Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1866-11-28
PRESBYTERIAyISM.

Assembly met at nine o'clock this
morning, and was opened with prayer.
After several motions, fixing times and
places for different business, the report Of
the Committee on the ''Csnons Of Disei-
pline" was adopted as whole. II
The order Of the day was takenup. The
Rev. Mr.. Alexander read the report Of the
Committee on 'the Relation Of the Church
to the Freedmen" The Rev. Mr.. Girrad-
see, chairman of the committee, sent up an
elaborate paper, which closely and clearly
defined the relations of the freedmen to the
white population, the church and the State.
The committee could not agree fully with
the chairman's policy, and declined urging
any peculiar plan to the Assembly for adop-
ton, Only sending the matter down to the
Presbyteries without instructions. The
committee offered these resolutions, which
we're discussed and adopted seriGtim up TO
No. 5, when it was postponed until 10
o'clock tomorrow.
l. Resolved, That this Assembly enter
tains for the freed people the sincerest SEN
timents of good viii and affection; that it
earn estly desires and prays for their saliva
ton, and would encourage the employment
of every legitimate means for the promo
ton of their spiritual good.
2. Resolved, That it be recommended TO
all our ministers TO exert themselves to the
utmost Of their ability, to give, as hereto
fore, the gospel TO these people; to church
sessions to urge upon parents among them
the duty Of presenting their children for
baptism, and in bringing them up in the
nurture and admonition of the Lord and
especially TO eYangelists and missionaries to
devote a portion of their labor to the pro-
motion of the salvation of the freed people
3 Resolved, That in the judgment of the
Assembly, it is highly inexpedient that
there should be an ecclesiastical separation
Of the white and colored races that such
a measure would threaten evil to both
races, and especially to the colored and
that, therefore, it is desirable that every
warrantable effort be made affectionately to
dissuade the freed people from severing
their connection with our churches, and to
retain them with us as of old but that in
those cases in which they prefer, though
against our judgment, to establish separate
organizations, they will carry with them
our best wishes for their welfare.
4. Resolved, That in view Of the imper-
feet development of events growing out Of
the altered condition of the colored people
and the great difficulty of the questions
arising from it, the Assembly does not re-
gard the way as clear for deliverance as
to the plan upon which our ecclesiastical
relations to them should be constructed
but would submit the whole subject to the
wisdom and discretion of the presbyteries,
leaving il TO them to adopt such measures
as they NAV deem best adapted to the cir
cumstances and wants of the colored con-
gregations seyerally under their care, and
urging il upon them, that in case any
changes of the existing system be proposed,
respect be had to the question of the pre-
paration Of the colored congregations for
such changes, and great caution and pru-
dence be exercised in their adoption.
5. Resolved, That it be recommended to
the presbyteries in the case of colored per-
sons who may be applicants for introduce
ton into the ministry, to adhere 10 the
course prescribed in the constitution for the
examination, license and ordination of
candidates for the sacred Office.
6. Resolved, That the Assembly recon-
mend that whenever it is practicable,
Sabbath schools and mission schools for the
benefit of the freed people, especially the
Young, be established in connection with
our churches, and that the sessions of the
churches take these schools into their
charge and provide suitable teachers for
them.
z. Resolved, That the Assembly is moi
a. ,p,ouI tho adontipv n
any system of secular education for the
freed people, but should any of the presby.
teries or churches under their care see fl
to establish parochial schools for their ben
eft, the Assembly would extend its apprO,
val to such a measure, provided such
schools are under the supervision of the
Presbyteries or the sessions of the churche,
with which these may be connected, and
are furnished with such teachers as they
shall indorse and provide. Further, thai
religious instruction on the basis of oul
standards be Incorporated into such schools
as distinctive element.
s. Resolved, That the heads Of familie,
are exhorted to afford opportunities to the
freed people in their households to attend
upon family and public worship, and thai
they provide for them, so far as possible
catechetical instruction in the doctrines and
duties of the Gospel. faa s.
8. Resolved, That masters and employ
ers are exhorted to give TO their servants
and employees the things which are jus
and equal, to extend to them every facility
for attending upon the means of grace, anC
to provide, so far as ia them lieth, for The
salvation of their souls.
10. Resolved, That the freed people il
our communion, who may be servants anC
employees, are exhorted &c render TO thei
masters and employers all proper homo
and obedience, not despising them, becaus
they are brethren, but rather doing then
service because they are faithful and be
loved paruakers of the benefit.
Rev. DR.. Baird read the. report of tn
Committee on Theological Education
which was adopted, 'serjatiHl, until the resc
luton propoposing the change Of locatio
for the Theological Seminary at COlumbi'
SC, and it was made a special order 70
tomorrow.
Nominations for vacant chairs in III
Columbia Theological Seminary wei
made, viz: