§ 3. THE FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

OF THE RE-UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF THE UNITED STATES was held in the First Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, on the 19th May 1870. The Old and New Schools thus united on the basis of their common standards, after a separation of thirty-two years, in the very place where the separation of 1838 occurred. The assembly was composed of 600 members, half of whom were ruling elders. Enclosed in garlands, overhead, were inscribed the dates 1837-1870, and the words, 'Now are they many members, yet one body.' The moderators of the last separate assemblies, the Rev. Drs Jacobus and Fowler, conducted the service, one preaching from Eph. iv. 4, reviewing the effects of the Union Convention of 1867, and congratulating deputies from Scotland and Ireland. Dr Trumbull Backus, of the Old School, was unanimously appointed moderator, and Dr Hatfield, of the New School, clerk. A deputation was named to visit the estranged 'Southern Presbyterian Church,' and an exchange deputation to the Baptist Missionary Union. Of this re-union a memorial volume is to be issued. Synods have been reduced from 51 to 34. In the debates on reconstruction the speeches were limited to five minutes, unless by vote of the assembly. The vote is quickly taken by the moderator demanding an 'aye' or 'no.' If he cannot decide their relative strength, he requests the parties to stand in turn. The roll is called in exceptional cases. The sederunts are brief-from 9 A.M. to 1 P.M., and 3.30 to 5.30 P.M., with occasional meetings in the evening.

The resolution to unite, previously carried in both assemblies, was on the doctrinal and ecclesiastical basis of our common standards; that is, the standards pure and simple. This was rendered comparatively easy by the previous change effected on the Westminster Confession by the elimination of everything that had reference to the magistrates' power circa sacra. (See Hodge on the 'Confession,' edited by Dr Goold.) In the Old School assembly, some had 'doubted the sincerity of the New School, and considered them as a body just as heterodox as ever they were.

This remark caused a great deal of excitement, and

elicited numerous replies. It was asserted that the New School body had undergone a great change for the better; that many ministers who were out-and-out Arminians were now as sound Calvinists as any in the Old School; that they knew there were exceptions in the New School body, but that as a Church they were sound Calvinists. The advocates of re-union, one and all, asserted their Calvinism in the clearest terms. Dr Musgrave, the great champion of re-union, stated in the most explicit terms that he would be determinedly opposed to re-union did he not believe that the Churches, the Old and New School, were essentially the same. After discussing the subject for about six hours, the vote was taken, when it appeared that 259 were in favour of receiving and adopting the report, and 8 were opposed to it. In the New School assembly there was not a dissenting voice.'

This union was accomplished with the almost unanimous voice of the presbyteries. Of the Old School, 128 presbyteries gave a favourable answer to the basis of union sent down; 3 unfavourable; 13 had given no reply; there being in all 144. Of the New School, their 113 presbyteries answered affirmatively; in only 3 was the reply given without unanimity. The reports were given in to special meetings of the assemblies in November 1869.

The Second General Assembly of the united, or rather reunited Church, met on the 18th May 1871, in the great capital of the West, Chicago (recently burned down), in the First Presbyterian Church of that city. Of the whole number of ministers and elders returned, 456 were present-absent 73. Had it been full, the house would have consisted of 529 members. They have wisely adopted a more limited scale of representation than in Scotland.

The home mission scheme has in its employment 1233 missionaries, by whom an aggregate of 905 years of service during the past year has been performed-stated public worship having been maintained at 2500 places, and, less regularly, at 1000 places besides. In connection with the labours of these home missionaries, 1378 Sabbath-schools were reported, having 90,276 scholars, and 320 churches built or repaired.

Princeton, the leading college of the re-united Presbyterian body of the United States, has been largely endowed, the professors' salary being now £600 each. Re-union Hall, at Princeton, has been built at a cost of £30,000 in honour of the union. The board of foreign missions spent £63,300 the previous year.

The population of the United States in 1860 was 31,443,321. Of these 13,000,000 were from 15 to 40 years of age. (See Wilson's 'Statistical Tables,' Philadelphia.)

The population of the United States and territories in 1870 was 38,555,983, being an increase of 7,112,662 since 1860, notwithstanding a decrease of 136,029 in the Southern States. There must consequently be a large increase in the Churches and Christian community.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

There are ten Theological Seminaries:-1. Princeton, N.J., with 6 professors and 124 students; 2. Auburn, 5 professors and 35 students; 3. Union, 6 professors and 113 students; 4. Western, 5 professors and 74 students; 5. Lane, Cincinnati, O., 5 professors and 33 students; 6. Danville, 4 professors and 6 students; 7. NorthWestern, 3 professors and 38 students; 8. Newark, German; 9

North-Western, German, 2 instructors and 23 students; 10. Lincoln Theological Department, 3 professors for coloured students-total, 39 professors and 446 students.

The Board of Publication, besides issuing 18 new volumes and a number of tracts in English, Spanish, and German, has sent forth 5€9,550 copies of publications, and 1,990,250 copies of records and visitors; 129 colporteurs have laboured in 18 States and Territories, and it is intended to make them the centre of further Sabbath-school effort.

Missions for freedmen are carried on by 117 ordained ministers, licentiates, catechists, and teachers, of whom 66 are coloured, with 45 schools, 58 teachers, and 4530 pupils.

Contributions-Home mission, 349,558 dols.; Foreign, 316,682 dols.; Education, 292,403 dols.; Publication, 42,194 dols.; Church Erection, 336,597 dols.; Relief fund, 58,701 dols. ; Freedmen, 48,253

dols.; General Assembly, 29,084 dols.; Congregational, 6,607,132 dols.; Miscellaneous, 1,017,102 dols.-total, 9,097,706 dols.

This is an increase of 657,585 dols. over the previous year.

An effort was made to raise five million of dollars as a Memorial of the re-union of the Churches. The report says:

'The classification of money received and reported thus far is as follows:- For new church buildings, 3,236,475 dols. 61 cents; manses, 683,884 dols. 5 cents; repairs and enlargement, 733,707 dols. 60 cents; payment of debts, 1,083,478 dols. 72 cents; institutions of learning, 1,405,548 dols. 66 cents; permanent institutions in foreign lands, 93,509 dols. 96 cents; special gifts to the boards, 60,340 dols. 40 cents; hospitals, 48,665 dols. 35 cents; relief fund and sustentation, 41,150 dols. 46 cents; Presbyterian houses, 46,882 dols. 37 cents; amounts not specified by the churches reporting them, 162,681 dols. 10 cents; expenses of the committee, 11,175 dols. 63 cents. It is with profound gratitude to God that the committee announce, as the total amount reported, SEVEN MILLION SIX

HUNDRED AND SEVEN THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED AND NINETY-NINE

DOLLARS AND NINETY-ONE CENTS (7,607,499 dols. 91 cents).'

At the close of the reading of the report, the whole assembly arose spontaneously and sang the doxology, 'Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;' after which, by the invitation of the Moderator, the Rev. John Hall, D.D., gave thanks to God for His great goodness (Minutes of General Assembly, New York, 1871).

QUESTIONS.

1. Give an account of the first introduction of Christianity in America, and of the arrival of the Pilgrim Fathers.

2. Trace the history of Presbyterianism.

3. Can you describe the division into Old and New Schools, the opposition to a re-union, and its accomplishment?

4. Give some account of the several branches still existing, and of the extent of Presbyterianism in the United States.