antairan grcsbOrialt.
TIIURSDAY, JULY 2,1868
REV. JOHN W. MEARS, D. D. Editor.
11 , i). 1334 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.
NEWSPAPER DECISIONS.
1. Any person who takes a paper regularly from
the post-office—whether directed to his name or ano
ther, or whether he has subscribed or not—is respon
sible for the pay.
2. If a person orders his paper discontinued, be
must pay all arrearages, or the publisher may, con
tinue to send it until payment is made, and collect the
whole amount, whether it is taken from the office or
not.
3. The courts have decided that refusing to take
newspapers and periodicals from the post-office, or
removing and leaving them'unoalled for; is prima facie
evidence of intentional fraud.
Itar We acknowledge many prompt responses
from subscribers to whom we have lately sent
bills. We ask all, supplied by mail, • whether
receiving bills or not, to examine the printed
statement or date, pasted upon every paper,
which, showi the time up to which payment for
the paper has been received at this office. A
new subscription year begins at the time specified
in this printed slip. When money is received
for subscription, that date is changed to corres
pond with the amount sent. Moneys received
later than Monday, cannot be acknowledged until
the following week. The change of these figures
is our usual receipt for the
• money. F?rixvil re
ceipts are not sent except to local agents' or. when
`specially requested, witha phstage stamp aicom
panying.
LIBERAL PREMIUMS FOR NEW SUBSCRI-
In reply to inquiries on this subject we now
offer the following very liberal premiums.
Grover & BakeVr Sewing Machine.
For Sixteen New. Subscribers and $4B in ad
vance, we will Bead a Fifty-five Dollar G. & B.
Sewing Machine.
Seven prolunaes-.nf
For FOuiteen NO* Subscribers and s4:2'ivad
vanee, we will send free of expense the entire set
of Lange's etunineritary so far it 'hiked—seven
volumes in all:
111:7" The Philadeiphitc Tract and Mission So
ciety `has` - distributed; in june,Virou,s,rh 8 mis
sionaries, 55 superintendents, and 819 visitors,
59,627 English, 9,221 German, 161 French—in
all 69,009--Gots, through.the city, among the
seamen on. the Delaware and Schuylkill, and in
oar crinirmil and humane institutions. It now
has 40 mission stations, has established a num
ber of out-door meetings oh the Sabbath, has
given ; 25 Bibles to the-destitute ; has held 67 re
ligious meetings, has found 22 cases of religious
interest, visited 15 sick, and made 230 mission
ary visits. Joseph H. Schreiner is its General
Agent. - Moe at 1334 Chestnut street:
We are requested to call the attention of
ministers and sessions concerned to the notice for
the stated meeting of the Third Presbytery of
Philadelphia next Tuesiiay. AS the order for a
stated meeting at that time is a new one, it is
liable to be forgotton.
The ..21rortla, Western. Presbyterian puts
Rev: JOhn Ohambers' annual budget of statistics
in regard to his "Independent Presbyterian
church ", in this city, under the head of "
New-
School"i Th 4 CfkrLstlan Herald—w h ich may
be presumed to have a copy of our Minutes—re
peats the:blunder. For our Church i rand its
branches in this city in particular, we are con
strained to decline the honor.
s6r. The Reformed Presbyterian Church, by
,express ,and organic legislation, forbids any of
her members to become members of the Masonic
or Odd Fellows' orders. In the great procession
on the 24th of June, some of the stiffest mem
bers of the party opposed to Dr. Wylie and Mr.
