tirtsivttrian `fniter
PITTIIIURGH, 'WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1.863.
Acknowledgment —We have received •frdm
a" Subscriber," twenty dollars for Domes
tic Missions, and twenty dollars for Foreign
Missions, all of which has been paid over
as designated.
General Synod 'of lie 'Reformed Preebyte
rian C i lilifteh.=-This body met in Cedarville,
Ohio, On Wednesday, 20th inst., and was
'opened with a sermon by the Rev. Jour;
DouoLA's, 11 1 . D., of Pittsburgh, the retiring
Moderator. The subject of discourse was,
" The Imperishable Name," which was
founded on Psalm buil :17. His name
shall endure forever.
Dr. blazon presented a paper urging
atope.to be taken toward the amendment of
the National Constitution, so as to give a
distinct recognition or the being and su
premacy:of the God of revelation. Dr.
DOUGItAS presented a paper on, the same
subject. Both pipers were laid on the
table.
DREAMING.
To dream is not to live. The mind may
be active while the body. sleeps. In a
dream, one 'may seem to do great things;
but when he awakes, he finds that nothing
has been done.
. A traveller mho was ascending to the sum
mit of the monarch of the Alps, passed the
as is usual, at the Grand Mulcts.
In his sleep, he threaded his way across
glaciers, leaped the yawning fissures,
climbed' the' icy precipices, till he stood on
the aummit. . Ile awoke from his slumbers,
and'found the toilsoMe and perilous jour
ney still to be performed.
And so men sometimes wake from a life
dream, and find life's great work still to be
done. They have toiled, they have suf
fered, but they have done no more toward
accomplishing life's great end, than did the
dream-struggles of the' mountain sleeper
toward bringing him to the spot that has
"'A charm to stay the morning-star
In his steep' course."
So far as men have failed to apprehend
the true end of life; or, apprehending it,
have failed to pursue it, their life has been
no better than a dream. It has, with ref
erence to desirable results, been as unreal
as a dream. Time thus spent, is as truly
lost as is time spent in needless slumber.
There is a great tendency on the part of
many to dream life away. Hence the fre
quent calls to be watchful found in the
Holy_Seripture. " Awake thou that sleep
est "; 4 Watoh ye "; "Be vigilant ". It
is high time.to awake out of sleep, and to
enter with energy upon the work that God
has given us to do.
SABBATH . BCHOLS
These. very important institutions, claim
much more attention from Christ's official
servants, the ministers and elders of the
Church, than they usually receive. They
are, or should be, worshipping assemblies.
The Divine Word is there expounded; and
it should be done by duly authorized min
isters of Jesus Christ, personally or through
the agency of duly qualified teachers.
Parents are to look upon the Sabbath
School, and to use it, not as their substi
tute but as their aid. And while it is a
worshipping assembly, it is not to sup
plant or interfere with, or keep children
away, from, the regular sanctuary services.
At the latter, all children should always
attend. . .
The Central Presbytery of Philadelphia
lately adopied and published the .following;
very'important paper on this subject
• Resolved, That by the parental relation,
and by Divine appointment, the religions
instruction - of children rests beyond avoid
ance upon their parents, and that a portion
of every Sabbath Alay should be devoted by
them to theverformance of this duty.
Resolved, That parents should regard it
as their duty to have their children, as far
as practicable; in the house of God on the
Sabbath, as worshippers, and under their
special supervision; nor should they allow
them to be 'absent from the religious ser
vices held on other days, except for weighty
reasons.
Resolved, That the Session should exer
cise constant vigilance over the Sabbath
School and its workings, its classes and the
instruction given in them, to restrain evil
tendencies, to provide, •develope, and en
courage good and faithful workers, and re
move those who are incompetent or un
faibhful.
Resolved, That the children .of the
Church should not be permitted by their
parents to attend statedly the Sabbath
Schools of other denominations.
Resolved; That mission schools are a
valuable means of employing the energies
of a church, increasing its influence and
strength, elevating the ignorant and de
premed, and evangelizing neighborhoods;
and that our churches should exert them
selves to establish and support such schools.
Resolved, That the instruction in Sab
bath Schools should be free from lightness,
and, as far as practicable from secular mat
ter, and should be grave and Seriptural,
tending to holiness and salvation.
Resolved, That the Sunday School liter-
Mitre of our day needs revision and expur
gation, and requires the attention of Ses
sions as to the contents of the library, and
of parents as to the volumes perused by
their children.
Resolved, That, in order to the highest
spiritual advantage to be derived from the
Sabbath on. the part of the teachers, and
in order to afford opportunity both for pa
rental instruction at, home) ,and for the
children and youth to attend' the regular
services of the sanctuary, it is recommend..
ed to all our churches to have but one ses
sion of the Sabbath Schgol on the Sabbath.
Resolved, - That it be , eqoineff upon all
who have charge of our Sabbath Schools,
that they inetruot the children regularly in
the doctrines of the Bible as they are em
bodied irt cur Standards.
Resolved, That Sessione should direct
sint O
attention to secure at 'parents in
their communion faithfully , discharge the
duties speoiiid above.
Resolved,'; That pastors be requested to
res4 4 9nm, resolt!tions in their churches,
andtq,p,remit 'on some convenient occasion
on qip,subject:of Sabba - th School jnotrue
flan and discipline ;,
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF 186 a,
Travelling by railcar, and especially trav
elling toward the great West, has become
so common a thing, that descriptions of a
jaunt -can hardly be made interesting.
