be
thrown back to were we were before, and that
was a position which was not satisfactory, and
never would be satisfacty. He hoped, there
fore, the report would be adopted.
Rev. Mr. Whittaker said he was a laborer in
the Western_ field, and at his present field of
labor in Jefferson City, there was no church.
lie had examined the report and plan of the
Committee, and as a Western man he was pre
pared to say that the report and plan before
the Assembly would meet the wants of Western
men.
Judge Allison hoped that the amendment
offered by Dr. Clerk would be voted down by
the Assembly. Yesterday Dr. Clark had met
the question in a direct way; now it was an in
direct way, but would result in the same end.
He wanted now to come to a vote, and if the
Assembly say gift, then iet us go on and change
our articles in accordance with that prinOiple.
But he knew the Presdyterian Church could not
build churches by loans, but if ; they thought
they could then say so by a direct vote. In his
opinion, the time for buildng chdrches by loans
was past. It might have been done a few years
ago, but we must now adapt ourselves to the
new exigencies, or, as had been said, we would
not only,become fossilized, but a dead fossil.
Mr. Mciderator—The time has arrived for
taking the vote (12 M.)
Dr. Clark—l •call for my amendment.
Mr. Tindall—We did• not move the previous
question.
Mr. Moderator—The motion was to come to
a vote at 12 o'clock, on the report of the Com
mittee.
Several members—Does that cut off amend
ments?
Mr. Moderator—lt cuts off voting on amend
ments.
Mr. Starrett—Upon what are we to vote?
Mr. Moderator—Upon the report of the
Standing Committee.
Judge Williams—lf the adopt the report of
the Committee, it is not adopting the plan?
Mr. Moderator—The general principle in
volved is to do away with the system of loans,
and to adopt the general plan of donations.
The roll of members was then, after various
motions, ordered called, and the report of the
Standing Committee on Church Erection was
adopted by a vote of ayes 180, noes 9, absent 26.
The plan prepared by the - Committee was
then made for the special order for the after
noon session, and a vote ordered at half.past 4
o'clock.
Adjourned to 3 o'clock P. M.
Afternoon Sesiston
Rev. J. G. Butler, D.D., Chairman of Special
Committee on Manses and Ministerial Libra
ries, made the following report ;
That in the autumn of last year a circular of
inquiry was forwarded and sent to 700 pastors,
and stated supplies, and also published in our
religious journals. To these circulars 100 re
plies have been received. From these replies.
it appears that one-fifth of the churches have
manses, and.one-tenth have libraries for the use
of ministers.
These replies convey a strong impression of
the great importance of the subject matter of
the circular, and express the hope that the
General Assembly will use every means in its
power to bring the subject before, and urge it
upon the attention and practical regard of the
churches. They also suggest the idea of creat
ing a general fund for the.erection of manses.
Without expressing any opinion upon the ex
pediency of the latter suggestion, your commit
tee deem it both advisable and practicable to
bring the matter definitely before the churches
through the action of the Presbyteries.
They therefore recommend the adoption of
the following resolutions
Resolved, 1. That this General Assembly di
rect its Presbyteries to send to the churches
under their care a pastoral letter of inquiry, and
suggestions with referenco to the provision, of a
manse and a library for the use of the pastor
in charge of each congregation.
2. That the Presbyteries be requested to em
body in a report to the next General Assembly
any information that may be obtained in the
answers to the proposed inquiry, with their
judgment concerning the creation of a Manse
Fund, and also any practical suggestions ap
pertaining to the subject matter of manses and
ministerial libraries.
All of which is respeofully submitted,
J. GLENTWORTH BUTLER,
Z. M. HUMPHREY.
The report of the committee was adopted.
A. communication was read from Professor
Wyman, of the City University, inviting mem
bers of the Assembly to visit the University at
A, M., when convenient.
Rev. Henry Fowler presented and read the.
report of the Standing Committee on Sabbath
schools, which was adopted. [lt will appear
.4n our next.]
A motion was made to reconsider the excur
sion to Iron Mountain and Pilot Knob, but
after.some debate it was voted down.
The plan of the Committee on Church Erec
tiod was then taken lip, and was discussed dur
ing the remainder of the afternoon.
It was finally passed in the following amend
ed form, by ayes 172, noes 20:
Thertan Adopted for the Custody, Care and
Management of the Church Erection Fund.