Stuart were in the procession, and the contract
for the great Masonic Hall at Broad and Filbert
streets, was announced as having been given to
"Bro. Windrim," as architect, who is one of the
strict.Cnemters of Dr. Wylieis:Cedig,r cation.
ser It has been stated, on good authority, that
a principal reason for the nomination of Schuyler
Colfax, as Vice-President, over certain promi
nent Aral candidates by the late Republican
Convention, was the fact that while abundance
of intoxicating drink was dispensed at the head
quarters of these rivals in Chicago, nothing of the
kind could be procured at the head-quarters of
Mr. Colfax's friends. The absence of profane lan
guage about the latter, was also in marked and
favorable contrast with the state of things at the
former place. In,,short, it was felt that sound
moral,- as well as political, principles, had already
been grossly enough violated in the parkin of the
second officer of the Union, and that regard must
be had to the sobriety and piety no less than the
loyalty of the people in these important nomina
tions. ,
seir The Musical Department of Tuscarora
Femile'fleminary is under the exclusive care of
Prof. Carl F. Kolbe, a German gentleman of rare
musical talents, who has had upwards of sixteen
years' experience'in teaching music; he undoubt
edly stands at the head of his profession. Prof.
Kolbe also teaches, German, and French. Experi
enced and coMpetent teachers are in all the de
partmente of thhi-Institiitiork. See' advertise
murk'
BERN.
THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN, THURSDAY, JULY 2, 1868.
ELMIRA FEMALE COLLEGE.
ELMIRA., N. Y., June 27, 1868.
MR. EDITOR: As I noticed the AMERICAN
PRESBYTERIAN 111 the Reading-room of the
Christian Association of the Female College, it
occurred to me that a few lines about the Com
mencement exercises might be acceptable both
to yourself and to your readers.
The Baccalaureate sermon of Rev. Dr. Cowles,
President of the College; the Anniversary
exer
cises of the two Literary Societies; the fresh an'd
profitable address of Rev. M. R. Vincent, of
Troy, and the essays of the graduating class,
might all be mentioned in praiseworthy terms.
A number of former graduates of the Institu
tion returned to visit their Alma Muter, and to
take their sister Alumni by the hand, and with
many other visitors and college friends, Com
mencement day was memorably enjoyed.
This Institution pas now sent forth f oyer one
hundred and twenty graduates. There were ten
this year who received diplomas. Most mani
festly the - time ii o Zomilig 41sibn, the tAlutunw of
our Female Colleges win T .harve -their grand lite
rary gathering#, not' o be infpassed in interest
by those - . of :the' Alumni Tilf , PrinVeton, , 'TaltVor
Cambridge. May they have many such reunions.
This College is , doing noble service. The Pre
sident isadmirably atted l , fox , his ! position,- His
hand&shonld b&el4l4by-: a n aploecittatidepub
lie. . The liberal, should , add to the endowment
of the Institution. Its literary standard isexcel
lent influen,se most wholesome; its
usefulness demonstratedritsluccess assured.
Parents who would. secure for. their daughters
a thorough Christian education would do well to
send them.-here. The next session will com
mence September 2d.
Yours, very, truly, SAMUEL SAWYER.
FROM OUR ROCHESTER CORRESPONDENT.
TUE PRESBYTER'S - OF NIA.GAR.a held its semi
.
annual.meeting on the 16th and 17th at. Somer-,
set; opening sermon by Rev. C. &Burdick, of
Yonilgstoivn. - Reir: ,- 1. 0. Fillmore, D.D., of
W'as elected Moderator. • Rev.
Joshua Cooke was dismissed to the Presbytery
of Cedar,,Rapida, Iowa : 4 1 andAev.l. , ,,
lington to 'the -Presbyter) 'lof , R(ichestert. `.
T-he
latter is-now preacrhing iii'ketth.:l3ergert. Rev.
L. B. Rogers, now - supplying the Church of
Somerset, was received,' from the PresbyterY of
lowa cify ; Rev. E. W. Itellogg,.who is preach
ing at,l3arre Centre, from the. Presbytery. of Gen
esee River; and Rev. Charles Merwin, acting
pastor. at Lewiston, from the Presbytery of
Athens. Thus,..the•Presbytery dismissed two of
its ministers, and received three ; the latter
without examination, as they all . broughtvelean
papers: One-df the-nainisters canie'froiteihe , O.
