The New York herald., 1869-05-21
THE NEW SCHOOL ASSEMBLY.

At eleven O'Clock yesterday the General Assem-
bly, of the New school Presbyterian Church formally
opened their proceedings in the Church OF the Cove
nant, Park avenue, corner Of Thmty-fifth street.
Rev. Jonathan +. Stearns, Of Newark, N. j., hied
the post OF Moderator and preached the sermon.
Rev. Edwin +. Hatfield, d. D., OF New York, acted as
Stated Clerk, aud Rev. J. Glentworth Butter, d. d.,
OF New York, as Permanent Clerk.
The exercises opened with SOLO, which was ex-
quisitely executed by q lady whose name did not
transpire.
Rev. George Maxwell, d. d., OF Cincinnati, Ohio.
then offered up brief prayer after which the as5h
hymn was sung by the choir.
The first part OF the fourth chapter OF the Epistle
to the Ephesians was tnen read by Rev. Or. Gerter,
Of Buffalo.
The GLORIA IN Erce,sis followed by the choir.
After further prayer, In which the divine blessing
was invoked on the deliberations OF the Assembly,
and also on those Of the Old School assembled else
where 30 that they might be induced to form per-
manent and lasting union, the organ again pealed
forth solemn hymn, in the singing or which nearly
all the congregation united with the choir.
The Moderator tnen proceeded TO preach the
OPENING SERMON.
He spoke for nearly two hours, and the following
Is the pith Of his disc0urse:-
On the 18th day Of May, ls3s-iust thrtyone years
and three days ago-tne General Assembly OF the
Presbyterian church met In the city Of Philadelphia,
full OF agitation apprehension and mutual dlstrust.
Then and there was consummated the disruption Of
the Church. What was now TO be donef Many
fraternal hearts bed at the alterations which they
witnessed, and the separation which appeared to
them SO unnatural and disastrous. Our own branch
OF the Church, hoping to heal the breach stood
unresoved, once and again taking the Initiative IN
efforts for reunion or friendly communion. and
hardly able some OF them, to give their entire afec-
ton to their own severed portion Of the body
| they must leave behind SO many brethren whom
they still Loved and nSnorea red sara saa as we'll
Dodd, White and Magie-what possible reason could
be discerned why they should be in antagonstic
organizationsi But the contamination was inevita-
BILE and both the parties could but ADJUST themselves
TO the position. Too late perhaps for their best In
our Gnuc s e n prSpaeS nS
In them, and plant gardens and eat the fru OF the
! Take We wives and peget sons and daughters, and
take wives for your sons and give your daughters
to husbands, that they may bcget sons and daugn-
tiers, that ye may be increased and not diminished
Aud seek the peace Of The city whittier have caused
Lord for ii; for % IN the place M thereof % shall ar
little severed fragment rejoicing 10 mud IL still so
large and strong ana, since God so wiled, gave our
| best strength TO Its honor and advancement. And
the Lord gave prosperity. The bands OF our In
terna union were strengthened. Difcult questions
discussed freely, ana early settled. Portions OF
the body not homogeneous Win tne rest Groppea 3,
present circumstances the growth OF both parties,
were dissolved. Our work opened before u.s. Our
churches came up n0by to their duty We gained
| strength year by year. We acquired standing
! among the Christian denominations second 10 none.
/ And now we meet, to-day, compact vigorous, ac
ve hopeful branch OF the great Protestant body OF
| Churches, perfectly united among ourselves, IN
pleasant relations with all the rest, and having IN
! view "A rednion with our long separated brethren,
| on terms OF the utmost mutual respect, frank
| ness, and fraternal confidence In the once
more undivided Church OF our fathers. "Ihat they
ali may I've one" our Lord uttered these words on
| most solemn OCCASION lie had LAM the fouuda
tions Of His Church and Instructed lis disciples IN
| It's principles. But lie was going TO leave them
And there was vast work well fearful COM
\ bat before them. And both required Tor sue
them in one by Ills personal presence. iut that te
was about to be sundered. The shepherd was TO be
\ smitten and the sheep OF the mock scattered
| abroad. He foresaw their danger. Therefore
\ lie prayed TO Ills Father with a peculiar
| emphasis that lie would keep them untcd:-
| kept them In Thy name.v "Now am no more in
the world, but these are In the world and come 10
Thee. Holy Father, keep through Thine own name
| those whom Thou hast given me, that they may be
| ono, as we are" And looking down through the
ages upon the whole body of the elect, and seeing
IN them all tue same need, He poured forth for them
| all the same tervent prayer, "1nat they may all he
one. as Tnou Father. art in Me, and in Tbee
1 that thcy also may be one In Us, that the world
may believe that Inou hast sent Me sI in them and
Thou I'm Me- that they may be made perfect IN one.
and that the world may Know that Thou mast sent
| Me, and hast loved them Thou hast loved
4 Me-" The thing asked ior In this petition marks
| progress without the germ OF it she Is no
Church. And no higher perfection is within her
reach on earth OF IN heaven lnan IT, full develop