New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-06-01
GENERAL ASSEMBLY N 81 OF THE PRES
BYIERIAN CHURCH.

CorTespoIdence Of The n. Y Tribune.
CLEVELAND, o., May q, IsH. p
Last evening tie annual discourse before the Pres
byteran Historical Society delivered by the Rev.
81. J.. X. p. THOMPSON, Of Buffalo. For some two
hours he ciscoursed upon assigned SUBJECTIVE
HuguenOts He traced the rise and Decline OF Protest.
antsm in France together with the causes producing
them. This done with great ability, and TO the
orr AT delight Of his hearers whose interest was not
suffered 10 flag Ii is hoped that the dIScouroe VIII
be given to the press ,
This nCruing the Rev. DR.. BLACK appeared in the
Assembly as delegate from the General Synod Of
the Reformed Presbyterian Church In the United
states Of North America. He addressed the Assem-
by at some length, explaining the grounds on which
fiat body wi he'd the correspondence 10 be conducted
That Church has the Baptst peculiarly Of close com
rnunion This peculiarly DIR. 3. explained at some
length. As 10 Slavery, he said his Church had re-
solved fifty years ago that slGyehOldng bar 10
communion and membership in that Church. They
did not pretend to say that every stakeholder Of
necessity be bad man, but that the principle of
communion for the sin Of slavehOlding right II
also that every tenth minister Of that Church is
9 foreign missionary.
DR.. BLACKS communications were well received by
the Assembly.
The Committee on the Report Of the Trustees of the
Church Erection Fund reported fayOrably, and rec
commended that change be made in the per cent of
the fund apportiOned to the SynOds of Newton and
Ncw.Jersey, and Of Peoria. Both these Synods have
just been divided. Ont of the former has Just been
made the Synod of California and out OF the latter,
the Synod of Wisconsin; The portions set apart to
the former SynOds have been divided among the four,
az they now are. The Rev. DIR. a. ID. SMITH, j. w.
MCLASE aid NORMAN WHITE, esqs., to be re-
elected Trustees Of the Erection Fund.
The Committees SynodiCal Records reported
Generally, with very little exception, the Committees
reported that they found the records correctly Kept
and recommended their approval This was done.
The usual formula OF approving the records
of the different Synods which is usually the most
Mia Inn in 10 rise
ing's session TO animated debate, which shows
where the feelings OF the Assembly are fixed The
Committee on the Records of the Synod OF Kentucky
reported in terms of disapprobation that the records
OF that body contained one paper which expressed
censure on the General Assemblys agitation on the
subject Of Slavery as " unjust and oppressive. This
brought the Rev. Mr.. Dickinson OF that Synod to
his feet to in the strongest terms the night of the
Synod to say what they had. The Assembly DdOrsed
this right of the lower udicatory by large majority
Things went on quite swimmingy until the Commit
tee on the Records of the Synod of Mississippi
ported recommending their approval az far rs written
This brought out a motion from Mr.. ROE LOCKWOOD
of New-York, elder in the Mercer-street church,
that the Committee report be postponed until future
time alleging as a reason that it was posstbe that this
Assembly may adopt measures looking toward the dis
cippe of slavehOldng churches; and, as the presby-
terry Of Lexington South had openly avOwed that It's
ministers and members do hCld slaves, If we approve
the cords of the SYNOD 10 which that Presbytry be-
longs il would be used al estoppel to all proceed
ings against them. "
Mr. LOCKWOOD was called to order, but said he
wished read two extracts Reasons for postponing
the motion TO approve the records of that Synod.
The first was an extract from the speech delivered by
the Rev. Robeit McLane OF Lexington South Pres
bytely in which he SAID that he and other ministers IN
that lesbyery held many slaves as they could, and
they did it for purposes OF gam.
MIR. PERKINS of Philadelphia called Mr.. lockwood
to order to prevent the reading the extract The Mod
ORATOR ruled Mr. l.. to be in order, and Mr.. PERKINS
appealed from the decision. The house by an I'M
mense majority sustained the Char, and Mr.. Lock
WOOD proceeded to read the sentences from Mr.. Me-
Lanes speech already alluded to- lie also read some
resolutions passed by the Lexington South Prcsbytery
on the occasion Of the death OF the Kew MI HARVEY.
Tbi. gentleman avowed on the floor of the Assembly
last year that he held slaves because he believed the
Bible gave him the right to do so. Some Western
Presbytery tabled charges against nm Tor ta aVo"a
After his decease his copresbytcrs avowed his senti-
meuts in form and called s prosecutors to transfer
their charges from the dead TO the living.
Nj. LOCKWOOD SAID there were good reasons why
for the present Assembly should postpone any ap
prevail of the Mississippi SynOdica records. Ills re-
marks were made in candid spirit, and they eYi-
IDENTIFY excited heat in the minds OF both Northern and
Southern members. Ii seems a pity that these side
ssues should be allowed 70 divert the attention Vi inc
Assembly from the main issue. This issue ought To
be reached while the Assembly is full, for scores VIII
leave by Saturday This Is unfortunate fact, that
this vital question should be put of as long as 1t has
been No doubt the Assembly Is now Oh the point oil
taking ND the subject; but II il Thursday after
noon aud on Assembly of two hundred and twenty or
thity men to speak, and every one of them sur
charged h enough lightning to supply the Atlantic
Submarine Telegraph for one season at least
At the opening of the afternoon session. the motion
Ia postpone the resolution approving the minutes OF
the Synod of Mississippi was called up. After some
remarks by the Rev. q. 5. WHITE OF tennessee, the
previous question was ordered, on motion OF Mr.
Hastings OF Albany, and the motion to postpone was
carried.
The report on the Education plan was resumed and
finished.
The Slavery report was called up, and the Hon
w. 2. CuTLER Of Ohio moved to postpone that re-
port il order to move the following substitute:
MR.. CUTTERS SUBSTITUTE.
The General Assembly, in view OF the memorials
presented and under deep sense OF responsibility 10
God and the Church, feel called upon to take the fol-
We dc hereby explicitly condemn the doctrine tlat
Slavery is sanctioned by the Scriptures OF the Old and
New lestaments, as a fundamental error with winch
we have sympathy or fellowship
And whereas, the Presbytery of Lexington South
has iorw va ded to this Assembly amemora containing
the following words: There are ministers OF TINS
"Presbvtery who are Shareholders, holding slave,
under thu belief that according 10 the Bible II l.
fright and also nearly all the ruling elders OF the
" churches under the care Of this Presbytery are
Shareholders, believing TO be according to the OId
land New Testament Scriptures rght-whlle a large
"lnaiory of the members, who are property holders
=" are slay ebolders, believing that It Is night, while
offering no qualifying explanations OF their language
the Presbytery have assumed the responsibility Of
sustaining such ministers ana elders IN their position
This Assembly are constrained IN the exercise oil It's
power of reproving, warning and bearing testimony
against error IN doctrine OF immortality in practice, IN
any Church, Presby;ery, Synod, TO dsapprove and
condemn the position which is thus assumed by the
Presbytery of Lexington South as one which Is not
only uusciJtural but utterly opposed TO the cOnYc
ons OF our ,luich, and cacuiaedio mar It's peace and
seriously hinder Its prosperity, Well as TO onS re-
prosch upon our holy religion.
This Assembly do hereby call on the PresbyteIy OF
Lexington South 10 review and rectliy their position
and in ease the Presbyery shall neglect to comply
with this request the Synod Of Mississippi are directed
10 take cognzance of the al its earliest convent