S connection ; and,not content with this acqui
sition, the Presbytery
,also• receiv,edchnreh,
that of "Pendleton 'and: Wheatland," iroin the
same branch.
The - Preatytery does not Seem to thitik much
of the differences between the " Schools;" they
are quite ready to receive any number of minis
teis - Cliurches - froni the other'side, if they
come with proper credentials. • Indeed, 'one of
the chief items of business was the discussion of
re-union, if- that 'whit be' discussion 'when
the talk is all on the one side. There was entire
unanimity of feeling in favor of Union.
Attention was also given .to the causes of be
nevolence recommehded by the' General Aisein
bly. These are' to' take preeedenee of all others,
.alid quite a minibeav a the ministers pledged
themselves to try to take dallections for each one
of those causes, so as to fill each blank in 'the
Assembly's Minutes. This is as it should be.
We
A.`` wish-ailyresbytfrips wouti
ts take similar ac
tion. - 'committee'varappflitried to arrange a
schedule of• times for the different objects, so
that the collections may be simultaneous and uni
formy throughout „op: Presbytiry; and - the 'Stated
Clerk - was authorized to have it, printed on cards
to be distributed to .the churches. .'Now if the
Presbyterial Committees will do their duty, and
see that every church give heed to its directions,
some-of their churches will doJietter tii fifture
thin they have been dhing'in Yea v r:s4iist. "
The church hi' Lewistoii has`' been greatly
blessed under the labors of Rev. Charles' Merwin,
who has recently come among thepa.. ,T,wetity
two' were received to its fellowsbipiitiApiillaiut as
many more, are expectedto unite at :its net COTTIIII-`
nion seasoO.—The "'church in' 'Sortiersee has also
been quicketiedrand' has r ieceiVe rp .
p ri. accession
of about twenty members; andthe church at
Lyndonville has raised $2,000, and is expecting
to increase the amount, for the purpose of thor
oughly repairing, modernizing and re-furnishing
their hoUse of worship. The' building was erec
tea about thirty years ago; is substantial and`
well adapted to the contemplated changes; and
when so 114'45v-ed. it will Make 'o'ne.: 'the neat
est and most comfortable country.churches '
any
where to be seen. Thepeople also coniemplate
repairing . their pap3onagd, kought - aWear,and a
half since, or else building a new one. It is
thought that the projected Lake Shore Railway,
from Oswego to Lewiston, will go through this
place. If so, it will give a new start to this
quiet village, and the Presbyterian church will do
well to be,prepared to be benefitted-by it.
IMPROVEMENTS :--PALMYRA.—Not to be left
behind in the universal race of Improvement,
the l'resbyterian church of Palmyra, so long and
so well served in the ministry by Rev. Horace
Eaton, are making their church edifice as good
as new. Twenty or thirty feet are to be added
to its length; a new lecture-room is to be built;
new pews r new pulpit, new furnishing, and so on,
until the glory of the" folmei house shall be for
gotten by reason of the greater glOry of the lat
ter. It is expected that at lsast three months
will be necessary for these; blianglekihe congre
gation beinc , accommodated in the meantime, we
believe, by the use of the Methodist house of
worship a part of each Sabbath. In likematt
ner great, improvements are going on . at POTS
DAM. The foundations for the new Presbyterian
church are laid; the building to cost $30,000 ;
the lecture-room to be, finished ,hy ;winter, the
church next year. Is to be of - the Potsdam stone,
rough-cut. ,= '
The great Normal School `building, intended
to accommodate a thousand pupils, in the Normal,
Academy and Common school departments, is
also rising rapidly. The building is to be two
hundred and thirty.two feet long, by one hun
dred and thirteen feet deep in some parts of it,
situated on a public square, right in the centre
of this pleasant village.
We met in Pottsdam a man who belongs to
that race who can't take care of themselves. And
yet he has two Planing Mills, one Saw Mill, one
Livery Stable, a number of houses to rent, and a
half •interest in a store with a white partner. He
has accomplished all, this by fifteen years of eri
tesprise and industry, one of the richest men in
the place,; and one of those, as we were informed,
most, respected. We were surprised and sorry,
however,' to learn by conversation, that he was a
Universalist. Not many of .his race, we judge,
would agree with him in that error.
