Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-05-25

nrosp.ct of the extension Of the session beyond the
7h of June. This would be- done only to the extent
Of several days IN the event of additional time being
actually necessary for passing the general approprIa
ton bills. -.
No further action will be taken concerning the rIght
OF DIR. Bernhei.el to a Sea, a. Delegate, the Committee
on Territories not being nhle to ascertain officially IT
Utah is in q state o.. rebellion.
OLD School ASSEMBLY OF THE PhEsBYrERIAS
CuuRcH-EjgEh ay.-Dr. Van Rensselaer, present
Ell Il report from the committee on the subject OF the
Centennial celebration Of the re union of The Synods
of New York and Philadelphia lnI,'s, declining 1t pro,
Per TO adopt Il minu's relating 10 'hal interesting ana
important event. Ii was adopted.
The following gentlemen were nominated as candl.
dates for the vacant Dsnville protesso!shiP, Rev. l..
J. Halsey, ID. d.; Rev. J. Is. Stratton, Kew. Or. An
derson, and Rev. DIR. Hamilton. Inc election "ss
made the first order Of the day for MONDAY
The house then permitted the specla! committee ap'
pointed 10 meet the committee OF United Presbyterian
Synod of Knoxville, to report. DR.. Van heilsSe'aer'
on the part of the committee, reported that AL ih'er'
view had taken place between the two committees
and the terms proposed by the United Synod, as the
basis of union with the assembly, were IA follows;
we give a condensation OF the paper. The United
Synod proposes to unite the two bodies oil the ioioW'
ing terms:
/. We agree to unite as eccIesiastica! bodies by de-
claring, az this synod now does, our approval OF the
Westminster Confession of Faith and Larger and
Shorter CG;echism, as an orthodox and e1ceiirh' -ys'
TEN of Christian doctrine; and also our adherence 10
the plan of worship, government and discipline con-
tanned in the Westminster Directory.
9. Both bodies agree in declaring it To be a iunda'
mental principle in the Presbyterian church that no
judicatory Of the church can, for any cause whatever,
by any act of legislation, constitutionally condemn or
exclude from the church other iudIcatories, or mimic
ters, or private members, without q process OF trial
such as j. prescribed in the constitution OF the Free.
byterian Church.
3. Both bodies agree that it is consistent with the re-
g%uirements of the Westminster Confession OF Faith 10
receive said confession according TO the adopting act
of l72S, to wit: as containing all the essential truths
of christianity, and elso the doctrines that Distinguish
the Calvanistic from the Pelsgian, Saclnian aud Ar
minian systems of theology. We agree, likewise, in
believing that this system Of doctrine includes The
following truths, viz: The Trinity, the Incarnation
and Diety OF Christ, the Fall and Original Sin, Atone
inent, Justification by Faith, Personal Election, Fl.
feciusl Calling, Perseverance Of the Saints, the Eter.
nal Happiness of the Righteous and Eternal Punish.
nent of the Wicked.
4. Both bodies agree TO declare that slaveholding,
or the relation of master and servant, cannot III any
case, be a bar to membership in the church of Christ.
And, whilst they admit the right Of the iudicatories
Of the church 10 take cognizsnce, in the way p.escrib-
ed in the constitution, Of crue;es ~practised in the re-
lation, they hereby declare the opinion that as the
continuance or abolition Of the system of slavery in
this country belongs exclusively to the State, the dis.
cussion or agitation of slavery further than pertains
10 the moral and religious duties arising from the re.
lation, is Inappropriate TO the functions OF church ju
dicatories.
5. It ID further agreed that in eil.cting the union,
the pre5byteries connected with this synod shall be
united as presby.eries. and without an examination OF
their ministers, with the synods belonging TO the Gen.
eral Assembly, 10 which, because of their geographic.
cal limits, they shall be- attached; excepting that the
Synod Of Tennessee and the North Alabama Presby-
terry shall retain the name and occupy their present
territory.
DR.. Breckenridge slightly amending 10y the leave
Of the house, the minute he had previously presented
on this subject, moved its adoption, which was
unanimously approved. This minute is in opposition
10 the union on the terms proposed.
