Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-05-16
ola school Presbyterian General
Assent bly,

/
The General Assembly of the Old Schnnl
PresbytsriAn Church of the United Ssates---ihe
highest ecclesiastical tribunal of this large and
influential denomination of Coristians-oon-
vened in the First Presbyterian Church Of this
city, on Thursday, May Is, at eleven o'clock in
the forenoon. In accordance with time hon.
ored custom, this venerable body was opened
with public worship. Rev. Dr.. BACKus, of Bal.
timore, the retiring Moderator, delivered the
opening discourse, from Hebrews, 18th chapter
and 2Sth verse ...-.
" Wherefore, Us, reeeiUing kingdom phich
cannot be shaken, let US hGUe grace. iOksrsby zoe
may s1pe God GcesptGbly, Uth yeoersnce and
Cody fear"
After speaking Of the usage Of the Church,
TO open such Assemblies with worship-prAise,
prayer and preaching-the eminent divine pro.
ceeded to expound the connection of the text
with the cOntext-the prophecy, ~ will shake
the Heavens and the Earth" that is, the sys.
TENS Of religion which are mythologies and
false religious, and the temporal governments
and civilizAtiOns--fOr such is the meaning of
Heavens and Earth" in this prophetic Ian
gusge.
Now the apostle 10 the text derives from the
overturnings snd commotions which Jesus
Christ is ever oVerruling and permitting, an ar
gument and motive for the Church to be active
in the agency committed to her for setting up
that kingdom which can never be shaken The
church must cooperate with her Lord
The eloquent preacher then proceeded to
discuss, under the frst head, the nature and
the occasions Of the Shaking" referr ed to in
the text" The "shakiDg" is because of the
depravity of human nature and the perversions
of the ordinances which God has established
for man g good. By reason of the corruption Of
human nature, the storm often becomes neces-
sary to purify the atmosphere, and to drive out
from human society the evil that would other
wise work further corruption.
He then proceeded, in the second place, to
.rgue, that if the shaking" constitutes spe.
,Ial call to the Church to promote the interests
# the Kingdom, and makes this her special
vork, then we should inquire how we are thus
% serve God in bis Kingdom This inquiry be
"UDquestionably in accordance with
ts nature, ts aims, Its mans, and the IaD of its
york" He showed that its nature was spirit
laL II works on the heart, and, therefore, the
rork Of the Church stands independent Of poll
les, philosophies and reforms, all of which be-
ong to the Earth" systems, that are shaken
nd removed. Ils aim is, indeed, to remove
be Ills that sfHict humanity; yet not by out
Tard systems, bat by regensratiDg the heart out
{ which the ills proceed.
He showed that the means Of the Church for
her work, are simply and solely the
ruth. When Christ said, "My Kingdom is
Iot Of this World" He said also, it is King
ON Of Truth. The law Of the Church's work,
8 the movement Of the Holy Spirit accompany
ng the truth TO the hearts of men.
He closed this able and instructive discourse
nth beautiful and eloquent appeal to his
'rethrep, to apply and work out these truths
q their action In the midst Of these troublous
lines.
The General Assembly was then ''cOnstitu-
Cd" with prayer, after which the Rev. Dr..
Ioge read the resolution offered BY Mr.. Con-