The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-19
RELIGIOUS.
Meeting of the Presbyterian
General Assembly.
The Past and Present Of Presbylerianism and
a Prophecy Of Its Future.

The General Assembly Of the Presbyterian Church
opened it's annual yesterday morning IN the
Brooklyn Tabernacle There was congregation OF
about 500 persons present, including the Commits
sioncrs OF The Assembly. The exercises opened with
voluntary on the great organ by Mr. g. W. Morgan
the " Halleujah Chorus and " How beautiful the
fcet,n &c. The Doxology then sung and brief
prayer offered by tho Moderator DIR. Morris. Tho
hymn, 'Jesus, Lover of my Soul, was sung by the
congregation, the forty eighth Psalm read by DR..
Prime OF New York alter which the Rev. Dr. Wills OF
Washington y. c., prayed at length Tor Divine guild
tho deliberations of tho Assembly and that the
delegates might honor Christ by all they shall say and
do that rich blessings may upon the Taber-
naclc church and upon tho people who entertain the
Commissioners Tho hymn. 4" Blcst be the tie that
biuds,'' &c, was then sung, alter which Rev. Dr.
Morris, Moderator Of the last Assembly delivered the
annual sermon He based his remarks the sixty
third chapter OF Isaiah and tho fortyeighth Psalm
The former is psalm Of of the historic
grace of God to Israel In all their Affections He was
afflicted; in His love and pity He redeemed them
and He carried them nil the days OF old
&c The Psalm uorty- eighty is survey OF hope
In the success of the church and OF her
future. Walk about Jerusalem. 20 round her and
mark well her buwarks that ye may tell IL genera
lions following The Church in all ages has enjoyed
The protection o. God, tho God of His people for
tnd ever The ecclesiastical year just closing has been
very marked in
CHURCH.
In the increase OF her ministry and the revival OF
ngion throughout all her borders. The promise Of tho
opening year also very rich and abundant REVEALS
Tho various enterprises OF the Church tPrcsbytcran
moving forward with scarcely diminished force
interest, and all the churches are rejoicing in times
of refreshing Does II not then, tho Doctor asked
become appropriate the language oil psalmist and
prophet and praise the God OF Israeli
In this historic year led TO review the nearly
two of the existence OF denomination on
this continent that may find for saying with
the Psalmst that tins Goo who has been and is shall
continue to be our God for and ever. Two themes
suggested by the texts chosen, namely Tho
past and the future OF American Presbycranism Tho
Doctor declared that American Presbytcriansm started
from English rather than Continental Cavinism The
Doctor, by brief review OF both British and Con
mental Presbytcrianism this proposition
When 1t came hither there four State churches
established this continent PreIacy in Virginia
aomanism in Maryland tho Dutch in New York ana
he Purans in New England. Bat its doctrines were
preached and nrc preachabc, and though it
banishcd from place and another
maintained its ground national
shurch--a church tor the people The Doctor adj
mitled that while Calvinsm had made impressions
1pon other forms OF faith, H. too, had been modified
BY others. He traced It's differences and divcrgenclcs
but declared that in principles and doctrines all the
branches Of
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ARE SUBSTANTIALLY ONE
He followed II in Its methods OF work, in its donomi-
national ife and contased It's growth from the outset
with ministers to the present with It's 706
ministers and nearly o. 900 churches and 900
bers Ii has hardly parallel except in the develop
ment OF Melhodism in the old World and IN this where
It's egons make the continent trembo with their tread
as they march IRON city to city and State to State
throughout our country singing their songs of faith
and hope aud love. One hundred years ago there
1888 Presbyterian ministers aud more than
OF Missouri has more than these. During the past
hy years the ministry OF The Presbyterian Church has
multiplied skiold aud Its membership eightold
In i,cussing the second part of his themc-the
future OF Presbytcrianism the Doctor asked What is
the true line OF progress tor church! Is the Church
10 preserve Its unity from generation to generation?
