Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, May 29, 1877, Page 9

PRESBYTERIANS. Tenth Day’s Session of the Qeneral Assembly. Tho Great Question of Re- duced Representation Disposed Of, giwo Overtures on the Subject gent Down to the Pres- byteries. An Affectionnlo Reply Sent to tho Lottor of the Southern Church. Bevorts on the Work Among the t'seedmen, on Temperance, Eta, Eto. «gtate of Raligion==Influence of the Recent Revival Move= ment. piscussion of the Germnn Work ==Bonrd of Church Lirection. Talking Ovor the Entartuin.;nent Fund «.Term of Office of Eldors, REDUCED REPRESENTATION TIE HERMON CASE. The General Asscmbly was called to order at gom. yesterday Ly the Moderator, the Rev. DrEells. 'The usunl devotfonal excrclses wero s, and nt 8:30 a. m. the businoss sosslon com- meaced by the reading of tho minutes, Tappeared from them that no motion hod teen made to placo om record the roport of the Juliclal Commisalon which decided the Hermon u:hc Rev. Mr. Jonca elaimed that a mot{on was pecessary. The Moderator safd the report of tha Com- pietlon was final but & motlon to rocord was necesary. A motlon was thon made with this ond in view, and it was agreed to. The minutes also sct forth that the report ot the Committes on Reduced Representation, to- gelber with the smendments proposed Batur- iy, were recommitted, o Mr. Omlen desired to know i tho motion to recommit was concurred in. The Modorator remarked that It was not, The Clerk mado tho correction, CHURCU ERECTION, Dr. Reaser thought it ought to bo maulfeat tatbe Assembly that the reports of tho Btand- tag Committces should cdmo iny it possible, wov. ‘Thore was o repors of the Committce on natlons wera to bo made, snd thero ought to bo afull ahouso .ns possiblo for their clection. Hehoped the report would bo allowed to come fanaw. Mr, irown Inquired it the Assombly had not ' ‘dordifed to tako uitho matter of Reduced Rep- mznuu':m and keop at It unill o concluslon "was reac] The Rev, Mer, Colfelt moyed that the second Eno( thio report, that relatiog to asicssment, u token de. The Moderator satd the quostion was on tho reommitment of the wwholo subject, Dr, Van Dyko roso to a point of order. Tho notion was to recommit tho first part—aend- g down tho overture~and not the whole re- port, 3r. Davis remarked that he had the fluor when the .adjournment took placa Friday. [Lavghter,) Ar, Burnham called for the report of the Slanding Committee on Church Erection. It was {mportant that the nondnations should ba made, since they could not bo acted upon untfl he lapas of twenty-four hours, The Moderator declded that Mr, Davies had the floor on the motion to recominit. Mit, DAVIES took his placa on the platforin and set out upon aspeech, o was opposed . to the recommit- ment of tho subject. .In the first place, tho Committeo was unanimous in {ts report, and it wnevident that the Assembly was not unan- imous upon this report. It scemed to bim that the propiosition wns ono to subvert the Presby- terian lorm of poverntnent; to chango it md- lally aud to destroy that, which had been o :\ury ot the Church’s history in the Pt Americans looked ulmn thelt country aud fte Government, and clorled fn I, They tracedd down the prineiples in our Civil Governs bent untll we caino to the hard foundatfon of Pymouth Hock, and, back of ihnt, these great Vflnd{ln, including that of representation, tuldbe traced all tho way back to Goneva. [A*D\uulc‘] Le Rev, Mr, Btowart roso to a point of order. Iiud e pentlemun any eight to discuss the glr}u of this question on o motivn to recom- ‘Ihe Moderator ant ho had, Mr, Dayiea continmed. 1fo belioved that the drinciplea of liberty in our Civil Government had wmethruugh the Presbyterian form of govern- eat n history, and thd enemies &;! Calvinism Leen constralned by o fair study of history 1‘?“”‘" It. James Anthony Froude, the great slish blstorinn, lod adwiltted that liberty, ;mm!m\wlu»dnv. dated from Geneva. There ers three principles that underlay the Presby- form of government. ‘The first was the vxrl\yn‘l tho minlstry; the second, the ntegrity ) the Presbiyteries; and the third, the principly Wmnn atlon, Thess were o three-fold Juudation of the ecclesfustical: government of ¢ Presbyterian Churel, and they could be tbr‘ytdwk not only totha originof the Church, t"!m-n back to the time of the Reformation, u“t\hs tmes ot Augustine, I'sul, and even Christ mltl!. Thess principles would e averturned subverted (2 this uew fdes of centrallzation :‘l} lutroduced Into the form of govern- hlllll. chauging ita very character and ure by g Bynodi nstead of ‘;““’!!&rlnl Tepresentation. bx'{: *orthy to be conserved and handed down l"ud: integrity to future generatlons, The " el from the East clufmed thut they wers mum”-' reprosented, “The argument wus Prstpnocrand uver sgatn that theso smaller ibytezies in New Mexico, Kansas, ete., had gyl bower and nuthority fn the Assembly, 1 Werofore, thoso from the East wanted o 0ge fron tho old paths, and sdopt pew iy sud Ureak away from tuese principles, onlerer what might Lo called an arlstocracy, in hm:lnwnwn-elbu righitsot tho larger Presby- g l.ll\: maintained that the rights o tho .“rl Tuabyteris were well conserved, he fue that they had uot as the basls th:"f"" uumber of persons. [t was true that @l '(u-ry out f the West, that had only flve filllnlmu init, hud one ministerial and ono llm czate, while o l’runl:l!lury that had 150 in " anly two or three, Trus, the proportion e n}:‘:l kept up. But Jook at this question n Ksog nllluuul Government. There was little w1 nd, with only a_handful of people, T, eI were the great States of New York, B sylvanta, or Olilo standil ‘b:ltnr";“ Senate ol e oebresentatives the © U Blate of Now Thuse principles £, d belug equal to ‘There was b ace Guverument. Tho Church must { 3 (] retafn the ity of the Preabyterics in opder. £o rotain trug vt lost its claracter. It was not lbdrf"| the laree Presbyterics did not have i "t: l1J slure In this Assembly to<day. Why, )’fl""’ ltmlxtnl;'mud\;:’.lha (llllnlrmnn r‘ll alCum- e . Oue guch tnau, coming from & 3Se ity u Tho Enst, was able to chase s doscn from the Kol It he Rocky Mountains, sud ::L Joglon. (Greas laugner). "Their repre- 1 l:fl Wus complote sud more than complete, "ot ed the true ¥rtucip|u tobo advocated Tt mv:lx er to retafn the stinplicity of govern- et the utegrity of the princlple of rep- Narepe un, ws linply tochunge 2(1 1o 40,1 lnll‘ vecurred in the report. Thure wus no %nl\;-lu»ml“d" the Jung vreamble sud the ot “ted wachinery us wery found in this ar ‘e xuu;‘:,’-““ until ft was slek of it, but the fiioy “nu Wwould never indorse such an that of puttlug the power out of Srovnuanan 1 phen led ouce, aad ' Charch Ercction. Bome very important nomt- | e by sidae with | representation prevails, will be cutitle sxfiu. l:‘nv(ng Comtnissloners to the Assenbly under the pre Ll of hutegty of Btates o s 85 well as that | out of thoso 7&’2 tesentation whl{b must be found fn every | one year which will be unrepresented. it rly of tho Presbytertan Cliurch. When | Soventees of tioss Lo uay ony year will b ¢ Lo dssemnbly may acud it down from ' | Presbyterles entitied to twi had miscrably falled, only nincteen ont of 156 Presbyteries faving voted {n favor of Rynodical repreaentation. Ife malntained that tlie report recommended what waa substautinlly and ereen- tally the mame as that which hind” heretofore heeni ment down to the Preabyteries, although there was a little chango fn tho wording of it, inorder not to ropeat predisely the same lan- guage In sending it down, Commissioner called *Time." Mr. Davlea said he thought not, [Langhter.] Another Commianioner—Ie had two minutes on Baturday. [Laughter, Mr. Davies—It is the rame old story of the camel that got hia nosa into the window of the tailor hecause of the heat of the sun. He wagted a little shade, just for a little while, he sald; and the tallor In his kindness permitted bim to thrust its noge into the window. Tut ihe whole hugo body of tho eamel followed his nose aud drove the poor tatlor out (nto the sun. [Langhter.] This report will only ba the be- ginning of a process which will eud fn the de- atructfon of the form and esscnee of Preshyte- rian Government. The sccond step will ho o Judlcfal Coramireion to take away from the As- sembly the power It now holds, The third will bo to meet :ml{flnnco In three oy four years. The fourth will to transfer a littls fmore of tho* mecrn now held by the Assembly Into the ands of the Judicial Commission, and the fifth will beto dispense with - the meetings of the (eneral Assembiy nltogether, and to put the powet In the hands of an aristocracy. [Ap- plause, A Commissioner moved that the naine of the Tev. James C. Nichtengale be added to this Committee. He liked that gentleman's re- marka of Baturday last on the subject of Pres- byterial reprcscntation, and he hoped those fileas would' be put into tangible form, and, it posaible, embodied inthe new report of the Committeo. Dit. VAN DYRE, Dr. Van Dyke—I heard {culcnh\y of an ¢x- ccllent colored brother who commenced the marriage ¢cremony in this wise: ** My dear brothers and slsterat If there are any hero present who know any reason why these per- sons should not be married, I beg them for the Liord's sake to hold thelr peace.’ [l.nuzhter.l ow, 1 don't aympathize with my cotored brotner on this subject. 1 want every ong swho hag objections in this case to speak out, and I am glad this Assembly has allowed my friend, Mr, Dasles, to rellovelis mindentirely. {Laugh- ter.]). Iam greatly obliged to him for the catf- mato ho hus put ou my prowess Jinughter), and [ asaure him if 1 were walking alone alon; o rond with bla face overhendl looking nt me should run lmmndlniel{. [Laughter.] Relne surrounded by this great assembly of tho Yres- ‘bytertan Churcl, which witldo merey and award Justice even to such none ns 1, 1 feel freo Lo ox- preas inyself on this subject. Mr. Davies says, any plan of synodical ropresentation overturns tho priuciplesof our church., MHas the wentlo- man read the form of government of the Pres- ‘byterlan Church? _What 1s a Synod? Our book says it Is a Jarer Presbytery. Ieu't your clec- tion for Commisslonera to the Asscmbly by ynods— Mr, Davles—That [s not o fair ropresentation of what Isald. Idilin't say any plan. I was dlscussing the present plan, Dr, Van Dyke—I wish to stand corrected, but thoe genttoman as much as sald, “If you allow this thing to o on, the eamel's nosc will he un- der the tent, and by-and-by tho whole body will buiu. As Isat thore I felt a good deal as Catl- 1ine must have felt under tho seathings of Cies 10. [Laughter.] Iwish tosay that the boak declares that the 8ynod {s but’s larger Presby- tery, and every one will sco the truth of that deelaration ‘when ko remembers that fn a Eynod tho constituent elements are precisely tho sameas in a Presbytery. No man is excluded from bis right of suflrage by giving this question of ropreseutation to tho' Synnd Instead of the Presbytery. If Brother Davies is-In any Bynod, I have no doubt he stands a better clisuce than any man there to bo eleeted to the "Assembly. [Laughter.] There need not be anv troubls on that score at all, ‘This Committee haven't proposed to senddown, with just a little trick or with superfcinl alter- otions, the same old overturs, We arc not m{mblu of doing such o thing as that, We think we have introduced an essentlally now . principle, Weo bave ntroduced an oblgatory rule that the Bynwd cannot clect from the ssme church - year after year, and that every Preshytery must Linve an equal chance. And, in_order to show our desire to carry out that rule, I declare that I am ready for the Assembly to adopt the amend- ment proposed by Mr. Haillday on Saturday. ami willing to liavo .that smbndment put in— speakivg: only, -however, for inyself, and not tepresentiug 'the Committee, -You remember Jthat the overturs compels the 8ynod to divide 'nt thelr meoting the Commlssloners among thy ‘sovoral Presbyterics; ond if tho 8ynodisso small thut it cannot b ropresented in every Gencral Assembly, it obliges “a rotation amoniz the Presbytories, 60 that In a number ol years aqual to tha number of the Prosbyteries i tho Bynod every Presbytery must be répresented. 1 am willing " to vote, I say, for the following amendment: At each atated meeting of tho 8ynod it shail b deternifned and announced whicl of the Presby- torioa componing it are entitled 1o furnish Conie wnirsloners to the Uoneral Assembly to hia held nost to the ofte ensuing, and to how mnny Comnlsalon. s, miulsters,or oldurs, or both, such Presbyterlos are rospectfuly entatied. ~ And fplor to sach slec. tlon of Commlusloner by the Bynod, the ilst of 1hio Preabyterien entitled to furnlsh Commiseioncrs nt that tune sball bo read, and each such Presby- tery ahall be colled on to nominate, .throngh It Foprescntative or ruprescntatives, who aboll have Deon deslgnated by it for the purnose, a3 many Comimismicnere as it s entitiod to furnlsh, ond an cquul uumber of alturnates. * This not only secures tho rotation by a per- fectly equal treatment among all the Proshy- terfes, but allows the Presbyteries to nowminate, 1 cannot sco how unything eau be falrer than that, Let e remurk that the action of this Assembly s not de.leive of this question. Tho Presbyteries will consider it agati, ‘There will bo no harm aone to tnke anocther year for thls mstter, 1deprecate basty actlon, ~ It you adopt the teat of tho report, you relleve the burden of our ontertalnment, "1 don't think - the nristoeratle feeling spokon of esists. don't_ think auy man In the Bast- ern Presbyteries, ‘who s worthy to be thore, desires to push back the smallcs Presby- terlea. Our pust hlshury, our statistical tables, our contributlona, shuw whether that i3 true or not, 1 have no sympathy with that arjstocratic feeling, if It docs uxist, Which I dv not belfeve. Yet I wish to suy that there {8 danger ahent, I the impredslon goes out that eveey overture 18 to be rejected shnnly becauso it ro- stricta tho rupresentation of the smalier Pres- byteries, there are two dangers uhead of us, The iFst I that tiids whole syetem of outertaliinent witl break down of its own welght. 'The record is that gome of “thoso Presbyicrics, who are unrepresenied beforo this Assembly and who charge it 4o this aristocrmey—that we don't feol u our souls at ull—will tull back on thelr con- stitutional rights, ami will say that cyery Pros- bytery shull pay all thy expenses of ity own omintssloners,” Then where will ‘this General Asscmbly bef Idon't say fam in fuvor of It, tut It it were proposed to some of our larger Tresbyteriea to-morrow it would meet with an aflirmutive nse, Let us look aver this wholo broad Churcli, and, whilst we magnify tho outlying Presbyteries, let us puy some ré- spect to the expericice, tho wisdum, und the Tiberality of thosu Presbvterios which fio ot the leart of the Church, {Applause,} LIk, DULLES Ald not fntond to a speech, judging that the majority of the Assembly did not want sny speechics, Apfllauae‘ Hut he had a sngges- tiun to offer. ilv would go one step In advanve of theamendment of Mr. Halliday, and put the overturo fu this torm; #Thut tho Synod aball decdure the number of persons to be elected 10 each Presbytery, and “that then 16 shall bo ‘°““““',°.“ to’ thé Presbyteries to clect thoee Lrsuns.’ ‘Tho Moderator called attentlon to the fact Ay, tlaliday's amendweut was the only thing 1t.| befory the houso. K. DURNIAN, Mz, Burnham—I will speak to that amend-, ment, 'The vbjoct of addlug Mr, Nizhtengale’s ame to thay Committes is, as { understand it, to {nwoduce a minority report whick shatl be in favor of Preabyterial representation as opposed to Synodleal répresentation. I Iavor that smend- ment for the followivg reasons: The sinaller Bynuv.h, couslating of five, who have more than fifty membors or under, In caso this 8 I:Ddl': o ent Byuod: twenty-two Presbyteries, That will gives us, Presbyterles, soveuteen fn nn{ 1 wish to show what I consider to bo the fallacy lylue at the root of this Bynodical representatiol rinciple. tirely without sny rufirewuw.luu in the Asscin- bly,” Then, i you take oneor two Presbyteries, or rather take the Synod of Tenunessee, cousist- o of four Presbyterivs, it will be eontitled to two Commnisal (bose two will belnmf. under this sch to vue Presbytery, sud It c;;;uw put to mgl‘.g 10,000 of thoss that | will tuke four years before the Presbyterics of the Synodiof Teunesseo can be pepresented in this ~ Assebly. Nuw, I wish to ask the breturen from — Tennessee whether they are sufted with that; whether they are willing to seree to that; whether ¢ 1s for the advavtage of the Church that the Presby- terles of that Synod slall stand out fu tho cold during four years, or some of thew, At avy rate. Now, take the rest—those having at least 100 or under, but over fifty. There aro thisty ty-elebit Commts- aloacrs, and stxtecu of thosg Presbyterics will be out fu the cold for sny one ?