The Chairmen of the Standing Committees on the Boards and Com mittees of the Church were appointed a Committee to determine the time for considering the several Reports. A communication was received, by the Rev. William Adams, D.D., from the Directors of the Union Theological Seminary in the city of New-York, proposing, on certain terms, to place their institution under the care of the General Assembly. A communication was also received from the Directors of the Theo logical Seminary at Princeton, asking that the change contemplated in the above communication may be made, and proposing other matters of interest to the Seminary. These communications were referred to the Standing Committee on Theological Seminaries. Adjourned until 3 o'clock P.M. Concluded with prayer. FRIDAY, May 20th, 3 o'clock P.M. The Assembly met, and was opened with prayer. The minutes of the last session were read and approved. The Committee on Foreign Correspondence reported in part as fol lows: The Committee on Foreign Correspondence respectfully recommend to the Assembly, that the Rev. William Arnot and the Rev. William G. Blaikie, D.D., from the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland; the Rev. Robert Watts, D.D., and Mr. Thomas Sinclair, from the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland; the Rev. John Edmond, D.D., and the Rev. John McLeod, D.D., from the Synod of the United Presbyterian Church of Great Britain and Ireland; and the Rev. David Inglis and the Rev. Thomas Lowry, from the Synod of the Canada Presbyterian Church, be admitted to seats in this Assembly, as Delegates from the several ecclesiastical bodies they represent, and that they be heard in the order above named, at a session of the Assembly to be held for that purpose on Wednesday next, at 74 o'clock P.M. The Committee further recommend the adoption of the following resolutions: Resolved, 1. That this Assembly cordially receives the Delegates from the Synod of the United Presbyterian Church of Great Britain and Ireland, a body not hitherto in correspondence with either branch of our Re-united Church, and that the Committee on Correspondence be directed to nominate Delegates who shall present our greetings to that Synod at its meeting next year. 2. That this Assembly has learned with profound regret, that the Rev. Samuel M. Dill, D.D., one of the Delegation from the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, has been prevented by death from fulfilling his appointment; and that we express our sincere condolence with them in the loss of so distinguished a member. The report was adopted. The Stated Clerk reported that the following additional Commissioners had presented their commissions, and been enrolled, viz.: Rev. George A. Irvin, of the Presbytery of Leavenworth'; Mr. Lawrence G. Mills, of the Presbytery of Atlantic; Rev. S. M. Campbell, D.D., of the Presbytery of Rochester; Rev. William C. Scofield, of the Presbytery of St. Joseph; Rev. J. H. Marshall, of the Presbytery of Schuyler; Rev. L. T. McClure, of the Presbytery of Neosho; Rev. Theodore F. White, of the Presbytery of Ithaca; and Mr. Samuel Merrill, of the Presbytery of Indianapolis. The following preamble and resolutions, presented by Rev. William Adams, D.D., were unanimously adopted, viz.: Whereas, This General Assembly believes that the interests of the kingdom of our Lord, throughout our entire country, will be greatly promoted by healing all unnecessary divisions; Whereas, This General Assembly desires the speedy establishment of cordial fraternal relations with the body known as the "Southern Presbyterian Church," on terms of mutual confidence, respect, Christian honor and love; Whereas, We believe that the terms of re-union between the two branches of the Presbyterian Church at the North, now so happily consummated, present an auspicious opportunity for the adjustment of such relations ;-therefore, be it Resolved, 1. That a Committee of five Ministers and four Elders be appointed by this Assembly, to confer with a similar Committee, if it shall be appointed by the Assembly now in session in the city of Louisville, Ky., in respect to opening a friendly correspondence between the Northern and Southern Presbyterian Churches, and that the result of such conference be reported to the General Assembly of 1871. Resolved, 2. That, with a view to the furtherance of the object contemplated in the appointment of said Committee, this Assembly hereby reaffirms the "Concurrent Declaration" of the two Assemblies which met in the city of New-York last year, viz. : "That no rule or precedent which does not stand approved by both bodies shall be of any authority in the re-united body, except in so far as such rule or precedent may affect the rights of property founded thereon." Resolved, 3. That two Ministers and one Elder of the Committee appointed by this Assembly be designated as Delegates, to convey to the Assembly now in session at Louisville, Ky., a copy of these resclutions with our Christian salutations. The Annual Reports of the Treasurer of the Trustees of the General Assembly, and of the Treasurer of the late (N. S.) General Assembly, were presented and referred to the Standing Committee on Finance. The following Preamble and Resolutions, touching the Presbyterian Historical Society, were unanimously adopted, viz. : Regarding it as a high duty to the Church and the world, to preserve and transmit to posterity the record of God's dealing with our great branch of the Christian family in this country, the memorials of its growth, trials, and triumphs, and also of its honored champions, and whatever may become the source of histories yet to be written, Resolved, 1. That this Assembly regards with great gratification the historical collection in the hands of the Presbyterian Historical Society, consisting now of between 4000 and 5000 volumes, 20,000 pamphlets, 300 volumes of newspapers, and 500 portraits of Presbyterian ministers and distinguished laymen. 