This fund having been committed to the Gene
ral Assembly as a special trust, no part of it as
now established, nor any additions which may
hereafter be made to it, shall ever be used for
any other purpose than that of aiding feeble
congregations in connection with the General
Assembly in erecting houses of worship; ex _
cept so much as may bt absolutely necessary to
defray the expenses incident to the ndminitra
tion of this plan
The custody, care and management of this
fund, and of all securities of every kind, belong
ing to it, or growing out of it, together with all
claims, dues and property that may at any time
pertain to it, and all additions that may here•
after be made to it by donations, bequests or
otherwise shall be committed to a Board of
Trustees, to be called "The Trustees of the
Church Erection Fund of the General Assembly
of the Presbyterian Church in the United States
of America." The Board shall consist of nine
members, four of them being ministers and five
elders, in connection with some Presbytery
or Church under the care of the General As
sembly, who shall reside in the city of New
York, or its immediate vicinity, and whom the
General Assembly shall elect by ballot, on a
nomination to be made at least one day before
such election. The Trustees shall continue in
office until the election and induction of their
successors. The certificate of the Stated Clerk
of the General Assembly shall be necessary to
entitle a trustee to take his seat as a member
of the Board, which certificate it shall be his
duty to furnish as soon as practicable after the
election.
The trustees first elected shall arrange them
selves into three equal classes. The term of
office of the first class shall expire in one year
from their election ; that of the second class in
two years, and that of the third class in three
years. After the first election the General As
sembly shall annually elect three trustees, to
supply the place of the class whose term is
about to expire, to hold their office for three
years, ;the same persons being always re-eligi
ble • arid each General Assembly shall also by
election supply any . vacancy in the Board
caused by death, resignation or otherwise. If
any trustee shall, during the term for which is
elected, cease to be connected with a Presby
tery or Church under the care of the General
Assembly, he shall thereby- cease to be a mem
ber of the Board; and the vacancy shall be re
ported to the next General Assembly.
ARTICLE I
AP.TIOLg II
The first meeting of the Board shall be held
on the second Tuesday of June next, in the city
of New York, at such place and hour as the
Stated Clerk of the General. Assembly may
appoint, who shall preside until the Board is
organized by the choice of its President.
exticLe Iv
The Board shall make their own' by-laws.
They shall annually, at their first meeting after
the adjournment of the General Assembly, elect
one of their number President of the Board ;
and shall appoint a Secretary, and a Treasurer
who shall give security to the Board for the
faithful performance of his duties. They shall
keep complete books of record and account, in
which shall be recorded all their proceedings,
and the true state at all times of all matters re
lating to this fund ; which records and accounts
or any part of them, shall at all times be open
to the inspection of any committee aPpobiEetr
by the General As3embly fore this purpose.
They shall also keep full and correct copies and
files of all the correspondence which may be
conducted or, received by them, or in their
name; and shall annually present to the Gener-
Ad Assembly not later than the third day of its
sessions, a full written report of their proceed
ings and of the state of the fund, together with
any suggestions or recommendations which
they may deem necessary or suitable. The
i General. Assembly shall annually appoint a
committee of three to audit the accounts and to
examine the securities of the Board, and to
report at the next General Assembly.
ARTICLE V. •
The Board are hereby directed, either by pro
curing a special act of the Legislature of the
State of New York, or in accordance with the
existing statutes of said State, to incorporate
themselves and their successors in office, always
to be elected as aforesaid, into a body corporate
and politic, invested with all such legal powers
as may be necessary to enable them to bold and
administer this fund, in conformity with the
provisions of this plan.
ARTICLE VI.
The Board is directed to invest and to keep
at interest on sufficient security the fund as now
established, and as the same shall hereafter be
increased by gift, bequest, or otherwise.
ARTICLE VII.
The accruing interest of the fund thus estab•
lished shall be apportioned by the Board among
the Synods as their exigencies may require, and
be distributed by said Board at their discretion
to such congregations as make application
therefor, on the conditions and subject to the
limitations hereinafter prescribed.
ARTICLE VIII.
The Board shall prepare blank forms of all
such legal and other papers as may be required
in the proper distribution and management of
the fund and accruing interests ; and they shall
furnish a sufficient quantity of such forms to
the Committee of Church Erection of tech
Synod; the forms so prepared and furnished,
and none others, shall be used in all matters
and transactions relating to the fund, to which
they may be applicable. They shall designate
such legal advisers within the bounds of each
Synod, as by a correspondence with the Church
Erection Committee of the Synods may be
found desirable, to examine all certificates of
title, and all conveyances and other documents
connected with the donation of any part of the
accruing interest, including a careful investiga.-
tion in regard to the legal incorporation of the
Board of Trustees of the congregations con
cerned ; and they . shall further have power to
appoint an agent in each Synod, and to require
that all payments of money that may become
due to this fund shall be made to such agent.
ARTICLE IX
In order to be entitled to the use of any por
tion of the accruing interest, each Synod con
nected with the General Assembly shall an
nually elect a Cominittee on Church Erection,
consisting of at least five members. The Stated
Clerk of the Synod shall, immediately after the
election of the said committee, transmit to the
President or Secretary of the Board his certifi
cate of such election, giving the name and resi
dence of each member.