‘c;\r' aud only four- teen eutitled to represcotatives on the toors of this Asscmbly. I say it is perniclous, Take TIIE CHICAGO 'TRIBUNE ESDAY, MAY 20, 1877—TEN PAGES. 9 the Synod of Wieconsin, which hna five | reck to modify the character of the great Pres- | from each Presbytery, snd, since the smaller | terfana In the matter of German work, for they | bat it 1, . Preabyteries, It will be entltled to have | byterian Church by adopting a propasitfon | Pre-byteries eannot enlarged, ahall not the | by 1 i - atitis assurssn tho reed-sowing. Fowon, in D es. o Thoac five. remresented i | Whivit wotild. iako from the Prohlspterios tho | arger ba reduced ton basia of, aay, Ity egan long ago, and thieir soung men wero now | teara, If need be, and you shall reap in joy. nnf ane year, and wl It I8 a largo hml{A What willthe Bynod of Wisconsin sny to this over- turel I {hink we all know what the answers of the Presbsteries of that 8ynod will be. Take the case of those Bynods having 150 members or under, What are the facts in ro- ard to thosel They comprise sixty-four Pres- fiurlu and will be entitled to elzhty-four members, Inany ane yesr forty-twa will be entitled to a representation on the floor of the liouse, and tiventy-two of those will atill be left out fn'the cold. 'The next are thosa having or _under, and they number thirty- four Preabyteries with & representa- tion of nity-six, ~and in those atill Jarger Bynods twenty-cight alone fn any ona year wiil _be cntitied "to representation on the floor of this house, and six of thosc Dres- byteries stilf out in the cold. And lastly, those having #50 or under, There are three of those Bynuds,—anil 1 belong to one ol tuem, one of the largest of the Church, They have twenty- two Preabyteries and forty-four representatives, giving them two to cach Preshytes Now, In the light of this atatement, whivh [ have care- fully prepared from the minutes, I say that this acheme of S8ynodical representation s un- falr. It nas once cxsentinlly been declined by the Preshyteries, and if it ,im down in the shane of this overture, It_wiil simply e de- clinel & second time, ‘This General Assembly, notwithstanding the very eloquent and apt re- marks of Dr. Van Dyke, shoutd he a represent- ative body, and when we have a representation larzely aivl chlefly of the larger Bynods and larger Presbyterics, when we squecze out the representatives from Utah, New Mexico, Kan- sas, Nebraska, Oreron, and Pnget Bound, when thnt day comes, Mr, '.\lu«lcrnum then, sir, tho Dody of the Church, Josing its exlrcmlhu, will be but a lifeless, wretched, useless corpse, [Ureat applsuse.] M. RELLOGG asked what was tlie use of reccommitting unless thiey knew the senso of the Assembly as to whether It was In favor of Bynodical or "Preshy- (,orllll representation: Mo offered tha follow- ng: Retolred, That, while thia Assambly deeply fecla the necessity of a reduction of the representation) in the Asscmbly, we are firmly attached to Preaby- terial representalion, and wa beliove that such n plan may b devieed and carrled out as may wecure a reduced oquitable representation of all our P'res- byterics, MR, M'RNIOOT saiil the discusalon ought to go on untll the mind of the body was ascertained. o hnd come just ns atrongly attached to Preshyterial ropreschutation as any one, if the deduction could be accotnplished in "that way; but he had heen convinced by what he had read and heard that Synodleal represcntation was the only way out of the diflleulty, Mr. Brown sald tho point at lssuc was the addiug to the Commitice nman who was rad- feally np{msed to Synodical representation with a view of bringing fn the matter of Presbyterial Tepresentation. Mr. McKnizht thought it entlrely unnecessary toadd a member to make s minority repors Any ong could Introduce an alternate overture to bu rent down calling for Presbyterian repro- sontatton, Howould be purfectly satisfled to have such n one zo down with that for Bynodies ol representation, so that o distinct vota conld Do taken by the Preshyteries. But ho wanted propositions introduced and discussed,and voted on, and referred, and when the mind of tho As- sembly hind heen ascertalned, then the Commit- tee could retire and prepare thelf report. Mr. Brown wanted to know bow long that plan would take, Noone nnawered him. 4 MR, DARNES snld thocitfes had been Leard from; perhaos they would itke 1o hear from some of the out- posts, It seemed to be taken for pranted that reduced representation was absolutely necess sary. * Letussee,” antd he, When' any one proposed to alter the constitution of o body, he must produco irrofrogible nruuments, or elag the change wus an experlment. He supposed they did not propose to try experiments, Tha arguments in favor of veduction might bo re- duced to threos To equalizo . ropresentation, to expedite busiuess, aud to save tnoney, Thu proposition uuder consideration—Syuodical representation—would give as laree u body ns under the present plan, Would it expedite business! Boma of tho largest Assmbliea In the world were more pumncrous than thia, No in- stance bad beon shown whers o suialler bad, acted with more expedition, Wasn't the busl- ness now done by a few! Waasn’t most of the time taken up by n few? Weren't the reports considered n {nrlvuw and generally adopted] The samefwould be dvne 1€ the Asscinbly were composod of 300, The speakers now coulid be reduced to 100.. They would speak just s lon) in a body of B00 asn one of 700, [Bmiles, Would husiness be expedited? e thought uot, Asto saviug woney,—it was a great bug- bear, ** We cannot pay our egvenses.” Tho people will not cutertatu - us? o didn’t understand ft. Ho was inclined to think this wns o inlarepresentation of the great P'res- byterlan Church of the good Northiern citfes. lfh experience was that no people could Lo more kind than the people of Chicazu. I:\mllnuuc.] Let us ralsciwo cents o member, io sald, ond pay our own cxpenseal If they did this there were plenty of pluces where the Assembly could uu.-ul.—.wxul:rlnz-plmcs—:i- agara Falls or elsewhers [lnumhler{.-—wln ¢ they could be entertained, snd {f they went there before the summer-visitors came, they could findd cheap bunrding-places, The Cotn- niissloners were a8 humuan ns othors, aml the fact was, tho greut citles took up the thine and attention of the Assembly, 1 they met where there was not a great ¢ty they wouldn't have anything to do oxcept attend fo busineas, Bl ,] “Two vents would not be a burnden. lany Presbyteriuns spetit moro Iy ono dnf* for vigars than ‘the cxpensca of a Commissloner would come to, [Lauehter.] What was the ubject of the Assembly! In the languago of the Moderator last year, ** One great ablect of o Ueneral Assembly s to vivify tho souls of fta members, and from this founidation-head to send forth quickenlng Influcnces throughevery artery of the Chureh.” [Applause.] What dld #yly- Aty " meant Waslt slniply s figure of apeechi Jf‘n thought not, ‘fhic fact was nwf were too cold in thelr rellelous life. Elders, laymen, and minfaters, Lo had no doubt, would ackuowledee that. Anylufluence they could bring to bear upon the hearts of the peoply to vivify them was o highier consideration than any money. They vald money for foreign missions. llow were they going to ralse thut money? They up the hearts of the {woplu. 