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ASSOCIATE SYNOD OF NORTH AMERICA.

THIS SYNOD met in Bloomfield, Ohio, May 25, 1864. Rev. J. D. MCNAY was elected Moderator. Reports were received from various committees. Various plans were suggested to awaken the attention of the members of the Churches under the care of Synod.

An Act for a Fast was adopted, also one for Thanksgiving.

THE ASSOCIATE PRESBYTERIAN.-A Monthly Journal published by the Rev. SAMUEL G. MCNEEL, at Pittsburgh, Indiana, was strongly commended to the favor and encouragement of the Ministers, Elders, and people of the Church.

The Synod adjourned to meet in May, 1865, at Xenia, Ohio.
Rev. S. G. MCNEEL,

Rev. J. D. MCNAY,

Stated Clerk.

Moderator.

ASSOCIATE REFORMED SYNOD OF NEW YORK.

THE SYNOD is composed of those who did not become members of The United Presbyterian Church, at the time of the union of the Associate Reformed and Associate bodies. They consist of two Presbyteries, viz.: NEW YORK and SARATOGA; have 16 ministers, 14 churches, and 1,631 communicants.

UNITED SYNOD OF PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

THIS SYNOD was organized in 1858, (a full account of which is in The Presbyterian Historical Almanac for 1859.) At that time they numbered 113 ministers, 197 churches, and 10,105 members. Their annual operations have been recorded each year in the Almanac.

ASSOCIATE REFORMED SYNOD OF THE SOUTH.

THIS body was formed many years ago, being made up of that portion of the Associate Reformed Church located in the Southern States. In 1861 they had 75 ministers, 80 churches, and 9,500 communicants. They are found in Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Texas.

THE SYNOD
SYNOD

OF THE

REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

THE SYNOD OF THE REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA, met in the Second Reformed Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, Pa., on Tuesday, May 24, 1864, at 71 o'clock, P. M.

Rev. ALEXANDER MILLIGAN, the retiring Moderator, opened the sessions with a discourse from Psalm 1. 2: "Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined."

After the discourse Synod was constituted with prayer, and the following were

Members of the Thirty-Fifth Session of Synod.

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Rev. SAMUEL BOWDEN, of Rochester Presbytery, was elected Moderator. Rev. R. Z. WILLSON, Clerk, and H. H. GEORGE, ASsistant Clerk.

PRESBYTERIAL REPORTS.-The Committee reported as follows:-That with much satisfaction we have examined the reports of Presbyteries. These give most encouraging evidence of steadfastness in the truth, activity in the work of the Lord, and of a door being widely opened for the diffusion of our testimony. Never in this land before was there such anxiety to know the distinctive principles of "the Old Covenanters," and there is hopeful prospect of them soon prevailing. Their influence is agitating the nation, riding the waves of commotion, and destined, it would appear, soon to produce a radical reformation of the constitution and laws of the land. From every quarter the cry is heard, "Come over and help." Earnestly as the church desires to do this, she has not been fully able to respond to the demand. The field never was so large, the opportunities for its cultivation so favorable, and there is wanting only a sufficient supply of laborers, for which, we believe, prayer is being opportunely made to " the Lord of the harvest.

Since last meeting of Synod all the Presbyteries have held at least two meetings, characterized by unanimity and energetic action, days of fasting and thanksgiving have been observed, two venerable fathers have deceased, a young brother recently inducted into the ministry has abandoned his congregation and profession, two students of theology have been licensed, three licentiates have been ordained and installed in pastoral charges, and two congregations have been organized.

*

In relation to the communication from Joseph M. Wilson, of Philadelphia, Pa., on MANSES, we recommend that Synod approve the object of Mr. Wilson, and when the Clerks of Presbyteries are furnished with blank circulars, as he proposes, they will take measures to obtain from congregations the desired information.

