meeting be held on the of August, 1866, in the church of Old Salem; that Rev. Andrew Vance, D.D., preach a sermon and preside until a Moderator be chosen; and that when the organization is officially reported to the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, it shall be enrolled as one of our Presbyteries. Adopted.

No. VII.-Respecting an enlargement of the boundaries of Upper Missouri Presbytery, and the transfer of Missouri River Presbytery from Southern Iowa Synod to Kansas Synod. On motion, the subject was referred to the next Assembly.

No. VIII.-Memorials from New York and New Jersey Synods, and from Elizabethtown, Lake, and Logansport Presbyteries, requesting the Assembly to devise measures for the more competent and uniform sustentation of those who are able and willing to engage in the work of the ministry. Also, from Allegheny City Presbytery, concerning unemployed ministers and vacant churches.

The committee recommend, that in view of the highly important and closely related nature of these subjects, this Assembly appoint a special committee, consisting of David Elliott, D.D., C. C. Beatty, D.D., J. J. Brownson, D.D., Loyal Young, D.D., Hon. William M. Francis, Hon. Robert McKnight, and D. C. Robinson, Esq., to prepare a special report on this subject, which so intimately concerns the growth and prosperity of our Church, to the next General Assembly, and that all papers on these subjects be passed over to this special committee. Adopted.

No. IX. From Rev. William P. Carson, of Dubuque Presbytery, on the subject of licensing teachers or catechists. The committee recommend, that inasmuch as the subject is new and of great importance, and in order to i.s adoption may require some constitutional legislation; therefore,

Resolved, That the attention of Presbyteries be called to it, and that a committee, consisting of William T. Findlay, D.D., Thomas E. Thomas, D.D, and Samuel Galloway, Esq., be appointed to make a report on the who e subject to the next General Assembly. Adopted.

No. X. From Leavenworth, Muncie, New Lisbon. Madison, Erie, an I Oxford Presbyteries, on the subject of REUNION of the two branches of th Presbyterian Church, asking the Assembly to take measures at this session to secure at an early day the organic union of the two bodies, whose Gene ral Assemblies are now in session in this city (St. Louis, Mo.).

The committee recommend the following resolutions, which were adopted: Resolved 1. That this Assembly expresses its fraternal affection for the other branch of the Presbyterian Church, and its earnest desire for reunion at the earliest time consistent with agreement in doctrines, order, and polity, on the basis of our common standards, and the prevalence of mutual confidence and love, which are necessary to a happy union and to the permanent peace and prosperity of the united Church.

Resolved 2. That it be recommended to all our churches and church courts, and to all our ministers, ruling elders, and communicants, to cherish fraternal feelings, to cultivate Christian intercourse in the worship of God and in the promotion of the cause of Christ, and to avoid all needless controversies and competitions adapted to perpetuate divisions and strife.

Resolved 3. That a committee of nine ministers and six ruling elders be appointed, provided that a similar committee shall be appointed by the other Assembly now in session in this city (St. Louis), for the purpose of conferring in regard to the desirableness and practicability of reunion; and

if, after conference and inquiry, such reunion shall seem to be desirable and practicable, to suggest suitable measures for its accomplishment, and report to the next General Assembly. Adopted.

The Moderator appointed the following as members of the Reunion Committee:

When the motion was pending to adopt the report of the Committee, Henry J. Vandyke, D.D., offered as an amendment that the report include the eight hundred and fifty ministers in the Southern States. The amendment was lost. He gave notice of a Protest against the vote, which is as follows:

PROTEST.-The undersigned respectfully protest against the action of the General Assembly in rejecting a proposal to extend to the Presbyterian ministers and churches in the Southern States the same expressions of fraternal affection, and of desire for organic union, which have been so freely extended to that other branch of the Presbyterian Church commonly known as the New School. Without expressing any opinion as to the practicability of consummating the proposed reunion with the last-named body. “upon the basis of a common standard," the undersigned desire to declare their solemn conviction that the commands of our Divine Master, and the exigencies of the times in our country, forbid the continuance of division and strife between brethren who maintain a common faith, and upon whom Providence has imposed a common work for the extension of the gospel. And we are further persuaded that every consideration which can render Christian union desirable in any case, has a peculiar and pre-eminent force in the relations we sustain to the Presbyterian ministers and churches in the Southern States. We are, therefore, constrained by our regard for charity, truth, and peace, to protest against the aforesaid action of the Assembly, upon the ground of its manifest inconsistency. This inconsistency appears to us the more glaring in view of the following incontestable facts:

1. The soundness of the Presbyterian ministers and churches in the Southern States, in regard to the distinctive doctrines of the gospel and the fundamental principles of ecclesiastical order, has never been questioned by us; and, indeed, their title to our confidence and affection on these high grounds, cannot be impugned by this Assembly without denying notorious facts, revoking our own most solemn testimonies in their favor, and involving ourselves in condemnation for having so long and so persistently held communion with them.

