MINUTES, &c. UTICA, N. Y., May 15th, 1851. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA met, agreeably to appointment, in the City of UTICA, in Concert Hall, the usual place of worship of the First Presbyterian Church, (their church edifice having been consumed by fire,) on Thursday, the 15th day of May, A.D. 1851, at 74 o'clock P.M., and was opened with a Sermon by the Rev. DAVID H. RIDDLE, D.D., the Moderator of the last Assembly, from Isa. lxv. 8: "Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, 'Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it, so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all." After sermon, the Assembly was constituted with prayer. The Committee of Commissions presented their report, and the following persons were thereupon enrolled as duly-appointed Commissioners to this General Assembly, viz. :— *The figures show on what day of the Sessions the Commissioner presented his credentials and took his seat. General Evan. Consociation of R. Island. General Synod of the Lutheran Church General Synod of the German Reformed Church. Rev. John Gridley. Rev. Dirck C. Lansing, D.D. The Committee further reported the case of Mr. William C. Vanhorn, Elder from the Presbytery of Washtenaw, whose commission was defective in form. The Rev. James H. Hotchkin, Rev. Jonathan B. Condit, D.D., and Elder Eurotas P. Hastings, were appointed a Committee of Elections, to whom the above case was referred. Ordered, that any Commissioners, who may be in similar circumstances, be referred to the same Committee. An application was presented from the Presbytery of Milwaukie, to be received into connection with the General Assembly, which was referred to the same Committee. To-morrow, at 7 o'clock P.M., was designated as the time for hearing the Sermon on Home Missions. Adjourned until to-morrow, at 9 o'clock A.M., the first half-hour to be appropriated to devotional exercises. Concluded with prayer. FRIDAY, May 16th, 9 o'clock A.M. The Assembly met, and was opened with prayer. After which, half an hour was occupied in devotional exercises. The minutes of the last session were read and approved. The Committee of Elections made a Report; and, on their recommendation, Elder William C. Vanhorn, from the Presbytery of Washtenaw, notwithstanding the defect in his commission, was received as a member, and his name entered on the roll. The consideration of the communication from the Presbytery of Milwaukie was, on the recommendation of the same Committee, deferred until the Assembly be fully organized. The Assembly proceeded to the election of Moderator. The Rev. ALBERT BARNES, of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, Fourth, was unanimously elected, and inducted into office in the usual form. The Rev. SAMUEL M. HOPKINS, of the Presbytery of Cayuga, was unanimously elected Temporary Clerk. The General Rules for Judicatories, contained in the Appendix to the Constitution, were adopted as the Rules of this Assembly. Resolved, That the Assembly will hold its daily sessions from 9 o'clock A.M. to 12 M.; and from 2 to 5 o'clock P.M. The printed Minutes of the last Assembly were, according to rule, distributed to the members. The Docket of Business was read by the Stated Clerk. |