The Committee, to whom were referred the resolutions on the subject of the SABBATH, reported the following resolutions, which were adopted:

· --

"Resolved, 1. That this Assembly continues to regard the holy Sabbath as an institution of God, universally and perpetually binding upon man, and as of primary and indispensable importance to all the interests of the Church, the country, and the world.

"Resolved, 2. That we view with great pleasure any intimations of an increasingly healthful sentiment in regard to the Sabbath in our country, especially in public corporations; and exceedingly deplore the unhappy example of its desecration in high places.

"Resolved, 3. That in this age of growing internal improvements and consequent temptations and facilities for transgression, and when such large accessions are constantly making to our population, with loose and unscriptural views of the Sabbath, it is more than ever incumbent on all Christians, by their influence, example, and efforts, to honor and conserve this sacred institution."

The unfinished business of yesterday, viz., the subject of Church Extension, was resumed; the question being on the amendment, offered by the Rev. Clement E. Babb, to the report of the Committee.

Some progress having been made in the discussion, it was suspended, and the Rev. Francis Horton, Delegate from the General Association of Massachusetts, after a short address, to which the Moderator responded, took his leave.

The discussion was resumed, and continned until the hour of adjournment, when, without taking the question, the Assembly adjourned until Monday, at 9 o'clock A.M.

Concluded with prayer.

MONDAY, May 26th, 9 o'clock A.M

The Assembly met, and was opened with prayer. After the usual time had been occupied in devotional exercises, the minutes of the last session were read and approved.

The Rev. Thomas K. Fessenden having declined the appointment of Delegate to Connecticut and Massachusetts, the Rev. S. Storrs Howe was elected in his place.

the

The Committee on Mileage made a report, which was adopted; and the Committee (in the absence of the Treasurer) were directed to pay Commissioners, according to their proportion of the fund, at the rate of 3.7329 cents per mile.

The Committee, to whom was referred the subject of reporting the Collections for the Commissioners' Fund, made the following report, which was adopted :

"Resolved, That the Presbyteries be required to report in full the sums paid by their respective churches for the payment of Commissioners to the General Assembly; and that the Stated Clerk be directed to state the portion of the whole retained by the Presbyteries for the payment of their own Commissioners, and that which passed into the hands of the Treaurer for the General Commissioners' Fund of the Assembly."

The unfinished business of Saturday, viz., the subject of Church Extension, was resumed; the question being on the amendment of the Rev. Clement E. Babb to the report of the Committee.

The Rev. Joseph G. Wilson moved, that the whole subject of Church Extension, with the various reports and amendments, be referred to a Special Committee, for the purpose of making a report to the next Assembly.

The Rev. Alanson Scofield moved to postpone Mr. Wilson's motion, in order to take up the following substitute :

66

Resolved, That the Presbyteries be overtured on the whole subject of Church Extension, that they may, if they choose, memorialize the next General Assembly."

Rev. James W. McLane moved the previous question, which was ordered by the Assembly.

The motion of the Rev. Joseph G. Wilson, to refer the whole subject to a Special Committee, was then carried; and the whole subject was accordingly referred to a Special Committee, consisting of the Rev. Thornton A. Mills, Rev. Nathan S. S. Beman, D.D., Rev. Frederick A. Ross, Rev. Artemas Bullard, D.D., Rev. Asa D. Smith, D.D., Rev. D. Howe Allen, D.D., Rev. James B. Townsend, Rev. Samuel W. Fisher, and Rev. Robert W. Patterson; four of whom to form a quorum. The Assembly then adjourned until 2 o'clock P.M.

Concluded with prayer.

MONDAY, May 26th, 2 o'clock P.M.

The Assembly met, and was opened with prayer.

The minutes of the last session were read and approved.

The Committee on Bills and Overtures reported Overture No. 5, as follows:-"May the session of a church, at the request of an accused brother, assign as his counsel a minister of the gospel belonging to the same Presbytery to which the session belongs?"

The Committee answered:-"There is no provision for such a case in our Constitution; and, though it does not appear to contravene its spirit and design, and might in special cases be allowable with advantage; yet, a strict interpretation of chap. iv., sec. xxi., of the Book of Discipline, seems to preclude the employment of any one as counsel who is not a member of the judicatory."

The report was adopted.

The Committee, to whom was referred the nomination of a Preacher on Home Missions, recommended the appointment of the Rev. Artemas Bullard, D.D., as Principal, and Rev. George Duffield, D.D., as Alternate. Their recommendation was adopted.

"Resolved, That the rule in regard to the printed Minutes, adopted by the last, and several preceding Assemblies, be adopted in reference to the Minutes of this Assembly."

The bills for stationery and for printing were presented and ordered to be paid.

The following resolution was adopted :

"Resolved, That this Assembly does hereby declare its undiminshed

30

MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. [May 26th, 1851.

confidence in, and cordial sympathy with, the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, the American Home Missionary Society, and the American Tract Society, with which our Church has co-operated for so many years, in carrying forward the blessed work of the gospel, and doing good to man; and does hereby affectionately commend them to the Presbyteries and Churches connected with this Assembly."

"Resolved, That it be referred to a Committee, consisting of Rev. Edwin F. Hatfield, D.D., Rev. Alfred E. Campbell, D.D., Rev. Asa D. Smith, D.D., Rev. James W. McLane, Messrs. Moses W. Dodd, Roe Lockwood, and Charles Starr, to take into consideration the employment of the PRESS for the promotion of the cause of Christ, by means of our denomination."