2. The questions in regard to civil government and domestic servitude which have separated them from us during the continuance of the late civil war (questions which, in the opinion of the undersigned, ought ever to be held subordinate and inferior to the great doctrines of the gospel), have been

practically decided by the result of the war in accordance with the views of this Assembly, and to that decision they have unanimously submitted. Slavery has been abolished; and, so far as we have any information on the subject, there is not a man in the Presbyterian churches at the South who expects or desires its re-establishment. In regard to the duty of Christians to "obey civil magistrates, to submit to the powers that be, and to be subject to every ordinance of man not only for wrath, but for conscience' sake,' there never has been any fundamental difference of opinion between them and us. The only ground of dispute between them and us in reference to this subject has been the practical and political question, "Who are the powers that be, having jurisdiction over the Southern States?" This question, also, has been practically decided by the results of the war in accordance with the views of this Assembly; and to this decision the Presbyterian ministers and churches in the Southern States have unanimously submitted. Their representatives, in General Assembly met, have solemnly declared and published to the world that "the higher powers now bearing rule over us are confessedly the Government of the United States, and those existing in the States wherein we reside.' To these higher powers they solemnly profess their allegiance, and exhort all under their care to submit "with scrupulous fidelity.' There is, therefore, no practical difference between them and us, even in regard to the subordinate questions of freedom and loyalty.

3. The inconsistency of the Assembly's action is further apparent when we consider the relation which the Presbyterian ministers and churches in the Southern States sustain to the great unsolved problem in regard to the evangelization and elevation of the negro population. The fidelity with which they have prosecuted this good work in former years, and the blessed fruits of their labors in this field, are fully set forth in the Narrative on the State of Religion adopted by the Assembly in 1854, an extract from which document may be found on page 818 of the Assembly's Digest. That the same spirit of love and fidelity to the spiritual welfare of the negro, which, according to the testimony of our Assembly, actuated them in 1854, still animates them, and is greatly increased in view of the peculiar miseries and temptations to which the negro is now exposed, there is abundant and notorious proof. It is the firm conviction of the undersigned that the Presbyterian ministers and churches in the Southern States have done, and, if they shall be left free to cultivate their own field without interference from strangers, that they will still do, more for the conversion and salvation of the negro than can ever be done by any body of Christians not residing in the Southern States. And in this good work, if for no other reason, they are entitled pre-eminently to the expression of our fraternal confidence and affection.

4. The inconsistency of the Assembly's action is further apparent, in the opinion of the undersigned, when we consider the influence which it is likely to exert in retarding the permanent pacification of the country, and the restoration of good will among all the people. And our apprehensions on this point are rendered stronger by the fact that the representatives of the Southern churches have "declared concerning other churches, in the most explicit manner, that we would willingly hold fellowship with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity; and especially do we signify to all bodies, ministers, and people of the Presbyterian Church, struggling to maintain the true principles of the same time-honored Confession, our desire to establish the most intimate relations with them which may be found mutually edifying and for the glory of God." (See Pastoral Letter of the General Assembly which met in Macon, Georgia, December 14, 1865.)

On motion, the Assembly declined to answer this Protest.

No. XI.-From New Jersey Synod, proposing the following question: "Is it the intent of chapter xvii., Form of Government, that a minister, desiring to resign his pastoral charge, shall in all cases first make his known to the Presbytery?"

request

The committee recommend that it be answered in the negative, for the reason that chapter xvi., section 2, provides that where the parties are prepared for the dissolution of a pastoral relation it may be dissolved at the first meeting of Presbytery. Adopted.

No. XII. That in order to avoid the errors and misunderstandings constantly occurring by confounding Toledo Presbytery, in Iowa Synod, with Maumee Presbytery, in Sandusky Synod (Toledo, Ohio, being within the bounds of Maumee Presbytery), in accordance with the suggestions of the commissioners from Iowa Synod and many others, the name of Toledo Presbytery is hereby changed to that of Vinton Presbytery. Adopted.

