, 1864-05-26
THE PRESBYTERIAN ASSEM-.

The General Assemblies OF TWO ot tue
chief branches Of the Presbyterian family in
the United States, hold their annual sessions
at the same time; the Old School Assembly
at Newark, n. J.; the New School at Day
ion, Ohio. There arc several other branches
Of the like order; but none of them have
General Assembly; their chief representa-
tive body being Synod. The action Of
these bodies upon the questions In which the
country at large IL SO much concerned
slavery and the warts Of considerable fn-
porance, as showing the drift of sentiment
in quarters where the moral aspects Of these
matters are more Immediately concerned.
The New School body fought ont this
question of slavery many years ago. It's
agitation began there shout rs early as any
where, und continued till 1856; when, at
Cleveland, the Assembly reaf1rmed its an-
cient testimony against the system, and put
Its statement In such definite and pnuis-
taxable language, that there was no lodging
it. As The consequence Of tlis action, all
the Southern 63nods In its connection with
drew, and either united with the other
bran ch or Joined In separate and Intensely
pro-sla very organization Of their OWL The
New School branch Shua lost membership
OF more thau sixteen Thousand; but gained
u clear record and = subsequent harmony.
The completely Of the body with slavery had
been q long while in the Way of its growth;
and with the consequent agitation 1t kept
up, had held back its progress at the North
and at the South both.
But when tue war came, tho New School
body was wholly oHt Of the difficulty; aud
has, as one man, taken its ground with the
Government, and iu favor of total over
throw Of the whole system OF iniquity-
slavery. Their action at Dayton. published
in the TRIBUNE OF Wednesday. ia therefore
only continuation Of consistent record.
With the other branch-the Old School
The circumstances are quite different This
church Ind its strength largely in the South-
eru Statcs. Many Of its strong men were
there, Nth Its senfnaries and institutions ot
learning, and the Southern wing OF the
Church was always strong enough to prevent
any agitation Of the matter Of Slavery. Tue
policy, therefore, was to leave slavery as g
political thing wholly, to take its chnncet
with the political fortunes Of the country
The church grew 2maztugly, until It haG
come to nearly double the strength Of tht
other branch, which was about its equal al
the division In 1857.
But its own time of trial cnme at last. Ths
war overlook it, and divided the o. s. churel
almoet equally in two; leaving thus the North
c1n part OF 1t Of about the same size Is tht
New School branch. Nur is that the end Of It:
difficulty. The question has now to be ayl
tnted Mt pl1 events; and as we see, stron:
anti-slaycry resolutions are introduced intt
the body At Newark, which produce 3 g de
clded sensation" How the case mar be !,
this Assembly ut Newark We do not know
but its Assembly last year, At Peoria, had
decided majorit. OF anti.slagery members
Yet they were largely Of the younger men
while the D. DIS and stronger men wer
quite generally afraid to aSitate any matte
deemed political" They yet adhered t.
the old policy Of keeping still; being afrai'
of agitation in the churches of the borde
States, which We're strongly represented
There was n prodig1ous kentucky influence
which went fof Holding of It may be pre-
sumed that 1t is somewhat so this year; inas
much as New Jersey Goes not differ verJ
much from Kentucky in questions of TIL:
character.
But we may be sure Of this, thet the agit4
tion will hare to 60 on. All the borde
State influence this side Of the Azoic Rock
cannot hold any branch Of the Presbyterian
Church in continued fidelity to slavery. III
doubt it will die hard there; but it will har'
10 die. The religions bodies will stand sid
by side In this matter, and that before long