Suffice it to say, that we left Pittsburgh on
Tuesday; 19th, at 1 o'clock P. M., with, ex
cellent company, and arrived at Peoria,
distant more than six hundred miles, on
the next afternoon, at 4 o'clock, having en
joyed a delightful passage.
Peoria is the second city in Illinois, in
population, and the finest in the State in
regard to beauty of site, and healthfulness.
It is situated on the right, or Western side,
of Peoria Lake ; which lake is an enlarge
ment of the Illinois river. It is one and
a half miles wide and seven miles long.
The river is navigable hence to the Missis
sippi and St. Louis, for boats drawing thir
ty inches, at the lowest stage of water.
There is, on this river, an immense amount
of business. The whiskey made here, and
mostly sent away, is so nearly fabulous in
amount, that we fear to make the state
ment. There is also an immense business
done in the making of flour, which, with
the whiskey, corn, and provisions, employs
a great amount of transportation.
Previously to the commencement of the
war, this business was done almost entirely
with the South. That outlet being closed,
shipments are now made to the East, prin
cipally by the railroads. The river route
to Pittsburgh, and thence by rail to the
seaboard, would be used in part, but' that
the Government has taken up nearly a
the steamboats
- Peoria has - population of eighteen
thousand. ':.,, city extends about four_
miles along the river, or lake, and about
one and a half miles back. The ground .
rises as you recede from the water, at about
three degrees, which• affords perfect drain
age. From the bluff, a hill of some fifty
feet in elevation in the rear of the city,
you have a prospect of the river, and of a
beautiful country for many miles.
A. small part of the city is compactly
built; but the greater portion of it is scat
tered ; that is, there are , many vacant lots,
and the occupied lots are large, say seventy
by two hundred feet. There is hence an
abundance of room for front yards and
gardens; and space for trees and shrub
bery. The buildings are tasteful, and some
of them are fine. There are two Old
School Presbyterian churches.; and of oth
er churches the usual variety.
The arrangements for receiving and en
tertaining the members of the Assembly,
and other persons having business with the
body, are the best that we have witnessed.
Persons of all creeds volunteered to receive
guests, and places were thus engaged for,
three hundred and sixty persons; and to
most of them, members and others were as•.
signed by name previously to their arrival
Committees were at the railroad depots
with ocanibusses, on the arrival of every
train, from Wednesday morning, and guests
were transferred without detention or,
trouble. •
On the morning of Thursday, at 11 o'-
clock, there were met in the First:church,
two hundred and seven Commissioners, and
the Assembly was organized with the usual
formalities.
THE OPENING} SERMON
The opening sermon was preached, as is
usual, by the Moderator of the last 'Assem-
bly
Dr. BEATTY took for his text, Eph
iv : 7—" But unto every obe of us is given
grace according to the measure of the gift
of Christ." The theme was well selected,
and the exposition and application were
peculiarly appropriate. The preacher spoke
of the Church as being one body, but hav
ing many members, each holding a separate
and appropriate place. There is unity and
individuality ; and to each individual is as-
signed his position and duty, as a part of
the whole. What is our place ?is the im-
portant question ; and it is a comforting
thought, that, just where we are is where
God's particular providence has placed us,
and that the work we do, however toilsome,
is precisely what the Master would have
us perform.
Grace is a gift. Office is held at the
Divine call. There should then be no en-
vy, no rivalship in the way of supplanting
Each should be contented, and cooperative
All should work harmoniously and in sym
None should ask to be served; bu,
pa by
all should seek to serve.
The ends which Christ would accomplish
by the gifts of his grace, official and oth-
crivise, are many
is an essential unity in the Church; but i
is - not yet perfect. There is " One Lord,
one faith, one baptism," but still there are
diversities of manifestations.
Completeness is another end which Christ
would accomplish. The individual is to
attain unto a " perfect man"; and the body
will reach to the " measure of the stature of
the fulness of Christ." This fulness,
holvever,*will be attained only in the world
of glory.
Stability is a third eod. The Church is
not to be driven about by "'every wind of
doctrine." Christ being the Head, and
his people the members, and all " fitly
joined" together, and animated by one
Spirit, the body is symmetrical; and its vital
law is progress.
Dr. BEATTY then drew some practical
lessons from his subject : As; 1. Content
ment with our lot. Providence gives it..
We have our position, success, qualifica
tions, enjoyments, as Christ pleases to give.
2: A faithful and earnest discharge of
duty where Christ places us. Find out
your work, and do it.
3. Encouragement. God gives to each a
measure of grace, adequate to the accom-
plishment of his purposes. By using' this
well, the work will be done acceptably.*
THE NEW MODERATOR.
Rev. Dr. MORRISON, the Moderator of
* The similarity of the, abstfactlere given, to
that found in the Peoria Transcript, is accounted
for, by' the fact that we furnish copy to it, prom
ising -to take an ample reward in •the use of its
reports. • -
PRESBYTERIAN BANNER.---WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1863.
Unity is one. There
the present Assembly, has been a mission
ary in India, of our Foreign Board, for
twenty years. He has been home for a
few months, and expects to return to his
station next Fall. He was chosen not only
with great unanimity, but with enthusiasm.
