Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-05
PRESBYTERIANISN.
The Glazing Business OF tho Season
ADOPTION Of the Form Of Government
as Whole.

as whsle.
Reported for the Union and Dispatch.
The Assembly met at 9 A. D., and opened
with prayer. After reading the minutes,
the Rev. DR.. Baird presented the follow
ing minute, which was, on motion, adopted,
as an addenda to the report of the Com
mittee on the Relation of the Church to the
Freedmen:
Resolved, BY the General Assembly Of
the Presbyterian Church in the United
States That every Presbytery under the ju-
Tlsdiction Of this body be enioined TO seek
out and set apart minister to the work of
the EnTangelist for its bounds, 10 act as
superintendent of Its vacant congregations
wherever practicable. These Superintend-
ents shall be authorized TO act as hodera-
tors Of the sessions Of the vacant cOngrega-
lions, to preach the Gospel and administer
the sacramenis to them at stated intervals
TO counsel the sessions in holding social
worship in the absence Of the minister's
and, IN general, to take the pastoral super
vision Of the vacant congregations, both
white aud cOlOred; to encourage the or
ganlzatiOn of Sabbath schools and Bible
classes, and the making Of Oblations for
systematic benevolence. But when a suita-
ble Evangelist cannot be obtained, then the
Presbytery is enjOined to apportiOn such
congregations among Its ministerial mem
bers for the same object, so that many con-
gregations and all our freed people shall en-
JOY the pastoral superintendence in their
assemblies of some minister.
Resolved, That every presbytery be en-
Joined to require the sessions of the vacant
congregations to come up to the discharge
of the duties devolyed on them in the TWEEN
ty-6rst chapter of the "Form of Govern
Deat," in the assembling Of their respective
congregations for the worship of God, to
which il is properto add exhortation. And
in order that this duty may be performed
to the greater acceptance ofthe worshippers,
1t is further required that the Presbyteries
do seek out those elders who have the best
gifts, and do especially license and appoint
them to the performance of these duties.
Resolved That our ministers who are
not now engaged in their sacred calling be
eNhOrted to come up TO our help; if they
DO not End fields Of labor in their present
localities, that they are exhorted to seek
other places Of abode and fields of labor
where they may be useful. And that the
Presbyteries be enjoined to examine their
rolls and require all ministers who are not
and to proceed against those who are found
70 be habitual neglectors Of their vows Of
ordination.
Resolved, That every Presbytery be en-
JOined to take this whole minute into con-
sideratiOn, and act upon it at its first meet
ing after the rising of this General Assem-
bly,; that the synods inquire into the fdeli-
ty Of the Presby cries; and that both Pres
byteries and Synods give a report of what
they have done or failed to do, in the premi-
sesSto the next General Assembly.
Unfinished business being in order, the
Form of Government" was again taken
up, and passed upon to the conclusion seri-
atm, after which the report of the Com
mittee was adopted as a whole.
The Rev. DR.. Adger moved that the re-
port as adopted by the Assembly be placed
in the hands of the Committee on Publ
location, and printed in the city Of Rich
mOnd, which was carried.
The Rev DR. Palmer offered the follow
ing.
In view of the great controversy now
banding in this country upon thir spirit
uality and independence of the Church as
the visible kingdom of the Lord Jesus
Christ upon the earth; and in view of the
fact that the Assembly did at the time of
its organization in 1851 plant itself firmly
upon the ground that the Church is a spir-
itual commonwealth distinct from and in
dependent Of the State, be it, therefore
Resolved That the Rev. Messrs. T. F.
Peck, A. w. Miller and Geo. Howe, D. D.,
be appointed committee to prepare and
report to the next Assembly paper defn-
ing and limiting this whole subject for the
instruction Of our people, and suitable TO
be adopted by the Assembly as a full and
public testimony against the alarming de-
lection manifested in 30 many branches of
the Protestant Church in this country.
The resolution was unanimously adopted,
and, On motion, the Rev. Drs. r. L. Dab
ney and b. NJ. Palmer, were added TO the
committee suggested therein.
The business of the session having been
disposed of, the Rev. DR. Baird moved an
adjournment, when the Rev. Or. Brown
proceeds to read the minutes of the day,
which were approved.
After an appropriate prayer, the Mode
rator then pronounced the Apostolic bene-
diction and declared the Assembly adj
joUrned.
The next General Assembly will meet in
the First Presbyterian Church, in Nash !
willie, on the third Thursday of November, |