Ordered-That the salaries and travelling expenses of the Stated and Permanent Clerks be paid.

"Resolved, That the thanks of the Assembly be tendered to the citizens of Utica, and the families of different religious denominations, who have extended such kind and cordial hospitality to the Commissioners in attendance, and have contributed to make their stay in this city so peculiarly pleasant. And that it is our fervent prayer, that the blessing of God may, in connection with this meeting, and with the ordinary means of grace here enjoyed, rest upon them.

"Resolved, That the thanks of the Assembly be tendered to those railroad and steamboat companies that have offered to convey the members of this Assembly at a reduced price.

"Resolved, That the thanks of the Assembly be tendered to the Trustees of the First Presbyterian Church in this city, and to the Bleecker street Baptist Church, for the accommodations extended to the Assembly during their present sessions."

The Rev. Ova P. Hoyt, Delegate to the Presbyterian and Congregational Convention of Wisconsin, forwarded a written report, which was read, and his bill of travelling expenses was ordered to be paid out of any unappropriated funds.

The bill of expenses of the Rev. Conway P. Wing, as Delegate to the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, was presented, and ordered to be paid out of any unappropriated funds.

The minutes were read and approved.

The roll was called, and none of the members were found to have absented themselves without leave.

The Rev. M. L. R. P. Thompson, D.D., from the Committee to prepare a Narrative, made a report, which was adopted, and ordered to be published in the Appendix to the Minutes.

The thanks of the Assembly were tendered to the Moderator, for the modest, efficient and impartial manner in which he has discharged the duties of his office.

The business of the Assembly having been finished, and the vote having been taken for dissolving the Assembly, the Moderator, with prayer and the apostolic benediction, declared the Assembly dissolved; and required another General Assembly, chosen in the same manner, to meet in the Fourth Presbyterian Church, in the city of Washington, on the third Thursday of May, A.D. 1852, at 11 o'clock A.M.

UTICA, May 26th, 1851.

E. W. GILBERT, Permanent Clerk.

APPENDIX.

ANNUAL NARRATIVE

OF THE

State of Religion

WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

IN THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

MAY, 1851.

THE Committee, to whom was referred the business of preparing a Narrative of the State of Religion within the bounds of the General Assembly, respectfully report:

The duty assigned to us is, on all accounts, difficult, and, on some accounts, not possible to be adequately performed. Had we just such narratives from all the Presbyteries as it is desirable that we should have, it would, even then, be no easy task to gather into a small space all the points of interest and importance, and so to arrange and exhibit them as to give a clear view of the actual state of things in our vast and varied field. Unhappily, however, of the one hundred and four Presbyteries in our connection, less than three fourths are heard from; and, for the most part, the reports laid upon the table of the Assembly are exceedingly meagre and unsatisfactory.

Your Committee would suggest the propriety of some action of this body, designed to secure, in future years, more perfect reports from all the inferior judicatories.

Having carefully availed ourselves of all the sources of information within our reach, we unite in making the following representations :

1. THE EXTERNAL CONDITION OF THE CHURCH.

The external condition of our Church may be regarded as generally prosperous. While, from various causes, many congregations, in almost every part of the land, are struggling to maintain an existence, and some, it is to be feared, are struggling vainly, yet, on the whole, the aspect of

things is encouraging. One cannot return from a walk about Zion, having told the towers thereof, and marked well her bulwarks, and considered her palaces, without joyously feeling that she is a city that is compact together, and, under God's protection, safe from the assaults of her

enemies.

The past year has evidently been a year of God's favor toward us. The ground previously possessed has been well maintained, and much new ground has been occupied. New churches have been organized, and old ones have received large accessions to their numbers. Many new houses of worship have been erected, and many old ones have been repaired and enlarged. A large amount of church debts has been cancelled, and other serious embarrassments, which are mentioned as having formerly existed, have, in various instances, been removed.

Many Presbyteries report a large increase of attendance on the ministrations of the sanctuary, and all assure us that they are living at peace among themselves, and laboring harmoniously to advance the cause of the gospel.

WANT OF MINISTERS.

That, in the external condition of our Church, which occasions most anxiety, is the great and growing scarcity of well-qualified and faithful ministers. From every quarter in the West, Southwest, and Northwest, the complaint on this ground is urged in a manner that has deeply affected our minds. Not only is the want of ministers sorely felt on the field, so as to be the principal cause of whatever distress exists there, and of the danger that threatens the permanence of not a few churches, but there seems to be no promise nor prospect of a speedy adequate supply; nor even that the difficulty is not to become greater, rather than less. It is a most alarming fact, that, as compared with former years, the number of young men preparing for the sacred office is very small. At a time when, to meet the growing demands of our country and the world, the supply should at least be doubled, a fearful diminution of the supply seems to be inevitable.

Your Committee feel impelled to ask, if something cannot be done to remedy the evil. May not individual churches do something, by thoroughly canvassing among themselves for pious young men, endowed by nature and grace with the proper qualifications, by urging them into a course of preparation for the ministry, and by aiding them, if need be, with the means of prosecuting their studies? And may not some means be devised of revivifying or reorganizing, on some more efficient plan, our Boards of Ministerial Education? Your Committee feel that scarcely any other interest of the Church demands, at the present time, so large a share of our attention.

THEOLOGICAL SEMINARIES.

We have reason to congratulate ourselves on the present condition of our Theological Seminaries, and their thorough preparation to do the work for which they are intended. We believe that no similar institutions in the land are better furnished for the business intrusted to them. Would to God that these schools of the prophets had work to do, com