1t they were cold they woukl not, contribute, Could any Coinmissloner suy Tifs heart bad not been warmed by Hstenfng to the reports of the Home und Forelgn Aissions? ‘Thy moro meb brought under the influence of those reports tho better,—1,000 was better than 500, (Appiause.] I they wera volng to pur- sue_ beneyolent * operations throughout “the warld the hiearts of the povble nust be etirred up; and tho best way to do that was to send o larze number to the Assembly, sud let them go fiome and spread the feclings’ l[lruughmu all the arteries so that the great heart of the Presby- terlan Church would ruurond with thelr contri- butions, That was the best way to bulld up the Church, Money spent In bringing a large By tozeth worldly as well as rellglous pol u{. There was no doubt that the Fropollllnu under consideration would have a chilling effect on the small Fresbyteries on the western and sonthern houndury, DUl thuy propose to call Inthe plekets? DY it hecome s solier In the great urmy stationed at headguarters 10 com- plaln of the expents which would omable picket to bring ln bia report? He thought not, The chilliug of the outer branches of a treo would affect its bouly, and how long would the trunk romain sound and healthy 12 the brauches wero withered i The Moderator called attention to the fict that the Asscibly, Saturday, determined prutical) to luyon thotahle various resolutionsund smend. tents to the motion to rocommit Ho nske If it would not be well to act upan that motion, aud then, by a resvlution itke Mr. Kellozo's, poss upon the amendments and refer them to the Committes for consideration, It was com- plicating tho mattor by brinzing in o great wany wnattens ugon a motlon to recommit, M#, Ogden asked 1 there could uot be a vote upon the proposition to add Mr, Nightengale to the Committee without disturbing anything, + ‘I'hie Moderator veplied that that would come up on the motion to recuimntt, 3l 0ODEN sald if Mr. Nighteogule's name wos added |t wight relleve the minds of sore persons who were In doubt about the propricty of tho yeference. Putting 8 man on who represented thae idea of Presbytenal representation might cause the rerommittol without further debate. Beveral culled for the question, Ar, Davies remarked that the amendment to odd Mr, Nighteogule did not touch the difficulty must stir ut alls ‘Tho swendnient, however, wes agreed to. On motion, Elder Ogden 'was alio added to iho Commitiee, Mu, MILLER wanted to dircet attention to ona point that had been brought out. It had been assumed during tho discusslon that what the smaller Presbyte- ¢ calltug and Ughting for was the rizht seutation. The question ot issuc was bt of having a Trepresentative taken from their body to vots for represcnta- tives to the Kuumbha The overture 1o be sent down, even with tho amcadment, ouly geveto tbe Presbyterles, which, by thels poverty and distance from the place of ' mecting v Syuods, werg preveuted frow belug rep- resented, the right to nowminate, The right to. vote,the most preclous of rights. was takeu from them. He begged that the Assewbly would not v was well -m.-nt.umuddcred [T 1t was o simple matter for tho great Presby- rlght to voto for represcntatives, and thus de- swrivc thegn of all volce in the body, {Amlnul:\] e had much rather that they would pay thelr nfi" expenscs and retaln Presbyterial represent. atfon, The question was thon put on the motion to recommit, and It was unanimously sgreed to. JUDGR DRAWLEY offered the following as an * amendment: Jteaoteed, That tho entire report of tho Specin] Comimlttee on Hednces apreren lon bho N £ Tlited with Inatructions (o' prepare ani prencnt tp | AVPraciation of the Kiadop nd Ielty orinced by this Assembly, in connectlon wl(hhlhe r bresent | s 'ehd recommend their approval hy this Ase report, an aitcimate overtura in which Presbytoriat | JOM 808 FEERMEN U CREEORY L e B representation shall e preserved and yot reduce | o worthy of especial commendation: the number of Commisslonars to the Ansembiy to | 8% orthy,Of eaprein, CORMERIANERE 0 1n the o feast one-half of ita prescnt memberd. completion of 172 churches, Jocated in twenty- Dr. latflold thought that all the sugzestions | maven Statcs and Territories, and under the cara of wera to g0 without nstructious, There wore | ninty-one Presbyterien, Dusing the same perlod many suggestions, ami be did not know why | there were nriflllr,cd 113 n""“'ho” that there this one should take Ilncl!lfllm of dlh'u othera. 211; :::cne: Suniiance of mora than 50 per cent on :c:l’:é ;‘;r(ntrl‘nll;lA‘::tglbl G:Ib".— meul Wt gst the 2. The Hoard haa not been under the neceanity of Judge lirawley unddrstood that only ana see- expending one cent for Interest, while no church tlon of the report—thd first—biad Leen recom- mitted. The other 'scction was before the houee, and b(s resolution was an amendment, or 8 motion relating to the entire report. The object of it was that the action of the Assembly ;flg‘m result in something practical un the sub- jcets CHURCIL ERECTION. REFORT OF THF COMMITTER, ‘The Rev, Dr. Heaser then submitted aod read the toltowing report: The Rtanding Committes on Charch Erection lt'r)clfnlly submit to tho UGeneral Assembly the owing feport: Yoar Committee have carefully examined the re- poet of the Hoatd, and be 1o cxrere fhle bigh A han been kept in suspenze for 2 ningle day, This succesn ia largely due to the cash balance of 825,000 with which it was enabled to cominence the year, and which carrfed it over the perfod of small re- ceints nnd large disbursements, 3, The money s ready with which fo )’"E all {ts grants as soon a4 the chitrches shall faifll the pre- scribed conditions, 4. The Board rgmriu » halanco of 820,218,01 with which to hegin the new year. It ia, however, but Jurt (0 add that over 214,000 of this balance came inta the I30ard’s treasury only threa daya be- fore it closod ita report. 5. The permanent fund of (he Board has been increancd to £100,000, and Is a}l Invested in first- clans mecarities. 2 0, The Doard, with wise forccart, makes one of tha conditlons of granting ald that the chatches oiden shall be 20 Insured that In case of fire the foll amount dcnated comes back to the lloard., e Hoard has also procured reta of worke lane and cstimaten, to arslat thore who sro not abla 1o employ an architect. These are very complete, and are furnished for the small sam of $5 for each sot, This your Commlittee deem & mort Important prosision, enabling churchies that avall themselven of 3t to save larwe suma osustly paid to architects, and sometimes to Incompetent ones, to avoid mis- takes In plans, and tepecially to eecape the (oo frequent pinndor and =(n of oathidding themenives, Anil your Commiites would also noto the folloviing facts which ought to be well understood by the chnrcher at large: First—That of the groma receipts durlng the ear, Including the balance from last year, amount- ng inoll to $132,082, only 843, RikL 40, or lers than ong-hnlf, waa recelved from churchies snd In- dividual comributors, The remainder has camne 1n larze part from tho rale of Western lands, and old chirch bnfidings, snd from lepacies. But it is well known that theee nre not rellable sonrees of jncome - In thls conncction we quote from tho Hoard's repott: ** In closing this renort we must agajn remind the churchen that the support derlv- ed from ofher eotrces during the Jast two years hasing become exhausted our dependence In_the futurg must be upon thelr volunmary contriva- tlons Second—That, notwithstanding the great resnits hieved by the Board, Its gross receipts aro leas by 873,700 than those of the Prc:elllnz year. Itls manifest that hut for the extracrdinary sources of ielp, that cannot be relied upon and may fail in time of emcrzency, this sgency of tho "Charch woulll bo greatly erippled, Third=That of [;,077 churches belonzing to the Arsombly, only 2,040 have mnade contributions to this Board. Thun certalnly ought not so to be, wlien we consider the impdrtance of charch etecr tion as related to church extenslon, and the fact that our Church profesees to act upon the principie that all should give to every cause, and that year by year this general Arsembly beart- Ny commiends this Board to_the proyerful con- siderntion of the minlsiry and the members of onr churches and to all annusl and ).bersl contribus tions, 'Thero is danger that the very success of the Board may be the oceasion of faliure, whereas it ought to stlinulate the Church to furnish menns for stlll greater eficiency. Why shall not the houseless churches be alded 1n securing sanctus- riea? Thoy are all dependent upon the Home- Missfon Dioard; If they were in_hoiusce freo from Qebt they could soon become sell-mupportinz. DR. RATPIELD made the point that the report was not before the house. It had Leen referred to tho Come mittee, sud conld uot be taken up without a re- cotstderation, ‘The Moderator held that only the first part ‘was recommitted, Dr. Hatfleld—This resolution refers to the firat art. ¥ Judge Bradloy—No, sir. 1t {s that tho whole repart hie reconumitted, 7. Th Mr. Crawford dit not think the resolution | mon's could come fn, becguse 1t did not roefer to the part of the relpan pendinge. Judge Bradley modified the resolution so that 1t read ¥ the balouce of the report be recoms mitted Dr, 1otfeld sakd it was not germane to tha “halance® of the report at all. The part of the repun.mu:l which {t was germane had beeu re- committed, The Moderator deciiled tho resolution out of onler, Inaamuch as the first part of the report bad been already referred. I could come in as a aconrate resolution. 