He possesses great personal worth, but the
choice was intended as a compliment to the
mission cause. Dr. MORRISON so regarded
it; and not only does it express the As
sembly's regard for the Foreign work, but
there is a hope that it will tend to inspire
the churches with a new, a higher, and a
holier zeal for this field of service. Dr.
MORRISON'S want of familiarity with the
proceedings of large ecclesiastical bodies,
and his deficient knowledge of members'
names, will subject the House to-some in
convenience, but this will likely be far
overbalanced by the benefits. The Dr.
commences his work like a man of mind;
and he will be well sustained by, the excel
lent Clerks, Drs. Warm, and SCOENCK,
and we hope also by an. orderly .House.
PERSONEL OF THE ASSEMBLY.
In casting an eye over the House, many
familiar faces are seen. There a..e a few
of the fathers, and some of the juniors,
while the great majority are the middle
aged, men capable of great physical exer
tion, and having eiperience, and who feel
that the burdefi of sustaining Zion and
carrying her onward, is still theirs. We,
however, find a great lack of the habitual
leaders in the Assembly's business. Abat
ing the magnates of the South, who were
for many years in the habit of cheering
and helping in the'guidance of their breth
ren, we miss the familiar - faces and voices
of Drs. HODGE, SPRING, MCIEGRAVE,",
BOARDMAN, PHILLIPS, BACKUS; BRECK- .
INRIDGE, PLutunt, and other honored fa
thers and brethren. The con trolling . of af
fairs is pretty much in new hands; but not',
in feeble ones. .The work is likely to •be
all done, and well done.
The Chairmen of the Principal Commit
tees are : Bills and Overtures, Dr. BEATTY;
Judicial Committee, Dr. HUMPHREYS ; Fi
nance, M. NEWKIRK, Esq.; Mileage, A.
G. CORTELYOU, Esq.; Leave of Absence,
J. Wow:), Esq.; Foreign Correspondence,
Dr. Bracxwoon ; Theological Seminaries,
Dr. CONDITT ; Domestic Missions, Dr. MO
BARRAN ; Education, Dr. WINES; For
eign Missions, Dr. Nwv - m; Publication,
Dr. HICKOK j
,Church Extension, Dr. J.
M. LOWRIE ; Disabled Ministers, Rev. A.
G. RANKIN ; Narrative, Dr. BROWNSON
Devotional Exercises, Rev. R. FRAME ;-
Systematic Benevolence, Dr. YOUNG.
ARMY CHAPLAINS AND THE CHRISTIAN COM
MISSION.
It will be seen from the following reso
lution, that the greatest harmony and good
feeling exist between the army chaplains
and the delegites of the U. S. Christian
Commission :
MURFREESBORO, Tenn., May 11,1868.
At the regular weekly 'conference of the
army chaplains of the Army of the Cum
berland, held in the Post Chapel in Mur
freesboro, Tenn., this day—twenty-two
chaplains being present-the following res
olution was unanimously adopted by a ris
ing vote :
Resolved, That we hail with gratitude to
God, the advent of the Delegates of the
U. S. Christian Commission among us ;
that they have our thanks for the supply
of religious reading furnished us; and that
we assure them that we shall be happy to
cooperate with them in sowing the good'
seed in this vast, field of labor.
JOHN HOGARTH LOZIER,
Chap. 37th Ind. Regt., and Post Chap.,
Murfreesboro, Tenn., President of. Meet•
nig
There are now ten Delegates from Pitts
burgh, laboring in the Army of the Cum
berland.
Christian Work in the irmy.----Religious
_ Reading Matter.
The following letter,
dated Helena, Ar
kansas, April 28th, 1863, will explain
itself :
Brig. Gen. C. B. Ask—Dear Sir :
We learn with much satisfaction of the
disposition of the United States Christian
Commission to continue, upon a scale of en
hanced liberality, their benevolent contri
butions of moral and religious literature
for the use of the officers and soldiers of
the national army in the West.
The publications hitherto furnished are
good, and a suitable supply of them highly
beneficial, but we suggest that a few hun
dred dollars judiciously expended for week
ly religious papers, such as the men here
have been accustomed to read at their
homes, would most fully meet their wants.
If this suggestion meets your approval,
we request that you bring the matter at as
early a day, as possible before the consider
ation of the Commission. Yours respect
fully, .
WM. A. PILE, Col. 83d Mo. 'Vols. •
Wm. H. Hzent e Lt. Col. 33d - Mo. Vols.
JOSEPH BROOKS, Chap. 33d MO. Vols.
M. H. HARE, Chap. 36 lowa Vols.
Respectfully referred to the United
States Christian Commission, with my earn
est recommendation. •
CLINTON B. Flex, Brig. Gen
EASTERN SUMMARY.
NEW..ENGLAND.
IT. IS WELL KNOWN that in consequence
of a diversity of opinion among the mina
gers and friends . of the American Tract
Society, in regard to the publication of
works of an anti-slavery character, a very
respectable minority, who favored these
publications, seceded from the main Society
and constituted another American Tract
Society, with its headquarters at Boston.
Having already given an extract from the
Annual Report of the New-York organiza
tion, we copy a few items from that of the
Boston Society :
"The whole amount of publications dis
tributed among the army and navy, exceeds
thirty-three millions of pages, involving,
together with the cost of distribution' and
incidental expenses, an expenditure of
$24,547.61.
