The New York herald., 1869-05-28
formed great work In The interest Of their Church
TEE REV SCHOOL ASSEMBLY.
Seventh Day.

TEE REV SCHOOL ASSEMBLY.
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Seventh Day.
Tic proceedings were opened yesterday morning
In the usual manner. There was large audience
present in anticipation Of hearing the report OF The
Joint committee on reunion.
Rev. HOWARD CROSBY stated that meeting would
be held In the evening IN behalf OF the Christian
Commission In the Church Of the Covenant, at half
past seven.
meeting In behalf Of the freedmen was also an
nounced TO take place In the evening in the Brick
church..
The great question Of tie day. namely, reunion,
was then taken np
Rev. Dr. BOOTH, from the committee to whom was
referred the report the delegate 10 the Free Church
OF Scotland and the Presbyterian Church Of Ireland,
read the report OF that committee, containing va
riOus suggestions and giving Information In regard
to these two branches The report also contained
series Of resolutions recommending that one or more
delegates be appointed annually to visit those
churches provided 1t were done without ex-
pense, and that the Churches OF Scosland ana
Ireland be requested to reciprocate. The re-
port also recommended that the suggesti ons
concerning the founding Of a permanent fund to pay
the clergy. the adoption OF a form OF marriage and
burial services, and uniform system Of holding
church property, be submitted TO the presbyteries
for their action.
After some debate the report was laid on the table
REPORT OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON REUNION.
Rev. Dr. ADAMS, from the joint Connliuee on on re, re,
union, then read the report, which lie stated had
been unanimously concurred In by both committees.
some discussion here arose as 10 wnether . ,ne cue 1e
O'Clock. Finally motion made Tor that purpose
was lost, and
dress the assembly in vindcati0n OF the report lie
ielt more encouraged for the future nan ne mad ever
felt. lie believed the hearts OF the Old school
yearned for union, aud he believed the feeling for
union was stronger IN the hearts OF the Old Scnooi
brethren than u was in those Of tho New school
school would vlndlcate their orthodoxy. The only
question TO be submitted to the presbyeres was the
simple one Of whether the basis Of union would he
established Oh the common standards OF The Church.
He then passed on to review the salient points Of the
report pointing out its important features He con-
cuded by saying that II the report was adopted they
looked forward to glorious Church. more efficient
than the Presbyterian Church in days past, and
q greater extension OF the Redeemer's Kingdom than
Rev. Drs. Fisher. Patterson, Stearns and Others
also made few remarks In favor OF the report.
Pending the debate the Assembly adjourned until
haif-past Two O'Clock, after prayer by Rev. DR.. A.
Wood.
Afternoon Session.
The Assembly reconvened at the appointed hour,
and after an appropriate prayer by the Moderator
the debate on the report OF the Joint Committee on
Rev. DR.. HiCKoCS, Of Buffalo, said he was happy
that the important measures presented ~ tne MORN
ing in the report OF the Reunion C9mm..lee naa not
been unduly hurried through without d1scussion
lie had nothing to say against the reunion or the
matter in the report bat he, ne thought ,% the
been hurried through without full and fair discus
sion. He was not member thank God, or the AZ.
sembly which committed the act OF eXcision; and
because that act happened to be committed WIN
rash and not haste that was no reason why .ne
report or reunion should be rushed through ID .ne
should pass in silence, lest 1t might be considered
that they gave sullen approval TO that when was
alin not
TO this result OF reunion would be more steadfast
in it than any OF the others. They feared, and hon
esS or coson lfane% 'Sa coasSS sss and % ss But they
had met manfully that discussion IL mignt %
W. was such T,,h' +" thing as the new school Of
theology but he must say that he felt a deep at
tachment TO tne New school the Hew o, sCo0I a
were compact. These fears passed gradually away,
bur they were not all disspated yet Tney united
Immense bodies in Germany, but that did not pre-
vent ratonalism rolling over /, like huge Nor
would this union produce anJ good result unless it
was was ''' to be s' cementsd y in charity and not
| In uniformity. Tnero were ulnerences pe-
t%eS Go W to Cover these ierences with the mantle
| OF Charity He believed the theology OF New Eng.
land mad contributed scme OF the finest clements aud
| traits to the theology OF both the New and Old
| Schools. He believed the Calvnisuc system had
m as 70 %oSa long
the country He did not believe that the CaivIasm
which was in future to rule this country was 10 be
hide bound hyper Cavinisn, ,.but liberal and catho
lie Calvps such as 1t existed In the days OF Calvin
Rev. Dr. SUNDERLAND, Of Washington. next ad-
dressed the Assembly. Though he came from the
seat Of government Of this great nation nc came
gentleman spoke al some length In happy ana eo-
quent vein on the beneficial results which were
about to accrue to both bodies OF the Presbyterian
Church by the contemplated reunion The RoInish
Church, powerful and compact In her sensuous
un was soaesy sesss S an esas
| power he could not but admire the me.
chansm Of this Rom,sh ra unity was sat now was d
the great Protestant masses III that spiritual unity
which ought to bind them to Christ.
Rev. Dr. CANFIELD next spoke on the SUBJECT, ana
Rev. Dr. PRATT, OF Ono followed.
Rev. DR.. PATTERSON, of Chicago, was here loudly
called for by the Assembly. In response to the call
lie assembled TO the platform and proceeded 10 say
that he had given his subscription 10 the plan OF
union presented. For a long time there was a mis-.
apprehension as TO his position on that great
question. lie never believed that general
AMI closely eompae,ed union , Gi a orrv tne ryes ss
desired, but only that local unities mightbe consum-
mated. He had laDored IN the committee OF 1907 20
secure basis to bring all schools TO prucucai
eaualty. aud that was secured. In 1865 that basis
| was amended by the other branch OF the Churcn.
! He was Obliged to dissent to some OF those amend
uents His objection was not to the union, but 10
some OF the terms OF the union. Al the present lime he
| found himself in different circumstances. He had
Consulted the brethren or the Old school and he had
| been assured that II was not the intention
aIrdEe the liberty ,nd naw s,,1sr n oceaaon Sso
for conscientious reason to dissent nom this pla
| 10 say that he was fully satisfied with II would be
saving too much. His trust was In the providence
and the word and spirit OF Coo the future There
FORE he gave In his adhesion to this plan as the best
| that could be obtained under the circumstances.
lie was sorry he had not the confidence, the enthu-
siasin and the de1nitveness Of some Of hts brethren
| with regard 10 the final results OF this union. How.
ever he trusted In God IVr Tie future 10 Dfig ABOUT
| happy results.
REV. Dr. How ARD spoke for five minutes and said
| 1t much better TO dam back any uissenlieht
| ieelinr for The present II was known to many OF
the brethren that he had from the beginning opposed
strenuously reunion: but he had since changed MS
mind and thought II was necessary 10 reune In or
| der TO oppose Ratonalsm, Ropanism and other re-
| llgons Closely allied to the latter.
Several other gentlemen made short sddfesses
| each being restricted TO Ave minutes.
| Tue MODERATOR announced that tho hour for TAX
ing the vote the question hali-past nvel nau now
arrived and asked the Assembly 10 bow their heads
for moment In silent prayer ON motion, the vote
was taken by the Assembly rising and voting unanl-