ARTICLE X
All applications for aid' from the accruing
interest shall be made in the first instance, to
the Committee on Church Erection of the
Synod to which the applicants belong, or within
whose bounds they are situated. Every such
application shall be in writing, and shall par•
tienlarly state : The location of the house or
site for its erection ; the number of families or
persons attached to the congregation, or that
propose to unite in building a house of worship;
the description of the house which they propose
to build, with its - estimated and probable cost,
or the description and cost of the house and lot
owned by the congregation ; the amount of re
liable subscriptions which have been obtained,
and how much has been paid thereon ; the
amount of available means possessed by the
congregation if any ; whether the congregation
is in debt, and if so, to what amount, and when
the same becomes due ; and also any other
facts which may aid the committee of the Synod
in judging of the application. The application
shall be accompanied by the certificate,of one
of the legal advisers of the Board, that the title
to the lot on which the house is built, - or to be
built, is vested in said congregation, and is
free from all legal incumbrances and liability.
ARTICLE II
If the committee of the Syncd, to whom.ap
plication for aid has been made as abov e pro
vided, shall, after a careful examination into
the condition and prospects of the congrega
tion so applying, be satisfied that such congre
gation have done all that should reasonably be
expected of them,_ and that, with the aid which
can be afforded from the accruing interest and
the voluntary contributions hereinafter men .
timed, they can build or possess a house o f
worship adapted to their wants, and be free
from indebtedness r then the committee shall
sign a certificate addressed to the Board, stating
the application, and that they have examined
and approved of it and also stating the amount
which it is proper to donate to the congregation.
The certificate, together with the application
made to the committee of the Synod, shall be
transmitted to the Board. On the receipt
thereof in due form, the Board shall, as soon
as practicable, if the a pplication is granted,
THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 1866.
forward the necessary :papers, to be executed
by the trustees of the congregation, and to be
approved by their legal adviser, or some other
attorney proposed by the congregation and ac
cepted by the Board. When the papers, so
executed, approved, and properly recorded, are
returned to the Board, they shall authorize the
treasurer of the trustees of the congregation, or
any other person duly appointed by them for
this purpose, to draw on the treasurer of the
Board for the amount thus applied for and do
nated.
ARTICLE XII.
The Board shall not in any case donate any
portion of the accruing interest to any congre
gation, unless such congregation own, in fee
simple and free from all legal incumbrance,
the lot on which their house of worship is situ
ated, or on which they propose to build; nor
shall any donation be made for the payment of.
any debt, except that which may have been
contracted within one year previous in erecting
a house of worship. yr
The sum donated to any congregatisco ell
'never be more than one-half of the ame flill
tributed and secured by them for the
r th e
lot.
The condition of all donations'-.. .ais
source shall be, that, in case the churchl. Tliin
gregation shall cease to be connected with the
General Assembly, or their corporate existence
shall cease, or their house be alienated except
for the building or purchase of a better house
of worship, they shall refund to the Board the
amount which they have so received, with in
terest from the time, of receiving it.
The fulfillment of the above condition shall,
in all cases, be secured by the bond of the trus-
tees of the congregation, and a mortgage on
their house and lot, made in favor of:the Board •
which bond and mortgage duly executed and
recorded, shall always be placed in the posses
sion of the Board, before any money is paid
over to the congregation.
In accepting this trust and adopting this plan,
the General Assembly hereby declares that the
first article shall admit of no alteration or
amendment, and that no change shall be made
in any other part of the plan by any future
General Assembly, except by an affirmative
vote of two-thirds of all the members whose
names have been entered upon the roll
As supplementary to this plan, and in order
to enable the Board to fully meet4he.reasona
ble demands of feeble congregations for aid in
erecting houses of public,worship, the General
Assembly earnestlyrecornmends to all the con
gregations ,iFthin its bounds to take up annual
.scollections and transmit them to the Treasurer
of the Board, to be appropriated by said Board
and distributed by gift for the object contem
plated in the plan, and on the conditions and
limitations prescribed therein.
And the better to secure this end, it shall be
the duty of the Board to present, with their an
nual report, an estimate of the amount proba
ble needed for the ensuing year, together with
the facts and reasons upon which such estimate
is based, in order that the Assembly may de-
termine the amount it will recommend the
churches to raise by voluntary contribution.
This plan shall, as thus amended, take effect
from and after the first day of August, 1866.
Dr. Nelson, from Committee of Arrange
ments, gave notice that members of the Assem
bly must, in order to be returned free of charge
on the railroad, procure a certificate from:the.
clerk for each road over which they had travel
ed and paid full fare, which certificate would
be good on all roads except the Ohio and Mis
sissippi, the St. Louis, Alton and Terre Halite,
and the Chicago and Alton. On these latter
roads the certificates must be taken to the ticket
offices under the Planter's House, and there
exchanged for tickets. The Terre Haute road
had volunteered to do even more than had been
asked of them. They had, in addition to car
rying members on return free, agreed to carry
their wives and daughters free also.
