Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-05-19
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE G. P. CHURCH.
[REroRrED FOR TIE UNION AND AxEn1cAx.l
ORcAsrzArros.

| orator, oelng absent, tne opening W."
preached by Rev. Reuben Rurrow, D. d., at the
close of which, the constituting prayer was offered
by Rev. C. p. Reed After a recess the roll
was made out by the Stated Clerk, and the As.
| sembIy was organized by the election of Rev.
M. II. Bone, Pastor Of the church in Nashville
Moderator, and R. G. Ewing and Rev. N. ]. Fox
Clerks. A committee Of three was appointed to
assist the session of the church, in making ar.
rangements for divine worship, and the house ad-
journed till Wednesday morning.
There were one hundred commissioners pres.
eat at the opening, representing Presbyteries
from Philadelphia in the East, to Independence
Missouri, in the West. They present a truly fine
and imposing appearance, and will compare favor.
ably with any deliberative body of men we have
ever seen. ri. b
SECOND Day. sa1 -
-s- Wednesday, 10th inst
The Assembly, after the calling of the roll, re-
prayer. After the religious exercises, the usual
committees were announced by the Moderator.
A motion was then made to adopt the Manual
proposed for the church judicature as the rules
for the government of the house. Upon this mo-
ton quite an interesting conversational discus
sion sprang up, in which Rev. J. White, Judge
Howry, Rev. VIM. Ralston, Judge Green, Rev.
DR.. Burney, Judge Ridley, Rev. G. w. Mitchell
and several others took part. 1t was contended
on the one hand, that the Manual had been adopt
ed by previous General Assemblies, ard that it
was unnecessary to adopt it again. On the other
hand it was maintained that every General As
semby was an Independent body, and that no
previous Assembly could adopt rules for one SUBJ
sequent. A motion of Judge Howry, to lay the
motion to adopt the Manual on the table, was
carried, on the ground that it was already in
force.
A memorial was then presented from Tennes-
see Presbytey, concerning an issue between
that and the Memphis Presbytery, which on mo-
ton was referred to the committee on Overtures.
An important document, on the report of the
Board of Pub LEGATION, was presented by the mod
orator, which was referred to the committee on
Publication.
A report was presented from the Assembly's
Board Of Trustees, which was received and filed
The committee on Sabbath Schools, reported,
in which every minister in the church was recon-
mended to preach a sermon on the subject during
the year. Also, measures to secure full statisti-
cal information, concerning the condition of Sab
bath Schools in the church. And further a rec
ommendation to have the church catechism pub
liseed in simplifed form for the use of children
in Sabbath Schools. Upon this latter recon-
mendation, various remarks were made by Rev.
DR.. Porter, and Rev. HI. A. Hunter, in which it
was contended that the catechism should be stu
died in our Sabbath Schools, that all the other
denominations teach their peculiar doctrines in
their Sabbath Schools, and that Cumberland
Presbyterians should do SO too. Rev. VIM.
Ralston, Rev. w. B. Watterson and Rev. ]. G.
White opposed the simplifcation of the cate
chism, and inclined to the opinion that as their
Sabbath Schools were all conducted on the plat
form of the American Sunday School Union,
they should not introduce their catechism into
their schools, but teach it to their children at
their homes. The report was finally withdrawn
by the committee for improvement. ..
The committee on Missouri Synod reported
which was adopted
A resolution was introduced referring to the
death of Revs. James Porter and Thomas Cal
houn, two Of the fathers of the Cumberland Pres.
byterian Church, and recommending that SER
mon on the subject be preached sometime during
the present session of the Assembly, by Rev. DR..
Porter, which was adopted.
The House then adjourned till tomorrow NOR
ming, 8 o'clock.
THIRD DAY.
After the half hour spent in religious exercises,
the minutes were read and revised A report
from the Trustees of Cumberland University, was
received and read, in substance as follows: Va
cancies in the Board had been filled by the ap-
pointment of Capt. Jno. w. White and Rob..
Hatton, Esq. The Agent for abandonment of
the Theological Department had taken subscrip-
tons amounting to SIs,l94, and cash about $780,
The number of students in the Theological
Department is in all Thirty-Sir. A library has
been commenced.
The committee on Overtures made a report in
reference to the issue between the Tennessee
and Memphis Presbyteries. The report declares
the action of Memphis Presbytery in receiving
into full fellowship, Jno. A. Dewoody, while under
SUSPENSION AZ SliO AShhSoSSS iCoDJ NC uI-
constitutional, and consequently, null and void.
The report, on motion, was laid on the table till
Friday morning.
The committee on Sabbath Schools, again
presented their report, in revised form, which
was adopted, and on its suggestion, committee
was raised to prepare chatechism, for the use of
children and Sabbath Schools. Rev. DIR. Bur-
ney, Rev. n. Bird, and Rev. J. n. Edmiston
were made that committee.
The committees on Arkansas, Colorado, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, and Sangamon Synods reported,
which were received.
Revs. Milton Bird, A. freeman and David P.
Glenn, were appointed Trustees in the Assem-
blys Board.
| An explanatory resolution offered bv Judge
Green was adopted, by which rules in the Manual
were made laws for the government of this and
subsequent Assemblies, until repealed or abropa-
| ted.
| A preamble and resolution were offered BY
Rev. J. B. Logan. of st. Louis, on church exten.
sion, and adopted, and committee consisting Of
Revs.J B. Logan, Joel Knight, Hon. Judge Greer
Hon Judge Ridley and U. Z. Kenndy was ap
pointed TO take the matter under consideration
Saturday, l0l 4. NJ. was fixed as the hour fol-