Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1866-11-25
PRESBYTERIANISM.


FOURTH DAY.
Specially Reported for the Union and Dispatch.l
MEMPHIS Nov. 10Th, 1866.
The General Assembly met this morning
according to adjournment The proceed
ings were opened with prayer. The min
utes were read, and new Commissioners took
their seats. Rev. Or. Palmer of New
Orleans, then resumed the debate on the
"Canons of Discipline" which had been
arrested by the hour of adjournment on
Saturday, in which a number of the Com
missioners took part. Section after section
was adopted covering the grounds Of Dis
cipline, its nature, its objects, and the persons
subject to It. Then the canons on offences,
church censures, the parties in cases of pro-
cess, special rules pertaining to process be-
fore sessions, special rules do. against a
minister, of testimony, were discussed and
adopted. Many nice points of law were
freely discussed, both by the laymen and
ministers Of the body, and the sessions were
instructive and interesting. :.
The order Of the day was taken up, and
the Rev. DIR. Wilson read the report of the
committee on Beneficiary education. 1t was
very long, covering over the action of the
committee for several years. and contained
letters from various parties and a series of
resolutions requesting aid from the As
sembly. .....,-.,. e.. .-... -. f.. .a-
Rev. DIR. Howe, chairman Of the Commit
tee on Bills and Overtures, reported on an
overture from the synod of Virginiachanging
its boundary lines. Also, an overture fix
ing the meeting of the Assembly hereafter
on the third Thursday in May, each year. (
The Assembly held night session, during
which the subject of Domestic Missions was
fully discussed by the members. Rev. j.
Leighton Wilson, D. D., Secretary of Mis-
sions, made the opening address, giving
facts and figures in reference to this work of
the church. 1t showed that this Assembly
has a wide and desolate field before it. MAY
the Lord enable the church to arise and 90
forth TO the harvests The Rev. Drs. Cum
ningham, of Georgia; Palmer, of New
Orleans; Ross, of Huntsville, and Rev. J.
NJ Cochran, Of Texas, made earnest ap-
peals to the Assembly. Their united voice
urged the churches to go forward" A
liberal collection was then taken up from
the vast congregation present.
Yesterday was emphatically church go
ing day in Memphis Doubtless more per-
sons heard the Gospel preached in the city
than on any previous day in her history.
The different churches in the city were ten
dered to the Assembly for its use, except
the Episcopal-one of which was closed on
account ofthe Rectors absence-and a num-
Der of her ablest ministers oficiated. The
day was pleasant, and the multitude poured
out to hear the Gospel. During the service
at night a storm cameup, but the rain ceased
before the congregation dispersed. Rarely
has your correspondent seen such thoroughly
packed houses as were the First and Second
Presbyterian Churches. Everything in the
Assembly and in the pulpit services has,
thus far, passed off harmoniously, and to
the edifcation of the people. It'll beau
tiful sight to see brethren coming up from
the Potomac to the Rio Grande, and from
the Border States to the Gulf with one mind
and heart, and that determination to glad
den waste places of Zion, and 10 devote their
time, talents and hearts to the upbuilding Of
that Kingdom over which Christ is King.
PREsBYTERos.
FIFTH DAY.
MEMPHIS. Tenn, Nov. Doth, I866.-As-
sembly met pursuant to adjournment. After
prayer and reading of the minutes the I'M
finished business was taken up, and they
continued the discussion on the "Canons of
Discipline" The order of the day having
arrived, the Rev. DR. Brown presented, on
behalf Of the Committee, the following re-
port on the Revision Of the "Hymn Book:
The Committee on the Revision of the
Psalm and Hymn Book beg leave respect
fully to report to the General Assembly that
as soon as possible after their appointment,
a correspondence was opened BY the Chair
man with the members of the COMMITTEES, to
ascertain their views and arrange plan Of
cooperative action. 1t was agreed that the
members of the Committee in and near
Richmond should engage in the work of re-
viewing and arrangement and pGblish the
result reached by them, in the religious
newspapers. This was done that not only
the distant members Of the Committee but
the whole Church should have an opportu-
nifty Of studying the changes proposed at
their leisure, and suggestions were earnestly
invited that the mature judgment of the
Church might be embodied in the final form
of the book, and any errors ofthe Committee
might be corrected before it was submitted
to the Assembly. 1t was hoped that all the
benefit of legitimate criticism could be best
secured in this way.
A majority Of the committee agreed to
adopt for their guidance, as far as possible,
the canons Of the former committee, as pre-
sented in their report to the General Assem-
bly, in 1868, believing these canons to have
received the substantial endorsement Of the |
Assembly. They made as large a collec-
ton of hymnology as was in their power,
and proceeded with the work of revision
and selection This was done with the great |
est care and industry, and the result reached |
published for criticism. The criticisms !
called forth were carefully considered, and |
when deemed just, Incorporated into the |
work. The object anxiously arrived at was
TO exclude no sacred song canonized in the !
hearts of Gods people, unless seriously OBJ !
lection HE and Ia admit nonp unvvorthy of !