This last announcement was greeted by the
members with applause.
Members coming by boats were requested to
give the name of the-boat on which they came,
and to exchange the certificates at the offices of
the packet companies for tickets.
Rev. Henry Fowler, from the Standing Com
mittee on Sabbath Schools, presented a report,
recommending the creation of a Permanent
Committee on Sabbath schools, having in
charge the following duties:
1. To supervise the Sabbath-school literature
of the Church, in co-operation with the' Per
manent Committee on Publication. Their
recommendation will promote the circulation.
of the many good books ; their disapproval
will eliminate the few not good books; their
suggestions will open new classes of subjecti
upon which books may be written ; and even
their silence will discourage the use of weak
and wordy trash.
2. To issue circulars which may help the
cause, and use other appropriate methods of
the press.
8. To collect data, and from facts to work
out Kactical theses, which may assist pastors,
superintendents, and teachers in the Sabbath
school work.
4. To promote the establishment of Sabbath
schools in localities needing them, within the
bounds of the Assembly, among the ireednien
of the South and the Germans of the West, in
co-operation with the Permanent ComMittee on
Home Missions.
5. To promote the Sabbath-school cause in
heathen lands in co-operatiOn with the Atheri
can Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mis
sions.
6. To promote the establishment of Sabbath
schools in Mexico, Central America, France,
Italy, and Germany, in co-operation with the
American and Foreign Christian Union.
7. To promote the increase of the Ministry
through influence brought to bear upon the
Sabbath-schools, and thus prove an auxiliary
of the Education Committee. ,
The report was adopted, and the committee
appointed as follows—Rochester,N. Y. being
the central point : —James B. Shaw, D. D. ,
Hawley,
D.D.,
W. Heac )ck, D.D., Charles
D.D., William E. Knox,D.D. Samuel M.
Campbell, D.D., Rev. Charles P. Bush, Rev.
William A. Niles, Rev. Marvin R. Vincent,
Rev. Charles E. Knox, Ralph Wells, E. F.
Huntington, George W. Parsons, Josiah P.
Bailey, Truman P. Handy, Samuel Field.
To-morrow having been fixed upon for the
excursion to the Iron Mountain and Pilot Knob,
he Assembly adjoured over until Friday.
The Two Assemblies in Communion.
ARTICLE XIII
SUPPLEMENTARY ARTICLE
SABBATH-SCHOOLS
On Wednesday evening the mutual, arrange
ment of the Assemblies of the Old and Nitur
School Churches, now sitting in this city, for a
joint sacrainental communion, was, carried out.
The service was held in the large church (Dr.
Nelson's) occupied by the N. S. Assembly.
The Moderator of the latter body was detained
by illness from attendance. E. F. Hatfield,
D.D.,. N. S., took the general direction of the
exercises. Rev. Dr. Stanton, of Ohio, Mode
rator of the 0. S. Assembly, performed the
opening exercises. Rev. Z. M. Humphrey,
D.D., of Chicago, N. S. made an address. Rev.
E. P. Humphrey; D.D., of Danville, Ky., 0. S.,
brother of the last named, offered prayer and
distributed the bread. Rev. G. F. Wiswell, of
Wilmington, Del., gave the cup. Rev. N.
West, • / D.D of Brooklyn, N. Y., O. S., made
the closing remarks, and the final prayer was
offered by Prof. McCosh, of the Free Church of
Scotland. It was estimated that 1200 or more
members were participants in the communion.
EI GOTH DAY.
FRIDAY, May 26.
The report of the Standing Committee or,
Education wasp resented by Dr. Wm. S. Curtis,
W e give the supplementary resolutions and
Must defer the report and discussion t o . our
'text.
; As supplementary to their report, the coin :,
i , xLtt ee report that they have examined t 4,
A M emorial of Union Presb.ytery to the Genera;
serlLl3l Y in relation to the Maryville College
and also have listened to remarks from brethren
in relation to other institutions of learning in
East Tennessee.
The committee are gratified to see so much
interest manifested on the subject of education,
and express the hope that all these institutions
may be retained in the service of the Church.
Resolved, That the general subject of educa
ion, in connection with our Church in East
Tennessee be favorably received by our chur
ches, and that what funds may be raised shall
be expended under thelirection of the Presby
teries of East Tennessee until the Synod of East
Tennessee shall have taken the whole subject
under its care.
Resolved, That this Assembly recommend the
Rev. Lucius I. Root as an agent to raise funds
for this object, according to the above resolu-
These resolutions were adopted.
'.' Rev. Mr. Niles moved #,hat the sum of $35,000
be raised for the support of feeble churches, and
that the third Sabbath in December be set apart
fol. taking up collections in all the churches,
and that the Chairman of the Committee on
Church Erection be instructed to issue a circa-
lar address, to be published in the religious pa
pers of the Church, which was agreed to.
