The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-10-26

District, some two or three weeks since.
The last issue Of tho Due Vest Zeleseope
has a glowing (but not minute) account of its
proceedings, which is the first we have been
able to get. AS our space is exceedingly
limited we give only such extracts as pres
e"t the most important features of the pro-
ceed'"gs. The Telescope says the meeting
was pretty full and quite pleasant one :;
and proceeds -
Inc lhgathcrng Of members commenced
several days before the time of mc.,iur
| lhe greetings of brethren were generally
over; and strangers had become somewhat
accustomed to their new lodgings before
the Sabbath.
liie Sabbath was II high,tlay for old Cc-
der Spring. At an early hour the living
masses come rolling up until the older cit,
izens were forced, no doubt, to think of the
days OF "auld lang svnc." Such q crowd
has not been seen ut Cedar Spring for twcn-
~ Years, at least, it was thought.
here was another circumstance in that
days exercises, whicl, connected !, with thc
past, and stirred the memories Of the c,b.
ers and mothers: Dr. John r. Prcsslu mus
IN Mc PulpL. Over twenty Years 400 he
was the Pastor at Cedar Spring, anil had
come back, at the request of the lambs of
MS t"r'ncr flock, to revisit the scenes of
both his natural and spiritual birth; to tread
again the field Of his early labors and to
receive such Il welcome from old and younr
's rarely falls TO the lot of man in this cold
and selfish world. OF course he occuricJ
'hc pnlpt on Sabbath morning. And with
the plainncss and simplicity characteristic
OF truly great man he preached Christ
and him cruciIied; taking for his text.
I'VE would see Jesus"
NO man, we presume, ever cnioyed the
confidence and the love of Il people in 4
higher degree than did John T.. prcssly. 0e
received the title of Doctor some wears
after he left tlcn) while Pastor of the uni
ted congregations of Cedar Spring and
Long Game. No higher proof of this could
be given than the reception they gave him
on his return.
The Synod convened on Monday. and
was opened with an appropriate and excel
lent sermon 10y the last Moderator, Rev. /.
Mcdonald, Of Chester Dist, S. c. Rev. J.
y: Chalmers, of Anderson, S. g., was chosen
Moderator. The principal part OF the b,,s;-
ness WAS OF Il routine car;,ctcr-iust such
us is transacted every year; and as the
Minutes III full will appear in the Tccscopc,
us well as in pamphlet form, as soon as the
Clerk can prepare the copy, we will not
attempt synopsis of the proceedings here
There are one or two items, however it
may be proper 10 notice.
On tha Su1,ioct r,f J-n;o, .l,..
| Delegates from the Synod Of South Caro-
lima present, no direct account was had.
,, The Committee on l'saImody, how ever, were
directed 10 attend the approaching meeting
OF the Synod of South Carolina, and to
propose cooperation with them in securing
! version OF the Psalms that would be ac-
ccp.ablc to both bodies. This was regarded
l" Practical measure that might lead to some
good result.
Secret associations received their share of
attention. All previous action in regard to
! them was disahnullcd and 4 sci of rcsolu-
lions, which were considered milter aud less
Objectionable than those of former years
were adopted; large minority voting
against them. A Protest was entered against
the action in the premises, and signed hv a
number Of members. To answer this pro-
test committee was appointed hy Synod
Whether the resolutions that were adopted
will answer the purpose, we think is to hc
doubted. We, however, were not among
the proesIants. Although we had no con
tidence in them as a finality OH the subject
we were willing toagivc them trial. We
humIly submit, at the same time, it is the busi
ness OF IN Ecclesiastical Body TO make laws
TO speak i'll the tones of authority. And
whenever she is not prepared to dcnounce
an evil and to forbid its existence in the
Church, she should keep her lips closed
Much of the trouble that mars the peace
OF the Chucrli arises from lcgisating on sub
jecls not clearly within the province OF the
| Church. If u connexion with secret associ.
ations is clearly sinful, forbid it; if not,
say nothing about it. Leave individuals,
Ministers and SESSIONS, to do as they think
best.
The Board of Foreign Missions was d.
rectel to inquire whether itwould be agree
able to the A. r. Synods in the North,
that we should labor with them in the East,
and If soto send the only man that has
volunteered to 60 on Foreign Mission to
the field. Rev. "A. Ransom, as he stated on
the f1oor of Synod, is willing to- 20, on GER
tain conditions. His wife has .uobly voluntss
teered to. accompany shim.-We hope4that
the God of Nations will open Up thew
for them, andwe believe He will, Let the
Church wrestle that the time may soon come.
A most excellent sermon onsMssiofi was