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

Presbyterian ASSEMBLIES. '-----
Tm QUESTION OF REUNION OF NORTH
ERN AID. 6oV1HknN CHURCHES.
PIesbyt assemblies hold their an
N1sk MeenBs this month. On the e19th,
the H0s$Hegn Assembly met at Cleveland,
0htcs - 6outhern at st. Louis, and the
fimheliAnd at Jefferson, Texas What
E4 NOwn g the United Presbyterian As
SSmhlx NillS at Wooster. Ohio. on
| the 18th insE The "Assembly" is the
highest court In the Presbyterian demo-
NtnAsion. It Is composed of delegates
nom presbyteries; and the chief officers
OF the various boards have seats In the
body as corresponding members. Its
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 ia presbyteries, IA of which
are Ii foreign countries. It has 4,946
churches, 495, ,6A communicates, and
about 500, 600 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
Sohoel Assemblies united, and became
the leading body of the denomination
IN this country.
In the Northern Assembly, ut Cleve-
land, there will be deliberation of frater-
nal relations with tho Southern Church.
Of the finances of the several church
boards. the eldership overture, nepotia-
tlons 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 at the
conference in Baltimore last January.
but the spirit evinoed by both sides since
then leads to q belief that all differences
will be healed. The address Of the
Southern committee demands, as 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 the Southern
Church. The whole difficulty arose
from the "loyal" and ..disloyai' cues.
tion 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 arc 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
for better understanding between the
two churches by the appointment of n
new committee. who shall he ready to
meet any committee Of the Southern As
sembly that may be appointed. or by
adopting such means promotive of har-
mony ~ its wisdom may dictate"
The Southern Presbyterian Church
comprises the elements Of the Old and
schisln in the New School Assembly oc-
Cured previous to the Old school AS
sembly during the war. Two orpaniza-
tions were formed, which united, taking
ut the close of the war the name of the
''Presbyterinn Church in the United
States" This church now has about
l1O,OOO 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 al it's pre-
sent session in st. Louis the Assembly
will identify itself with this movement.
Other important business will come up.
among which is the question of altering
the course of the theological training Of
ministers, so 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 the 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 America.
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church
has about 100000 COMMITMENTS. The
origin Of this church dates back to the
great revival in Kentucky, early in the
present century. In consequence of this
religious awakening. new CONGREGATIONS
were formed faster thnn 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 year negotiations were
opened for union with the Northern
Presbyterian Church, but they camo to