Rev. Mr. Niles asked that the Committee on
Church Erection be discharged, which was
agreed to.
Rev. Mr. Miller, of North Carolina, was in
troduced to the Asaemblp, and invited to speak
on the subject of education in connection with
the motion just before the body in relatiOn to
East Tennessee.
The Moderator stated, in explanation of Mr.
Miller's remarks, that he was laboring to estab
lish a Manual Labor Institution, for the educa
tion of colored preachers and teachers, and that
it was proposed to purchase a farm of 500 acres,
and that, by devoting a portion of the day to
raising corn and cotton, they expect to maintain
the institution. It was proposed to locate it
somewhere near Wilmington, N. C.
STATE OF THE COUNTRY
Rev. H. B. Smith, D.D., read the following
report of the Special Committee appointed on
the State of the Country :
The Committee on the State of the Country
propose to the Assembly the following Declara
tion :
The Assembly records its devout gratitude to
Almighty God, that he has. delivered us from
the calamities and hoirorti of civil war, and re
stored peace throughout oar borders.
That' he has so far quelled the spirit of seces
sion OW the supreme and rightful authority of
our beneficent National:Government is now re
stored in all our States and Territories, and we
remain, as we were intended to be, one Nation,
with one Constitution, and one destiny.
That he has so overruled the progress and re
sults of this unparalled conflict as to make it
manifest that our republican institutions are as
well fitted to bear the stress and shock of war
as to give prosperity and increase in times of
peace.
That, by His wise and constraining Provi
dence, guiding us in ways we know not, He
has caused the passions and wrath of men to
inure to the welfare of humanity, so that a
whole race has been emancipated from an un
just and cruel system of bondage and advanced
to the rights and dignity of freemen; so that
now involuntary servitude, except for crime, is
illegal and unconstitutional wherever our
National authority extends.
That He gave to our people such a spontane
ous, impassioned, and unbought loyalty—a
loyalty that can neither be forced nor feigned—
such resolute and abiding faith, and such a su•
preme consciousness of our National unity,
that we were able in the darkest hours to bear
with cheerful patriotism our heavy burdens
and our costly sacrifices, so that our very sacri
fices have knit us more closely together, and
made us love our country more.
That He has purged and enlightened our
National conscience in respect to our National
sins, especially the sin of slavery; and has also
made us recognize more fully than before the
reality of Divine Providence, the sureness and
justice of retribution for National guilt, and the
grand fact that a nation can be exalted and Nfe
only as it yields obedience to His righteous
laws.
That He bestowed such grace' upon our
churches and ministry, that with singular
unanimity and zeal they upheld our rightful
Government by their unwavering testimony and
effectual supplications, identifying the success
of the nation with the welfare of the Church.
That above all these things He has, accord
ing to His gracious promise, watched over His
Church and kept it safe during these troublous
times; so that not only has our American
Christianity been vindicated, our faith and
order maintained intact, and our Christian
benevolence enhanced, but our purpose and
plans for the future have been also enlarged in
some proportion to the needs and growth of
our country; while, to crown all these favors
with His special benediction, He has also, in
these latter days, rained down spiritual bless
ings in abundant measure upon so many
churches all over the land.
This Assembly, while humbly recognizin,
these judgements and mercies in the past any
the present, also bears testimony in respect to
our urgent needs and duties as a nation in view
of the new era upon which we are now enter
ing, as follows, viz :-
1. Our most solemn National trust concerns
that patient race, so long held in unrighteous
bondage. Only as we are just to them can we
live in peace and safety. Freed by the National
army they must be protected in all their civil
rights by the Nationalpower. And, as promo
ting this end, which far transcends any mere
political or party object, we rejoice that the
active functions of the Freedmen's Bureau are
still continued, and especially that the Civil
Rights bill has become the law of the land. In
respect to the concession of the rights of suf
frage to the colored race, this Assembly adheres
to the resolution passed by our Assembly of
1863 (Minutes, p. 42) : "That the colored
man should in, this country enjoy the right 'of
suffrage, in connection with all other men, is
but a simple dictate of justice. The Assembly
cannot perceive any good reason why he should
be deprived of this right on the ground of his
color or his race." Even if suffrage may not
be universal, let it at least be impartial.
2. In case such impartial suffrage is not con
ceded, that we may still reap the legitimate
fruits of our National victory over secession and
slavery, and that treason and`rebellion may not
inure to the direct political advantage of the
guilty, we judge it to be a simple act of justice,
that the constitutional basis of representation
in Congress should be so far altered as to meet
the exigencies growing out of the abolition of
slavery ; and we likewise hold it to be the
solemn duty of our. National Executive and
Congress to adopt only such methods of recon
struction as shall effectually protect all loyal
persons in the States lately in revolt.
