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

adapted to the wants Of the Church than the
former one. which had 80 much that was
never used. &
Another arrangegaent Of tie hymns has
been adopted, which, in The logical and the
illogical accuracy, is believed to be superior
TO the old one. \ They have left OUT Two hun.
dred of the old hymns, with a number Of
verses in those retained, and have added
one hundred and twelve, so that the whole
number of hymns is nearly SIX hundred
and the new book win be rather smaller
than the old, whilst it is believed that it viii
retain nearly all of its contents that were
ever used in worship, and many others of a
very high order of lyric excellence When
the book has reached its final form, under
| the action of the Assembly, it is believed
that indexes can then be added as suggested
by the former committee, which cannot be
made until that final form is determined.
The committee respectfully suggest the addi-
ton of a few Of the better chants in COM
mon use, for such congregations as wish to
use them in public worship.
They have found great difficulties in the
i way of preparing music book, such as they
| were directed to compile, arising from their
| ignorance of the tunes in common use in diff
ferent parts of the church, the difficulty OF
obtaining a suitable musical editor, and the
fact that many of the most favorite tunes are
I copyrighted, and only to be obtained Off at
all at great expense and trouble, SO that no
progress has been made in this work. But
| it is believed that no serious injury will en-
sue from the delay until after the hymn-book
has been finally adopted, of work such as
has been prepared, should the Assembly still
deem its preparation advisable. Nor have
they been able to compile a Sunday School
| Hymn-Book yet, having expended all the
time at their command on the larger work
as the one most pressing in its demand for
an early completion. r gs 500
The general approval of their work that
has been expressed to the committee, and
the limited range Of the criticisms submitted,
have led them TO the hope that the collection
herewith submitted, was likely to come as
near uniting the wants Of the church as any
one book can ordinarily do, where such va
rious and often opposite tastes must find
something to correspond to their standard
of excellence, and where the desires and the
necessities of the whole church. and not
those alone of any particular portion of it
must be met as far as possible. With these
corrections, the committee submit their
work to the Assembly, to do with it what in
their wisdom they may judge beet invoking
upon its deliberations the guidance of that
Divine Spirit whose aid is so needful in a
work Of such grave importance as providing
book of praise for the people Of God.
BY order Of the committee, '
. t. V. MOORE, Chairman.
After the reading of the above, a minority
report from the Rev. G. S. bod, member
of the committee, was read by the Rev. DR..
Wilson, in behalf of that gentleman.
Professor Woodrow moved to refer both
reports to a special committee, to be APP
pointed by The Moderator. ~.
The Rev. DR.. Adger alluded to the urgent
need in which the church stood of book of
psalms and hymns, and suggested the pro-
priety of the committees reporting upon the
work as soon as possible.
The report was referred to committee.
The Rev. DR.. Howe, from the Committee.
on Bills and Overtures reported as follow:
OVERTURE No. g From the Synod of
Memphis requesting the General Assembly
TO adjust the boundary line between the
Synod of Nashville and that Synod, so that
the Southern boundary of the State Of Ten
of the Synod of Nashville, separating it in
that part from the Synod of Memphis. The
Committee having considered the rea-
sons for this boundary line presented
by the Synod of Memphis, and the argu-
ments offered against it by members of the
Synod of Nashville, recommend that the
Southern boundary of the State of Tennes-
see, from the point where it crosses the Ten
nessee river, Eastward to the East line of
Alabama, be the boundary between the
Synods of Nashville and Memphis, with the
exception of Madison county, in the State.
of Alabam, to within FIVE miles of the North
ern bank of the Tennessee river, shall be in
cluded in the Synod of Nashville. Adopted.
OVERTURE No. 3. Resolutions of the.
Presbytery of Mississippi, respecting the in
struction of colored children and adults in
letters and religion.
On thissubject tho Committee recommend
the adoption of the following resolutions:
l. Resolved, That it is the duty of our
ministers, elders and people to organize
Sabbath schools for colored children and
adults, in which they should be taught to
read the word of God, and be instructed in
the duties of religion.
2. Resolved That the attention of the Com
mittee on Publication be directed to the i'm
portance of furnishing a supply of suitable
books for their instruction in reading, and
of procuring the means of gratuitous sup
ply of the same when this may be necessary.
Adopted.
OVERTURE No. 6.-The request of the
Presbytery of South Carolina, asking the
General Assembly to make it obligatory on
church sessions, in granting dismissiOns to
heads of families, to include therein the
baptized children under their care.
The Committee would reply to this over.
ture that it has been fully provided for in
chap. 2, art Z, of the 'Canons of Discip-
line" adopted by this body. Adopted.
OVERTURE 8. Being an overture sent by
Tuskeegee church to the Presbytery of East
Alabama, and referred by said Presbytery
to the General Assembly.
This overture has reference to the rela-
tons between the church and the State and
especially in respect to the observance of
those days designated by the civil magis-
trate as days of fasting, prayer or thanks
giving.