2. That, as it is of great importance, that this very valuable collection be placed at once within the reach of all who may desire to make use of its treasures, and beyond the reach of those casualties to which it is now exposed, this Assembly cordially recommends to the members of our Church to contribute liberally for the erection of an edifice which shall be fire-proof, and of dimensions suitable for its present and early prospective requirements; and that all contributions to this object be recognized as a part of the Five Million Memorial Fund. 3. That it be earnestly recommended, that every minister in our Church forward to the Society a copy of each pamphlet, sermon, address, essay, memoir of persons or congregations, and book, of which they are the authors, and manuals of churches of which they are pastors; and also that the various Presbyteries and Synods existing for ward a copy of all the published records of their proceedings. The Assembly received and accepted the resignation of the Rev. James M. Platt as Trustee of the Western Theological Seminary. The following times for considering the Reports of the Boards and Committees were appointed, viz. : Tuesday, 10 A.M.-The Special Report of the Committee of Conference with the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Tuesday, 10A.M.-The Report of the Board of Trustees of the Church Erection Fund, and of Church Extension. Wednesday, 10 A.M.-The Reports on Foreign Missions. Thursday, 10 A.M.-The Reports on Home Missions. Thursday, 3 P.M.-The Reports on Publication. A Committee was appointed, consisting of Rev. George L. Prentiss, D.D., Rev. C. C. Beatty, D.D., Rev. J. B. Bittinger, D.D., Rev. E. R. Beadle, D.D., and Rev. W. S. Curtis, D.D., Edward North, L.H.D., and Mr. C. N. Olds, to consider the perils which beset the System of Popular Education in the United States, and to propose a minute ex pressive of the sentiments of the General Assembly on this momentous question. The following request was received and granted-Saturday, the 28th inst., being fixed upon as the time of the service. PHILADELPHIA, May 20, 1870. To the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of America: The Trustees of the College of New-Jersey are about to erect a suite of rooms to accommodate the rapidly increasing number of students, and intend to call the building "Re-union Hall," in honor of the re-union of the two branches of the Presbyterian Church; and it will be deemed a very great favor by the Trustees and Faculty, if the General Assembly will make an arrangement to lay the corner-stone of the Hall at a time it may appoint. It may be interesting to the members of the Assembly to know, that we have at present a larger number of ministers' sons and of young men studying for the ministry than we have ever had in our old College, and it is believed that the interests of religion will be subserved by thus countenancing us on this occasion. JAMES MCCOSH, HENRY W. GREEN, JOHN C. BACKUS, President of the College. G. W. MUSGRAVE, CYRUS DICKSON. Adjourned until to-morrow at 9 o'clock A.M. Concluded with prayer. SATURDAY, May 21st, 9 o'clock A.M. The Assembly met, and occupied the opening hour with devotional exercises. The minutes of the last session were read and approved. The following Commissioners, Messrs. George T. Wood, of the Presbytery of Transylvania; E. B. Babbitt, of the Presbytery of Oregon; N. D. Carhart, of the Presbytery of Cayuga; and Orrin Kendall, of the Presbytery of Chicago, appeared and were enrolled. Rev. George W. Musgrave, D.D., Rev. Z. M. Humphrey, D.D., Rev. J. C. Watson, D.D., Hon. William Strong, LL.D., and Hon. J. Ross Snowden, were appointed a Committee on the Revision of the Rules for Judicatories. Rev. William Adams, D.D., Rev. C. C. Beatty, D.D., Rev. P. H. Fowler, D.D., Rev. H. J. Van Dyke, D.D., Rev. J. C. Backus, D.D., Hon. Henry Green, LL.D., Hon. William E. Dodge, Mr. James Brown, and Hon. Daniel Haines, were appointed a Committee on Correspondence with the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, South, now in session at Louisville, Ky. The following resolutions were adopted, viz. : 1. The entire ground floor of the church shall be reserved for the use of the Assembly. Besides Commissioners, Delegates, and the Officers of the Assembly, the following persons, and no others, shall be admitted to the floor, viz.: Ex-Moderators of the Assem bly; Committes to report at this meeting; parties and counsel in judicial cases; members and officers of the Boards and Permanent Committees; Directors and Professors of Theological Seminaries; the Committee of Arrangements, and such Reporters of the proceedings of the Assembly as shall obtain permission from the Committee of Arrangements. 2. No person shall be allowed to remain standing in any part of the aisles. 3. The Committee of Arrangements are requested to take such measures as may be necessary to enforce these orders, commencing with the sessions on Monday morning. Messrs. Edward A. Lambert, Thomas Bond, and Ezra M. Kingsley were appointed a Committee to audit the Report of the Treasurer of the Church Erection Fund. The Committee on Bills and Overtures reported the following papers, viz.: Overtures from the Presbyteries of Holston, Warren, and Schuyler on Representation in the General Assembly: From the Presbytery of Philadelphia and Des Moines on boundaries of Presbyteries: From the Presbytery of Des Moines on location of Board of Missions: From the Presbytery of Long Island on the formation of a Synod of Long Island: From the Presbytery of Potomac on union with the Presbytery of the District of Columbia: From the Presbytery of Dubuque on the early meeting of Presbyteries and Synods: From the Presbytery of Des Moines on a Hymn-Book: From the Presbytery of Elizabethtown on union with the Southern Church: From the Presbytery of Shantung, China, on Polygamy in Mission Churches. They were put on the docket. The Rev. George W. Musgrave, D.D., as Chairman, presented the Report of the Joint Committee on Reconstruction. It was read and put on the docket. The consideration of it was made the order for Monday at 10 o'clock A.M. The Annual Reports of the Presbyterian Committee of Home Missions, and of their Treasurer, were read and referred to the Standing Committee on Home Missions. Rev. Edwin F. Hatfield, D.D., Hon. James Pollock, and Mr. Ezra M. Kingsley were appointed a Committee to report on a proper disposition of the Mileage or Commissioners' Fund for this Assembly. An invitation to visit the Union League House of this city was received and accepted with thanks. Adjourned until Monday at 9 o'clock A.M. MONDAY, May 23d, 9 o'clock A.M. The Assembly met, and occupied the opening hour with devotional exercises. The minutes of the last session were read and approved. |