3. As loyalty is the highest civic virtue, and
treason the highest civil crime, so itis necessary
for the due vindication and satisfaction of Na
tional justice, that the chief fomenters and re
presentatives. of the :rebellion should, by due
course and process of law, be visited with con
dign punishment.
4. The Christian religion being the underly
ing source of all our power, prosperity, freedom
and national unity, we earnestly exhort all our
zninistere and churches to constant and earnest
prayer for the President of the United States
a nd his constitutional counsellors ; for the Sen
ate and Howe of Representatives in Congress
assembled; for the Judges in our National
Courts ; for those that bear rule in our army
and navy, and for all persons entrusted with
a uthority; that they may be endowed with
heavenly wisdom, and rule in the fear of the
Lord, and so administer their high trusts, with
out self-seeking and partiality, that this great
Republic, being delivered from its enemies,
way renew its youth, and put forth all its
s trength in the ways of truth and righteousness,
for theof our own land and thewelfare of
raa
5. And we further exhort and admonish the
m embers of our churches to dilligent and per
sonal efforts for the safety and prosperity of the
nation, to set aside all partisan and sectional
aims and low ambitions, and to do their full
duty as Christian freemen to the end that our
Christian and Protestant civilization may main
tain its legitimate ascendancy, and that we be
come not the prey of any form of infidelity, or
subject to any . foreign priestly domination; that
the sacred interests of civil and religious . free
dom, of human rights and justice to all, of na
tional loyalty and national unity, may be en
larged and perpetuated, making our Christian
Commonwealth a praise among the nations of
the earth, exemplifying and speeding the pro
gress of the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ.
Dr. Fowler moved that the report be made
the special order for Monday evening, in order
that it, might be printed, and that they might
have an opportunity of examining it, and know
ing what they were voting on.
Rev. Thomas Brown opposed the motion, on
the ground that on Monday evening many of
the members would be on their way home, and
it was necessary that the report should be
adopted by a full Assembly.
Mr. Gibson moved that the article which re
lated to politics be stricken out. He thought
politicians understood that branch better than
clergymen. He therefore moved that the ar
ticle relating to condign punishment be stricken
out..
Judge Williams hoped that some time would
be fixed to take up thisreport for consideration.
It was an important matter and ought not to be
passed hastily. If Monday evening was too
late a 'day to answer the convenience of the
Assembly, he wanted them to fix an earlier
day.
Mr. Sheely, of Detroit, thought that a post
ponement would only be to give time to gentle.
men to prepare themselves to make speeches.
The Assembly could get it no cleaner and no
plainer than it Was now. He, therefore, op
posed any postponement for the purPose of
allowing gentlemen to show their oratory. The
Assembly, in his opinion, understood' the re
port just as well then as they would after they
had talked and each made a speech three hours
long.
The motion to postpone was• lost, also the
motion to strike out apportion:
The;report was then put upon its passage and
was adopted almost unanimously. Its adoption
was greeted with clapping of hands and demon
strations of gratification.
It was then ordered by the Assembly that en
grossed copies be sent to the President, Secre
tan of State, Speaker of the House of Repre
sentatives, and the President of the Senate.
Rev. W. E. Knox read the following report
from the Standing Committee on
HOME MISSIONS.
The Standing Committee on Home Missions
in making their report would suggest that there
are three things in which the Assembly is
agreed, viz : That the work before us is great
beyond conception and competition, that the
Church is the proper agency for doing it, and
now the favoring time, admitting no postpone
ment.
Love of adventure, lust of gain, the march of
enterprise ? the great tidal- movement westward
of the nations, and, finally, but not less provi-
dentially, sedition and war have been busy
clearing and widening the home field for the
Church occupancy. Within the months just
past the Holy Spirit has arisen, and most ear
nestly invited to the cultivation of the vound,
and in many instances to the gathering of
already rich harvests. The Church could not
be heedless of these signs without ignoring her
manifest mission and destiny in this land. She
has heeded them, and hence the marvels that
have occupied her way, as in the ancient jour
neying, from Goshen to Canaan. " God has
been in the midst of her ' • he has helped her,
and that right early." Is her mission there
fore fulfilled? Do we not know on the con
trary that the land to be possessed is more than
the territory already subdued?
From Maine to Mexico, from the Atlantic to
the Pacific wave, from the great lakes to the
Southern Gulf, how wide the field stretches out;
its needs even in the older States, East, Middle,
and South now numerous; in the States and
Territories West and Northwest how immense
and stupendous.
The question of opportunity being settled by
Divine Providence, that of the ways and means
of fulfilling both press heavily on our hearts.
We can hoi, on this point to do little more
than emphasize the suggestions of the report
already submitted.
