146 



PRESBYTERIANS. 



rioting the necessity of taking a clay model 

 of the subject, greatly expedites the labors of 

 the sculptor. 



PRESBYTERIANS. I. PRESBYTERIAN 

 CHTROH IN THK UOTTBD STATES OF AMERICA. 

 The statistics of this Church were reported in 

 Mar, 1878, as follows: 



The. namber of HiMBtfaatei was 848; of 

 canilidates for the ministry, 770 ; of baptisms, 

 20,144; of perrons in Sunday-schools, 482,- 

 aroonnt of contributions for home mis- 

 sions, $438,622 ; for foreign missions, $393,- 

 996; for education, $258,58:) ; for publication, 

 $54,898; for church erection, $190,165; for 

 the Ministerial Relief Fund, $77,726 ; for the 

 Freedmen's Fund, $50,688; for the Gen. -nil 

 Assembly Fund, $81,668.04; for ministers' sal- 

 aries, $8,151.707; for sustentation, $68,686; 

 for congregational and miscellaneous purposes, 

 - 



The General Assembly of the Presbyterian 

 Church in the t'nited States of America, met 

 in BdtfaMM, Md.. May 15th. The Rev. How- 

 ard Crosby, [>. I'., was chosen moderator. 

 1 l'"ti the recommendation of a committee ap- 

 pointed with reference to that subject, the 

 Assembly declared it appropriate and expedi- 

 ent for tho Church to participate in tin- cele- 

 bration of tho one hundredth anniversary of 

 American Independence, to be held in Phihi- 

 dolphia in 1876. In iti resolutions the Assem- 

 bly recommended that this occasion be im- 

 proved " to set forth the history, principles, 

 and polity of the Chnrch, and to make a grate- 

 ful record of the manifold goodness of God to 

 m us a people." A plan of celebration was 



approved, which embraces a series of dis- 

 courses on the history of the Church : 1 . From 

 its founding in this country to the beginning 

 of the war of the Revolution ; 'J. From that 

 time to the adoption of the Presbyterian form 

 of government in 1786; 8. From that to the 

 pn -cut time. A fourth discussion is to be 

 upon the " present condition, prospect*, bi- 

 nt work, needs, and obligations of tho 

 Church; a fifth on the history of "education 

 nnder Presbyterian influences, from the first 

 settlement of the country to tlic promt time ;" 

 and other papers to be prepared, ami expected 

 to givo historical sketches of the several boards 

 and other agencies established by the (Jem-nil 

 Assembly. The plan further provides that an 

 exposition be made of books published by the 

 Board of Publication, of other works by Amer- 

 can Presbyterian authors, and of ancient books, 

 manuscripts, relics, and other objects pertain- 

 ing to Presbyterianism ; that the first Sunday 

 in July, 1876, be observed as a day of thanks- 

 giving, when the pastor of each church shall 

 deliver a memorial discourse on the history of 

 his church, and a collection shall be made to 

 endow and provide afirc-proot'building for the 

 Presbyterian Historical Society. Special ser- 

 vii-.'S of commemoration were appointed to be 

 held in Philadelphia during one week in June, 

 1876. The committee on conference -with tho 

 United Presbyterian Church had received no 

 answer to a communication which they had 

 sent to the corresponding committee of that 

 Church, and were continued. The Rev. Dr. 

 Baird, of Nashville, Tenn., addressed the As- 

 sembly as a corresponding delegate of tho 

 Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Of his own 

 motion, without knowing that any sentiment 

 favorable to union existed in his own church, 

 he suggested that a committee be appointed 

 by the General Assembly on organic union. 

 He believed that his own (ienernl Assembly 

 would respond to the appointment. Such a 

 committee, consisting of three ministers and 

 two elders, was appointed. The receipts of 

 the Board of Publication for the year were re- 

 ported to have been, including the balance 

 from the previous year, $306,946.28 ; their ex- 

 penditures, $297,425.07, of which 71.. r >r.:>.71 

 had been paid in the new building. The sales 

 "t' books and periodicals had amounted to 

 $167,676.78. The sum of $56,892.10 had been 

 received, and $56,868.86 expended, on account 

 of the mission fund. One hundred and lilty- 

 eight colporteurs had been in commission la- 

 boring in forty-one States and Territories, and 

 in Canada. The value of the grants made by 

 the missionary committee was $10,496. Tho 

 publications of the board had been sent over a 

 widely-extended territory iu the I' nited States, 

 and to Hyria, Persia, India, Siam. Western 

 Africa, Mexico, and Brazil. The publication- 

 house had been finished during the year, at a 

 cost of $160, ooo, more than two-third* of which 

 had been met. The standing Committee- of 

 Benevolence and Finance had been intrusted 