4 Jfldgu Brawloy modified it again, so that it reads Reroloed, That the Committcs on Reduced Tteprescntation be fastracted fa prepore and pre- Bent to this Assambly, in connectivn with their predent raport, on overturo in which Presbyterial representation shall bo preserved, and yet reduce the number of Commissioncre th tho Aasembly o at least one-hall of Jts present members. Elder Brown moved to lay the resolution on the table. Lost. The Rev. Mr. Laldlaw made the poiut that rrnclnuly what was contemplated by the reso- utlon hiad already been declded upon by the Alwmb](. ‘The Moderator sald the resolution had not been adopter. (Dr. Laidlaw had evidently misunderstood the vote, since he was some dlstance from the ntlntfarin. and perhiaps did not hear the question stated, : DIt MATPIELD desired to know what was to be dore In case the Committee could not aeres on any one plan whereby Presbyterial representation “might bo preserved. It lhc¥ disagreed, ahould they not repare n report! He could not say whether hey could agree, there were so many plans, and hie didn't kunw which plan would prevall, Mo thonght the whole thing should have been left :1[: ul;f Cowumittes to digest if possitie and prae- cable. . AR PERKINS enld it would be manifestly fmproper tosend o rusolution with Instructions to the Commlittee, the underatanding helne that each one who de- | Four/A—Your Commitiee would also call alred to offer a resolution to be considered by g:.';;;‘ég:‘m? Y sl et s ks the Comunlitics should offer It and Iet 1t be ro- Toquirements of the | Noard. thcre. sto & ferred. In order to save thme, Lo moved that the resolution and all others offercd bo referred 10 the Committeo without befug voted upon by the Anumhl‘y. Thu (quustfon was called for, Mr. Ketlog asked how tho Committes was to know what “authority a_resolution had, Tho object of his resolution was to flid out how the Asscmbly stood on a question, that the Com- mitteo nilht know ILs apinlon. ‘The mutlon to refer was agreed to, ELDER WOOD offered the followlnig, which was also referred: fiesolred, That each Presbytery alternate each year between a minister and” an”eldor, under tle Present upit, ENTERTAINMENT I'UND. TIIE BECOND FARLT OF THE REPONT nutber of churchen afled by it that are in debt to #nch an amount ns to threatenlthelr entire lows, —a rtate of thinus callin:z for more carc{ul acrutiny on the part of Presbyterics and a more fatnfol com- phianice with prescribed conditions of rocclving ald on the part of chiurches, Y our Committoe wouid recommend the ndoption of the folluwing rosolutione: Resolred, That we gratefully recoenize the hand of Gud in what this Board nas been able to accom- plish during the past yearin tho great work of se- curing comfortable church homes for 80 many con- Sresntions, Jtesolved, That wo numcnu( renew our repeated rocommendation of ihin worthy caun to the favor- nbie rogurd of the churches, anid requunt the Pres- Drterfus to exercizo increased ditfgence, ta the end that n liveral contribntion may be eccured from every ehurch in connectlon witiy the Assembly. Rcsolred, That the followinz-named persons be nominated to sorve os members of the Noard untll s tho year 1851: Ministers—The Rev, Joxeph ¥. s then roul a8 fulldwa: £inith, D, D.: tho v, Elljab B Craven, 1%, D, Meantime, with 8 tlew to {mmediate rellef In | {30 Jtov, Chorlea T, Sialey. Lideta—Bonjamin ¥ tho dificulties attendlng the entoriatnmont of onc | jiande.ph, Frederick G, Burntam, Jon' W, Taye General Assombly, your Commitico unanimounly | jor, Edwin F. lide; aivo, Edwin A, Packard o sgcommond e adoptlon of e followlog resoiis | yervoumiil 1wt in placaof Jotn T Crosim, de- censed: and Michard T, Cecell, M. D, To sorve lonst x‘.“’fllst‘ In addition to tho milenge aascsament, {h Freabyterion by invirucied to forward yeurly an aspessinent of 1 cent per church member fo” thy T'reannrer 0f tho Asscrubly to constitute an Enters talnment Fand, <2, That tho fund shall bo disharmed from year to year by tho Committee of Arrangements, and bo used for he purposs of meeting the expense of entortaining such Comuilssloners as aro not othors Wwiso providud for, = 3, That the Treasurer ho anthorlzed to pay tho account of the Commlitee of Arrangemientn alter 1t hins boon approved by tho Finunce Comnitico of thy Assembiy. ¢ Mr. Og'en sald he took a position agafnst thosc resolutiuna Boturday, bocause they wers ‘connected with thereport. Taken by themselves, they wero most {mportant and healthy, aud hoped they would be passed unanimously. THE NEV. A, BIULAND wanted to offer 4 resolutlon directing tho mak- ing of an lnquiry into the feasibllity aud pro- priety of anassessinent of twocentanincmbier, so that the Commissloners, coming to and going trom the Assembly, might be uhle to pay thelr own * expenses, Wierever they had met they had been accorded o glorlons reception by the fm ple. In Chicago thoy had met with a” hospltality such as Queen Elizabeth could ‘not have given to bier nobles. }A nlnum.‘ But at the samue time, they conld mu up thelr heads and malotaln thele self-ro- spect whett they paid tuele own way, Lmr plause,] If they did this, they coutd go where Loy pleasedl. Supuese representation was re- duced, If thelr prayers wero unswered and thelr expectutions realized, how Jongz would ft be be- fore, by the rowth of the Church, they would b comipelled to reduce againl I1e uiado the muzLu‘l: rofesred to fn the opouinyg of his re- ay until 1878, In place of Nathan Law, decoased. SALT LAKE CITY. The followlng supplemcutul roport was also read: Upon an overture from the chisrch of Ralt Lako Clty, retting forth the condition of sald chnrch, um{nolllluulnz the Gieneral Arsemnbly 1o direet the Tourd of Lrection to pay lta debt, stiounting to ln AT £10,670.1% your Cornilies repors se fotlows: What aympathizing with this church {n its serions embarrasement, nnd appreciating its great lmrnr- tance ay occupying sy prominent aposition in a most intereatini fleld, thls Assombly refers the averture and petition to the Board of Church Erece tion for Ita eareful consideratlon, Dr, Mallo moved tho reception and aduption of the report. £t was aceepted, and Dr, Bushinell offered an- other resolutlon In regard to church erection, but ofterwurls withdeaw it and accepted an glmlolu. shnflar ony offered by the Rev. 4. 1. mith. ‘The Rev, Dr. Wilson, Sccretary of the Com- mittee, suld that at this advanced stage of hisl- neas lie would not perll the whole subject of church erection by making o speech, ‘but would leave the matter with the Arsembly, for whore uso coples of the report had been pre- poared. fApplanre.| - THE REV. J, IRWIN 8MITID offered a resolution as Zollows: Hesolred, That tho caroful attention of churches proposing 1o bulld houses of worahip, esveclally of mieslonary chuirches and of Prowbytertal Charch rection Cominittecs, be commended to the plans anid speciilcations furnished by the Board aa suited both fo encouragy the undertaking and {0 vave, un- necessary outlay, He thoughn that it would be of Importance that such a recommendation should o down to the different Preshyterics, for it would have the offect of fnclting” them to action, It would nlha conduce to greater economy lu chiurch erece tion, The amendment was accepted by Mr, Bush- nell, and it and the report as amended wire then adopted, as also the supplementary report, Dr, Greenough moved that the sepost of the Bpecial Committeo on tho sublect of tempers ance be made the speclal onlerof the day at Dit, NATPIELD #aid the whole matter of expense had been be- fore the Comumlttee, The original proposition wag LWo cents) but on further consideration it was thonyht dr.u. wherever the Assembly met thero would be a large number of famiiles who would be very glad to entertaln Comiuissloners, One-lalf, perhaps, would be provided for in that way, Tho diticulty wus In regard to the othier | the ¢venlng sesston, 8o ordered, hul)(. 