New-York tribune., 1870-05-26

The evening was devoted TO the reception OF the Rsy
Drs Blake, Watts, Edmond, and hcLeod inc hoV NIL
Arnot, and Thomas Sinclair, esq
A VISIT TO ALBERT BARNEs-THE GREAT COM
MENTAToR AT HOME FIFTIETH ANNIVER-
sARY OF HIS GRADUATION-HIs OWN ACCOUNT
OF HIS CONVERSION AND WRITINGS.
PHILADELPHIA, May 25.-A pleasant episode
In the recess of tho Presbyterian Assembly now sitting
here was colegioclerca reunion at the house Of tho
Rev. Albert Barnes, last evening. Although his falling
eyesight has compelled his withdrawal from the pas
torate which he long and 80 honoraDy nied, Ills
bodily yigor remains otherwise unimpaired Less than
a month ago he walked out to Kensington, five miles,
preached and walked back again, and continues 10
preach the Gospel frequently at many places. lie
dyes with more than Pauline independence In his
own house at West Philadelphia beautifully emboWercd
in that vlaike REGION and receives, with true oido
courtesy, the guests who come AS the present year
completes half century since his graduation at HAM
ton College some Alumni OF that highly Presbyterian
institution attending this Assembly, bethought them
selves OF the propriety Of fraternai ca
upon him, A Committee, consisting OF the Rev.
Drs Einwood and Kendall, the energetic Secre
taries Of two leading New School benevolent Boards
and that genial Professor Of Greek whom every Ham
ton boy for friend marshaled together, at the
church study, 80 Alumni, representing Grasses
Prof North led the company, and DIR. Henry A. Nelson
of Lane (CnennatD Seminary made the address OF
greeting expressed the gratitude OF his companions
for the privilege ot such ayisit and ana Tor oImon t
learned commentators, Sunday ySchoo teachers juvenile
students and cottage patriarchs were lndep,ed 10 ms
writings He recalled two suggestions which MI Barnes
had in public address at Hamilton that the word
is always favorable to young men, ana tnat tere d
his reputation, since the world wold see 'a m N Ms
congratulated his host that both these had been happily
Mr. Barnes in his response, expressed great pleasure
at the remembrances of his fellow Alumni Gnost OF whom
Dr. Nelson had remarked born since Mr. BarnG,'s
graduation), and spoke briefly Of his college NE HIS
class numbered II members, ana nine OF Ten OF theh
still ying-a remarkable fact. lie owed , nnch,
every way, to Hamilton College He entered me senior
Glass with very imperfect preparaton having spent
but two years and half in previous study, dsadyan,
tage which he felt had followed hm all ms me. "hen
he had flushed the study Of law in Fargd m there %a
and support Of his father spend year in Hamilton.
The influence Of the College had been great not only on
his intellectual but also his moral character for he
religious, intending to be ereig0us, when he
went there He had been skeptc until dhen recently
by them; but he had only resolved TO to
occurred, however, during the year, and he with many
Others subject Of much interest One Of ms class
afterward that he had felt greatly relieved after doing
so; but the conversation produced effect. But his
room, mate Avery was converted, and in few words,
not particularly addressed to him. made statement OF
tenOn, and the means of my conversion and owe
my conversion, if have been converted TO Christianity
the wide influence Hamilton; her just pride in Prof
Edward Robinson of Union Seminary, whom he declared
the Holy than all other who have written on
that subject. Mr.. Barnes expressed his pleasure
into the hands of son of Hamilton Dr. HeIrlck
Johnson). OF his own writings, Mr. Barnes SAID; They
have been kind of peasurea pastime-to me. never
designed 10 be author and when King wrote me from
Andovcr that my hand was too ilegbe for printer to
read, thought the remark strange as | had then no
thought Of publishing anything did think that short
write and had accumulated about 150 pages when I
learned that Mr. James Alexander and Mr. Todd of Pitts
never knew but wrote to Mr. Alexander, and he said
that the American Sunday ySchOOl Union had requested
tO health
however, and he was pleased TO desire me
to 1nr G wholly tf dt before to TTOh the as @
ing with very little previous study; before |
S EIi sCs asEed Dr. T how was
possible for the Fathers to haG written , saGh %
from calculation, that one octave page day would
Mr. Barnes further spoke of the pleasure he felt
in the fact that his books doing good in vide cir
saying: cannot say that envy you, gentlemen who
perhaps TO be long in the active work OF fe and yet
think il Is great thing live in this world, where
much is to be accomplished, where all Il growing better
all the time toward all that Is good. II is xeat prvi
ege to live and TO all that is to come in the next 50
general introduction of the Alumni followed: and,
a short stay, the Rev. ii. H. Kellogg tclass OF ls9)
guests with an aectonate benedction. The Of his
courtesy shown even In his last farewell for, bare
headed and in the rain he stood gate the
cal OF his life for many thousands live to remember
with thankfuness the warnings Of Albert Barnes which
have saved them from that fall which might have been
forever
SOUTHERN PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
LOUISVILLE, May 25.-The most interesting
in the Presbyterian General Assembly yester
day. was the subject of lay preaching one of the prnc
pies the Presbyterian Church is the high standard of
required of the ministry. year ago the As
semby authorized the licensing of men eXhorters
who had received this thorough training one Of the
Prcsby teries requested that this authority he withdrawn
and the request rise To long, animated earnest
and able debate The nominations 10 fill the chair Of the
theology
OF South Carolina being in order the Rev Dr. James r.
OF Baltimore the Rev. DR.. II. II. Hopkins Of Owens
boro, Ky., and the Rev. Dr. John H. Rice of Franklin
Tenn, were nominated. Last evening an enthusiastic
home missionary meeting was held ana was addressed
by the KeyS Rutherford, Boggs, and Iobinson; the
Rey. Messrs. Van Dyke, Backls, ana william r. Dodse,
delegates from the Northern Assembly TO propose the
opening of correspondence between the two bodies ar
rived III Louisville last evening.
GENERAL SYNOD OF THE REFORMED CHURCH.
CHICAGO, Nav 25.-The whole day has been
consumed in the General synod Of the Reformed Presby
United Presbyterian Church The Rev. 4. Thompson of
Amherst Nova Scotia, spoke in opposition to union save
there certainly could lie union on the pres
ent basis. He regarded union now as Gnneees, ,,
without being guilty Of violating covenant . engage
Church Robert Wilson spoke earnestly in favor of
uhion He said he could give up both name and test
buried He believed there intelligence enough in the
churches to prepare better than either Peter Gibson
Of Cincinnati prepared to unite the present
basis Samuel g. Coughery spoke in opposition to union
The Rev. John Douglass of pittsburgh spoke about
hour and three-quarters making the most effective
speech that has thus been delivered on either side
II was powerful appeal for unlon and vas listened to
with profound interest He thoroughly and ably reviewed
the early history OF the Reformed Church. showing that
the antiquities claimed for IL dh not exist in fact.
He also arrayed the repeated action of the General
Synod favorng consideration of this question with other
branches OF the Presbyterian Church Almost every
proposition for union has from this Church and
yet the last 10 accept its offers He exhibited
the decension Of the Church In numbers until had but
80 ministers and argued that something must be done.
He contendcd that the opponents of union unable To
show any difference between the testimonies of the two