relating to the public school system, by a majority of nearly two to one, a clause was incorporated providing that the act should not be construed to exclude the Bible from the schools. The significance of this action has been most distinctly perceived by the enemies of the Christian religion. The National Reform Association contributed effectively to this result, and when the matter comes before Congress again, will be prepared to work more effectively than before. Four thousand ministers of various denominations received the Christian Statesman for a period of one month each. The Convention of the Northwestern States, at Chicago, in the month of April, was an exceedingly encouraging meeting. In many sections of the country very effective local work has been done, and profound interest awakened. Steps have been taken towards the more effective organization of the work by the appointment of District Secretaries in every locality where active friends of the cause are found. We recognize the continued favor of God shown to this cause in the past, and take fresh courage for the future; and we recommend the usual collection in all our congregations for this purpose. J. R. W. SLOANE. The Committee on Publication of Psalms and Catechisms reported as follows: Report of Committee on the Publication of the Psalms and the Catechisms. Such Psalms, Bibles with psalms, &c., as our people require, are to be had at fair prices at Burlock's, of Philadelphia; at Robert Carter & Bro., 530 Broadway, New York, and at Nelson & Sons, New York; and we recommend our people to obtain their books from these houses. D. S. FARIS, J. WIGGINS. The Committee on Fourth Term of Communion reported. It was resolved that it is the judgment of this Synod that an acknowledgment of the covenant of the church in America must necessarily be embodied in the Terms of Communion; that the report of the committee be published in the Minutes, final action to be taken at next meeting of Synod. The report is as follows: Report of the Committee on Covenanting. An acknowledgment that public covenanting is an ordinance of God, to be observed by churches and nations under the New Testament dispensation; and of the act of covenanting by this church in 1871, in which is recognized the moral obligation of the National Covenant of Scotland and of the Solemn League and Covenant of the three kingdoms of Scotland, England and Ireland, as it is applicable to us in this land, and perpetually binding on all those represented in the taking of these vows. T. SPROULL. Prof. Willson, appointed to visit the churches of our fellowship in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, reported as follows: ALLEGHENY CITY, May 15th, 1877. To the Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church: The undersigned, appointed a delegate to visit the brethren in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, would respectfully report: That, after receiving the appointment he made arrangements to go to the provinces, but when the time came for leaving home he was compelled to abandon the proposed journey. He would acknowledge the cordial invitation of the Rev. A. M. Stavely, of St. Johns, and others of the brethren, whom he regrets he could not visit, as was desired. The matter in hand, union with our Synod, has been discussed and settled for the present by those brethren, since our last meeting. The decision of the Presbytery at Barnesville, N. B., in April, was as follows: Resolved, That we highly appreciate the fraternal spirit in which our proposal of union with the U. S. Synod was met, but inasmuch as our congregations could not fulfill the conditions of the Sustentation Fund, we are constrained for the present to abandon the hope of organic union with said Synod. The consideration of union with us called out the natural affection for the parent church in Ireland, and the above action was a satisfactory solution of the question for the brethren. In conclusion the undersigned submits the following resolution: "Resolved, That this Synod extends to the brethren in these provinces the assurance of its fraternal sympathy and regards, and invites them to again. correspond with us in reference to union whenever they shall judge the interests of our common cause and testimony will be advanced by such a step." Respectfully submitted, D. B. WILLSON. Item No. 1 of the Report of the Committee on Unfinished Business was taken up, and finally laid on the table. The whole report was then adopted. It is as follows: The Committee on Unfinished Business respectfully reports the following items: 1. A plan to reduce the expense of annual meetings of Synod. Reformed Presbyterian and Covenanter, pp. 201, 208; Our Banner, pp. 205, 212. 