Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-06-03
rnl A..smhIr-. Of ,he Pre.b,,er.an

The Generai Assembly Oh inc FrcsnysoHhHh
Church on the State of the Country
The following resolutions were passed few
days since by the General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church of the United States, in
session at Dayton, Ohio. They were passed
unanimously, the whole body rising to theil
feet:
WHEREAS, The iniquitous rebellion, prompt
ed by reckless ambition, in the defense and fur
therance of human slavery, continues to lift it
self fagainst the Legitimate and liberal Govern
ment of the United States, and
WHEREAS, Such rebellion not only violates
the sacred principle of obedience to the author
tiles ordained of God, but also directly advo-
Gates hindrance of the free progress of God S
Holy Word and thus, as ti-Christ, opposes
itself to the truth, and
WHEREAS, It becomes the Church of Christ
to utter no uncertain voice in regard TO grand
public fact, so intimately and essentially con-
nected with its interests therefore
ReSolved, l, That this General Assembly
heartily reaffirms the principles, and renews
the declarations Ofprevious General Assemblies,
far as applicable to the present aspect OF pub
lie affairs. ~
9. That we recognize clearly the good hand
of our God in all the victories of the national
arms, whereby the limits of the rebellion have
been contracted and its vitality impaired, and
we look humbly and confidently to the same d.
vine source for further success until the cause
of the nation shall be vindicated, and peace es-
tablished ON the grave of treason.
3d. That we also recognize the same good
hand of our God in the disappointments and
DELAYS of the war, by which he has made more
sure the complete destruction of the vile sys-
TEN of human bondage and rendered less con-
fidentand more religious the heartof the nation.
A. That in such recognition and hope we dc
by no means lose sight of our national and IN
dividual sins, which render us so utterly un-
worthy of the Divine favor, but confess them
with penitent hearts, and trust to covenant
God in Christ Jesus that this unworthiness will
not hinder the might of God s grace in behalfo o.
the cause of right and order. 81
5. That we exhort all our churches to renew
ed zeal and faithfulness in supplication TO God
for the deliverance of the land, and prosperity
of Christ's kingdom, through the blessings Of
national peace and fraternity.
6. That we cordially uphold the Govern
ment with our sympathies and prayers in Its
energetic efforts for the suppression of this most
causeless and cruel rebellion, and urgeall Chris
tians to refrain from weakening the authority
of the Administration by ill-timed complaints
and unnecessary criticism; fully believing that
in such crisis all speech and action which tend
to difference should be studiOusly avoided fol
the sake of the coming veal.
5. Thata copy of these resolutions, duly aIl-
thenticated, be sent to the President of the uni.
ted States by special committee.
1t was ordered that these resolutions be read
from the pulpit in all our churches.
For the information of those who are not ac-
quainted with the facts it may be well to state
that this General Assembly represents that
member of the great family of Presbyterian
churches usually called ''New School, The
Assembly itself is composed of about two hum
dred members, of whom it is designed that one
half shall be laymen. If the representation i:
full there must be precisely as many laymen a.
ministers. The body is strictly representa-
tive body. Itrepresents about sixteen hundred
ministers. fifteen hundred churches and nearly
one hundred and forty thousand communicates
These communicates are among the most loya
people of the country. This branch of the
Church is found almost exclusively in the North.
ern States. Ten years ago they had churches
vile, Alabama, was one of their Minister'S :
About eleven or twelve years ago the Presby.
terry of Winchester Va, sent circular to all
the Presbyteries of the North, asking them te
consent that the subject of Slavery might noi
be discussed at all in the General Assembly,
One of these circulars was sent to the writer o.
this article, at that time clerk of Presbytery.
He prepared strong paper denying the propri.
ETY. of acceding to the request. This paper wa:
passed by his Presbytery and sent to Virginia.
The response from the whole North was in the
same strain. The subject continued to be dis
cussed, and successive Assemblies took action
continually condemning the peculiarinstitutior
in terms of increasing strength till 1857, when
all the Southern churches withdrew from the
body, in order to get away from Anti-Slayery
agitation. Since the breaking outof the REBEL.
ion, the churches in and about Washington, D.
c., have returned, as also body of churches
in southern Ohio that had separated themselves
years before because the Assemblies were moi
sufficiently radical to suit them. Now these
two opposite extremes are united under the wing
of the Church, and on basis which include.
opposition to Slavery, and loyalty to the Gov
ernnent. The resolutions given above truly
represent the sentiments and spirit of the whole
denomination, which is not accustomed to b,
silent upon questions of public virtue. B.