10 the Presbyteries would entertain THE REV, DH, GRALAM this’ recommendution it would create a | then offered the following: fund of 83 and that would be winplo Riesolved, That, In view of tho pecullsr mone- {ary stringency that prevailsthis yoar onthe Pacitle coant, arising oot of sn almost entife foss of crope, the rulo of the lloard of Church Erection 1hat restricts its grants to churches to 81, [ trelaxed In favor of the Synod of the Pacific, They were laboring unders great burdenon the Tacific const, During the past winter they had had scarcely any rafu, sud ‘the prospects” were that {n a great part of the Btato ot Callfornia there would an” almost entire fuilure ot the crops. They would therefore be entirely unsble 10 vurry ot flio work unless the restrictive rule was resvinded In this especial ease, Dr. Sladu thought the precedent would he a dongerpus ong, and moved to refer the mstter to the Committce on Church Erection, The Rev. Mr, Burnham thought tho remarks of the preceding speaker werw vory pertinen ‘The Committes wera In constant recelpt of such apniicationg, ¥ ‘The resolution was then referred to tho Com- mittee, to provido for ull contingencics, Whilo In tho oue cuse it would tect those whodesiro to show thelr hospltality, it would at the samu thue pro- vido for those who would not bo thus entertain. e, There was a very deep feeling on the part of the Preabyteries as to this mileage fuud, and {f the den as creased tho whole syl would be broken down, Dr, Malln moved that tho phrascology of the report be amended so aa to read, * supplement- 3l contipgent-cxpenso fund." Dr, Hatfleld was willing, on behall of the Committee, to sceept the smendment. Dr, Malln reparked that if “mileage ' were retalned they woutd have to explaln what was meant by gtting aunother cent for entertalu- went. No objection betng made, the rvsolution was 80 cuaoged. Tho Rev, Mr. Bhiland sald, with all deferenco to Dr. Hatfleid's oploton, he was very much AVHAID THEY WOULD BE DISAFIOINTED, GERMAN WORK, PKOP, COUSET, of Dubugye, Ta., then took the foor to plead for the cause of the work among tho Germans. He contended that It -had been demon- sirated that Germans In tho West wero williug to support Presbyterfan churches and to attend them, In his Presbytery there were nino churches, and a school had been ca- tablished [n Dubuque which pad sent out thisty- seven young mien to preach the Gospel. ‘Theso churclies had contributed §25,000 to tho Theo- logical Semiuary, Thess churches had also con- tributed liberully to the Home and For elgn ' Mission Funds, and were by no means backward In affording asslst- ance to other benevolent organizations, The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Clrist wus not nationsl, but unlversal, sud the Germans were suxious to hear jt. They asked the Asscinbly to pray for thew, A great many German floarlu were annually lost to the Gerwan work, for they went over to the Eugmh-:poa&lng churches. terlan Chuseh to ralsc two cents s member, Howuever, ho would not inslat upon lis motlon, but really would like to bave tho senso of the Assoinbly o it. Dr, Gricr thooght there ought to bea fund of at least $10,000 for the purpose of eutertuln- ment, and bo hoped two vents would be fu- ried, .cDr. Hutficld remarked that it was estimated Commissioners could be entertatned for $10a weck. Mr, Wilson did not thiuk onc cent would weet 1be desire of the Asselmbly or the object pro- vored, A fow would be entertuined at hotels, but the rest would be “sent out for their bos- fllluluy." He could see many reasous for a igher assessmont; and i ono was nade it shiogld bo large cuough to mvldv for the eus tertainment of tho entire Applause, Tobe sure they would alwe) takeu care ol by thele fricnds, but be walited thewm to hold tieir heads up. The smeudient was then voted down. ‘The questiog recurred on the motion to sdopt thoreport, and it was sgreed to, very few vols gz in tho newative. TUB HEV, D. J. M'MILLAN presented the following, which wus referred to the Commlttee: : That {n like manoer as_the Scnate of the Unlicd Btates couslsts of two Senators from each State ‘without regard to size, populstion, or wealth, s0 way pot Asecmadly cousist of two Civr =sloncrs TOR RBY, DB. POST thought that the subject was a wost Important oue. The forefzu population would have s great eflect upon thie future of this countryyaud their Feliilous lntercats stiould bo looked altee, Tho Mthodist Church was far ahead of tho Presby~ contributing “to the erection of new churches, The cause was a great one, and he trusted that the Asscmbly would doall they eonld to help fton. Too many Uerman-speaking minlsters were not sufficiently acqualnted with the En- f"’h Jangunge to ho able to usa it In the pulpit. But the new generatlon which was apringing un woull be essentislly American, he speaker believed that the children born In this country TEXPERANCE. The conflict with the giant of intemperance has sesamed a new form and canght & new 1ife daring the past yoar. Never before haa this reform atood upon sanure & baels. The movement, which in even now aweeping with amazing force aver )argo sections of our conntry, 1s & movent of Chnstiars, and taxes for fix principle the ineMcacy of any refarmation that slops ahortof a change of heart, The fallan and tho tempted aro called n o of Ucrman parentage cried In the English lag- | trust, not in resolutions, not fn pledges, nnrpgunlny guage, [Laughter, wor save that of the Atmighty Ssvlor, Union to Dr. Dulles moved that the report be adopted | Uhrist, not aclf-will, 14 held itp 83 the only sate [ efnge. \Whilst the tens n}l thonsands” who sccept the reform may not all fnily apprebend thesc traths, it s & grand step inadvance that, these trutha are held op before them. There can be no question that many among the multitudes who are renonncing tho nae of intoxicating drinks accept the greater deliverance offered fn Christ, ‘Whilat this reform ia fsr from universsl, and the evil which it combats s doplored aa unheeded ia many quarters, it Advances are such as to fll ua with thankfainess and hope. . 1t in & noticeable fact that this temperance ware moves with most power over thoss districts in which the revival work has been most marked, viz. ¢ Feuneylvania, New York, Ohlo, Indians, Ililnofs, and Southern Michigsn, The religlons quickens Ingn of communities pr!s\lflzd the way forthe tem- perance rejorm on Christian principles, TUB 8ARDATH-8CHO0L, In no point is progrean more manifeat than in the Batbathi-achool work of the Church. From almost every Prosbytory como expresslons of high satis- taction at the” strenethentnz of this armnof the Clitrch’s power. It is not the meee Incrosse of the number of thosa brought into the schools that {s emphasized #0 much as the elevation of the entirs work. Pastors and gessions aro mora fully swake 1o tho fact that the Church msy here resch and bless tha young, Officers and cacfiers manifest a now sense of their reaponsibiiitios as teachers of God's trnth and onder-shepherds of sonls, Teachera® meetinga are more numerous and better conauncted, Lesrons are zealonsly studfed. The Jibie is critically examined, ‘o8 - well 84 devotionally meditated upon, The art of teaching I studied, and normal cii formed to fit teachers for their datler. ‘e fin teue relatlong of the Lath-school to the Church on the increane, Whilst much remains to be dons in this directlon—in [mu:llce——ll 15 now widely ad- mitted that the Sabbath-schoal is an integeal pact of the chargo 1aid upon the ression, so much so sy 1n the prayer-meeting or the church service. Thers 1 need, howaver, that this gr!n:lplo be kept cleats 1y before the churches untll the practice be mads tw conform to the prinelple. In {H anather (:nlnl in gul"{‘lem;:ldnnca noted, that I« {n the study of the Bhorter Calechism, The narratives of several Prembyteries make rpo- cifie mention of the lncrense of the number of Babbath-rchiools In which this honored ** form of eound words ** le made s regular branch of stady. The immense number of coples of the Calechism rold by our Hoard of Publication, and the popaiare ity of'ita Eabbath-school peetodicals, in which the Catechism Is prominont, confirm the lm;rnmon made on this point by the atives, Our Sabbath- achools, daring the year past, have proved fraftfat nurscries to the Church, multitudes of thele pupile having been recelved to full communion. RENEFICEXCE, ‘The Christian principle of -the peoplo of our Clurch has been sevuroly tested by thie fnanclal rovernes of the year, and hes stood the fest smid trinls that have preeeed hard upon many,—the rich aa well a8 those in homble circumetances, Charche worship has been maintalned not only, bat onr yas rioos beneficent and misslonary entorpriscs careled and printed in the appendix to the minutes. ‘The Rev. Dr. Bergli felt the greatest intorest in the work -mnnfi liis people (tho Germans). He belioved sometblog coulil be done for them. e had stood stde by side with Amcricans dupe ing the War, and he” wanted the Amerlcans to help the Germans In the wav of salvation. Thi{y aliared & comman belef in'the Lord Jesus Christ, The speaker went