" Besides the above, there were granted
to missionary and charitable instAtions, to
churches, pastors and individtiale lingaged
in labors for souls, more than thirteen mil
lions of pageti. -';
• •
".There was also . granted ~ eash,- to aid
tho press abroad, $l,OOOl 'Total value of
grants, $30,705.89. Expenditure fbr col
portage, and for district secretaries and
others engaged in distributing publications
and collecting funds, $9,838.17.
" The receipts in the Charitable Depart
ment were : Donations, $37,377.03 ; Lega
cies, $17,458.92. Total, $54,835.95. The
considerable surplus thus remaining is
caused chiefly by the unusual amount of
legacies received just before the close of
the year.
" There have been printed during the
year : Of Tracts, 2,079,000 copies, com
prising 10,208,000 pages. Volumes, in
cluding stitched pamphlets in covers, 382,-
303 copies, embracing 36,061,885 pages.
Papers— Tract Jamie, 647,800 copies;
Child at Home, 1,595,000; CAristian
Banner, 630,000. Whole amount of print
ing done--tracts and books-46,200,895
pages; papers,
.2,872,800 copies.
" The cost of the above for editing,
copyrights, stereotyping, engraving, paper,
printing and binding was $59,410.27.
Purchased of other gocieties and book
sellers, $8,383.59.. Total emit of publica
tions during theleat, $67,793 86.
"Thee'receipts in cash for publications
sold were • 8,52;149.19 ; from the Charita
ble Departinent for gran* $30,705.39.
Total receipts of this Department, $62;-
854.58.
"Pleasing-evidence has been furnished
of the Divine blessing resting on , the la
bors of this Society. God's promise has
been verified thatlhis -Word-shall, net return
to him void: : • Ins the camps - and hospitals
of our mile:, especially; the distribution of
religious truth has been attended by the
outpouring of his Spirit and th e e: hopeful
conversion of souls."
THE BIRTH-PLACE of Daniel Webster,
in Franklin, N. H., has passed out of the
Webster name, having been sold by the
widow of: Fletcher Webster, to S. D. Colly.
NEW-YORK.
THE CONVENTION of Laymen of the
Methodist: Episcopal Church, which was
held in , this city on tfie 13th and 14th init.,
is represented by the "Afethodist'ai a de
cided success, and as cheering in a highde
gree to the friends of Lay. Representation.
The following: area few of the Resolutions
adopted by the... Convention :
" Resolved; 1. That in the judgment of
this Convention, the time has fully, come
when the laymen of the. Methodist Episco
pal Church should be more intimately uni t
ted with the ministry in the , management
of its general interests, and that the proper
mode of securing this would be by,provid
ing for an equal representation of the laity
in the General Conference.
". Resolved, 2. That we are led to ask for
a representation of the laity in the-General
onference, from conviction that, if once
established, it would -act beneficially, upon
all the interests of Methodism. The laity
brought to share in the responsible care of.
Methodism, would rise to a higher appre
ciation of ;heir duties; a new trust would
be committed to them, which, we believe,
they would accept with the determination
to be, faithful to its obligations; an abun
dance of talent which nowxemains unused
would be brought into, the service of the
Church ; the practical experience' of lay
men would be blended with the clear moral
judgment of ministers in the examination,
the discussion and the settlement of impor
tant questions, so that the two orders, act
ing together, would, in our judgment, form
such a deliberative body as would be most
likely .to counsel and decide wisely, for the
welfare of the Church.
" _Resolved, 3. That we ask a representa
tion of the laity in the General Conference
because.it A right, as well as because it is
expedient. Such an incorporation of the
laity with the ministry in the government
of the.Churchis in conformity with the or
der and usages of primitive Christianity as
set forth in the. New. Testament, and is
moreover one of the distinctive features of
Protestantism,
,all the branches of which
profess to found their systems of-doctrine
and government upon the Word of God.
And there is, in .our opinion, no : reason
why Methodism should permanently depart
from these its proper guides in faith and
practice, or continue under - the odium
which now rests upon us in this respect, in
comparison with other Protestant Churches.
"Resolved, 4. That.no sufficient reason
can be found for the seclusion of the laity
from the General Conference in the neces
aities of the itinerancy. Thee history of
Methodism has proved that the laymen, of
our church are as much attached, to the
itinerant plan of preaching the Gospel as
its ministry can be. They apprehend as
clearly as the ministry the advantages of
our peculiar economy, and they, have proved
as ready as their ministerial brethren to
endure the sacrifices which it demands of
both preachers and people. The fear,
therefore, that the introduction of Lay
Representation into the. General Conference
will of itself especially endanger the itiner
ancy is„ in our estimation, groundless, and
does injustice to the steadfast attachment
of the laity to the cause of Methodism."
THE ANNIVERSARY exercises of the
Sunday School Union - were observed in
New-York on the 12th inst. Interesting
meetings were held in various churches in
the afternoon, and in the evening a general
anniversary: meeting was held in Irving
Hall. ' Addresses were . delivered by Rev.
Dr. Bell, of California; Rev. J. De
'Wit Talmadge, of Philadelphia ; and• Rev.
Dr. Hoge, of New-York. The report
set forth that the number of children
taught in the schools during the year was
60,090 ; there were 5,000 teachers ; the
library numbered 90,000 volumes; and the
contributions for missionary and charitable
objects during the year had been $lB,OOO.
THE TWELFTH ANNIVERSARY of the
Five Points House of Industry, was held
in the Academy of Music on the 12th inst.