Atrutrum—The new church edifice 'for the
First Presbyterian congregation of Auburn, , Dr.
Hawley's, is to. be one of the finest in the tate,
to be built of rough-cut limetitorie,. buttressed, ;74
by 112 feet, with lecture:room 64 by 96, the en
tire length being 1'75 feet, Gothic in style, with
a massive tower on one corner,—spire, 185 fedt
high, to cost $100,000.. The tchapel .part end
bracesieeture-room, Sabbath-school rooms, study,
and, churoh'parlor. A parish library and a dwell
inc, house neatly fitted tnp fon:the sexton, are
embraced in , the general i.plati of ,improvements
by this, large,andt wealthy ;,.
OanummioN.—On Mon day:e v ening,,22d
in Auburn; Mr. Albert F. Lyle,s,:thember of the
last graduating class in Of.Aubnrn Seminary, and
now, under Appointthent of our Committee as a
Home_Missionary to, Black Hawk, Colorado, was
ordained as an evangelist, by by Cayuga.PresbY
.tery • sermon by Prof.. Huntington, :ordaining
prayer by Dr.,Hall, and 'charge to' the :evangelist
-by Rev.. S. W. Bondman. All the exercises
wereinteresting an'd w.ell adapted.to the occasion
Mr. Lyle isfrom San:Nrahcisco, a graduate of the
College ,of Californiaoin earnest; man and' well
, adapted.to.the.work to which he is called. 'Educat
ed in partupon the Pacificicoast i , and in pert.upon
the Atlantic_ slope,. he takes his field of labor mid
way between the two; high up on the mountains
whose Waters part and.flow• to .both seas!, Long
may, he stand there, a :light indeed °BlS:hilt
HOMER.. ACADEMY.--,The.i forty,ninth Anni
versary of this prpsperous institution ;:was cele
brated. last week., The. opening services of the
-series was an• address, before ,the Missionary , As
sociation of the' academy, on-Sunday evening, by
Rev. Dr. Jessup, of Syria.: Aias- one of his
best.; and,ns he-prepared for-College
stituti9n, and is here_ remembered with peculiar
interest; o t e taddrOssfwaSilisteepd typithimarked
attention. and decided pleasure. It is to be hoped'
that in - ay make. some of, thei moatproinising
among the students that heard.,,,,i,h consecrated
themselves In'tlie work which tor. Jessup illus...
trates and adorns so well..
On Wednes,day the corner-stone of a new
Acadeiny bUilding was laid, which is to be of
brick; large, commodious and - supplied with all
modeinteonvediences,.td coat $30,000: The cere
mony
,Trakpvriouned ,by the : venerable Jededia,h
Barber; who ha:sforthirLy years been the Presi
dent of its Board of Trustees. Appropriate al
dressess were delivered ,by,Mr. Woolworth and
Prof. Clark, alive
Commencement
At the Coencemdiit exercises on Thursday,
:an a c dtiress before the Philelogian,Sbeiety, tliought
jul, chaste, classical and suggestive,, was deliver
ed by President Brown', of Hamilton College;
and another ; on '"Singularity'
characteristic; clever and comical, by' ,Rev. T.
Beecher, of Elmira. These' are but 'parts of'a
truly gala and memorable week in the beantiful,
cultivated and prosperpus village of Homer.
GENESEE!' i
ec .Rochster,. June 27, 1868:: - =
t;D.T.3)J.OATION.f -7 ..',' - 1$: i' ',..3 .:F.
On Thursday, June 25th, Hermon Church,
corner of Main and Harrison streets, Frankford,
was dedicated. Addresses were made by Rev.
