The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-05-24
Old and New school Presbyterian
Aaaem blieS-Third Day,

New YORK, May 22.-The Old School
Presbyterian Assembly reconVened this
morning, when Rev. Mr., Beer offered
resolutions as follows
WHEREAS, 1t is well known that I'M
scriptural views of the marriage rela-
tions are becoming prevalent in some
parts of our land so that its obligations
are disregarded by many, and separa-
tions of husband and wife and divorces
for slight and unwarrantable reasons are
becoming more frequent every year, and
WHEREAS, The horrible crime of in
fanticide is also on the increase; and
WHEREAS, The evils which these er-
rors and crimes have already brought
upon the Church and country, and the
worse evils which they threaten iii the
future, make it imperative that the
whole power Of the ministry of the
Church of Jesus Christ should be put
forth in the mainten ance of truth and
virtue IN regard to these things; there.
fore,
Resolred, That we urge upon all the
ministers of our Church the duty of
giving instruction to the people of their
respective charges as to the Scriptural
doctrine concerning the marriage rela-
ton, and that we warn them against
Joining in wedlock any who may have
been divorced upon other than Scrip
tural grounds, and we also exhort
Church Sessions to the exercise of due
discipline in the cases of those mem-
bers who may be guilty of violating the
laws of Christ in this particular.
Resolved, That we regard the destruc-
tion by parents of their own offspring
before birth as crime against
God and against nature and that
as there are many influences at work in
public and in secret to corrupt the
minds of the people, until the frequency
of such murder is no longer sought to be
concealed, we hereby warn those who
are guilty of these crimes that they can
not inherit eternal life, and that it is
vile hypocrisy for such persons to re-
main in connection with the visible
| Church of Christ, and we exhort those
! who have been called to preach the
gospel and all those who love purity
and the trath and who would avert
the Just judgments of the Almighty God
from the State and Nation, that they
must be no longer silent and tolerant of
these things but take bold stand that
| the flood of impurity and cruelty may
be stayed. These resolutions were laid
over for future consideration.
A resolution from a Philadelphia
body requesting that ministers of TIE
Church be exhorted to preach on the
duty of total abstinence on the last Sab
! bath of the year was discussed, amended
by changing the word "exhOrted' to
'onjOined" aud fixing the time as the
! third Sabbath in December the ear
Hest practicable time, and passed nearly
unanimously.
| Tuesday afternoon was named for
considering the subject of reunion and
approved by the Assembly. Overtures
were presented from several Presby-
teries, by the appropriate committee,
looking forward to the union of the
two branches of the Presbyterian
Church, North and South. 1t was
recommended, by resolution of the
committee on Bills and Overtures, that
correspondence be opened with the
Southern body.
After debate the motion to table the
whole subject was rejected, and il was
referred TO q special committee of
three ministers and three elders, to be
appointed by the Moderator.
The report of the committee on Flee.
tions was presented and adopted.
Adjourned until Monday.
In the New School Assembly, Rev. Dr..
Poore, from the standing committee on
Sabbath Schools, presented an elaborate
summary of the work done during the
past year.
The committee on Oyertures called on
the delegations from the several Presby-
teries on the basis of reunion.
Communications from a number of
Presbyteries were presented and refer
red. One was relative to holding ses-
siOLs without the presence of minister;
another asked that the assessment for
the expenses Of the General Assembly
be reduced from eight to six cents per
member.
A resolution providing that commit
! tees TO corresponding bodies should pay
their own expenses, except that com
mittee to meet the committee of the Old
School body on the subject of reunion,
which should be paid mileage as now,
excited much discussion and was finally
referred back to the committee on Bills
and Overtures.
Reports from delegates to the coFIes
ponding bodies were read and showed
the kind and fraternal greeting they re-
ceived from all bodies visited.
The report from the delegation to the
Scotch and Irish Synods contained some
recommendations in regard 10 matters
OF Church discipline and polity, which
was referred to special committee of
Drs. Booth and Sunderland and Judge
Allison.
The Assembly agreed to unite with
the Old School Assembly in 4 Joint
prayer meeting at the Brick Church on
Monday morning.
A committee of Rev. DR.. Humphrey.
W. Nj. Chidlaw and Hon. f. w. Starr
was appointed to confer with the officers
of the Grand Army of the Republic, and
to take measures to secure the change
of day for the decoration of the soldieTs,
graves from the Sabbath. Adjourned
till Monday.