Addresses were made by Bishop Clark, of
Rhode Island; Rev Dr. Tyng; Rev. Chas.
S. Robinson, and others. The receipts of
the year were $19,257.07, and the expen
ses $16,977.07, besides $3,100 invested in
bond and mortgage. The balance in the
Treas . ury is $438.51. The number of in
mates during the year was 691, of which
428 were children under sixteen.
Tut FOURTEENTH ANNIVERSARY of the
American and Foreign Christian Union was
held on the 14th inst., iii Irving Hall, the
President of the Association, the Rev. Dr.
De Witt, in the chair. From the Treas
urer's report, an abstract of which was read
by the Rev. A. E. Campbell, D.D., Finan
cial Secretary, it appears that the receipts
of the Union from April 30th, 1862, to
April 30th, 1863, were $59,036.68; dis
bursemeuts, $68,760.80, leaving a balance
in the treae my of $275.88.
The Society has missions in the United
Stites, Mexico, South America, Sweden,
Belgium, Italy, and Greece. "
In the United States the missions are
among the French, German, Italian, and
Irish Catholics, and confined principally to
the great cities. As regards Mexico, many
liberal men would welcome Protestant
missionaries. President Juarez is dis
posed to provide at his own expense a
place of Protestant worship in the city of
Mexico.
Ma. Dxxx.vAw, the City Inspector for
New-York, states the melancholy fact that
there are in this city over six thousand
!amazes living in underground cellars,
many of these the abodes of filth and the
receptacles of disease, ill-ventilated, ex
posed to overflow from tides, rains, &e., and
fitted' to prepare their 38,000 occupants to
become speedy victims of any epidemic."
THE. NEw-Yonit Observer states that
fifteen years ago a benevolent gentlethan in.
Boston made a standing offer to give one
half of a ten, or twenty dollar library (de
pending
.on.the size of the school),. to the
two Sabbath Schools, first formed and re
ported in each county. West of the Missis
sippi River and East ,of the Rocky Moun
tains—on condition that the school apply
ing should raise the money for tho other
half of, the library. The result is. ; that
2,043 schools have now been furnished
with libraries under this proposition cost
leg .the founder of the plan $11,869.8..
The,se schools have included 14,474 teaeh
ers, and 80,176 pupilS.'
THE price of`sold Coin was'quite steady
,
on Saturday at 148 i, to 149 per cent. Su;
•
perfine flour was quoted at 65.20 to 65.50
per bbl.
PHILADELPHIA.
THE GENERAL AgSEIRBLY OF,THE Xi*
SCHODL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH met on
Thursday of last week, in the First Pres
byterian•chArch of this city. The
ing sermon', was preached by Rev. George
Duffield, DA, of Detroit, Mich. After
the usual noon recess, the Assembly met
and proceeded to the election of Moder.,
ator, ithen Dr.': Henry B. Smith, of the
New-York Theoloaical. Seminary, having
-
received. ninety•eight out of the one hun
.
tired and seventy-five
,motes cast„ was de
clared-duly elected.
On Friday, after a brief season devoted
to religious "exercises, the Assembly pro
ceecled to the transaction of business. A
committee of nine was- appointed to draft
a suitable minute on the state of the coun
try. The Assembly then preceeded to the
selection of a place , for its next meeting,
and Dayton, 0., was, with comparative una
nimity, decided upon.'
After, the appointment of the Standing
Committees, Dr. Cox read a communication
from George H. Boker,- Esq., Secretary of
the Union League, in which it was, stated
that the names of the members of this As
sembly had been placed upon the rolls of
the League as visitors, and that a cordial in
vitation was extended to the members °file
body to visit the League House. A pro
longed discussion as to the propriety of
visiting the, Union League as an ecclesias
tical body, took place, in which` Rev. Drs.
Smith, Skinner, Brainerd, Spearing, Clarke,
Albert Barnes, and others participated,
during which a spirit of the most enthusi
astic patriotism prevailed. It was finally
determined to visit the Union League Club
House, as an ecclesiastical body.
During the afternoon session, the Report
of the Committee on dorrespondence and
more friendly relations, between the :two
bodies of the Presbyterian Church was
read, and gave rise to a friendly debate,
which was engaged in by the "Rev. Dr.
Cox, Rev. Dr. Barnes, 'Rev. Dr. Darling,
and others. At the close of the argument,
the vote on the question was taken, result
ing in . a unanimous vote in favor of the
proposition
The session on Saturday was a short one,
and was occupied mainly with the reports
of Committees. ' •
THE ASSEMBLY OF 1863.
FIRST DAY--Tnuasnav, May 21.
The 74th General Assembly of the Presbyte
rian Church in the 'United States was held in the
City, of Peoria, Illinois, on the 21st, day of May,
1863, et aeg. The opcning sermon was preached
from Eph. iv: 7, by Rev. C."C. BEArrv, D. 0., of
Steubenville, Ohio, the Moderator of the last A:s
sembly.
After the sernion,,the Assembly was eonstitu
ted with prayer by the Moderator. Dr. SCHENCK,
the Permanent Clerk, reported 116 ministers and
68 Ruling Elders present with regular commis
sions. Informal commissions *ere referred to a
Committee, of which Rey. Mr. SUEDDON Was
chairman.
Adjourned to 8 o'clock P. M.