on to point out the intimate connection between the German and English reformers, THE REV. MR LAMPE #n) ho was an Amerleanized tierman, and felt deep Intercat {n tho report. e fully belleved that the Chafrman of thhe Committeo had put in =oud work un the preparation of the report, but e couid not agree with the conclusions which had been arrived at, 1t was proposed o create two theological seminaries to educate German clergymen for the ministry. {le thought that any plan which ook towards keeping the Germans distinct was an crror. In New York it was aimost fmpossible to reach the Germans, for they did not desire to hearthe Gospel, efther in Uerman or Enelish, Tho speaker held It was much better to fncorporate the Germans with English-speaking congrega- tlons. A German hiiosclf, he olways preached in Enalish. It was Impassible to ‘carry on 8 church successfully unless the young “people were retained n ity and the interest of German panstors would be to keep the young fotks of the church In ft. The (Jnrmnxrlnmfmzc should be mnde subordinate, the English dominant. Te wishied to second the motlon on the sypoint- ment of 8 committee, believing that the pro- pused new reminaries were unneceseary, Let preaching be in English, pastaral work being done in German, and German praver-meetings Nield. In this way the Germaus coula bebrourhit nto American churches, ‘The report and recomineidations were adopt- ed, and THE REV, GEORGE J, RERD offered the following: Resolted, Thatn committee of five beappolnted, composcd of bersons not connected with any tieo- loflul neminary, whose daty 1t rhall be to take into consideration the location, number of stu- dents, funde, snd whatever els¢ relstes to the working-power of the two Germun theolozical reminaries of oue Church, and report to the nest Goueral, Assembly whether fv {8 desteable and practicable to nnite thore two Inatitutions, or to merge them Into rome other seminary, and, If so, 10 report such a plan for such anfon. Dr. Knox belfeved that the proposcd consulta- tion would result in ‘{:ml, but that vo changes would be recomimended, TILE BBV, J. PROTUINGHAM was unwilling that any committee of investiea- tion should be appointed by the Assembly. He | forward without scrious diminution, That dld not belfeve that any consolidation of semi- | there should - be — any step backward naries wos possible. The Germnus were morg | Wo mourn, That any bLackward step tenacivus than even the tost pertinacious | B n 8 & pecoslty is ot true. ne o We arc able to do vastly more lan we have dono for the work of Christat hume and abroad. Bot we must not permit our knowleduo of the delin- uency of many who profess ta_have given all to God ta blind us to a manlfest strengthoning In the «Charch ot large of the principles of benevolance, In these ** hard times " thousands have ahiown the love they bear to the Kingdom by self-sacrificing elfts. Even diminished contributions have been eloquent with the earncatness of the givers. . Now charchea have been bulit, and debts have been cut down or extinguished. Parsonages have been erected, Presbyterians are pressing the churchea to **ill every column in the minutes,™ and tho ‘Amcrican theologinus on the polnt of doctrine, and it would be finpossible to combine the New- otk and the Dubuque theologies. fe wonld say nothlng about the fact that the hodics wers already organized, but would ehwply point out that the ~ Dubuque Bcminary was ongan- fzed and supported by Germans, who looked upon it os’ thelr own, and who wouwld oppose any ottempt ot fusion. The Duburgue Seininary was Jocated in the very cen- treof the great “Genman population of the Northwest, aud any assimilation with the East was impossible. Ie protested against the ap- number 1a growing of those who ald eac! pointment of the Ympuu-d committee, whose commrnd!fim by‘lh: ml\uembly.‘ \‘v’llhh f:::l: operations would be uselcss aud .ecxpensive. | to regret fn’ the supinencws aond world- ‘This branch of the work was passing through a ( liners = of rouitiiudes within our fold, crisis, and shouli] not be interfered with, thers ia mo which 1o rejoice, re in and for which tu thank God in the record of the b:f‘lfleeuo of the Fresbytorian Church for tho year past. The Rev. Mr. White trusted that the pro- posed amendment would vhss. In his experi- cnee German theologlcal untes preached fn the English tongue. If they bad a German con- stltuency, well and good. Elder Hirown moved to lay the resolution pro- Hnsc:i 88 00 ameudment on the table. o or- ere STATE OF RELIGION. TRPONT OF TIE COMMITTER ON NARRATIVE. Dr. Dulles, Chialrmanh of the Committee on Narrative, rend the following report: Annual narrative of the etate of relizion within thie boundnof the Presbyierian Church In tho United States of America. The Cominittee to whom the Aesembly lins re- ferred the Prevoyterlal nareativen, which eive the listory of a year of labor, toll, and progress over ane broad Chiurch, would report that their task bhas been full of interest, und full aléa of chieer for those who love the Kingdom of Chrl-t, PINANCIAL DUsTHERS. Tho rear covered Ly thewe narratives ham beon marked by a dégree of financial _dlstreas unknown " to this generation. Not In one or two forms_of actlvity only, but In many, s thl« presenro been aorely folf,” ' Prostrations 1 great interests, such as ¢oal and fron, shriukagoe fn the supposed values of the properties of large cor- ;mrmlun-. reverses to trade and checks on manu- Betnres, with tho dlstress to wechsnics and lnbor- cra which necessarily accompany these deraugo- ments, have cauxod widespread distrods, whilst some uf the acricultural reglond of our land have been devastated by the loctet, THE WOIlK NEPORR TS, 1n the retrospect, 8o briefly given, thoro {8 much to thrill the Christlan's beart with geatitude, to awaken his hope, 1o kindle his enthusinam, Tho berole endnrance of true men, _tho victorien of the Gorpel, the progress of tho Church, combine to uicken his expectation of thai Flnrlm day when the Kingdome of this world shall have become tho Kingdoms of our Lont and His Christ. But, withe bating ono jot of faith or hope, wo must ten an _cxultation too sauguine. Much has been done, bot mora romaine 1o do. The bast wo have, and we-address ourselves ta the futuro and thu work befcre ue, In onr own lsnd unvodly massos cnvelap ihe charcbes, 1f tenn of thousanda of converts have Leen gained, bun- dreds of thnnsands remain to be gafned. Vice in fta myriad forms, materisllam, akepticiam, and an Inert” maselve worldliness, resist the appeals of (iod and truth, _Oar popnlgtion Is increasing, Oor fronticrw move Westward from the East, nod Enet- ward from the Weat. New flelda call incossantly Isrger cxpenditure of meams and men. , our chnrches stand like littlo flocks amid vaat hostlle massos demandlng reinforcoments of prayer, of labor, and of our cholcost sone and daughters. (reat as have been the hlessings of tho }llel 34 2 Church of Christ, wo may not rost, If. or the moment, we halt 1o survey the:gronnd over which we have come, once miors lot us atand shoulder to shoulder and move forwsrd, For nonc of ua will the confiict be Jong ne snldiers of Christ. We ‘*nichtly pltch our moving tent a dsy's march noarer home, " Daring the past year clg:ty-nmu of the ordatned minlsters of our Church.have rosted from thetr 1a« This condition of affairs Liaw borne Loavily upon | bors. We. too, ahall soon hear tho Master's call. our churches. The nhlm{‘ of mauf of them to | Ti) then let ux gludly, patlently, trastingly, lov- suport thelr pastors has been diminisbied, | ingly, wo forward, looking unto Jesus, the Captaln llome misslonarios, as well as pastors, | of oursalvation. lisve been cammpelled to choose between a suduction of salaries already too small, and tho foreaking of thelr_ ficlds, whilat wome ' cougregtions have found themselves unable to maintadn the rervices of the sanctuary, ond have disbanded or closed MINISTERIAL ONITUARY. ‘The Rev. Dr. Ilatlleld then read, ns a part ot llm' rf rt, the miufatorial obituary of the year, aa folluws: thelr houses of worslip, Taane ¥, Adama(il, R.), dled at Norwich, N.Y., SIHUTUAL PIOGRERE. Presbytery of Cayni sged 74, Nov, 23, 1870} To the question, **\What bas been the spleitual | John Arnot (I 'It.), cllosburg, Cedar progress of this year of friali™ we return a joyful | Ravids, Apell, 1877% Willlam Atwood ) Hig auswer, The Lord bath done great things for us, | Flats, N. Y., Chemung. 