We need, of course, to this end, a great in
crease of the Christian ministry. We say in
crease, because its actually effective portion is
already employed up to the full measure of its
capability. If the West has not an adequate
supply of ministers, it is because the East can
not spare them. Those whom she can spare as
well as not, are such as the West do not want,
and those she knows not how to spare have al
ready been drawn upon beyond her means.
The weakening of an Eastern church by with
drawing an efficient pastor is simply at the cost
of the Western by cutting off supplies of men
and money necessary to its sustenance, and it
is allowable only under the plea of some pecu
liar and dominant necessity. We can, there
fore, meet the demand for ministers only by an
increase of candidates for the ministry. And
to accomplish this, the piety of the Church
must be deepened, and its channels opened and
widened in this direction. The attention of
our youth must be summoned to this claim on
their talents, as a reason why they should
anew, or for the first time, consecrate them to
Christ. Parents must be made to feel the duty
of training and yielding their children to a work
so inviting and remunerating.
Ministers and elders must take this matter
into their special charge ; seeking to gain our
young men, not by worldly considerations,
whether of a literary or pecuniary sort, but by
pointing them to the grand opportunities here
offered of usefulness to God and their country
through the same earnest consecration and
cheerful self-denial so conspicuously illustrated
in the examples of Christ and his apostles.
Next to the provisions of preachers is that of
preaching places. By this is not meant con
gregations which already exist in greater num
bers that we can supply, but honks of worship
for these congregations. We have cause to
understand that there can be no progressive
and permanent church edification without a
church edifice. It is as much needed for min
isters and people as houses to live in are needed
for them. The attention of the Assembly has
been so thorougly called to this subject the
present session that we need not enlarge upon
it.
What we have most required is a settled
policy that should not be constantly discussed
and revised, but that should be put into instant
and persistent operation. It is to be hoped,
from action just taken by the Assembly, that
we have now reaehed that point. We know
better than heretofore what we have need to do,
and what we are able to do ; that which remains
is to do it. The chief discouraging hindrance
of a debated plan being removed, let us arise
and build. Let the gift fund be swelled as the
loan fund never was. The wants of the Great
West have become measurably appreciated by
this convocation on the right bank of the Mis
sissippi, and let us return to our coegations
to report what our eyes have seen a mour ears
heard, and thus prepare our people for new and
more liberal benefactions to this object, at some
not remote day to be agreed upon for a united
effort. In this way we shall best silence the
voice of complaint issuing from so many pro.
miring missionary centres, and telling how the
word of God is stayed for lack of houses of
worship. The next report at our General As
sembly will be that of gratitude for the unhin
dred upbuilding of Zion's waste places.
The money question, however, does not per
tain to the Church erection fund only, but to all
departments of the missionary wark. That it
demands new discussion is evident from the
treasurer's statistics. One of these discloses the
average contribution on the part of our mem
bership of barely 63 cts., which is 6 3-6 cents
per month, or a cent and a quarter per week.
If we have made advances in later over former
N. S. S. BE2dAN
years, it is clear there is still wide room for im
provement. It needs but a glance at the great
ness of our work to reveal the inadequacy of onr
efforts. It needs but another glance at the
vastness of our resources to expose an exceed
ing parsimony in their disposal.
One important suggestion the committee
would offer in this connection. It relates to
Christians giving a duty, to be enforced on
every church nut unly, but ou every individnil.
It is not enough that contributions should be
taken in the Sabbath congregation ; but in ad
dition to this, or instead of it, by collectors
passing through the congregation, and calling
upon each family and person. A general ob
servance of this plan would, it is believed, im
mediately increase our total receipts 75 or 100
per cent. The committee recommend that an
effort be made to realize an average contribu
tion of at least one dollar per member the pre
lient year. This would immre a total collection
of $120,000, and woniti require a marked ad
vance in our wealthy as well as feeble churches.
Meanwhile the home missionary work en
larges upon our hands, and calls for an imme
diate increase of faith, labor, and prayer.
There is no real source of discouragement but
in the narrowness of our own hearts. [here is no
department of effort into which we have en
tered with any vigor upon which God has not
shed his approving and inspired favor. Wit
ness to this the blessing attending our special
effort in behalf of East Tennessee, in a dis
couraged and distracted church reinspired, dis
persed congegrations regathered, in pastors
settled over long vacated parishes, and the re
vival of religion experienced in unprecedented
power. Witness the story told by delegates
from all parts of the laud of the descending and
quickening Spirit. Even the labors employed
on behalf of our foreign population, usually
regarded as far from hopeful access, have not
been without significant results. The Presby
tery of Newark, after a sixteen years experi
mentamong the Germans, have now as its fruits,
six churches organized on a Presbyterian basis ;
all but one provided with houses of worship,
with settled pastors, good congregations, a
vigorous t prospective growth and an healthful,
positive influence going out upon the surround
ing population in behalf of Sabbath observ
ance, temperance, social order, and every moral
and spiritual interest. The example thus set
us by Newark Presbytery, and already emu
lated by Philadelphia and Cincinnati, should
rebuke the prevailing skepticism on this sub
ject. There is a grave responsibility laid upon
us here, and we may not shirk it. Let us re
member that while the Irish immigration is fed
by a home supply of six and a half millions,
the German springs from a fountain of forty
millions. Not to care for this industrious, en
terprising and acceptable people, is to take very
poor care of our own interests.