AFTkIiNOON SESSION
The Aesembl,y occupied half 1111 hour in devo
ional exerciace.
The Committee on Defective Commissions re
ported. Tkeir report was adopted; and the
names recommended were enrolled, making 129
ministers and 78 elders, that is, 207 members
present..
{Roll will be given next week - .]
Rev. Dr. Monaxsos, Missionary of Northern
Indiaovas. nominated for Moderator; , also Rev.
Drs. A. Nevin, L. YOUNG, and E. C. Win . Dr.
Mon.alson was chosen, having 159 votes.
Rev. Dr. Knox, of GerniantoWn, Pa:, was
chosen Temporary Clerk.
It was agreed to hold the sessions of the As
sembly from 9 A. M. to 12 M., and from 3 to 6
P. M.
Friday 10 o'clock was devoted to receiving re
ports from . Theological Seminaries ; Saturday, to
Church Extension; Monday, to :Disabled Minis
ters' Fund; Tuesday, to Board of
.Education;
Wednesday, to Domestio Missions; Thurtclity, to
Foreign Missions; Friday, to Publication,
Adjourned till to-morrow morning;'9 o'clock.
SECOND DAY—FRIDAY, May 22.
Half an hour was occupied . , ih reading the
Scriptures, kinging, and prayer'. Minutes of
yesterday were read.
Twenty-six 'new Commissioners were named
and enrolled:-
The Standing Committees were announced.
[See names of Chairmen, in, editorial columns.]
It was oidered that the roll be printed for
the use of the Rouse. .
Reports from ' Theological Seminaries were
called for, and handed to the respective Com
mittees.
It was made the first order of the day, for to
morrow morning,. to fix the place of meeting tor
the next Assembly.
The Complaint of Dr. R. J. Basciristi and
others, against the Synod of Kentucky, uno referred
by the last Asselbly to this, was taken up and
referred to the Judicial Committee.
Treasurer's Report was read ; balance on hand
a little over $15,000. Report referred to ET
mance Committee.
Dr. BEATTY presented Correspondence with'
Gov. Todd, of Ohio, acknowledging gift to State
Library of copies of the Books published by our
Board. (The Aisetably used the. Ohio State.
House, last year.)
Dr. BEATTY also presented Correspondence
with the United Presbyterian Church.. :That
Church accepts-theeproposition to send,' and :re
ceive Delegate& Referred to the Committee on
Correspondence..
Dr. BEATrr also presented Correspondence
with the Moderator of the last General Assembly
of the New School Presbyterian Church, rela
tive to an interchange of Commissioners. Re
ferred to the Committee on Correspondence.
Dr. BATTY also presented Correspondence of
Robert Watt, Delegate to the General Assembly
pf the Presbyterian Church of Ireland.
Judicial cases laid over by the last Assembly
were referred to the Judicial Committee.
A Memorial from the Presbytery of Cbippeway
was presented by Rev. Mr. Spear, relative to a
union with the New School. It was referred to
a special committee.
Dr. YOUNG offered a resolution of inquiry into
the condition of the churches of West Virginia.
Committed to the Committee on Bills and Over
tures.
A letter from the U. S. Christian Commission
was read, and referred to the Committee on De
votional exercises.
Adjourned with prayer
FRIDAY . AFTERNOON:
Dr. BLACKWOOD, from the Committee en Cor
respondence, nominated Rev. George Junkin,
D.D., as .a Delegate.to the Synod of the Dutch
Church ; Rev. Dr. Grundy and John D. Thorpe,
Delegates to the General Assembly of the United
Presbyterian Church. They were appointed.
Thee Committee on Devotional Exercises ree
ortimended that the last , half hour of each day be
appropriated to devotional exercises: adopted.
-They also nominated persons to. fin the pulpits
of this City on the next Sabbath.
The sUbjeet of a new Synod out qf parts of the
Synods of New-Jersey and Philadelphia, was in
- definitely postponed.
The, subject of a Church Commentary was
taken, up, and postponed till next year.
Overture was presented from the Presby
tery of Albany; requesting an order to the Board
of" Publication. to'Prepare a Hymn and Tune-
Book for: the use of the Church. •The paper was
referred to the Cornmittee on that Board.
Dr. BEATTY moved that Tuesday afternoon be
allotted to the consideration of the report of the
Committee on the new Book of Diecipline.
Agreed to.
The committee of thelast year`on the Board of
Publication being prepared to report, -Monday
afternoon was appointed to hear it.
Synodical Records were called for, and handed
to the chairmen of the respective committees.
Nominations for'place of meeting of next'As
sembly-T-Pittsburgh, Washington, Boston, New-
Rev. Dr. DELANCY, formerly of New-Orleans,
now resident of Boston, spoke, in favor of the
latter place. He is now laboring, temporarily,
in the First Presbyterian church in Boston. Re
-is not a candidate for , settlement there. He ex
pects to return to New-Orleans on a restoration
of peace. "The Presbytery of Londonderry in
vites the Assembly to Aoston. The, Eastern
road, the Canada railroad, and probably the
Baltimore-and Ohio, will grant special •fecilities .
to the, Members; in travelling.
• The debate on the, place, of Meeting was con
tinued by Dr.. Nevin, Dr. Lowrie, Mr. Tustin,
Dr. Blackwood, Dr. Goodale, Dr. Beatty, Mr.