*A memorial from Joseph M. Wilson, of Philadelphia, Pa., in behalf of MANSES, or comfortable homes for Presbyterian ministers free of rent. WHEREAS, The importance of providing Manses for the comfortable accommodation of Presbyterian ministers and their families, is a duty, the performance of which cannot be longer delayed, but the magnitude of the operations demands a careful scrutiny of the state of the church, and a thorough knowledge of its condition in this aspect; therefore,

Resolved, That the churches under the care of this Synod be requested to reply to the following questions:

1. Please give the name of your church, with the year of its organization.

2. What has been about the annual rent paid by your minister for a house to live in? or,

3. Have you a MANSE for your minister, thereby securing him a comfortable home?

4. What was the plan you adopted to awaken the interest of the people, and thus secure the erection of a MANSE?

Please let your answer to this question be as full as possible, (as these replies will be published.) and you thereby aid your brethren, who have not erected a MANSE, but will do so, as soon as they see how it can be done, by showing them how it has been done.

5. Have you a Glebe attached to your MANSE? if so, what is saved to a minister's family by tilling a few acres?

6. Please give a description of your MANSE, its size and accommodations, with specifications of its cost as far as possible, with diagrams of the arrangement of the rooms, the attention paid to ventilation, the capacity of its library, and such other suggestions as will increase the value of these returns.

Resolved, That the ministers, elders, deacons, trustees, or members of the churches under the care of this General Assembly, be earnestly requested to make early and full replies to these questions, adding any information that may tend to awaken an interest in behalf of MANSES, or comfortable homes for Presbyterian ministers.

Resolved, That said replies, suggestions, and information, be sent to Joseph M. Wilson, of Philadelphia, to be by him arranged and classified in time to be presented to the next Synod.

Resolved, That Joseph M. Wilson be authorized to supply the Stated Clerks of the Presbyteries, in connection with this Synod, with a sufficient number of copies of this Overture, as there are churches within the bounds of said Presbyteries, with the understanding that the Stated Clerks will attend to their distribution among the churches.

Resolved, That in order to the fulfilment of the objects contemplated, the Presbyteries be enjoined to make inquiries from time to time, testing the diligence of the churches in replying to the questions contained in this Overture,

THEOLOGICAL SEMINARIES.-The report states that the Seminary continues in a flourishing condition; that the Professors spare no pains to make the exercises both interesting and profitable, and that the students are making commendable progress in their preparation for the work of the holy ministry.

The number of students is eight for the session of 1863-4: First YearJ. R. Newell, A. Wright, T. A. Sproull. Third Year-J. S. Buck, J. C. Nightingale, D. H. Coulter, R. J. Sharp. Fourth Year-J. H. Boggs. The relation of Mr. Newell to the Seminary is merely nominal. His engagements were such as to prevent his attendance upon the recitations and other duties of the Seminary. The number of students in attendance, it will be seen, was smaller than at any previous session. The Board have the most satisfactory reason for believing that this is due to other causes entirely than to any diminution of interest in the Seminary. The same is true of theological schools in other churches. It is accounted for by the fact that the immense absorption of men by the army has created a demand for help in agricultural and other pursuits that kept at home several young men who would otherwise have been in the Seminary. We would not say that an impression, groundless and mistaken we are sure, that our preachers are already adequate to the work to be done, has not had an influence in keeping some away. Though aside from its proper department, the Board would venture to suggest that the church needs a revision of its system of Home Missions, so as to give it greater capacity for work, and thus call out in this direction the activities and energies of the church. The employment of a number of our young men in this field, it can hardly be doubted, would result in incalculable good to the church.

We take pleasure in saying that the examination and specimen discourses of the students at the close of session were every way satisfactory. Evidences of industry and application upon the part of the young men are seen in their proficiency in the several churches of study and in the progress made by them during the session. Mr. J. H. Boggs was certified to his Presbytery as having completed the prescribed theological curriculum.

