The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-05-19
The Reunited Presbyterian
Church-Its First Gene
raj Assembly in
Session.
The Opening Exercises.
The Sermon by the Rev. philemon
III. Fowler, ID. d., Moderator
of the Last New School
Assembly.

'What God has Joined together, let not man
put ssunder."
Such were the words pronounced by George
II. Stuart Esq, of this city, on the 18th of
November last, at Pittsburg, where the Rev. DR..
Jacobus, Moderator of the sold School" Presby-
terian Assembly, grasping the Rev. Dr. Fowler
Moderator of the ''New School" Assembly, by
the hand, declared, by the almost unanimous
vote of the clerical and lay members of both
branches of the denomination, that ''these
churches have been united" 1t was in this
spirit that large and attentive audience
aathered at an early hour this morning in the
old First Presbyterian Church, on South Wash
ington Square, to witness the opening exercises
of the First General Assembly Of the reunited
Church.
On the 18th of May, 1888, full generation
ago, the representatives of this large and in
huential denomination met together for the last
time previous to this OCCASION in the old Seventh
Church building, which at that time stood on
Ranstead Place, Fourth street. above Chestnut
but which, like the unseemly disputes which led
to the disruption of the Church at that time has
passed away forever At the Assembly held in
1887, premonltions of schism were evident in
the action OF that body In eXscinding four of the
synods which were regarded as Congregational
and heterodox, and the effort to organize the
Assembly of 1888 manifested so much discord-
ance in its elements, that the representatives of
the communicated synods and their friends
throughout the Church abandoned the regular
place of meeting and organized the 'New
School, Assembly in the very church where to-
day, thirty-two years after, the delegates of the
whole Church came together in entire harmony
and without semblance of discord.
The Delegates
continued to arrive in large numbers yesterday
to-day nearly all the six hundred or more "com-
missioners" who will compose the Assembly
were in the city. The Committee Con ommis-
sons were in session at the First Church both
n md m amin
ing the credentials of the delegates and assign
Ing them their quarters with the members of the
iifferent city churches, as fast as they reported
their arrival.
As already stated, the sessions of the Assem-
bly, are being held in the First Presbyterian
Church, at the corner OF Seventh street and
South Washington Square, of which the Rev.
Albert Barnes was for so many years pastor,
being succeeded in the active duties of the pull
pit recently by the Rev. Herrick johnson, ID. ID.
The interior of the church has been prepared in
the most elaborate manner for the accommoda-
tion of the convention. For the use of the Off
GERS of the Assembly spacious platform has
been erected around and in front of the pulpit,
and Immediately over the latter is suspended, IN
neat lettering, composed of evergreens, the fol-
lowing expressive passage from the twentieth
verse of the twelfth chapter of St. Paul's Epistle
ITO the Corinthians
"But no,o are they many members, get but one
body"
Around the entire interior, in front of the
galleries, continuous string of evergreen i
stretched, looped up at frequent intervals into
Immediately in front of the platform are the
quarters OF the representatives of the press, who
occupy the front pew, and therefore face the
officers.
The lower floor of the church is intended for
the delegates and reporters only, at east for the
present. This may be changed when it 10 found
how much room is actually n needed for the deie-
gates.
Arrangements have also been made to con-
duce TO the comfort of the delegates by covering
Seventh street with coating of tan to the
depth of several inches. There is great deal
OF travel on this street. but the measure re-
sorted to will serve to deadeh the rattle and
rumble of passing vehicles, and the only dis
cordant sounds that will disturb the proceed
ings will be the periodical jingle of the bells on
the passenger car horses.
Preliminary Exercises Last Evening.
Last evening, as preliminary to the opening
session, union prayer meeting was held at the
church, which was crowded by people drawn
together by the peculiar interest attached to the
occasion. The Rev. DR.. Nichols of st. Louis,
presided, and opened the devotional exercises
with brief address appropriate to the occasion.
After the singing of hymn, prayer was offered
up. The evening was occupied with addresses
by delegates to the Assembly, prayer and sing
ing. The remarks of the different speakers had
bearing on the meeting to be commenced this
morning and the Importance of the questions
which will occupy the attention of the General
Assembly during its continuance.
1he Opening Exercises this Morning.
AT an early hour this morning the church was
thrown open, and long before the hour ap-
pointed for the opening exercises a large audi
enee, made up indscriminately of delegates and
spectators, was present Prominent among the
former present were the Rev. William Adams
ID. D., of New York city, who has been one o
the leading advocates of reunion, and wa;
chairman of the New School Assembly Com
mittee which negotiated the basis of reunion
Rev. III. r. Wilson, ID. ID. 60. 3D., of st. Louis
Rev. r. w. Patterson, d. ID. 60. So, of Chicago
Rev. James McCosh, d. D., the President o.
Princeton College; Rev. Jonathan f. Stearns
ID. ID. On. So, of Newark, N j.; and the officers
who compose
The Preliminary Organization.
According to the 'Plan of Reunion" the Rev
Philemon H. Fowler, ID. D., of Utica, New
York, the late Moderator of the 'New School
Assembly, Jointly with the Rev. M. w. Jacobus
ID. D., of Allegheny city, Pa, the late Modera
tor of the s'Old School" Assembly, will preside
until the selection of a new Moderator, the latte
putting the votes and deciding the questions o
order that may arise, while to the former wa
assigned the duty of preaching the opening
sermon, which, in common with that OF pre-
siding until the election of Moderator, ha
always deyolyed upon the Moderator OF th
previous Assembly in both the former branches
Until the Assembly elects Stated Clerk o
Clerks, the similar officers of the Assemblies o
last year will act in that capacity. They ar
the Rev. Alexander T. McGill, d. d., Of tn