The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-05-23

We meet here the blessed old thirteen States and they
cordially shake the hands Of their young western sisters
DIR Rockwell from the Committee ON Education, pre-
Sented It's report which, after preamble oongatulatng
the Church the attending its labors in this
gard and suggesting the proprety Of making the subject
Of ministerial education prominent in the mistrations
of the clergy closed with submitting the following
of gentlemen to fill places becoming vacant in the Board
Of Ministers Francis Heron, ID. D. William Neill, ID.
D. Joseph III. Jones. ID. D.. Francis Mcfarland, d. D.,
Robert Watts William H Green, Jonathan Edwards, ID.
D. Daniel Stewart ID. ID Laymen James 1enox,
James N. Dickson Stephen Cowell, Jos. F. Eagles Eu
genius A. Nisbet James Dunlap, John j. Bryant Will
fred Hail. Charles s Conington AS Preacher before the
next assembly the Rev. Nicholas Murray, ID, d.
The question of union with the Associate Reformed Sy
nod of the Church of the South then resumed when
Mr.. Cobb, of Georgia, having the floor, made most
thrilling and eloquent address in favor OF the appoint
ment OF committee of conference. The time for ad
ournmcnt had arrived but, on motion. was post
poned until O'Clock, when Dr. Green took the floor IN
opposition to the views presented by MIR. Cobb, and
closed only when the hour for adjournment was again
announced.
On Wednesday, the 18th instant the assembly consid
cred the report Of the committee theological semina
res endorsing the annual reports of seminares under
the care of the general assembly, viz Princeton Sem
mary Virginia Union Seminary, Virginia Western
Seminary, Pennsylvania; and Danville Seminary, Ken
lucky.
The moderator then announced that the hour had ar
rived celebration by the assembly of the cenen
NAL anniversary of the reunion of the synods OF New
York and Philadelphia The moderator assisted by the
members of the assembly opened the religious exercises
according the usual forms of the church Rev Court
andt Van Rensselaer, d. then delivered the historical
DISCOURSE 8
The influence Of century on human progress elo
quently depicted, and centennial periods spoken of
the great points of observation Of the connected chain of
The origin of the Presbyterian church in the United
States stated to be Scotch Irish. The tidal
persecution had alternately swept the shores
of both these islands of the Old World transferring
from one to the other the seed Of the church, and
finally sending the Atlantic whose genealogy
back to both Irish and Scotch roots Hence came
the sturdy who subdued the wilderness and planted
the standard of civil and religious freedom the shores
of new continent Happily and Enthusiastically the
who the early types of all that it is great and
good in the church described and the slow but
progress in America of Presbyerianis during its earlier
colonial history narrated with chasteness yet aence
of ornament yet clearness of expression, not
often paralleed in modern productions The remarkable
addition to the churches under the labors of Tenant,
and Whitfield, and Davies and Others whose names will
die in the church, eloquenty described and
the of the division which resulted in l74l in
separation of the great body of Presbyterans Few who
heard the narrative of the reconciliation in 1853, will
forget the scene wildly portrayed in species OF
word painting graphic it striking fail to
member the lessons of admonition and wisdom drawn
from this brief but thorough review OF the past
On Thursday the 13M inst the order of the day the
Report of the Board of Publication Rev. Mr. schenck,
the Secretary submitted the report which showed that
the Board had published more works than in any
previous year that nearly many volumes had been
sold and that had been gratuitously circulated
The report protested against the prevalent idea that the
publications of the Board such only foster de-
nominaonalism 1t claimed that the works found upon
the Boards catalogue were, to say the least well
adapted to promote spirit of intelligent of truly catho
lie and warm hearted pety as those found upon any
catalogue in any country The following statistics
included in the report: e'a
New books published As, and aggregate of IS $50
copies printed nine tracts 1900 copies the Pres
byterian Almanac 80 900 copies Total number of new
publication, 1885, $50 copies Reprints of former publ
cations 326,75o copies. Total number published last
year. 466 500 copies The issue of publications last
year exceeded that of the preceding by 500 and
is still further advance of any other year in the Boards
history. The sales made at the publishing house in
Philadelphia during the past year have been l9l 1893
volumes $50 4ag iaFEsF ~ sgia ~ Ha9s.
The sales of tracts during the past year have amounted
to 1886 963 Coporteurs have sold l23 924 Volumes and
gratuonsly distributed O3s The receipts $l26,
$50 expenditures, Sl06s01 The amount from sale of
books tracts and Sabbath School Visitor has been $780,
842, and from churches S17, $50.
The assembly addressed various topics
nected with publications by DR., Mitchell Rev d. Ste
venson of Indiana Elder Israel Spencer of Mississippi
Rev. j. Edison Rockwell, of New York Rev. Thomas
Savage, of New Hampshire; Rev. Mr.. Cowan, of st.
Louis Rev. J. s. X. Axon, of Georgia, and Elder Thos
r. r. Cobb of Georgia
After the DR. Breckenridge introduced the sub
ect of getting up Presbyterian commentary the Holy
Scriptures He spoke at some length upon the great
necessity existing for such commentary, and concluded
by submitting amendment to the assembly providing
embraced in five six royal octave volumes of good
print containing besides the commentary the English
text in full together with the usual accessories thereof
and such other suitable helps to its understanding
plain people need And the text used in it shall be
strictly that of the version prepared by the tnsators
appointed by James the First, King of England
lively and learned debate followed. Different mem
beers offered amendments which not accepted Revs
Drs. Rankin, Floyd, and James Hoge of Ohio all took
strong grounds against it for different and Revs
Drs. Junkin, Norris and Hewitt joined with Dr. Brec-
nrdge in advocating it. During the debate which last
ed two hours, all kinds of motions for reference
made by the opposition and voted upon but lost
The debate very interesting one, but too long
for us to undertake to give abstract of it.
On Friday, the l4M instant after preliminary business
the Rev. Mr. Coe secretary of the committee church
extension presented report of the action of the
mee during the past year. of which the following Is
brief summary The receipts from all during the
past year exceed those of the previous year neatly
Five hundred and eighteen churches have sent in their
contributions The amount appropriated to churches
this year is nearly $4,000 above that distributed the
past year The applications for relief required fund
of $l2 900 larger than what would have sufioed last
year The balance in the treasury at the close Of last
year 49, 634 So. The receipts from April l, 1857
to April /, 1858, amount to $24 ISL Is the expendi-
to S24, 1871 03eaving appropriated balance in
the treasury of So, 99l TO- Seventysx churches have
been aided in the construction of church cdices Forty
of this number cost from $500 to 500 twenty
two from So 500 to So, 900 $4,000. During
the two and half years the committee have been at
work they have aided in the construction Of EOS church
cdifces The work of the committee it is evident, has
been among the poor The committee have knowledge
of $50 organized churches which have houses of