true, State courts, having criminal jurisdiction, do not try persons for crimes and misdemeanors in their absence. This is for two reasons. They have power to compel attendance, which ecclesiastical courts have not; and the punishments they inflict affect the life, the liberty, or the property of the convicted criminal. In fact, they concern the life or the liberty of the accused ; for even if the penalty be only a fine, its payment is usually enforced by detention in custody until satisfaction be made. But ecclesiastical tribunals can pronounce no judgment that touches either the life, the liberty, or the property of the accused. Their sentences are peculiar. Indeed, it is asserting a false analogy to assimilate a trial before a Church Session to an indictment and trial in a criminal court. It bears a much stronger resemblance to proceedings very common in courts of law, in which members of associations or corporations are called upon to respond for some alleged breach of corporate duty, for which they are liable to be punished by the imposition of penalties or by a motion from membership. In such cases, when the person summoned refuses to obey the mandate of the writ, courts proceed at once to dispose of his case and render final judgment. No one ever supposed that by so doing injustice was done; or that any right of the accused was invaded. Much less can he complain, who has been cited to answer an accusation taken into judicial cognizance by a church judicatory, and who has contumaciously refused to obey the citation, if the tribunal proceed to try the case, presuming nothing against him but contumacy from his refusal, but founding its judgment solely upon the testimony of witnesses. This objection, therefore, when examined, appears to be without substance.

In conclusion, it remains only to recommend, as the opinion of the Committee, that the Overture be answered by a declaration of the Assembly, that in the case proposed, the judicatory may proceed to trial and final judgment, as if the accused were present.

The Committee of Conference on Reünion with the General Assembly, now in session at the Second Presbyterian Church of this city, were authorized to fill any vacancies that may occur in their number.

The following preamble and resolution were adopted:

Whereas, Mr. Joseph M. Wilson, of Philadelphia, has for some time been engaged in collecting information regarding the history of Presbyterian churches, to be published in his Presbyterian Historical Almanac; therefore,

Resolved, That the Ministers and Elders of the churches under the care of this General Assembly be earnestly requested to cooperate with Mr. Wilson in his valuable labors in behalf of the Church.

A communication was read from the Rev. Elbert S. Porter,

D.D., the Delegate from the General Synod of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in North-America.

A report was received from the Rev. Grosvenor W. Heacock, D.D., one of the Delegates to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church that met, in 1865, at Pittsburgh, Pa., which was accepted, and ordered to be printed in the Appendix to the Minutes.

The Standing Committee to nominate Delegates to Corresponding Bodies presented their report, which was adopted, and is as follows:

1. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, that met this year at the Second Presbyterian Church of St. Louis, Mo.: Rev. Edward D. Morris, D.D., of the Presbytery of Franklin, and Edward D. Mansfield, LL.D., of the Presbytery of Cincinnati, Principals; and Rev. E. Perkins Pratt, D.D., of the Presbytery of Scioto, and Franklin V. Chamberlain, of the Presbytery of Cincinnati, Alternates.

2. The General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church Rev. Henry Little, of the Presbytery of Madison, Principal; and Rev. Joseph Chester, of the Presbytery of Cincinnati, Alternate.

3. The General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church of North-America: Rev. Henry L. Hitchcock, D.D., of the Presbytery of Cleveland and Portage, Principal; and Rev. Richard Craighead, of the Presbytery of Meadville, Alternate.

4. The General Synod of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in North-America: Rev. Joel Parker, D.D., of the Presbytery of Newark, Principal; and Rev. Alfred E. Campbell, D.D., of the Presbytery of New-York, Third, Alternate.

5. The General Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in North-America: Rev. Elias J. Richards, of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, Fourth, Principal; and Rev. Thomas J. Shepherd, D.D., of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, Fourth, Alternate.

6. The General Convention of the Congregational Churches of Maine: Rev. Stephen Bush, of the Presbytery of Albany, Principal; and Rev. A. Bordman Lambert, D.D., of the Presbytery of Troy, Alternate.

7. The General Convention of Vermont: Rev. Jonathan H. Noble, of the Presbytery of Troy, Principal; and Rev. Edwin A. Bulkley, of the Presbytery of Champlain, Alternate.

8. The General Association of New-Hampshire: Rev. D. Howe Allen, D.D., of the Presbytery of Cincinnati, Principal; and Rev. Abbott E. Kittredge, of the Presbytery of New-York, Fourth, Alternate.

9. The General Association of Massachusetts: Rev. Francis S. McCabe, of the Presbytery of Logansport, Principal; and Rev. Henry M. Field, D.D., of the Presbytery of New-York, Fourth, Alternate.

10. The General Association of Connecticut: Rev. Conway P.

Wing, D.D., of the Presbytery_of Harrisburgh, Principal; and Rev. T. Ralston Smith, of the Presbytery of New-York, Third,

Alternate.