Our labors for the native freedman, so far as
we have prosecuted them, have been reasona
bly successful. Here again it is our straightened
faith that produced our limited efficiency. If
the millions of China and Caffraria are to be
evangelized, how much more those multitudes
at our own doors. While slavery has depress
ed the adult negro population too low for even
Christianity easily to elevate them, it is to be
noted that 1,160,000 of this race are between
the ages of five and fifteen, and thus as impressi
ble as any class of our white population by edu
cating and evangelizing influences. This, with
the almost equally needed work to be done for
the poorer whites of the South, is a labor suffi
cient of itself to tax our utmost energies.
Truly God has everywhere set before us an
open door throughout this broad and free land,
and that which we need is the strength of Chris
' tian faith, love andpatience to press in and ac
cept the goodly hentage.
The following persons are recommended for
re-election in the place of those members of the
present committee, whose term of service ex
pires with this Assembly, viz :—Jonathan F.
Steans, D.D. Rev. Charles S. Robinson, How
ard Crosby, D.D., A. C. Post, M.D., an Geo.
Lockwood,
Esq.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
W. H. Knox, Chairman.
Mr. Hotckin moved that the rule limiting
debate to five minutes be suspended during the
of this report, which was agreed to.
Dr. Kendalbstated that there was a necessity
of more Money to carry on the work of Home
Missions, or they would soon be bankrupt.
During the past year fifteen thousand dollars
more had been spent than had been collected.
They needed about $lO,OOO per month. There
were now on the list three hundred and eighty
six missionaries, and seventeen more had been
Appointed whose names were not in the list.
'These were young men that were sent West.
Missionary work 'in East Tennesse%, and Mis
souri was more expensive than it was in Illinois,
and a great deal more so than it was in New
i York.
Therewere seventy missionaries in New York,
and their whole expense was not $BOOO. The
question was: Shall-we cut.down .our expenses
or bring.up our contributions? or shall we do
both I We must do one or the other, or we
shall have to borrow $BO 000 before the middle
of September next. The members of the
Board should have to borrow money. These
brethren would go home with a sense that there
was a great work to do.
Last year we had $15,000 to begin, and this
ytar there was but $6B to begin on. The great
State of Michigan did not pay its own expenses
yet. The great State of Ohio, the second or
third state in resources does not pay its mis
sionary expenses. Indiana, Illinois, Michigan,
and Ohio, these four older States do not begin
to pay their missionary expenses.
Dr. Kendall then proceeded to speak of the
great need'of more men and money to carry on
the missionary work in Missouri,East Tennes
see, Minnesota and the great est, and urged
upon ministers and elders to get to work at
once and raise money not only to pay the min
isters at present employed, but to pay others
and increase missionary efforts.
• The report was further discussed by Mr.
Scarritt, Pr. Campbell and others.
The b.oui for adjournment having arrived, it
was resolved that the exercises commence at
at half past 8 o'clock instead of 9.
Rev. George F. Wiswell, from Committee on
Devotional Exercises, read a report as to ser
vices on Sabbath.
Dr. Hatfield gave notice that there would be
a joint meeting of the elders of the New and
Old School Presbyterian Churches at the church
corner of Fifth and Walnut, Saturday evening,
7
atP.-M.
The following committee to coo f, with Rev.
Mr. Miller, from North Carolina, w...> appoint
ed:.
Rev. Dr. Clarke, Rev. Dr. Taylor, and Asa
D. Lord.
The Assembly then adjourned to 8/ o'clock
A. M., Saturday morning, May 26.
KEEP IT BEFORE THE PEOPLE
That there ie a MINT OF MONEY in the sale of
Pours PATENT PERPETUAL BROOM
It is right, tasty. and elegant, and totally unlike ail
others that we have seen. There is no preeeptible
difference in weight between this and a common
broom, and it is the only Patent Broom in which the
amount of corn can be varied at pleasure, making a
light or thick and heavy broom.
The Broom is already a Success.
And somebody in every county will want the chime
to make from $2OOO to $5OOO in the next few months.
H. M. Scott writes: "MY first three weeks' work
with the broom has netted me $550." Then why sit still,
whistling the tune "I've nothing to do ?" A emal
investment, backed by a little energy and tact, will
fill your pockets with
GREENBACKS.
State and County 'Rights for sale. Send stamp fat
circular.
J. N. 'HIDDEN,
N. E. Car. 111 k and Market St.
Phiiadelphia, P.