PRESBYTERIANS. 



C25 



twelve any of the Presbyteries of tho Associate 

 ' 'Imivh upon the same conditi"iis 

 .' to uiii.m -:!Mcr, resolved 

 3 of "Kc. n " be in- 



in the new psalm and hymn book 

 i .IMicd. A dele-ate I'ri.in the 

 I I'rohyteriaii Church appeared in 



I Mmbl j, an4, tbongfa without authority to 



.ires lor a union of two bodies, 

 bo opinion "that the time hud 

 MIU movement should bo mudo 

 in tlr- a." Upon this hint the Asscm- 



: ng a resolution favorable to a 

 . at a later stage, appointed a com- 

 \vitli n similar committee from 

 '. iimbcrland Presbyterian Chnrch. The 

 ;!>ly had a long and important debate, as 

 future status of the colored rnco in their 

 al connections. Dr. Atkinson con- 

 1 that there was nothing in Scripture 

 or tho standards of the church to prohibit 

 colored persons from holding the office of 

 n, ruling elder, or minister of God, and 

 that in their church sessions and assemblies, 

 they are entitled to a treatment of perfect 

 equality. He contended that it was through 

 I that caste and prejudice would bo 

 n down, and that any thing that stood in 

 the way of tho Gospel should bo destroyed. 

 Others contended that.innovations would surely 

 in miscegenation and negro equality. 

 The resolutions adopted by the General Assem- 

 bly recommend the spiritual wants of the 

 colored race to the particular attention of the 

 Church. The report on domestic missions 

 showed the receipts to bo $34,746, and the 

 whole number who received a'd from the sus- 

 tentation fund, including sixteen families of 

 deceased ministers, is upward of two hundred 

 and twenty. It was ascertained that between 

 ninety and one hundred church edifices were 

 either seriously injured or entirely destroyed 

 during the progress of the war, about one half 

 of which were in the Synod of Virginia. The 

 committee reported that not less than $50,000 

 would be needed for Presbyter ial missions, sus- 

 tentation, and church erection the coining year. 

 Tho report on education showed that $200 had 

 been contributed to the funds of the executive 

 committee and one candidate received. Tho 

 publication committee reported receipts by do- 

 nations and sales, $18,174; and a balance in 

 iry of $2,299. The next Assembly is to 

 meet in the First Presbyterian church, in Nash- 

 ville, on the third Thursday of November, 1867, 

 " or whenever or wherever it may orderly be 

 called." The Assembly adjourned on Novem- 

 ber -J8th. 



VI. Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church 

 in the South. The Synod of the Associate Re- 

 formed Prcshyteiian Church in tho South, held 

 in 18G6, declared against a union with the 

 Southern Presbyterian Church, and all nego- 

 tiations on the subject were, consequently, 

 abandoned. This denomination has nine pr<*- 

 bytcries, sixty-six ordained ministers, and eight 

 VOL. TI. 40 A 



licentiate*. In 18C2, tho church seemed quite 

 favorable to tho union ; but a decided change 

 ha- taken place since, nnd at the session of the 

 synod at Fayettevillo, Tenn., a majority of tho 

 declared against it. ' Some of tho 

 ministers have consummated tho union for 

 them-. IMS individually, and a few others may 

 do M> hereafter. 



VII. Great Britain The Church of Scot- 

 land had, in 18C6, 16 synods, 84 presbyteries, 

 and 1,243 congregations (including pari.-h 

 churches and quoad sacra chapels). The Frco 

 Church of Scotland has 16 synods, 71 presby- 

 teries, 846 churches, 3 colleges for the educa- 

 tion of students for the ministry. The United 

 Presbyterian Church had 31 presbyteries in 

 England and Scotland, 584 ministers, 592 

 churches, and 172,752 members. The Reformed 

 Presbyterian Synod (" Cameroniaas," " Cove- 

 nanters ") has 6 presbyteries, 45 churches, and 

 40 ministers. The Synod of the United Origi- 

 nal Seceders was dissolved in 1852, and united 

 to the Free Church; 25 congregations, how- 

 ever, refused to join that church, and still con- 

 tinue a separated body, divided into 4 presby- 

 teries. The Presbyterian Church in England 

 has now 7 presbyteries and 105 churches. 



Tho General Assemblies of the Free and 

 United Presbyterian Churches again discussed 

 the union question, and both bodies resolved to 

 send the report of the joint committee down 

 to the presbyteries, and to instruct the commit- 

 tee to review what suggestions they had to 

 make and report to the next general assemblies. 

 In the General Assembly of the Church of 

 Scotland the question of innovations came np, 

 upon overtures from numerous synods and 

 presbyteries, some praying to rescind, and oth- 

 ers to correct and explain the legislation of last 

 year. In 1865 the Assembly passed a strong 

 declaration against innovations in public wor- 

 ship, and culling upon presbyteries to take 

 particular cognizance of any cases within their 

 bounds of departure from tho law and usage 

 of the Church in reference thereto. Dr. Pine 

 moved tho adoption of an act declaring " that 

 the right and duty of maintaining and en- 

 forcing the observance of tho existing laws 

 and usages of tho Church in tho particular 

 congregations or kirks within their bounds, 

 in mutters connected with the performance 

 of public worship and tho administration 

 of ordinances, belong to, and are incumbent 

 upon the presbj teries of the church, subject 

 always to the review of the superior church 

 courts; " and further declaring it to be the duty 

 of presbyteries, on becoming aware of any in- 

 novation being introduced or contemplated, 

 "either to enjoin tho discontinuance, or pro- 

 hibit the introduction of such innovation or 

 novel practice, as being, in the'r opinion, incon- 

 sistent with the laws and settled usages of tho 

 church, a cause of division in tho particular 

 congregation, or as being unfit from any causa 

 to bo used in the worship of God, either in 

 general or particular kirk, or to liud that DO 