Dr. Shepherd, i lump]] rey, and MarcV, and a
statement was made and dedicatory prayer of
fered by Rev. j. Ford Sutton, who 'as the mat
ter in charge., The - valuable •services of 'North
Broad Street choir gave added' interest to the
occasion. This is the last - of the series of church
building enterprises which the late Mr. Baldwin
undertook and liberally aided, to the great ad
vantage of the cause-of our city. The
building, and ground, which cost over $20,-
000, was exclusively his gift. Mrs. Baldwin has
since suppligl thatai'fatures En furnaces, has
et 'u )';
furnished the pulpit,-and is a- lib rill supporter
of the ordinances. - • -
The services were deeply interesting to the
large audience which filiedrthe by ding
attitir kri gut efrErtijil.
CITY CIEIURCHES.-Dr. H. Johnion is in Mar
quette. The late fire in that place lost him his
entire stoek`of sermons, and half his librasi.- ; The
First Church is closed for the present.—Rev. Dr.
Stryker officiate& on Sabbath; June • 21; for the
members of his former charge in New York, who
are yet without a pastor. He administered the
communion on that day, having sent them a let
ter to be read from the pulpit, the Sabbath pre
,
vious, urging those who had not come forward
while he was with them, to take that opportunity
to dedicate themselves to. God; as it might be the
last they would have under his ministry. The
letter was4dttwithout effect, as Dr: Stryker had
the satisfaction of receiving, under peculiarly
interesting - elrcumAtancis, nine persons to the
fold. One of them was a phisician within two
months. oft.eigbty Years„ old ;!,another a girl of
fourteen—both old parishioners.—Rev. Dr. 'Hum
phrey preaches in Calvary the last time for the
summer next'Sabbath, when the Church will be
closed.—Clinton St. church will remain open
during July, and will be . closed in August. , ,
GILBErci CHAPEL ANNIVERSARY.—On, Pun
day afternoon, June.2lst, Gilbert Chapel Sunday
Sato], connected with the. Central Ptesbyterian
church of Wilmington, celebrated its tenth anni
versary. The walls of the school room were ele
gantly decorated with a profusion of flowers,
amid which appeared the mottoes, "Hitherto
hath God helped us," "Gilbert," " July, 1858."
The building was crowded with the children and
their friends, who listened with pleasure to inter
esting and appropriate addresses from Rev. C. W.
Adams of Connecticut, and Rev. C. D. Shaw,
pastor of Central church. The emblems accom
panying 'the missionary offerings of the. various
classes Were strikingly beautiful. The - Wisivell
class, bearing the name of the former pastor,
now, of Green Hill. church, Philadelphia, pre
sented a model of Central church, with the
motto, '"'For' God is not unrighteous to forget
your work 'and labor- of love, which ye have
shoWed toward his name, in that ye have minis
tered to, the saints and do minister." Heb. vi. 10.
Another class contributed a handsome floral cross
and 'wreath ; and • another an open Bible sur
rounded With flowers. The Shaw class, named
for the present pastor, offered a very, graceful
shepherd's. crook, with the inscription, Rev.
C D.' Shavi our Pastor and Shepherd?' A
number of other tasteful designs; mostly in flbw
era, and:including a, handful natural Wheat
from the Little Gleaners,Were presented, mak
ing the whole vicinity of the ; Superintendent's
desk like a: fragrant' =garden. The. Superin
tendent's - report showed gratifying progress
dut:ina the Year. The school was started in the
upper.st'ory, of an engine-house, and under many
.difficulties and discouragements was continued
:for nine years. It then entered its present beau
tiful Sabbath 'home, erected for the purpose, at ,a
Cost of ion4Vlo,oo. : This is the third structure
,
of the kind built Una' occupied as a mission
school by the members of Central churish, the
other two being in different portioill'of the city,
and `all' faithfnlly and successfully carried 'on" at
the present time. 2 - -
THE GERMANS IN NEW. YORIC.-Mr. Bern
hard Pick, a recent graduate of ; Union Seminary,
was ordained as. an, evangelist,' by,the. Third, Pres
bytery of New York, AprifBth.„ Rev. Dr. Philip
Schaff preached the sermon. Mr. Pick has been
labciring.for.some Months—pursding his studies
in!the Seminary at the same time—as a mission
ary among , the Germa,us : in, the eastern part of the
city,,preachiug ,the Sabbath in a. hall at 473
Grand street. So great!was. his ; suecess,that those
who attended his services were quite anxious ; to
to be organized-into, a, church. : fin , accordatice
with this request, a Committee, appointed by the
Third Presbytery, met in the lecture-room of the
Seventh chiirch,, and organized, the " German
Presbyterian _church of Christ." Fifty-three
persons were received on profession. Three elders
and threed'eacons were ordained. These people
seem quiteenthusiastic, energetic, and determined
to make their enterprise a success.