Is Presbyteriansm over to be uniiedy and what
be the relations OF this Church to other churches OF
like type OF order, doctriuc, poty and governmentY
or all men Presbyterians more likely TO differ than
others The forces of segregation and dIsintegration
were considered and the Doctor remarked that to hold
together 600 600 resbyterans Tor century would be
MIRACLE, INDEED,
upon which the world might look with wonder. But
under tho recent union this Church is passing into a
state OF stability; II is assuming new positions and
progressing everywhere. Elements OF discord are
being eliminated and the Church growing stronger
aud not weaker The Doctor next essaycd TO OF
the unity and the specific un icat,on of
American Prcsbytcriausm lie referred with kindn.
To the Presby Church South. and remarked
no one who studies the Signs OF The times need be dis
appointed at The issue There distinctive prn-
cipes in this case which require separate organizations
Tor their propagation lie touched Lightly upon the
were yet many iiganents o The denomination cianor-
ing Tor UNION. While TINS Church compromise
with siu IL afford cherish Tor those aiiepatcd
brethren OF the Southern Church the. utmost
snip, SUI believing thai no good causes exist for this
aiicnaion TINS Church may wisely walt tor the glad
hour when time shall pave the way only Tor friendly
relations but for friendly union. Living Churches
cannot be kept apart by dead The Doctor
further inquired whether combination OF
Presbyterianism is possible desirable, and whether
or not American iresbytcrianism can be united He
gave variety OF reasons Tor taking Affirmative
view OF the situation, and remarked that II Is only
little lees mcuncnicai than Romansm ITSELF uo pad
hitting tribute 10 the deceased fathers Of Prcsbye
riapls, ana asked his brethren follow foot
steps OF those good men, who having finished their
lalors, are now enjoying their reward
Alter closing prayer tho Rev. pr. TaImage an
nounccd that the Assembly would hold two sessions
daily. fiom nine A. N. to Jour r. NJ, with a recess
lunch hal past twelve 10 two 4. ~ and in tho
evening rom eight to ten The evening sessions how
ever Will DC devoted To home and foreign mission WORK
Sunday school aud other interests OF The Church on
thursday evening the reception Of fraicrnal delegates
from otncr denominations viii take place, and sa,ar-
day evening VIII be Tree Tho auaienCe then sang the
national an. cn and after prayer by Rev. Dr. Muicahy
the Assembly took recess untl hapast two O'Clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Al the hour named the Assembly together
again, and Rev. Dr. Adams OF tins city. offered the
opening prayer The roll OF the Assembly was called
and committee appointed 10 receive credentials OF del
following named persons were then put nomination
Tor election 10 The modcratorsbip:--Drs ). NJ Camp
bell, Of Rochester; Van Dyke Of Brooklyn; e.. a.
Dickcy OF Philadelphia; Tamagc, OF Brooklyn; jon
htsan Edwards Of PEORIA Ill., anu W. T. Knox, Of Che
mung These brethren were required then to vote Tor
tncr choice and 10 retire while all the other delegates
voted In this way repeating and personal c.cction-
eerng was prevented. a good dcal o humor de-
vciop,d rs the permanent clerk, Dr. Dickson, made
mistakes IN the reading OF difficult the roll
CALI For instance he called Elijah Elizabeth, and set
the house IN roar Again, when o. b. Moore
asked TO give his iu name that he might be
founded With another OF nearly similar name a col
ored man stood up and announced his namc ms
UtnEE BLACK ao0Hf,
amid the laughter OF the house. Dr. Van Dyke re-
ccncd within twenty ave ihiriy election
and ~aen the fact was unonciay announced there
were hundred or more changes votes so That
The race really became one between Drs Talmagc and
Van Dyke. The result gave the election to DR. Van
Dyke WHO received III volcS-a MAJORITY all
sotcs cast. Drs William Adams and Little were then
appointed committee 10 bring the Moderator clect
kho was received with applause aud IN Transferring
he symbols OF office Dr Morris made a few niting re-.
aarks. Before assuming the char Dr. Van Dyke
thanked the Assembly Tor the honor conferred on him
md winch he sa.l. cnhanccl hx The Laci Hal ,