The New York herald., 1869-05-23

ana them. There was really nothing which should
prevent this from being the grand nationa. Church
OF the country. lie never passed Methodist or
Baptist or an Episcopal church without thinking
how much stronser tney were than our brethren, H.
one another. lie hoped the recon nendati0n OF the
committee would be adopted and that correspond
ence would be opened, and that large, warm
hearted delegation would be sent To the churches or
the south TO assure them OF desire for an mne-
diate amalgamaton and reunion. Nothing but ds-
forted views and misconceptions were keeping
them apart, and these, az least on our side, were
being rapidly swept away. lie felt exceeding erati.
dcatlon at the report OF the committee and he
hoped their recommendation would be ADOPTED
UNANIMOUSLY. These people had suffered enough;
they mad been beaten ana trodden to the earth, ana
were as poor they could be at this very hour and
he did not why We should not be willing To hold
out to them the hand OF friendship ana brotner- .
Rev A. A. r. TAYLOR OF Georgetown. said that
for he would be In favor OF the recon-
in connection with great many Of the gentlemen OF
the Southern Church, some from the East, others
from the West, but very large humber from Inc Sne
body large number or ministers who would Ike 10
see reunion, still he knew there were great many
obstacles. First there was the question OF reunion
with the other Assembly OF the Presbyterian church
OF the NOrth and secondly IN regard To the past &C
ton OF the southern pres6yteran Cnurcn. nov, S 80
ern Presbyterian Church. he thought perhaps
the feelings OF the Southern Church TO-
er than towards us, for she reason that the otner
Assembly had gone further than we had done Inc
other Assembly had passed resolutions approvlng
OF the great political act of reconstruction; ana,
therefore, there was likely to be more ieeing WIN
them the great political subject that has DIVIDED
the people SO largely North and South-not the aeau
Of slavery, but the great question OF the liberty
OF the pulpit Therefore lie thought that the North
em Church should perfect their own reunion among
themselves before thep look 80 earnestly to those AZ
the South The other question was reduced 10 SIN
gle point; it was not important Ia the discussion OF
tins question that should decide III regard to all
the preaching OF the pulpits in the past Inc South
was as guilty in that respect ~ we were:
Nor was the question Of orthodoxy very important
for the purposes OF this discussion, because we
all stood upon the same platform. But the
question was, how snail we overcome the ieeling OF
the ground OF That alienation lay with the action OF
assemblies during the war; especially Of the Puts
burg Assembly. How far could we go IN order that
we may mollIy this feeling and pour the soothing
Oil upon this troubled sea II wouldTequire great
deal Of caution and careful movement and seemed
10 him that If we should send commissioner to the
General Assembly IL might lead to embarrassment,
though less so. perhaps, II we opened correspond
ence. They might say that before we opened corre-
spondence on this subject there we're certain mat
ters the action Of our assembly bearing upon the
Churches North and South, which, It seemed to
them, should be set right on our side That ac-
ton Rt Plttsburg was thorn IN the side OF
the South and Of every Southern minister, and has
been an obstacle In the way OF the brethren at the
South who are arguing In favor Of the south from
standpoint and say that 80 long as That acton
stands In the shape In which IT was eli IL VIII De an
the North and South. The speaker concluded by
saying that whatever was done by this Assembly In
ful consideration. He wanted some action that
should not only express some kind feeling but that
should be an assurance to the people ~ the south
healed. He therefore moved that this subject be
recommltted to q special committee 10 report what
action is required TO be taken by this Assembly pre-
paratOry opening correspondence with the South
Rev. Dr. BLACKBURN of Philadelphia, hoped that
that resolution would not be pressed. The Commit
tee on Bills and Overtures had asked this Assembly
to make an elfort-he understood 1t to be the desire
dana Inn NJ hn
South, and their recommendation was only tenta-
tive in its character. He would endeavor 10 be bTie
though he could say great deal on TINS subject ior
him TO attend the General Assembly OF the Southern
Church ut Baltimore, and he went there prepared 70
find expression OF b0dness and Ill feeling Oh Their
part. He waited day after day TO see sohe man rise
and to hear something fail from INN to assure hiin
(the speaker) that these Churches must remain
as they are. He heard nothing OF the KIND,
however, from the commencement OF the Assembly
to the termination Of the proceedings. He had
seen many assemblies In various countries, ana he
was free to say that OF oil the meetings On church
judicature he had ever been In he had never seen
s spoEe to some %W who
the leaders, and to others who were not charac-
terized by such high intellectual attainments but
he found among them all a feeling OF surprise
Pnladephia to Albany, Indicating that We felt a
to them of Pittsburg they said, "Pittsburg.n The
idea OF such paper melted them; poured oil upon
| the troubled waters And 1 am under the impress
feeling we can overcome all these difrculties but
they can only be overcome by time, by action by
which believe to be the duty of this Church, have
no doubt that God VIII bring the matter TO favor
The MODERATOR said there had been informal
correspondence between the stated clerks OF this
Assembly and OF the southern Il assembly; @ IN tna' @
session at present, however ut was at his lodgings
the stated clerk OF the Southern Assembly SAID h
Thought that any action Of this Assembly now look
ing 70 this question Of correspondence might prove
disastrous 70 the project aud would be altogether
THIS announcement was bompshell In It's effect
| and half dozen COMMISSIONERS tried to get ths
noor.
| including the correspondence between tho stated
clerks, be referred to special committee OF three.
I COMMISSIONER moved, as an amendment, that
4 the whole subject be laid upon the table.
| VoICEs-I hope not, hope not Oh mol no! mol
The amendment was lost.
| Rev MIR PLuML EY renewed his motion 10 refer.
| Rev. Mr.. MURKLAND got the noor, but coult
scarcely be heard In the confusion OF motions, calls
OF question: &c eus towai9s ,ne Close s @ oa MS re-
/ to swallow all our deliverances In the past and
humble ourselves To our knees In the dust our south
ern bretbern say they viii not come back TO us.
/ The MODERATOR came to the rescue amid cries o
sQueston, question"
! Mr.. PLUMLEY accepted an amendment 10 ms mo
1 ton making the special committee To consist VI
IN zee ministers and three elders and the whole sub
| iect wes referred to such committee.
4 IL was announced that the Committee on Devo
| tiopal Exercises, after conference with similar
l comlnttee from the other Assembly, recommended
| n loiut prayer meeting Of the two assemblies oI
! Monday next, In the Brick church, from hall-pas
! eight until half.past nine o'clock A. NJ. Rev, Dr
yacobus Moderator OF this Assembly, - preside AM
| conduct the exercises, Adopted.
Tine Committee on Elections reported that an ire
| guarly executed commission had been presented b
| Rev. Dr. J. NJ. Yants, which tney recommended b
| res pectfuly returned to Dr. lantis. The delegate
from his Presbytery had all been recognized an
| their names put on the roll. The committee ala
| recommended that the clerk be directed TO extcn
| to him the advantages Of n commissioner In regar
10 his return his Presbytcry by the railroad. Coz
| Cured In.
| Al ten minutes to one O'Clock y. NJ. the Assembl
| adjourned after prayer anu the bene,liction by th
| Moderator. TO rec0nvene on Monday, VI halfpai
eight O'Clock 4. NJ.