No. XIII. From Rev. Samuel C. McCune, of Fairfield Presbytery, asking the Assembly to answer various questions connected with judicial processes in the lower courts.

The committee recommend that as these questions pertain either to supposed or to actual judicial processes in either case, it is not deemed proper that the Assembly should give specific answers to them. Adopted.

No. XIV. From Ohio Synod and Chicago, Madison and Richland Presbyteries, and from Rev. F. D. Harris, of Rochester City Presbytery, and Samuel J. Baird, D.D., of West Jersey Presbytery, relating to the general subject of Judicial Cases.

The committee recommend:

1st. That the General Assembly appoint a committee of three ministers and three elders, to whom shall be entrusted the duty of preparing a new Book of Discipline, to be submitted to the General Assembly at such time as its careful and thorough preparation may require; the reports of former committees of the General Assembly on this subject to be placed in the hands of this committee for their consideration.

2d. That in the mean time, until this new Book of Discipline shall have received the approval of the Presbyteries, provision be made for the adjudication of judicial cases by the General Assembly, by sending to the Presbyteries for their approval or otherwise the following overture, viz. :

(1.) The General Assembly, on the nomination of its standing Judicial Committee, may appoint from the members of the Assembly a judicial commission or judicial commissioners as may be required to try during its sessions the judicial cases which may come before the Assembly; their proceedings and decisions to be subject to the approval of the Assembly.

(2.) These judicial commissions shall in their proceedings be governed by the constitutional provisions respecting judicial processes, in so far as these may apply.

(3.) The change in the method of trying judicial cases heretofore in use which this overture proposes, if adopted by a sufficient number of the Presbyteries, shall govern the General Assemblies of 1867 and its successors.

The Moderator appointed the following as the Committee: A. T. McGill, D.D., David Elliott, D. D., John M. Krebs, D.D., Ministers. Hovey K. Clarke, Esq., Hon. H. H. Leavitt, and Hon. Geo. Sharswood, Ruling Elders.

No. XV. From Lake Presbytery, asking what is the duty of a church session in a case where a member of the church has married and continues to live with a person who has been divorced from a husband or wife on grounds other than of adultery or wilful desertion?

The Assembly cannot give any other answer to this question than that contained in chapter xxiv., section 6, of the Confession of Faith, and chapter xix. 9, 11, of the Gospel of Matthew. Nor does it think any further answer necessary. Adopted.

No. XVI. From the Church Extension Committee of Potomac Presbytery, asking the General Assembly to transfer the property of the Metropolitan Church in this (Washington) city to Potomac Presbytery, to be by said Presbytery applied to the purposes of church extension in Washington City, D. Č.

The committee recommend that the matter be referred to a committee of three members, to report to the next General Assembly. Adopted.

The Moderator appointed P. D. Gurley, D.D., Rev. John Chester, M.D., and Edward Myers, Ruling Elder, said committee.

No. XVII. From Bloomington Presbytery, asking, 1st. Has any church, or any part of a church in our connection, the constitutional right to withdraw from a Presbytery without its consent and to unite with another body? 2d. Can any communing member of the church be rightfully debarred from voting in such a case by a vote of the congregation, without some measure of discipline regularly administered by the session of the church?

The committee recommend that the first question be answered in the negative; to the second, no vote of the congregation of a Presbyterian church can affect the rights of a communing member as such-all such power is vested in the session. Adopted.

No. XVIII. From Palmyra Presbytery, asking that the General Assembly authorize the Trustees of Van Rensselaer Academy, located in Ralls county, Missouri, to sell and convey a certain piece of property, conveyed by Branch Hatcher and wife, in trust and for these uses, to enable Palmyra Presbytery to establish an academy for the education of youth in the county of Ralls, and State of Missouri, to be under the control and direction of the said Palmyra Presbytery; said academy to remain and for ever to be the property of the Old School General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America.'

The committee recommend that the Trustees make their application to the Board of Education of the General Assembly, which has appropriated funds for the benefit of said academy, and that our Board of Education submit the application, which involves so largely the rights and interests of the General Assembly as to the property specified, to the Trustees of this General Assembly. And it is further recommended that the Trustees make the transfer solicited, in accordance with the trusts embraced in the deed of Hatcher and wife, if the Board of Education shall so advise and direct. Adopted.