63, April 11, 1877¢ Yoho whercof we are glad, 1le hath flled our mouth | Willlam Baynes (If, R.), [ludson, Mich., Monros, ; Wit laughter and” oar tungus with wloge | 77, Jan. 11 18773 Willlam 3. Bird" (L 1), ! juz. Not sinca - tha revival of 1Kf Woodburn, 111, Alton, i, Aprll16, 1877; George and rolled In & wave v, , Byra- £, Doardman (W, ©.), Cazenovls 1873, cise, B0, Keb, 7, Wiliawm T. Dreckineldze, 1t 1s obvlous At no bric? report can indlvidus DD, (8. 5,), Pleasant 1), Mo,. Osage, 73,1 the spiritusl history of each’ I'tesbytery, or even | Dec. 26, 1876: Mattuew C. Brotson l!‘.a. faricol Synod, stretehing pa they do over vur broad coun-: | N, Y., Troy, b}, June 7, 1470; Calob Burban! 1ry from the Atlantic to tho FPacltc, and dotting | (IL 1), Stamford, N, Cloveland, Bi, Oct, 5, forelien lands from Japan to Western Africa, Yet | 18705 Dlise Hlurnap (P ‘C.), Molrs, N.' Y., St the aallent polnts which rharacterizo the year may bo glven, aud first we noto 1t as A YEAR OF HEVIVAL, tlve after nareative reports ** Joyful prog. r or ‘‘large additions,” or ‘‘a “year-lony blesalug," or “*revivaly in seven churches,” *‘in nine charches," **in eloven church lawrence. 74, Aug. 8, 1 Kamucl Wobster Tueh (.}, Binghamton, N, Y., Uinghsmton, 70, March 41, 1877; John Clancy (il.e lL;. nectady, N. IB, 83, Sept, 9, 1874 Il B, Cunnipgham. 1. D. (H. 1), Ashland, « Waoster, March 23, 1 71‘ Jonathan Cross (W, C.), Nowsrk, 0., Zonesville, 18, 1830; Abi 73, Dee, or ‘‘large additions in almost every church ner Dewitt (1% ), Troy, N.Y..'l‘m{.fl)‘ Whilst theee special works of grace have not been | April 17, 1877; Willism T, Dickson (Prin. }, Wesl unknown In any part of the coniutry, or confined to | Sunbury, Ps.. Dutler, ¥eb, 7, 1 Jose) 3 American Presbyteries, the largest biessings bave | Edwa 0,, been recelved tn Presbytories within the States of New York, Penuaylvania, Ohiu, Indlana, Winols, Michigan, and lows. It in duo to listoric truth 1o record the lnstrumentality of evangellsts, both [ nd, 58, Oct. 17, 1870; Caleb W, Finloy (Il 1. ), London, 0., Columbas, 80, April 1877t Gustavus L. 4 (Ev)), Clevelaul ldl! 13, Foster (1), Lapeer. Mich., Saginaw, 88 o 1870, Edwia P Kulton (P.), ap, P, Iny and clerical, I sone of theso awakenlngs, In | ster, 30, Dec, 4, 18703 Joseyh 8, Gailagh Chicago and Jis vicinity especially, fhi evangel- | }t.), Bloomfeld, N, J., Nowark, 75, istic labore have been followed by blessed reenl and glorione sdditlons tu the churches, But it te equally dus to truth to put ft uoon record that —aven fa this year of cvangelical activity and suc. cess~the vast inajority of the rovivals reported to Thu Asserably bave occarred under {he Jabors of W77; Btephen Z. Goctchins (1, R.), 1L, ‘Sehuyler, K0, Nov, 8, 18763 Ang i£.'1%,), Hirandon,' Mich,," Detrol si0{ John Oray (11, 1 muag, 77, Jan, 31, I Ry, row G Clinton, Ut John dloy, -8 the settlod “minlitry of the Charch. Lot 48 be b, 18705 aridley, known that God blessed tho lavors of 1laministery, | (WC C.), Renoshs, Wis, Milwaukee, 70, 1R70; Hrilliant 8s may b the succcases of the evangels | HobertJd, Hall (H, IL{ Oxford, O., Chillicothe, fut, tiod fputs honor upou the pastor. Thestcady, | 710, Uct.. 30, 18773 DI fis 1, lamiion (W. C.) intellizent. carnest, self-forgetiul lubore of Chriat's | Pompell, jlltll., Baginaw, July 22, 1871 Al inl Lring, in the e run, the fulloet aa well | dom C, Harding (8. ©.), Indisnapolie, Ind., lol- ay the surest barvest, Whilat rejolcing Inthe gova | ston, Nov, 25, 1870; Grosvenor W, Heacock, 1. wrought by extrsordinary ageucies, yet for the b.). Buffalo, N, Y., Buflslo, 70, May o, growth and conservation uf thio Chufcn we may, b, b, Hdl‘nulylo. lluv!fi . D, (Prot. ), Crawi KEwa et rely. waier God, upon ts reuiatly | Tnde, Crawfordsvile, 70, Mareh 10, 1477) Wiliata Srdatued and seiiod migtstey, S} D itoward, Dy D (P, ares 16, 173 Whlions HEALTUYUL GROWTH burg, 02, B ‘Thowas P, Jant (1. ra, G2 Bopt =3, 15 T Uhiladelphia, Pa:, Lackawanns, 82, Do 9 But It Is not only from Presbyteries (n which C. Folion it S0 | Tidt: Mofaneinon® dhcobus, b &Lq_:umluur_;':. rovivals of roligiun have been striking thal good news comes (o ud. In many vthers there has been 1 y, Va., Plttsbure, 00, L. L8, H a biealthful growth scarcoly leas desirable, ~ Addi- | Jobho D. Jonew (i1 IL), Pells, Is., Dea Moines, tlous to the comnmunion-rull have hwen moderate | 1870; John It Jones (S, 8.), Aroones, Kan., in number but steady in thele uccretion. Somne ro- | Emporia; lichard (8. 8), L-ulnfl. Mlich,, cord be tralning of youny Christisns to usefuluces | Buy lulw. 78, Jan. 2, 1877 Jon L. Keboo (8. In tho Church, soine speak of a growth in fami) H.E Albaoy, N, Y., Oteego, 45, religlon, somo of the clevation of morale, un maoy of & development of fngeuilty and activity in modes of doing good to those ont of Chrlst. This ingenuity of Chrletian enterprise is ouo of the . Nov. 8, 18783 Gk i), | Batbrviite. Tud.. Penn Ran, '8y ning, ufort Ladd (EY. ) 3 771 Jacob Little, Joseph 1. Kent 30, an, 20, 1677} ferory. No strikiug pointa of the year's reports. It does not 78, March 19, 18 it h'ie‘ll w:rlon-lg Cuu'&r%llllul blessiugs, | 1, D, (H, 1t.), Wabash, Ind., Fort Wayne. 81, but seeks {n every way to cheer and 1ift up the | Dec. 17, 1870; Robioson B. Lockwood (I i), poar, tha {guoraal, and the viclous, Of the varied | Mt Veraon, O., Muncle, AI?. 13, 1s78; Johu C, modee §n which 1his desiru to do sometbing for | Lord, . 1) (P. Ew.), Buflalo, N, Y., Baflal Christ and the Jost 1s_manifest, none is meutivned | 71, Jan. 41, 1877; Joseph McElroy, D. D, ( 80 frequently and so emphatically as that of New York, New \’fllkh Bupt, 16, 1870; WOMAK'S WOLK YOI WOMAN, McKean (M. I cotch ~ Urove, la,, Cedar Full of loving deaires to serve liim from whom | Mapl 82 pt. 9 1876: Robert s0 _many blesstvgs Aow to them, the daughter, | McMallan dr ). Cincinoaty, Bhensugo, and wives, and mothers of happy Christinn homes | 44, May 24, 1870; Milton McMilian (8. 8.), Lex- ary comuinlog all over the Church (o give Chriat | Ingwn, 0., Wooster, fl‘llmu 1D, 18787 Ass and His love toall within thelr reach, aod es- | Merser (Il.‘li.), Gienov Y., Zsnesvilla, % -mu{ to the daughters of orrow and heatbeu- | Uct, 22, 16703 Allen D.'Mei 1L R. ), Aubura, Join f¥ithout etepping beyond the sphera of a | Ky., Loalsviile, 80, March & 1677; Selomon §. sefined Christian womanhood, they are making | Milea (IL It.), Glbson, I, Peoria, 81, Oct. lhrlrpuwu]n&nycllnd infi:hhl: nato the endd | 1870; Thomas 8. M) Gosport, 1nd., of the earth. ~ Wo rejolce fu thelr good works and | Vinconues, 60, Det, 7,1870; Willlam J. Monteath bid them God-wpeed, (i M), Lapéal, 1o Ter., Orugon. 81, et FOUEIUN PRESBYTERIZS. 870; John C. Murgan % H.), Nsples, N. Y., The few uarratives from out Presbyteries in | Steuben, 88, Sept. 19, 1870; Austin U. Mora (W, foreign lands which have bevn recsived are so la- C.), Genevi, N, Y., tarosting adto cause regrel (bst mora bave uot | Cia rles H, Nourso Sl‘u.)l.zannr&wwn. D.0., been forwarded Lo tha Assembly, Prosperity | Washiwgton City, 60, July 1570} Isaac Oakes snd Awakenlngs gro reported in Aha{'flub,urlu of | (H. !?.')K,‘nundn: N.'Y., Rocbester, 81, Jaly d, Slam, Niugpo, Fo da Janerlo, aud Orwmuhlrll 1876; Charlvs 1L Pl (Ev.), Watsaka, well a4 in our usslons in Mexlco and b{fll. he { 1il., Bloowington, 5 1877; Hugh *listle churches in Slam Lave received sn lucreaso of Putten - (H. incetan, lod., 44, and of 75 per cent to their membership, : 70; Clacdes IL The Nestorian churches of the plains of Orvowish B.), New York, New York, 45 Jan. 24, of atriking lotereat and | 1877; Martia AL Post, D. D. sro rejolclng in revi: pax .'Inml t doex us good to read that in Dakota rcabjtory, wicro uing out of twelve pastors are Indians, though scourged by the locuats, woney had beeu rafxed snd the Rev, Gray Cloud scat ay 3 wilerdonary (o toe wild Slou, . The Assembly, while rejolciug’ with * theso churcles, abroad Lozac, that have been (8. 8.), ansport, et s R 11, 1670 Adoloh Taho, il lluion, Noveiiber, ‘xg_-m; Willuzh . Rusne (W. Ci)y nolis, ew Orleans; Niibiaon Kea0ul (e, bs Callfornia, Mict. ,Montoc, 75, June 18, 1870; Ezes Bcovel (H. R.). Bauz tuck, Mich., Syrucuse, 70, 1874; Jamea M. Shaw ¢ ] especially favored o t yeur, would scuda ( 31, 1876; Robert Shupsvn (W, Palestine, LI Sord ot kol chece 15 thojs who aru toiing | daucon; Menry . Biith, D. B, Lk . (Piof, 5y atlently 1o bopu. Brethren betoved, yout lubor | New York, New York, I, 1477 Samodl rnnaunululullnol.ord. Lo harvead may tazey, | K. Sasud (W. C.). Klckwood, Tl