mfrusTERIAL.—Dr. R. W. Patterson of Chicago,,
received presents from, his people' to the amount
of $4,000, including s2;ooo,in silier coin, on
the occasion of his'silver wedding on'the'llth of
June. He has beensettled twenty-five yeats.—
Rev. lien:Cooper has removed from Rochester,
Ind., and his present address is New Castle, Pa.
—A. Welsh paper announces the arrival of Rev.
'J. R. - Boyd at - Llangollen.Secretary Kendall
was in Venice, June 1, and his health was im
proved. Fre is4ookinc , into Ade. - work of the
American and Foreign Christian Union.—A
committee of evangelical Brooklyn pastors, ap
pointed at ~,the Council which constituted the
church of the Covenant, askikls6,oob to buy a
home for the venerable Rev. Anson Gleason 'who
litbore& for more" than fifty years among our
American , -Indiana,. and has spent , the' last
four yearsin Horne Mission work in Brooklyn.—
The Central chiirefi, 'New York ciiy, is about to
lose their hard-wdrking pastor, Rev. J. B. Dunn,
• who, 'although 'only six years im the ' ministry, is
'suffering from complete neryous.prostration. His
malady has beeni brought on byexcessive mental
label., as beSideshis pastoral duties he has been
acting - as Secretary of 'the National Temperance
Society, and Editor of its publications: He is
to spend the summer in Europe, and will then
'probably take charge of the Beach street church
in Boston. During those six years, 354 persons
have united with the chiirsh; which, like so many
others, moved 2 up toWn. 'lThe congregation' who
give lip 'their pastor with , reluctance, will con
tinue his salary till September.
PIttSBYTERIES.- Ottawa met at Somonauk,
June 17th, and installed Rev. T. P. Crawford,
,pastor of the church in that town, of which he
,has been S S. for several 3'ears. The church was
organized in .18413, and has a„ neat'house of wor
ship and a parsonage. The venerable Moderator
of Presbytery, Rev. Moses Thatcher, is now, in
his seventy-third year, laboring at Munson,
where he recently laid the foundation of the first
church' in the place, and, has 'been preaching
without money or price.— Utica met at 'Verona,
N. Y. Two young men, Messrs. Dodge and
Fisher—the latter a son of'Dr. Fisher—were re-,
ceived as,candidates for the ministry ; The new
church in West Utica reported favorable pros
pects. ,Rev. J. 8., Hubbard, who. leaves the
church in Whitesboro' after a pastorate of six
teen years, was dismissed to the Presbytery of
Coldw4ter, having accepted a call to the church
of Wlfite Pigeon, Mich. The Commissioners to the
Assembly—Dr. Fisher and Rev. C. W.Eawley—
reported the action taken on union, and after some
discussion it was voted to postpone any formal ac
tion till the documents in overture were received.
Presbytery. met June 17th at Verona, and, or
dained Mr. David Biggar, and installed him pas
tor ,of the church in that town, Dr. Fisher
preaching the sermon. .
fir We publish in this No.,a notice of the YQung
Ladies',,lnstitute, Auburn, N. Y.„to which we call
the, special attention. of such of our readers as , de
sire the best education of their daughters. The
plan of this' School,' as preSented in the' eirenlar
before u s , is very different from that of Female Sem
-Varies generally, arid seems to obviate the more
Serious objectfons•to educating daughters away:from
;home. Its list of".Refdrences"", shows a select and
intelligent patronage. , ,We .advise,Parents to pro;
cure a circular for careful perusal.