11. The Presbyterian and Congregational Convention of Wisconsin: Rev. George I. King, D.D., of the Presbytery of Schuyler, Principal; and Rev. Edward A. Pierce, of the Presbytery of Chicago, Alternate.

12. The Union of Evangelical Churches of France: Rev. Azariah Eldridge, D.D., of the Presbytery of Detroit.

The Committee on the Narrative presented their report, which was adopted, and ordered to be printed in the Appendix to the Minutes of this Assembly.

Adjourned until 8 o'clock this evening.
Concluded with prayer.

MONDAY, May 28th, 8 o'clock P.M.

The Assembly met, and was opened with prayer.

It was

Resolved, That this General Assembly take peculiar pleasure in here publicly recording their warmest gratitude for the large and generous provision made for their comfort and enjoyment by the people of St. Louis, in circumstances of great difficulty, owing to the unexpected presence of so many delegates from other religious bodies as their guests. That we specially tender sincere thanks to the Committee of Arrangements, the honored Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church and his excellent people for their thoughtful regard and provident arrangements for all our sessions, and their kind and persistent efforts to make their homes our own during our stay: Also to the President of the Iron Mountain Railroad Company, for the pleasant excursion to Pilot Knob, and his personal attentions on that occasion; to the Mercantile Library Association, to the President of the Public School Library Society, to the President of the City University, and to the Directors of the Girls' Industrial School, for invitations to visit these respective institutions; to the Superintendent of Public Schools, for copies of the last report; to the St. Louis Transfer Company, for the generous offer of their omnibuses; to the four Boat Companies who have furnished dinners, from day to day, to many of our members from a distance; to the several Railroad Companies who have granted the Commissioners a reduced fare over their roads; to the press of St. Louis, and especially the Missouri Daily Democrat, for faithful reports, and a full report of our proceedings in pamphlet; and also, to our beloved and excellent Moderator, for the promptness with which he has

so cheerfully, ably, and impartially presided over our deliberations; and, as we say farewell to the people with whom it has been our delightful privilege to mingle in heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Resolved, That it is in all our hearts to pray constantly that grace, mercy, and peace from our common Lord may ever remain with them.

Resolved, That it is inexpedient, during the sessions of this Assembly, to elect Trustees of the General Assembly, and Directors of the Theological Seminaries.

Resolved, That the Minutes of the Assembly, with the usual Appendix, and the Reports of the Treasurers of the Permanent. Committees, be printed under the direction of the Stated Clerk.

The Janitor's bill, the bills for stationery and printing, the traveling expenses of the Delegates to Foreign Bodies, and the salaries and traveling expenses of the Stated and Permanent Clerks, were ordered to be paid.

The roll was called, and the following persons were found to be absent without leave: Rev. Messrs. Joseph A. Ranney, Ebenezer Buckingham, George C. Noyes, George O. Little, and John W. Cunningham; and Messrs. Luther Edgerton, Lewis Martin, Joshua Moore, Manley Rogers, Edwin S. Wells, and Horatio Newhall, M.D.

The minutes of the last session and of this session were read and approved.

The business of the Assembly having been completed, and the vote taken for the dissolution of the Assembly, the Moderator, with prayer, and the apostolic benediction, declared the Assembly dissolved, and required another Assembly, chosen in the same manner, to meet at the BRICK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH of the city of ROCHESTER, N. Y., on the third Thursday of May, A.D. 1867.

J. GLENTWORTH BUTLER,

Permanent Clerk.

EIGHTY-NINE of the one hundred and nine Presbyteries on our roll have forwarded their annual reports of the state of religion for examination. It would hardly be possible to find stronger proofs or happier illustrations of God's faithfulness to his covenant people, than are found in these reports. The condition of our Church at the beginning of the year was eminently prosperous. It had gathered strength from the trials of the "perilous times" just passed; confidence from the final victory of those great principles of equity, in the advocacy of which it had taken a high and distinctive position among sister churches; and encouragement from signal tokens of divine favor in every sphere of its activity. All the agencies of its organic life and growth were in complete order and active employment. Better than all, the spiritual life, by which its union with Christ is maintained, and from which it derives all its divine power, was pervading its members and prompting them to greater zeal and diligence in their Master's work. Revivals of religion had been remarkably prevalent. One hundred and thirteen churches were reported to have enjoyed them during the previous year. These proofs of God's favor for the churches had awakened an expectation of greater favor, and had stirred them with desire for larger measures of his gracious influence in aid of their efforts for the conversion of souls. The "Narratives" of that time show this very clearly. In one, these words occur: "Our churches are anxiously looking for those Pentecostal seasons which shall result in the conversion of the world." And again, in another: "Some are expecting a more copious outpouring of God's Spirit than has been enjoyed for the last thirty years."

These feelings were more fully reflected by the last General Assembly. It was called "the praying Assembly." Its example has been followed, through all the year, by the churches whose faith found utterance in its prayers.