THE UNITED SYNOD OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. THIS organization was formed August 27, 1857, in Richmond, Va., being composed of Presbyterian ministers and churches which were previously connected with the Presbyterian Church (N. s.). They held their first regular meeting April 1, 1858, in Knoxville, Tenn. A full account of the organization, together with their annual proceedings, is published in The Presbyterian Historical Almanac for the years 1859, 1860, 1861 and 1862. Since that date, owing to the late civil war, I was unable to obtain the official records of its annual sessions until the present time, and though the Synod has passed away as a distinct branch of the Presbyterian Church, the following account of its last meetings is placed upon permanent record: In 1861 the Syuod adjourned to meet in May, 1862, in the Presbyterian Church, Chattanooga, Tenn.; but at the time specified the near approach of the armies of the United States rendered that place inaccessible to most of the commissioners; hence the meeting did not take place; but it was subsequently agreed to meet in May, 1863, in Knoxville, Tenn. Accordingly, the United Synod met in the Second Presbyterian Church, Knoxville, Tenn., May 21, 1863, and was opened with a discourse by Rev. John J. Robinson, the last Moderator present, from 1 Timothy vi. 5: "From such withdraw thyself." Rev. FIELDING POPE, of Union Presbytery, was elected Mod erator. CHANGE OF NAME. It was Resolved, That the following overture be sent down to the Presbyteries: Shall the form of government be so altered that wherever the name of our body occurs, the phrase "Confederate States" be substituted for "United States?" PASTORAL LETTER.-It was Resolved, That a pastoral letter from this Synod be sent to the members of our churches at home, and to our candi dates and church members in the army, in reference to the peculiar duties, temptations and trials induced by the present period of war and calamity. SLAVERY. It was Resolved, That Rev. J. J. Robinson, Rev. T. H. McCallie and William M. Cocke, Esq., of Tennessee Synod; Rev. J. D. Mitchell, D.D., C. L. Mosby, Esq. and James T. Johnson, Esq., of Virginia Synod, be a committee to report to the next United Synod (1864), a paper discussing the duties and relations existing between master and slave, and also the relations existing between the State and the slave. UNION WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA.-It was Resolved, That whereas, our brethren of the late General Assembly which met in Columbia, S. C., have appointed a committee to confer with any committee which may be set apart by the United Synod upon the subject of a union of our respective Churches; and, whereas, the elaborate minute published in the proceedings of the Assembly, explanatory of the spirit, motives and objects of the movement on their part, seems to the Synod every way sincere, honorable and satisfactory; therefore Resolved, That the Synod will appoint a committee of five ministers and two elders to confer with the Assembly's similar committee on the important subject proposed. It was Resolved, That the next United Synod be held in New Dublin church, Va., May 19, 1864. In 1864, owing to the state of public affairs, and the means of transportation being out of order, the meeting did not take place; but Rev. Thomas D. Bell, the Stated Clerk, after consultation with several brethren, called a meeting to be held in Lynchburg, Va., Aug. 25, 1864. This meeting elected A. CONVERSE, D.D., of Hanover Presbytery, Moderator; Rev. James M. Chain, Permanent Clerk, pro tem. ; and J. Randolph Tucker, Esq., Temporary Clerk. The plan of Union with the General Assembly of the Confederate States was unanimously adopted; also the following: Resolved, That the foregoing plan of union, having been adopted by the General Assembly and the United Synod, is hereby declared to be in full force. Arrangements were adopted to carry out the preceding resolution, and to wind up the affairs peculiar to the United Synod, and on Saturday, Aug. 27, 1864, it adjourned sine die. * MINISTERS WHO JOINED THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE U. S. Anderson, R. C., Caldwell, Geo. A. Atkinson, Chas. M. Caldwell, O. B. Bartlett, I. L. Bell, Thomas D. Billings, Silas Blackburn, John N. Clymer, J. M. Bradshaw, John N Converse, D.D.. A. Bradshaw, T. R. Briscoe, John P. Brown, Lee C. Converse, F. B. Crawford, W. A. Daniels, J. J. *The official proceedings of the United Synod as far as published consist of eight octavo pamphlets, making in all 224 pages. The proceedings of the meeting for 1864 were not printed, but were sent to me by the Stated Clerk. The full account of the plan of union and all matter pertaining to it is set forth in The Presbyterian Historical Almanac for 1865, pp. 315. During the existence of the United Synod, the total number of ministers and licentiates was 155. Of this number 72 joined the Presbyterian Church in the United States at the union; 26 joined the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (N. 8.); 9 joined the Presbyterian Church in the Hooper, Thos. W. Leyburn, Geo. W. MINISTERS WHO JOINED THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE U. S. MINISTERS WHO HAVE