Goodhue, Mr. Crosby, Dr. Humphrey, Mr. Ran
kin Dr. Ogden, Mr. Bates, and others, On
calling the roll, the 'vote stood—Boston, 186;
Newark, 74; Washington, 15; Pittsburgh, fp.
Half en -hOur was spent in devotional exer
cises.
Adjourned with prayer. •
PRESBYTERIAL NOTICES.
The PRESBYTERY .OF ALLEGHENY CITY
Will ; hold its next stated meeting at the church
of Pine Creek, on the Second Tuesday of June,
(the 9th daY,) commencing at 11 o'clock A..M.
The ordination 'and installation of Mr: G. M.
Potter are appointed for that meeting. <
Members of - Presbytery arriving at Sharpsborg
at 10 o'clock, will find conveyances to take them
to the Pine Creek church.
WM. AIiNAN, Stated'elerk.
. - The. PRESBYTERY OF J3LAIRSVILLE will
meet, according, to adjournment, at Union church,
West Fairfield, on the Third Tuesday of June, at
2 o'clock P.
Members coming by railroad froth the West,
will stop at Lockport• and coming from the
East, will-stop at New Florences, where convey
-
knees will be ready to take them to the place of
meeting. JAMES DAVIS Stated Clerk.
The PRESBYTERY OF NEW LISBON, will
meet, B. 'V., on the Second Tuesday (the 9thyof
June next, in the 'church of Yellow Creek, at 2
o'clock P. M. ' ROBERT RAYS,
Swift to ROIL
`.` Let every man be•swift to hear."--.Tamna i
19.
We should be swift to hear the truth, be
cause it is by the truth that we are re
newed and sanctified. The word means
prompt--pompt to hear. Prompt at the
place where the truth is preached, arid
prompt to:the moment,,that no truth in the
invocation, or the hymn, or the chapter
read, or the prayer, or the sermon, may es
cape you. Prompt to hear every truth, be
cause you do not know whist truth shall be
the one to give a new impulse to your spir
itual life, just as the sailor has his hand on
the ropes, prompt to unfurl the sail and
catch every breeze i because he
,knows not
what one shall waft him on to the desired
haven Prompt at the place of hearing;
and prompt in the act of hearing. The
two go together The very same feeling
which brings a man promptly to church,
among the very first, makes him prompt,
earnest and wakeful in hearing the word
when it comes to be spoken. I notice that
Teeple who are late -at church are always
the dullest hearers we have; while those
who come half an hour before the time, are
the most wakeful. " Swift to hear"; eager
for .instruction,; anxious for light; that is '
a great thing in any man's spiritual life.
It is always-a hopeful.sign when
. the soul is
wide awake, and seeking_ en every side for
fresh light on its path. Truth has, on the
soul, the same effect that light has on
plants and flowers. Truth is the light,
and so, the life of the soul. Look. at,a
flower which opens its . leaves out.under the
full sunshine---how green the leaf; how
strong the_ stalk; how rich the hue; how
glorious and rapid the expansion and
growth of the whole beautiful flower. !
Then look at the same flower opening in
the twilight of a cellar. < How weak, and
sickly, and colorless, and odorless l Noth
ing about it by which to identify it with
the graceful flower which blushed in the
sunlight. And look at a Christian who
opens up his soul to the full rays of truth,
as a man flings wide open his doors and
windoWS the first sunny days of Spring-T—
-hew healthy his stall; how robust and vig
orous his Christian principle; how clear
- and decided his views; how Warm and
gushing his affections ! You look at the
man, and marvel. How good the Lord must
have been to this man, you think. You
murmur, and say, " Here is another in
stance of that odious doctrine of Illectien.
Here is more favoritism—this xna,u's soul
strong and rejoicing, mine weak and sor
rowing; his faith firm and. overcoming,
mine yielding and overcome; his views
elear and unhesitating, ipine obscure and
waverin g : Surely God has been gnod to his
soul "! Yes, just as, the, sunshine.is good to
the flower which opens its leaves aid drinks
in tire rays; not good to the ot.e which
folds up its leaves through the d.t .) as the
other did through the night. God is good,
to the man who is good to hirre.tlf. He,
has poured sunshine all around u and if
some of us open our souls to it, and are re
vived and strengthened and if others shut
their
.ears and hearts, and bee , lee luke-
Warm and weak, that is not - to be charged
to God's favoritism. This strong to
whom,'you nay,. God was so.good, good, w a a k e
under all the serinons, and you we ,
Swift ;to .b e ,„” t,• • •.
aim view strong by companionship ith it;
Stated Clerk
For the Presbyterian Banner
slow to hear, you missed the truth, and
halted by the way.
There is no mystery about this differ
ence between Christians of the same church
or community. The man who is eager for
instruction, gets it; and the man who is
indifferent, must abide the consequences of
indifference. I sit dawn, sometimes, to
read a newspaper to three or four people.
Two listen, and one falls asleep. Meet the.
two to-morrow, and they will tell you all
the news. Meet the other and ask him
about this or that, and be never heard of
such a thing ! Yet both parties had pre
cisely the same advantages. This is one
reason why sermons seem good to some and
bad to others ; the former listened and un
derj!tood ; the latter caught the meaning
here and there, and it seemed to them zs
jumble of things, without plan or purpos e .
