The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-05-27

Church Erection Fund Of the Presbyterian Church
of the United States OF America aud that the looa-
tion be continued in the city OF New lork.
2. That the members OF the board be chosen
impariiay from both branches OF the Church, that
the number be 81, consisting OF ten ministers AMI
eleven elders acting in connection with the Presby
terian Church, and that the entire board 80 formed
be expected to meet at least once every year. q,
g. That fifteen members, seven ministers and
eight elders, reside in the city OF New York or Its
me Chatter he ontsiued autSoriznT the fteen local
members to act trustees Of the fund or until sucs
change shall be secured; nine Of the fifteen men,
befs shall continue TO hold the said trust shall
be until after the previous year existing.
4. That the members OF this board three minis
ters and three elders shall be chosen from the West
This recommendation is made in view of this fact
that certain properties held by the Board Of Church
Extension are Temporarily located in Missouri, and
require general supervision. 1t also seems desira-
BILE that the board should have representatives on
the ground to receive appropriations from the West
surance, and matters OF first Importance in which
thus far there has been great neglect.
reside in New York, and as to finances shall be
similar to those OF the present secretaries OF the
Church Erection and Church Extension: also that
the board shall have authority to appoint Secre-
tary.
ment OF all noble efforts TO build churches and
cbapels in the States by special contribution. They
unanimously recommend that the Assembly take the
most effective measures to secure the annual con-
tributions from all the churches for the general
work of the board
The following gentlemen were nominated by the
committee for election to the board. For the first
class, 10 serve for one year, Revs. Few Smith,
Thompson, Craven, Stevens Skidmore, and Burn
haur; second class, for two years, Revs. Paul.
Dunn, Ellenwood, Swan, Lane, Crosby, and Sut-
Nichols, Gilman, Lane, King Skarrett, and Warren.
Reconstruction Resumed.
The unfinished business the consideration OF the
Reconstruction Committees report, was then re-
The following item was adopted as it stands
'In the Book Of Discipline chapter vii, section 2,
to read as follows, viz. :-tEvery kind OF decision
which is formed in any church judlcatory, except
the highest. may be reviewed by superior judca-
synod as provided in the form of government and
may be carried before it In one or the other of the
four following ways"
The following was then considered
Moreover, it is recommended that the Assembly
instruct and order all its presbyteries at their first
appointed meeting to vote directly aye or may
on these several overtures, and send forthwith an
the Assembly, who shall keep accurate account of
the same, and report it TO the Assembly"
- rms tem I'M was tnen amended am SO as TO strike out
the second ne and to insert after the WORD "Geet-
ing in the third line the words ''after reconstruc
Also, to insert the word ''neXt" before the word
Assembly in the last line. The item was adopted
amended.
The following item was then considered:-
"Furthermore, it is recommended that when this
Assembly adjourns at the close Of its regular busi-
ness, it adjourn to meet in this place the third
Tuesday Of September next, at II O'Clock A. M, for
responses to these oveTfures for changes in the Con
situtoD, and declaring the result and for the trans
action OF no business whatsoever, except what
necessarily pertains thereunto.
This being considered now unnecessary, on mo-
tion of DR.. Musgrave the item was omitted from the
The two following items, the closing ones of the
report, were then adopted as reported
'Finally, your committee will close their report
with suggestion, for the aston OF the Assembly,
which they think would secure greater efficiency
and despatch in their business.
"As much time is consumed and the attention of
the Assembly distracted with overtures and ques-
tions OF minor Importance coming up from various
hncin nf
more general interest-it is recommended that the
Assembly order that hereafter bills and overtures
up only from synods or presbyteries; yet that
this may not prevent any Committee OF Bills and
Overtures from bringing before the House, of its
notion upon q two-thirdS vote OF the committee,
any matter which they may deem OF sufficient i'm
portanee to engage the attention of the General
The preamble to the whole report was then read
referred to committee for engrossment, previous
to the final action of the Assembly on the report
This is necessary on account of the many alterations
which have been made.
This motion was carried. Rev. Drs. Beatty, Hat
field, Speer Crosby, and Mqsgrave, and Elders
Judge Strong and Governor Pollock were appointed
Rev. Dr. Musgrave then made the following mo-
That the General Assembly appoint committee
of five to frame suitable act which this Assembly
may adopt and which will enable the synods de-
fnitely by our action legally to organize. Passed
The Report OF % the Ccmmtte. on the HeideI-
The Committee on the Heidelberg Catechism made
report, of which the following is an abstract:-
The report starts out by giving history OF Heide
Ufsinus, who had been appointed by Frederick III
doctrines of Calvin. Luther's Catechism was sent
forth in 1922 Cavins In 1885, and the Heidelberg in
1863 on the basis of which the Zurich Catechsm was
drawn up in 1889 for the Reformed Church of Ger
many. In its form the Heidelberg Catechism is sub
jective, making the individual who repeats its an
swers TO say continuallyI"F and ''me" and "we'
and "us" As Dr. Chalmers, IN his Constitutes OF
Theology" admirably divides the whole sub
'sTSe RENE dy SO does this standard begin with the
'Msery OF Man." anf having explained and Illus
rated this misery proceeds to set before its learners
in all their beauty and preciOusness the Gospel pro-
visions for "Man's Deliverance." 1t teaches clearly
the sovereignty of Almighty God, and that II
The Heidelberg Catechism expounds the
creed, IL ainrms ana maintains the doctrine OF the
Christ, it defines the ofce and operations of the
Holy Spirit, it declares that the believer is justified
only by faith in Jesus Christ, renounces any de-
pendence upon Baptism or the Lords Supper as in
themselves saving ordinances and while explaining
and recommending the use Of preaching and of dis
gratitude. Enforcing the authority and enlarging
upon the requirements of the decalogue, it teaches
also the encacy OF sincere suppllcations while
pounding the several petitions of the Lords Prayer
. Inc report then specifics the difference between
II anu the Westminster Catechsm, and refers to the
TACT that the Reformed Dutch and the late German
Reformed Churches sanction both. 1t then states
that correspondence has been had with view to
this subject says:-
ION every hand your committee. has been en-
couraged ID present ior your action the declaration
Of full confidence in this venerable catechism
suggestions nave also been made to its members
that 1t would not be Inappropriate also at this time
to add the Assembly's endorsement OF other sym.
bOls that derive their descent from the Heide6erg
Catechism, and exhibit with like fidelity the same
essential doctrines and duties. These are especiay
the Gallo Confession aud the Second Helyetc Con
fessiOn. These and others of similar value how
not being mentioned in The into itS