JOINED THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (N. 8.) MINISTERS WHO HAVE DIED IN CONNECTION WITH THE UNITED SYNOD. MINISTERS WHOSE NAMES DO NOT APPEAR IN CONNECTION WITH ANY OTHER BRANCH OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. The number of churches in connection with the United Synod during its existence was 233. At the time of the union the number was 190. The total numerical strength of the churches was 10,568, as follows: With over 300 members, 1 church; between 200 and 250 members, 6 churches; between 150 and 200 members, 12 churches; between 100 and 150 members, 14 churches; between 50 and 100 members, 40 churches; between 25 and 50 members, 50 churches; less than 25 members, 56 churches; number of members not given, 11 churches. These churches were located in the following States: in Alabama, 10 churches; Arkansas, 2, Maryland, 1, Mississippi, 25, Missouri, 10, South Carolina, 2, Tennessee, 84, Texas, 5, and Virginia, 51. * Memoirs of these ministers will be published in The Presbyterian Historical Almanac. NAMES OF CHURCHES IN CONNECTION WITH THE UNITED SYNOD AT THE TIME Blountville, Tenn... 245 Hermion, Mo......... 6 OF UNION. Alexandria, Va...... 2001 Elk Ridge, Tenn..... 63 Mars Hill, Tenn..... 169 60 73 55 24 11 85 Memphis, Tenn...... 12 34 57 62 90 15 Black Lick, Tenn... 5 Henry, Va....... 5 20 14 Monmouth, Miss..... Richland, Tenn...... 18 Richland, Ala....... 40 Richmond United.V 331 Richmond, Duv st,V 123 Richmond 3d, Va... 141 14 Rockford, Tenn....... 156 Rockv'e & Beth'a, V 147 Rogersville, Tenn... 130 13 Rogersville, Ala..... 12 12 35 Royal Oak, Tenn... 75 49 Salem, Miss........... 12 24 Salem, N. C.. 0 15 60 San Marcos, Texas.. 18 20 19] Sharon, Va...... 30 207 25 24 Shepherdstown, Va. Shiloh, Tenn.... Shongala, Miss...... Shuqulak. Miss....... South Fork, Va...... Sinking Spring, Va. 95 Spring Place, Tenn. 89 Spring Creek,Tenn. 30 Spring Creek, Va... 40 Springfield, Mo...... 30 Stone River, Tenn.. 38 Strasburg, Va........ 39 Strawb'y Plains, Ten 112 St. Paul, Tenn........ 92 Sulphur Spring,Ten 24 Swan Creek, Ala.... 106 Sweet Water, Tenn. 112 90 0 63 10 10 45 Tazewell, Tenn...... 13 24 Patrick, Va......... Telico Plains, Tenn. 0 34 Peaks, Va 85 The Grove, Va........ 83 43 Petersburg, Tenn... 11 Thompson Val., Va. 15 49 Piedmont, Va....... 40 Timber Ridge, Tenn 171 28 11 Union, Va.... 5 22 Unitia, Tenn... 32 70 Wahalak, Miss...... 25 107 26 Brandon, Miss........ Hillsville, Tenn...... 18 75 41 Pikeville, Tenn...... Washington, Tenn.. 164 Westminster. Tenn.. 157 97 Winchester, Va...... 1:2 9 Woodstock, Va...... 78 31 Zion, Mo......... 73 CHURCHES ONCE IN CONNECTION WITH THE UNITED SYNOD, BUT NOT AT THE TIME OF UNION. Balt.,1st Cons'al,Md 141 Harmony, Tenn..... 241 Mt. Carmel, Tenn... Bethel, Tenn......... 0 Wash'n D. C.,4th Ch 421 0 Washington 1st Ch. 218 0 Washi'n Assembly... 100 0 Washington 6th Ch. 65 48 Wash'n Western..... 42 0 Wash'n, 15th street. 3 THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. THE THIRTY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY met in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Owensboro', Ky., May 17, 1866, and was opened with a discourse by Milton Bird, D.D., from Romans xii. 19: "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." RICHARD BEARD, D.D., of Lebanon Presbytery, was elected Moderator. JOHN FRIZZELL, Elder of Tennessee Presbytery, was elected Principal Clerk, and A. E. LOVE, Elder of New Hope Presbytery, Assistant Clerk. WAR AND SLAVERY.-J. M. HOWRY, Elder of Oxford Presbytery, offered the following resolution, which was adopted: Resolved, That a committee be appointed, consisting of one from each Synod, to be selected by the commissioners from the respective Synods, to take into consideration the various "Deliverances" of former General Assemblies on the subject of war and the slavery question, and to make such report thereon as the harmony of the Church and the exigency of the times require. The majority of the committee reported as follows: WHEREAS, The blessed Saviour has said, "My kingdom is not of this world;" and whereas, the great lesson is clearly taught in the sacred Scripture, as well as in our most excellent "Confession of Faith," that Church and State are separate and distinct institutions; and whereas, all ecclesiastical history demonstrates the melancholy truth that every attempt to blend religious with civil power has served to emasculate Christianity of its true strength, and to lessen the influence and jeopardize the very existence of the denominations that have made the experiment; and whereas, political deliverances by ecclesiastical bodies most generally produce alienation, discord and strife; and whereas, during the late civil war that deluged this once happy country with blood only a small portion of the Church could meet in the capacity of a General Assembly; and whereas, during the period referred to, there were deliverances made by a small majority of the meagre though constitutional Assemblies that then convened, which did not, in our judgment, accord with the opinions of the great majority of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church; therefore, Resolved, 1. That it is the sentiment of the Cumberland Presbyterian |