The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-05-27

In the old school assembly, on Tuesday,
the stated clerk Of tho assembly, the Rev.
DR.. Magill, reported the result Of the exam
nation OF the votes Of the Pccsbyteries, ms
hr as they had been transmitted. 10 him.
Amid the great confusion of the vote, which
was extraordinary, the clerk remarked that
only Ave had voted on the basis sent down
70 them Thlrty-six Presbyleries voted In
fayor Of immediate union, aud 100 against IL.
The sentiment Of all was most distinctly In
favor Of union, but there was q great diver
atty OF action as to the proper method of
efiecting the object. The report was recon.
mitted for further examination, as the ac-
ton OF the Presbyterics rendered classified.
ton difficult.
A communication was received from the
General Synod Of the Reformed Church,
signed by the Rev. Z. s. Porter, d. D., presi-
dent, and the Rev. David d. Demarcst, d.
D., stated clerk, embracing tho following
plan for general council of Reformed
Churches;
Whereas the constitution OF the church con.
ndes to the general synod the duty OF "rcgu.
lating and maintaining triepdly CORES Jon.
blies Of other religious denomin ations, for ths
| purpose Of promoting union aud concert N
| general measures which may be calculated "a
ms,nsain sound Doctrine, prevent conflicting
OF the judlcatorles OF either denominatIons
aud to produce ooneert and harnony in theiI
| rssPeetiye proeecdtngs to promote the cause
conviction OF this Synod that wholesome FRA
| ternAl measures may be adopted for CON bin ms
and unifylng the evangelical demo mi ations IL
support OF the common doctrines OF christi
anity, without Involving any surrender Of the
distinettve features OF individual charAetetis
tics OF these denominations, and whereas the
uoculnal and govern mental system of the Re.
formed church 10 broad ahd catholic, present.
Ing basis on which general measures for the
promotion Of pity snd religion may be prose.
Resoiped, That the Synod hereby appoints A
committee Of three ministers and three elders
70 present, In it's behalf to the highest judica
tories and assemblies OF other evangelical dc
nominations at their next annual meetings
| Tor their consideration and adoption the fol
| lowing plan OF a national council of the evan
| gelicsl denomination In these United States
| !. Such council shall have for its great oh
leet the eoneertins Of proper measures fol-
promoting, not orgsnic, but fraternAl union,
for the mainteasuoe Of the common doctrines
aud ethics Of the christian church, whose one
head Is the Lord Jesus.
2; That Its powers sh all be simply advisory,
aud be exercised, not Tor the purpose OF assaiI
ing what any denomination represented there
IN may regard 90 necessary for its welfare
hut to secure concert Of action for the further
anee ot.the Gospel. By diminishing sectafIan
tlyhlrtes and opposttions.
>. Such council, when convened, may con.
slider and recommend such general measures as
may tend to give expression to the proper and
Uhehtia unity OF All VINO love the Lord Jesus
Christ, whether In this or other lands, and
dTawthem closer together in aggressive IAhors
to bring the whole world iutc subsection to
Christ.
I. The council shall be a Tolerated body. and
may consist OF dye representstIves-three
ministers and two laymen-from each evan.
gelical denomination aeceding to this recon.
incubation, but no denomination, as such
| shall be held responsible in any Legislative
sense for what the council may choose 10
| recommend.
l he hi
| higher judisatories and assemblies Of sisteI
| churches accede to this suggestion, on Tho
third Tuesday Of October, 1850 in the city o
| New York, at 10 o'clock, a. m in tho r. .
formed church on Washington square.
The president, assessor, stated clerk o
this Synod, with the Elders, Robert IL
Pruyn, Sanford Cobb and Frederick T. Ere.
linghuysen, were appointed a committee tC
carry the above into effect,
The communication was referred to q
special committee, consisting OF three min
isters and two elders, TO be appointed by the
Moderator.
In the New School Assembly, DR.. Flshc
also presented a report from the joint com
mittee on general reunion Of Presbyterians
sustaining substantially, with few modif
cations, the basis Of union proposed at tn,
Philadelphia Convention of 1867. Thl
matter has reference not TO the pending
question OF reunion between the two grea
branches of the Presbyterian family, but L
that secondary plan Of union between al
the eleven branches which was considered
by delegates from seven OF them at the
| Philadelphia Convention, but which hal
been carried further by only three-the Old
school, New School, and the United Presby.
terlansi the original proposer of the whole
efort-the Reformed Presbyterians being
now counted out by their own retrogression
This report, and the whole subject, will
come up again, but 1t is entirely secondar,
to the reunion Of the Old and New School
II being probably that II this shall be accom-
pllshed, the other will follow.
The stated clerk, the Rev. DR.. Hatfield
offered the following resolution; which wa
adopted:
Rfsolrcd, That the Presbyteries be Iustructe
TO institute inquiries among the severa
| churches under their care, as to the number o
their communicates, so that 1t may be ascer
| tAined that the utmost care has been taken Il
clear their church registers OF all deceased
| dismissed and lost members, and that II ma
| thus be known what 10 the actual membershi
| Of each Of their churches.