2. Report of committee to revise the terms of communion. Reformed Presbyterian and Covenanter, 1874, pp. 228, 242; 1875, p. 211; 1876, pp. 207, 250. Our Banner, 1875, p. 243; 1876, pp. 211, 254. Certified copies of the printed minutes of Synod have been deposited, as directed, with the Stated Clerk, for preservation as the official record of the court, in the library of the Theological Seminary, and with the Presbyterian Historical Society. Respectfully submitted, A. J. MCFARLAND, Chairman. The Revs. McCracken, Bowden, Robb and Trumbull, with elder David Boyd, were appointed a committee to secure reduction of fare from rail roads for next meeting of Synod. The thanks of Synod were unanimously tendered to the families of this vicinity, whose hospitality the members of Synod have enjoyed. Thanks were given also to the Revs. J. Lynd and D. C. Faris for the reports which they have furnished to the papers. Synod then, with prayer by the Rev. H. P. McClurkin, singing the 133d psalm, and the apostolic benediction, adjourned to meet in Sharon church, Iowa, on the Wednesday following the fourth Tuesday of May, 1878, at 2 o'clock P. M. T. P. STEVENSON, Clerk. J. R. THOMPSON, Moderator. The Report of Committee on Discipline, p. 176, was amended so as to read : 3. That the case of Rev. Lewis Johnston be referred back to Pittsburgh Presbytery for such action as in its judgment may be deemed advisable." THE PRESBYTERIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, THE Executive Committee of the Presbyterian Historical Society, at the close of another year, would report an outline of the results attained: During the past year the committee has steadily labored to accomplish the objects for which the society was established; and has given special attention to procuring the histories of all Presbyterian churches, and to securing collections from congregations for the erection of a fire-proof library building. The severe commercial revulsion, causing largely a suspension of the industries of the country, and which has been more severely felt the past than any previous year, has prevented our accomplishing all that we had hoped. Yet we can report a degree of progress, which is perhaps all that could reasonably be expected under the circumstances. We regret that we have to report that the society's valuable library is in the same unsatisfactory place and condition as one year ago, and where it is subject to constant depreciation in value, and exposed to destruction by fire. The contributions thus far received from the churches have not been sufficient to justify the committee in taking any steps to procure a suitable building; so that the important historical material, which the society has for the past twenty years been acquiring by donations and purchase, and much of which could not be reduplicated at any price, is every day liable to be destroyed. And as indicating the importance of this collection we may here briefly state, that it consists of more than 10,000 vols.; from 30,000 to 40,000 pamphlets, magazines and reviews; between 300 and 400 vols. of religious newspapers; a large number of rare manuscripts, and more than 500 portraits of ministers and laymen of the Presbyterian Church. It must appear, therefore, to all the friends of the Society, as it does to the Executive Committee, that the first and most imperative need, and the one to which our wisest, best and constant efforts should be directed, is to provide a safe building, where our valuable collection will be safe from fire, and where it can be properly arranged, and its practical usefulness be demonstrated. And For more than twenty years the Society has been collecting the materials for a history of this church, and though its collection is not complete, yet its library contains "the elements of the unwritten history of Presbyterianism in this country." Many of our books and pamphlets have no duplicates, and more are exceedingly rare, and if these should be lost, no time, nor labor, nor money could replace them, and that page of our history which they are capable of supplying must remain forever blank. when we observe the care with which the Spirit of God has preserved the history of the ancient church, and the space that was devoted to this subject-more than one-third of the Bible is taken up with its history-we cannot but think that the history of the Christian Church in all succeeding ages claims special attention at the hands of his ministers; and that if we labor to preserve and perpetuate it, we may, with confidence, look for the approval and blessing of the great Head of the church, and for the encouragement and assistance of his people. By order of the Committee. J. B. DALES, Recording Secretary. New York Pres. First Newburgh.... S. Carlisle............................ Kortright.. West Galway, Miss Syrian Mission...... Joseph Beattie. No. of Cong'ns, 21. No. Ministers, 21... Phila. Pres. Third Philadelphia R. J. Sharpe......... Newburgh, New York.. 57 3d st. E Cambridge, Mass. Totals .... First Philadelphia. T. P. Stevenson..... 1623 Brown st. Philadelphia.. John Lynd... Suffolk Mission..... No. of Cong'ns, 5.... No. Ministers, 4.. Totals............ 26 14 718 65 518 24 15 13 28 2 10 12 22, 46, $ 989 $220 $85 $ 371 $ 115 $ 70. $ 660 $6,614 $4,265 13,389 25 Chinese. a This amount includes the $1,000 paid annually to Dr. Stevenson. An error of two last year. An error of sur last year. 2 adults. To Colchester Station. [ 1 adult. b Full salary, $2,000. c With manse. Pres. Geneva Col.. HI. II. George. West Geneva, Ohio... Winfield, Lake Co., Ind.. D. S. Erwin, Cedarville, Ohio Dr. M. D. Willson, Bellecn're West Geneva, Ohio. West Geneva, Ohio 26 4 116 5 4 3 7 13 12 1 26 291 15 10 18 14 9 542 39 683 26 118 4 2 2 4 119 322 52 42 25 30 16 11 700 133 1,009 43 22 564] 14 155 21 17 8 25 1 43 12 8 68 Three adults. First and Second Miami, now United Miami, One adult. Not in totals. a $25 to Chinese Mission. b $100 to Chinese Mission. c $50 to pastor. d $ 25 to pastor. e For supply of Pulpit. 201 105 691 18 93 52 29 3,131, 1,698 4,796 To form Bellefontaine congregation. |