RE-UNION MEETING AT THE CENTRAL
CHURCH.
In accordance with the announcement which ap
peared in our columns last week, the Central church
was thrown open Monday night last for a meeting
of those who favor the Re-union, of the two
branches of the Presbyterian Church on the basis
of the Joint Committee. The call was su ently
definite to prevent any such misunderstanding as
was complained of in the case of the recent meeting
in New York. (a) The meeting was not in general
"for prayer and con ference i n regard to re-union," but
was a meeting of those who favored it. (b) The
basis was distinctly defined as that which had pass
ed the two Assemblies, thereby throwing aside both
"the Eagleson Modification" and "the Hall-Hum*
phrey rider." At the hour fixed for the opening of
the meeting, the somewhat spacious edifice was pret
ty well filled as far as the ground-floor was concerned.
Judge Allison having taken the Chair, the services
were opened by singing that grand old Reformation
version of the Hundredth Psalm which hasrrung in
our Presbyterian churches since old Kethe wrote it,
in the, days of "Bloody Mary ": "All people that
on ,earth do. dwell."
After the reading of the cxxxiii Psalm and
Christ'S Great Intercessory Prayer, for the unity of
His Church, the presence and aid of the Almighty
was invoked 'by Rev. Addison Henry of West Phil&
delphia.,
Judge Allison then briefly defined the object of
the meeting, as, of. those who favor the Re-Union
of the blanrch, and as designed to help on the union
sentiment. He, described the present position, of
affairs, and spoke - of the two branches as hating
waited thirty years for the moving of the waters,
and said that God 'had put it into the hearts of
many to hope that the time had come to labor and
pray for union, and to work for .a united and indi
visible Church. He spoke of the Churches as prac
tically one. in, doctrine, in polity,,in honestiadher
ence to the standards There was reason foire
main'ingin two pacts, which did not ;also exist for
dividing up into as'Many parte akthere are congre
gations, in Other words becoming Congregationalist.
There , tvas no evidence that a united Church would
be unwieldy, -and, disunion was against the very
genius of our people and time. Heurged them, to
close ranks as it was hopeless to gain in power and
influence for the great contest for Christ while in , a
separate state.' They- were laboring to restore that
unity which had existed for sixty years prior to', di
-vision, in spite of differences of opinion and Various
.modes of stating, explaining and interpretiiig . -the
standards; which all held to with _equal honesty.
He vindicated variety as based on .human ,nature,
and therefore irt:the sight of God no just • obstacle
to union. He referred to conscientious opponents,
..
and claimed that that the . friends Of anion were
equally hotiest,'and if they were the major 4 they
had the right - to carry out their views. He saki-that
an opportunitywould begiven to; express their din
victione by a vote on resOlutions vihich!mould
.offered, but urged them to dc.,all toWc,ure the great
end iu view- 7 -thePresbyteriaa hunch of AMerica-,4-
one and indivisible 1 •
Two verses of "'Coronation" were:here sun
The resolutions'referred to, n trivOr of Tr istivte-*
rian Union, mere read by Rev., S. W. Crittenden: -
P eso/ved, in' of r view the organic re-union of
the two branches of *the Presbyterian Church, known
as Old and New_School, is both desirablelind practi
cable; and that its accomplishment would .do inuch_to
concentrate Christian effort, to economize . outlayAn
men and money, to facilitate the progress of the GOB
pel in• our-hind, espedially'ainong- our frontier;Settle.
ments, and to take 'away the reproach which has fallen
,upon us in consequence of cur unhappy,
Resqtyd, That it is the occasion of devout thankful
ness to God that He endowed the Joint Re-unien Com
mittee with wisdoth to prepare so satisfactory a basis
for Organic re=union, and ihat•white we do not claiin for
this basis that it.is sperfect, or that it entirely meets
all our individual preferences, yet, considering the end
which it has in view, and the diversity of opinion
which it'aims to reconcile, we deem it eminently wiae
and judicious.