"-Swift to hear." That is, a prime re
quisite for any intelligent, manly, self-re
haat religion. He whose soul is not
braced up by the truth, and whose path in
not lit up by the truth; will be ignorant,
and timid, and weak and wavering. To he
intelligent, and brave, and strong, and de
cided, there is one thing we have all to be,
" Swift to hear."
For the Presbyterian Banuer
Smooth Stouts.
Israel must fight again. Two mountains
dressed doubtless in all the sublimity a n d
roniance of nature, and from whose side
had never echoed sounds less harmo
nious than that of the Great Creator's
praise, uttered in language unknown to
man, suddenly become the positions of two
confronting armies. Column after column
is stationed, and declivity after declivity
serves only to mark divisions of human be
ings arrayed—for what? For life—for
death l And now naught separates save a
valley, across which parades the l'hilistian
champion with a Pride - perhaps without a
parallel since the angels sallied forth in
'open rebellion against the majesty of heav
en. Israel is dismayed, and as he calls for
an equal, none. responds to his challenge.
Thus, morning and evening for forty days,
does lie defy the people. of the Lord. A.
lad from among the flocks, at his father's
word, arises with some eivilities for his
brethren, and 'comes to the scene of contest.
Re looks upon the giant,and asking of him
is mocked by his brothers; yet he persists,
and declining the use_of Saul's armour,
takes five smooth stones from the valley of
Blab, and with one of these, prevails, and
a shouting people pursue the fleeing Phil
istines
There is instruction here for us. First.
God sees fit to make use of very humble
means sometimes; and through them does
much, for the happiness of his creatures and
his own glory. Second. Since all things
'beneath the bow of omnipotent heaven are
~used only as the means of God's glory, we
must conclude that our surety of success
does not depend upon the comparative
greatness of the means, but upon our con
fidence in Him who, could (if it pleased
"him,)* do all things without any means.
In this case the armour of Saul seemed
(to mortal eye) to be the appropriate ha
biliment in which to meet the giant, but it
did not fit David. Third. We are here
taught the danger and sin of attributing
our success to the means, rather than giv
ing God the praise.
Will you meditate with me for a few mo
ments, upon these three, points. We, as
sinners, as hearers and .ministers, have be
come tired, of the old smooth stones. of the
Gospel ; such as are recorded in the fifty
third and fifty-fifth chapters of Isaiah, the
eleventh of Matthew, and third and fourth
of St. John, &c., and •are striving after
something novel—something near. We,
as churches, are forgetting that the great
King and Head of the Church " is a Spir
it, and they who worship him must wor
ship him in spirit and in truth," and seem
to think that her purity consists , -only in
helpless namei, :pitiful fashions, and hollow
hearted formalities Oh, let us be aihamed
of these things ! Pure coin only becomes
brighter with using. Although thousands
have slaked their thirst at the fountain of
life, and are now " bathing their weary
souls" in the sea of everlasting rest, yet
its waters are none the less cooling. ;Mil
lions have lit their faith-torch at the glow
ing fire of 'these old truths, stills its rays
are none the less ardent. Ares, these- too
will guide our feet, • "
Till we behold the clearer light
Of an eternal , day."
Let us not think that because we have a
place in the Sabbath School,a name in the
Church, or a seat among the people of God,
that Our title to heaven is sure. The
Church, biptism, the Lord's Supper, prayer,
&c., are only institutions, ordinancet, and
means of grace which God has granted to
aid us on to alory These cannot save us.
"By grace ye are saved through faith.
Reader, have you been fed and clothed
during your entire existence; or preserved
from dangers which flew thick around you,
and amid - sicknesa and disease which pros
trated many about you, (and many dear
ones, too, perhaps,) and straightened their
forms beneath the pall settled for the grave ?
Give God the praise. Have you been pro
tected as a soldier, whilst the agents of
death were scattered in wild profusion
about you ? Praise God. Have you found
the Pearl of great price, and tasted that
God is good ? Praise .the Lord. Rave
you grace to pray, keep the Sabbath, read
your Rible, &c., and through these, hive
God ? Oh ! say, "We love him because he`
first loved in." - May we all be ' enabled to
east our crowns at 'his feet in heaven.
Then,
"We join the.everlasting song,
And crown him Lord a all." -
J..M.
Clod of Constiettm—Have you ever
-
heard of the great clock of St. Paul
in
London ?At mid-day, in the roar of lAtsi
ness, when carriages, and nl# B l wagons,
and omnibuses go rolling through the
streets, how many never hear that great
clock strike, unless they live very near it.
But when the work of the day is over, and
the roar of business has passed away—
when men are gone to sleep, and silence
reigns in LondontlieiCat tvielve, at one,
at two, at three, at "font.; the sound of that
'clock may be heard for miles around
Twelve !—One !--Two l==Three !
How that clock is heard by many a sleep
less man. That clock is just, like the con
science of the impenitent man. While he
has health and, strength, and goes on in the
whirl of business, he will not hear his con
science. He, drowns and . silences,its voice
by plunging into, the world. He will not
allow the inner man to speak to him. But
the day will, come when its voice will sound
in his ears, aud.pierce like a sword. The
time must come when he must retire from
the world, and lie down on the sick bed,
and look death in the face. And then, the
clock.of conscience, that solemn clock, will
sound in his heart, and, it he has .not re
pent bring wretchedness•undmisery
cmil. OltZea.; nowt,' in tne
on
pea ts , ut your hearts -= without repentance,
no' ce .