The question Of continuing the conference with the
Associate Reformed Synod of Inc South then came
up, and the resolution to refer the whole subject to a
committed TO prepare a minute, expressive of the
sense of the body, was adopted. Rev. John Eagleson,
Rev. /. j. S. Avon, and Col. j. NJ. Calhoun were
appointed by the moderator on this committee.
Rev. Mr.. Coe, secretary Of the church extension
committee, presented q report of the action of the
committe during the pact year, of which the following
is a brief summary The receipts from all sources
during the past year exceed those of the previous
year nearly 81 800. jlS churches have sent in their
contributions.
The amount appropriated TO churches this year is
nearly $l0,00O above that distributed Tire past. The
Applications for relief required 4 fund Sl2,UO0 larger
than what would have sutiiced .ast yeGr. The balance
in I the treasury al The close Of last yesr Was $S,63i 81
The receipts from April ], 1857, 70 April !, 1853.
amount 10 S!i.7ll ID, the expenditures In S2l 81 U3
leaving an appropriated balance IN the treasury Of
1891 ~. 7G churches have been aided in The con
a,rllction Of church e,iiices. AZ of t!ia number east
from S5DU to s., $40; - from $!,5On 20 $j,OU0; : over
Sj,GUO. During the two and II ha,l years The com
ln.tite have been at work they have aided in the con.
strucrion Of !VJ church editices. The work Of the
committee, il il evident, has been among The poor.
Tn. COMMITTEES have knowledge ot i5J organized
churches which have no houses of worship. The
average contribution to = needy church has been Sl0O.
The operations If the committee have been con.
Quoted without collecting agents or q corps OF salaried
officers.
The proposition OF Dr.. breckenridge to publish Il
new commentary On the Bible, was referred to the
next Asstmbly
A motion to direct rhe board oil publication to pub.
lish more extensively in The Germnn laimnng. afr.
sumo debate was lost, "a being too expensive Tor inc
present financial ability OF III. board.
TIE CATHOLIC CHrKCu AND THE SLAVE QUks-
TIoH.-The Archbishop and Bishops Of the Carhoiic
church, who recently assembled in provincial rouncil
in this city. have Issued q pastoral letter 10 the clergy
and laity Of that denominations. Among other subjects
to which II refers ia the slavery question. We make
the following extract
The peaceful and conservative character of our
principles, which are adapted TO every form Ut gov.
ernInent and every state of society, has been teeted
aud made manifest in the great political struggles that
ha We agitated the country on the snbject Of domestic
slavery. Although history plainly testities that the
church hss always befriended the poor aud laboring
classes, and eif-ctually procured the mitigation OF the
evils attached to servitude, until through her mild in.
huence il passed away from the nations Of Europe.
Yet she has never disturbed established order or en.
~dsngered the peace Of society by following theories
OF philanthropy.
Faithful TO the teaching and example Of the apostles,
she has always taught servants 10 obey their masters,
not serving 10 the eye merely, hut as 10 Christ, and in
His name che commands masters TO treat their ser.
wants with humanity and justice. reminding them that
they alec have a Master in Heaven. Wa lave not,
therefore, found it necessary 10 modify our teaching
with a view Of adapting it 10 local circumstances
Among us there has been 10 agitation on this subject.
Our clergy have wisely abstained from all Interference
with the Judgment of the faithful, which should be free
on all questions of polity and social order, within the
limits Of the doctrine and law of Christ. We exhort
you, venerable brethren, to pursue this course so be.
coming 1.-THE ministers OF Christ and dispensers of the
inysteries of God" Let the dead bury their dead
Leave to worldlings the cares and anxieties Of politi.
cal partizanship, the struggles for ascendency, and the
notifications of disappointed ambition. DO not, in
any way, identify the Interests Of our holy iaith with
the fortunes OF any party but, preaching peace aud
good will TO all mankind, study only to win 10 truth
the deluded children of error, and TO merit the con.
idencs Of your ttocks, so that, becoming all TO all,
you may gain all to Christ baltimore Sun.
DEE |
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