THE PROFESSORS IN THE SEMINARY ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Rev. JAMES M. WILLSON, Exegetical and Pastoral Theology. THOMAS SPROULL, D.D., Systematic and Polemic Theo. and Church Gov. TERCENTENARY OF THE DAY OF CALVIN'S DEATH.-J. M. WILLSON, Chairman of the Committee on this subject, reported as follows, which was adopted:

John Calvin was born in the year 1509, in the northwestern part of the kingdom of France. His parents were bigoted Papists, and most of his near relatives so remained, and to such a degree that they sought and obtained permission to change their name, that they might not be identified with one whom they regarded as the ringleader in heresy. In his boyhood he gave evidence of extraordinary abilities, and, in consequence received a thorough education. Apprehended by the grace of God, and led to Christ before the eighteenth year of his age, while in attendance upon lectures in the University of Paris, he at once became a most diligent student of the word of God, and soon a prominent and devoted Reformer. The enemies of the gospel sought to seize him, and for a few years he became a wanderer, finding a temporary home in Navarre, or on the borders of the Rhine, or in Italy. In 1535, he was providentially led to Geneva, where, with the exception of three years of banishment on account of his fidelity to Christ, and the cause of truth and pure morals, he passed the residue of his days in labors unceasing and most important to the interest of God's kingdom on

earth. His departure took place May 27, 1564, in the fifty-fifth year of his age. It is not for us, or for this age, to fix the place, among men, of John Calvin. This has been long determined. The admiration and encomiums of his friends, comprising all the friends of orthodox doctrine, and the bitter and persistent calumnies of his enemies, have long since placed him highest among the great lights of the church and of the world. His "Institutes of the Christian Religion," published in its last revision in the 25th year of his age, attest his pre-eminence as a theologian. As a Biblical critic and expositor, he was far in advance of any of his contemporaries. Deeply learned in the original tongues, he has left us Commentaries on a large portion of the word of God, which the most advanced scholars in this important department constantly consult with increasing confidence. As a scholar he had few compeers in his own day. Bayle, no friend of his theological views, pronounces him to have been at twenty-three years of age the nost learned man in Europe. Calvin was the legislator of the Reformation. His capacious intellect embraced in its wide grasp the true character and structure of the church of God; and his systematic mind reduced to a scriptural order the comparatively crude ideas of ecclesiastical government evolved during the earlier stages of the great Reformation. To him, under God, more than to any, or all his contemporaries, is due the system of Presbyterian church government, as exemplified in the reformed churches of western and central Europe, and subsequently in the British Islands. His counsel was sought by all the leaders of the Reformation in all the evangelical churches, and by his correspondence with the learned and pious in all the reformed nations-with kings and princes, with ministers and church courts, he was the chief instrument in securing that unity of judgment and action among them that marked his age. As principal Professor of the College and Theological Seminary of Geneva, which was attended at times by two thousand students from all countries of Europe, he sent forth thousands of pastors and teachers, who became the exponents and defenders of Scripture truth, discipline, and order. Republican Geneva under his teaching became a fountain of Christian knowledge, and also of liberty, to the nations in his own day, and directly or indirectly to the world now.

Occupied in so many most important departments of labor with unparalleled assiduity, his great soul rapidly exhausted the frail earthly tenement, and he died at fifty-five years of age, literally worn out in the service of the church and of his Master, leaving to the church and to mankind such a legacy of Christian truth and principles as has never been left her by any other uninspired man.

Calvin was long regarded, even by the friends of Calvinistic doctrine, as severe and morose even in social and domestic life. Later and more impartial researches, especially the examination of his extensive and now published correspondence, bring him before us in a far different aspect-as the trusted counselor of the most eminent and tried saints of God- -as the tender, loving husband, the affectionate parent, the esteemed and honored friend.

In view of what John Calvin was, and of what he was enabled by grace to accomplish for the cause of God and man, Synod thanks God for his work in him and by him, and on this 27th of May, 1864, the Tercentenary of his decease, records in this minute its sense of his incomparable worth.

MISSIONS.-For Domestic Missions during the year payments have been made to sustain missionary efforts in the Presbyteries. The Board has no statement from any of the Presbyteries in regard to the appropriation and use of the moneys received by them from this fund, and we are therefore unable to furnish Synod with any information on this point. We are well

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