The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-01
PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

CLOSING SESSION AND FINAL ADJOURNMENT
DITIoN OF THE cHuRcH-FRArERNAL RRLA-
TIoNs ESTABLISHED WITH THE CHURCH SOUTH.
After tho approval OF the minutes yesterday the
Moderator Or. Van Dyke, read extracts from private
letter which he had received from Dr. B. NJ Smith,
Moderator OF the Church South, which recently as
scmbed in Savannah, and Which he lDr. Van Dykel
deemed important that this Assembly Should hear
The letter gives brci history OF the correspondence
between the two Assemblies, and accounts for the
little delay tina: occurred between the reception OF this
Asscmbly's telegram and the reply thereto The &C
ton Of the Southern Church was adopted without tho
knowledge and independent Of the action OF the Brook
Ign Assembly. But before tho action could be sent
North this Assemblys action received, and was Al
referred the Committee Bills and 0vertures
who promptly brought in the overture which was sent
and which was adopted by avotc OF 81 to g. This was
spontaneously followed by prayer that God might
bless both churches. and that peace might prevail
among them throughout all generations
The Assembly, by resolution, approved OF the princ-
plos Of the American Peace Society," especially that OF
arbitration, and hoped that the umo is when
Christian peace principles shall prevail in all the EARTH
The church at Leesburg Ky was granted leave 10 sell
its church property and devote the proceeds 10 the
church with which It has become united, and which
church is in communion with the Southern Assembly
A temperance mendation to Prcsbyteros and
church their most earnest efforts stop
the growing vice OF ntempcrance was adopted
resolution deprecang the dissertation Of the Sabbath
by railroad companies briefly discussed. One dele
cato remarked that tho Delaware Iackawanna and
Western Railroad Company were Sabbath keepers, and
that they had recently repaired 100 miles their road
without trenchng on the Sabbath Another delegate
said that ministers and Christian laymen the
greatest volators OF the Sabbath tho West and no
hoped that II this resolution adopted ministers
would be warned against the violation Of that day
Another delegate did not how children in these
cities could get along without fresh milk, which in
wolves the running Of milk trains The resolution
not adopted.
There usually three committees the benevo-
lent work Of tho society-one sandngs one special
committee of the Assembly and one synodical COM
mittce DR.. Montfort therefore recommended that
there be but committee instead Of three and that
the members be nominated by the synodical Com
missloners and elected by the Assembly. Tho
mcndation was, with slight amendments, adopted A
committee Of seven then appointed to inquire into
the consttutionaty OF the appointment OF svnodical
committees, DR.. Musgrave raising the point that the
Assembly had authority to delegate power thus
outside committed Seven trustees for the Board
or Church Erection and seven for the Presbyterian
House in Philadelphia were elected. The report OF
Judge Williams special committee on Tho
CHURCH
was called up, when Dr. Prime moved the discharge
OF tic committee, with thanks aud then referred the
suggestions contained therein To the Boards
be considered and reported on by them to the next
Assembly The report called for the virtual consollda
ton Of the Church Erection with the Home Mission
Board The report oil the special Committee on Home
Missions and Sustenlation as another Item OF unfinished
bus Jness called up and lain the table report
OF th Church Polity Committee responsive services
N worship adopted on Tuesday was reconsidered and
the following, offered by Dr.. Prime, adopted
Resolved That referring the action the General
Assembly the thus question this Assembly
prepared 20 recommend Church make It
This, IL was argued, would give relief to many
churches which have responsive readings In their
forms Of worship The nrst week IN January was ap-
pointed week OF prayer Tor churches and the last
week in the month Tor schools and colleges. Gu
Dr. Adams motion the two 0vertures representa-
.on adopted ON Tuesday were Withdraw and the
committee on this matter was increased 10 twelve,
that next year may have some definite and accepta-
been established with the Southern Church, the brcth
think It s better not 10 disturb the present status
OF representation SO that, by and by, when the two
Churches united, they expect TO be- the united
body better decide this matter Drs Charles A.
hickey and s. l. Condo were appointed fraternsl .ec-
gates the Reformed Episcopal Church Council The
several Standing committees of the Assembly having
made ina reuorls discharged. collection
amounting to $4O5 80 for the Wnherspoon monument
taken up and resolution. offered by Mr.. Cham
berlan asking permission TO make special appeals 70
the churches behalf OF ministerial education in
Brazil referred to the Board oil Foreign Missions.
Mr.. chamberlain showed The great want Of ministers
in that country There are twentyone Presbyterian
congregations scattered the country,
ganzed churches with buildings, aud only eight min
istcrs Twelve young ia his church are
anxious to study Tor the ministry, and many more
from other churches; but the Prcsbytery Of Rio
Janesro has no means ut hand 10 help them, and the
Board OF Foreign Missions has been unable for i've
years 10 answer their cali Tor aid
CONDITION CHURCHES.
DR.. Marvin X. Vincent read the narrative indicating
the spiritual condition and relative progress OF the
Church during the past year, and IN part during the
century The century, he said which had organized
many churches had also organized soeptcsm cnursn
iorms and Utah and oneida bots upon ccnturys
OF the Church had been received and those reports
dIcated marked work OF tie spirit OF God throughout
the land. The year has been one VI revIvas in
places unsurpassed by any preceding year IN our his
tory The Doctor read the number OF churches in diff
Presbytcrcs that had reported REVEALS
cessons. The regular paslorate has been the chief
agency and places the sole agency in this
work. In four OF the churches OF Newark there are
pastors classes Tor the training OF candidates Tor The
reception of the sacraments Sunday school work,
Bible study aud cognate matters were treated IN
narrative. race OF Bible readers IL was said,
coming up. On the matter of beneicence honorable
mention made Of Schuyler Prcsbyery, which has
taken the support OF four mission churches of The
hands OF the Home Mission Board. The narrative
spoke approvingy OF womens missionary societies and
the good they doing and referred apprec,atvey TO
the Presbylerics Of Ningpo and Shanturg, China,
which have membership Of s26 communicates and
twelve theological students. Reference was also made
to the other foreign missions and TO the missions in
own West aud among the Indians. Eighty five min
have died during the year. ana the neurological
roll read by the stated clerk. The odcst-John
Ross, of Upton, lndw ninety two, and the young.
est-Mr. Smith. OF Yonkers-thirty-thrce
Nine Of them died between so and 20 years Of age
1,647 between so and So 800 between 90 aud 20 62
between 30 and CO. 49, between 40 and 30, and POI
80 and 40 years oil age The roll called aud
27s persons answered 10 their names This little
more than half The Assembly, and yet only LIS had
been excused by the committee on leave OF absence.
MUTUAL ADMIRATION EXERCISES
DR.. Prime offered resolutions OF thanks TO Almighty
God tor hts blessings upon the nation and the church
Tor 100 years, ana upon this Assembly which had
spent two such happy and harmonious weeks together
This 10 the Centennial Assembly, and u has been
marked with things for which II will be remen.
bercd Tor u long time No body OF assembled Tor
the transaction OF business spent weeks to-
gethor in more perfect harmony. No word has been
spoken this floor which any brother has occasion TO
regret, which has wounded any other brother This
49, perhaps unprecedented. The glorious REVEALS OF
religion that have prevailed in the Church
ofthanksgvng 10 God Our testimony TO the Centennial
Commission the sanctity OF the sabbath shows that
efforts hive been the means OF securing this |