Resolved, That we are gratified to find in this basis'a
recognition of the.paramount and binding authority
of the Sacred Scriptures, a guarantee of the funda
mentals of our Calvinistic system as contained- in• the
Westminster confession of Faith, and a security far
all reasonable alloitance 'Of Oondtinciion interpre
tation of our Standards. ' • ' •
Resolved, That we.cordially invite owl brethren.in
both branches of the Church to join us in prayer to
the Great Head of the Church, for such a gracious
outpouring of His blessed - Spirit upon all our congre
gations as shall prepare the wayfor . wisely consider
ing this great stibject)of eildlor the taking
of such action dpbn it in all o'ur PieNtreries as shall
be for His highest glory, and for the best interests :of
His Church.-
Theee being'offered and "seconded, Rev. Pilaroy
D. Reed, D.D., of Camden, a member of the Joint
Committee, was introduced - . ..11e;sitid that one thou
sand ministers are engaged in keeping upthetwo
organizations, wit7oo or 800" vacancies, with wide
Home and Foreign fields, unoccupied. Time, energy
and talent of laity were , ernployed in. like- measure
in the same way and extent. Was this separation
needed? To" say nothing of reasons for division,
was this waste of force needed ? Here were 100
men ordained to work'for. Christ, and largely occu
pied in keeping up this division. But why this
meeting to present this to the people? Some good
people say why this haste? why this , Meeting?
(here was no purpose to forestall 9pipion, hut to
enable every one to decide upon the matter before
God and their conscience. He gave's, historPotthe
Re-union negotiations, for two years, and read;the
Xilth Article as to how. the matter was to. be
carried'out. 'Action must betaken within a year,
and probably by most Presbyterians in six month&
Speed then, was needed to bring this matter before
all indirectly or directly concerned. Three -fourths
majority of tbe Presbyteries is needed on this`Stili
ject, to avoid either unnecessary haste -or the
over-riding a large ininorlty. Some wanted; that i ,
as on all other points, a bare rnajdrity ehOuld be
enough, but the basis gives one Presbytery against,
as much, power as-three for the Basis.
The Joint•Cornmitte have done their work as ,
be
fore the living Godwell or ill; the Assemhly have
approved it, and now it goes down to" the" Presbyte
ries and churches. Next to the salvation of the soul
no more important question could be laid before the
officers and members Of the Church.
The basis is not perfect nor all that could be de
sired,'but it is allthat is,before the Church.., Nor
would its defeat put off, union forever, for it was
God's walk, but it would"greatlyjeopardize the" in.:
terests of the Church. the Basis is a safe basia,
conserving all ,the intere.sts of Calvinistic orthodoxy.
He read the doctrinal basis and asked if any man
would say that - it was not safe? It is a liberalbasis,
giving.,thatliberty to explain according_to the abil
ity of the Spirit, but hemming ue in by the grand
system of the Calvinistic faith as held by.the fa
thers in this, and other lands. It is a BaSisarrived
at by prayer. The Joint Committee do, not claim
honor. They met seemingly insurmountable diffi
culties, but the Holy Spirit - took away' prejudice,
ignorance and distrust;.and enabled-them. to reach
the result. The same Spirit had been in the Assem
blies, and must be in the Presbyteries if this is to
succeed.
We are shut up to the Basis for thp preeent. Efforts
had been made to seCure'change and' modification,
but at juresent only tbib is` before the churches. He
referred to the action of the Assembly at' Albany,
saying thatrithe, Eagleson amendment was purely
conditionalptethe adoption by the I.S. Assembly,
and as ,it 11;d tcigt fassed at aarrisburg it had
failed.