The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-05-23
Presbyterian Assemblies.

kHA AND SOUTHERN CHURCHES.
Presbyt yterian Assemblies hold their an
n1al meetings this month. On the 10Th,
the Northern Assembly met ut Cleveland,
Ohio, t6e Southern at st. Louis, and the
IQnmberland at Jefferson, Texas. What
l4e known as the United Presbyterian As
aembty will meet at Wooster, Ohio, on
the 26th inst. The "Assembly" is the
highest court in the Presbyterian demo-
mtnation. It is composed of delegates
nom presbyteries; and the chief officers
OF the various boards have seats in the
body as corresponding members. It's
business is to hear appeals from synods,
receive overtures from presbyteries, re-
ports from various departments of the
church organization, and to effect
changes Of church government in CO.
operation with presbyteries.
The Northern Assembly, entitled the
Presbyterian Church of America. is COM
posed of 35 synods in the United States,
comprising 174 presbyteries, IA of which
are In foreign countries. It has 4,946
churches, 495, ,64 commandments, and
about 5OO.O Sunday school scholars
In 1887, the church was divided into two
parts, known as the Old and New School
Churches. In 1870, the Old and New
School Assemblies united, and became
the leading body of the denomination
III tnlB country.
In the Northern Assembly, ut Cleve-
land. there will be doliberation of frater-
nal relations with the Southern Church,
OF the finances of the several church
boards, the eldership overture, negotia-
tions for closer union with the Reformed
Church, the hymn book question, and
various other matters Of interest.
The question of fraternal relations
with the Southern Church failed Mt the
conference in Baltimore last January.
but the spirit evinced by both sides since
then leads to belief that all differences
will be healed. The address OF the
Southern committee demands, az its sole
desire. the removal of imputations of he
resy, schism and blasphomy, which the
former acts of the Northern Assembly
seemed to cast upon tile Southern
Church. The whole difficulty arose
from the "loyal" and ''disloyai" aucs-
ton which the late war injected into
many denominations, and which all
churches should evince Christianity suf
ficient to eject from among them. The
committee of the two branches nro to re-
port to their respective assemblies and
some conclusion, it is to be hoped, will
be had Of the question, or the continu-
ance of negotiations. Several presbyte-
ries in the North have adopted overtures
to the Cleveland Assembly respecting
the subject The presbyteries of Platte
Mo-, OF New Castle, Del, of Usage, Mo.
and some others ask the Assembly to ac-
cede to the demands of the Southern
Church. The presbytery of New York
urges the Assembly to continue to labor
tor better understanding between the
two churches by the appointment of
new committee. who shall he ready to
meet mi tffa Nf ho A.
sembly that may he appointed. or by
adopting such means promotive of har-
mony AZ its wisdom may dictate
The Southern Presbyterian Church
comprises the elements of the Old and
New School Churches in the South. The
schisin in the New School Assembly oc-
Cured previous to the Old school AS
sembly during the war. Two organiza-
tions were formed, which united, taking
ut the close Of the war the name of the
'Presbytcrian Church in the United
States" This church now has about
ilO,UOO communicates. The Southern
Assembly is the only Presbyterian body
In this country that has not approved
and become party to the confederation
scheme. 1t Is expected that at it's pre-
sent session in ST. Louis the Assembly
will identify itself with this movement.
Other important business will come up,
among which IN the question of altering
the course of the theological training Of
ministers, 80 aS to enable theological
students to defray their own expenses,
and to gain much experience in church
work before undertaking the charge of q
congregation. The Assembly is asked to
recognize the international series of Sun
day school lessons. and to change the To-
cation OF some of the church boards.
The Assembly will also receive and act
upon tho report Of its committee to ar
range plan for cooperation between
the boards of the Southern Presbyterian
Church and those of the Reformed
Church in Americn.
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church
has about 100000 communicates. The
origin of this church dates back to the
great revival i'll Kentucky, early in the
present century. In consequence of this
religious awakening, new Congregations
were formed faster than they could be
regularly supplied with preachers, and
this led to the licensing of laymen to
catechise and exhort-a grave departure
from Presbyterian usage, which was not
sanctioned by the church. A separation
TOOK place and new organization was
formed. Last yenr negotiations were
opened for a union with the Northern
Presbyterian Church, but they cnmo to
naught. The Cumberland is the least
Calvanistic Of all the Presbyterian
churches. The United Presbyterian
Church is q small body of about 73, 600
communicates. 1t was formed about
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