cent islands in the Pacific ocean, may be said, according to the prophecy, "to be born in a day." The Baptists leave their children in the visible kingdom of darkness, where there is no promise nor provision for their regeneration; and if a gracious and sovereign God regenerates them, well and good. But Pædobaptists consider it their duty and privilege to plant their children by baptism in the vineyard of the Lord; hoping that in his own time, and according to his own promise, he will " pour out his spirit on their seed, and his blessing upon their offspring," "that they may be trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that his name may be glorified." Those Baptists who have embraced the whole of Mr. C.'s system, degrade the Old Testament dispensation of grace, by denying that there was a church of God in the Jewish nation; and consequently must consider the ordinances appointed by Jehovah, from the time of Abraham to the completion of the temple service, at best, as an unmeaning inefficient mummery; but Pædobaptists consider them as unequivocal proofs of the existence of a church amongst that people, as ordinances "for the service of God," are involved in the very idea of a church, and belong to her essence; and also as precious means of grace suited to that day, and graciously intended for interesting them in the Redeemer's righteousness. From a view of the whole of this system; as a father of a family, and with the Bible before me, I must say of such Baptists and their system, "O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their 'ASSEMBLY' mine honour be not united." I say this only of those Baptists who have embraced the whole of Mr. C.'s system; for there are Baptists whom I esteem for their piety and intelligence, and who, I am persuaded, abhor some of his principles as much as I do.

In my next letter I shall minutely examine the nature of that repent

ance and faith, which the scriptures require as prerequisite qualifications for admittance into the church, in order that we may have a fuller view of her structure and real design. SAMUEL RALSTON.

Summary of the Proceedings of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, in May, 1821.

The Assembly convened in the Seventh Presbyterian Church, in this city, on Thursday the 17th of May last, and was opened at 11 o'clock A. M., by the Rev. John M'Dowell, D. D., moderator of the preceding Assembly, with a very appropriate and animating sermon, from Mark xvi. 15: "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." His object was chiefly to impress on Christian ministers their duty of preaching the gospel as universally as possible; and on private members of the church, their obligations to promote by their prayers, contributions, and benevolent associations the multiplication of well educated preachers, the establishment of missions, and the diffusion of the gospel among all the people on earth.

At the opening of the Assembly, more than one hundred commissioners were present. They elected the Rev. William Hill, D. D., of Winchester, Virginia, Moderator for the present year, and the Rev. Robert Cathcart, D. D., Temporary Clerk.

On proper inquiry, it was ascertained that the Revised Forms of Government and Discipline, sent down to the presbyteries last year, had been adopted by a majority of them. Thirty-seven was the smallest number of presbyteries which approved of any one article. The whole was, therefore, ratified and adopted by the Assembly, and has now become a part of the constitution of our church.

The Assembly resolved, in future to publish the whole of their minutes, with the exception of such parts, as may be restricted by a vote of the Assembly, passed during the final reading of them.

An overture from the Synod of North Carolina, recommending that all our congregations should annually employ the afternoon or evening of the Wednesday preceding the meeting of each Assembly, as a season of special prayer to Almighty God for his blessing on the General Assembly, was adopted.

From the reports of the presbyteries represented in this Assembly this year, it appeared that there are seventy-three young men assisted by them, in different stages of their education for the gospel ministry.

Monday, May 21, 1821, was principally occupied by the Assembly in receiving reports from the presbyteries and associations on the state of religion within their bounds; a summary of which may be found in the narrative inserted in this number of the Magazine. On this auspicious day, however, the Assembly unanimously adopted the following minute:

"Whereas the Associate Reformed Church and the Presbyterian Church, in the United States of America, are one in their confession of faith and form of government; and whereas the Assembly knows of no reason why these two ecclesiastical bodies should not become visibly one Church, as we trust we are one in Christ Jesus, to the glory of God:-Therefore resolved, that Dr. Green, Dr. Blatchford, Dr. M'Dowell, Mr. Benjamin Strong, and Mr. Henry Southard, be a committee to confer on this subject with a similar committee from the Associate Reformed Synod now in session in this city, if they shall see fit to appoint one; and that said committee report the result of their conference as soon as convenient."

The Associate Reformed Synod on the next day appointed a similar committee, consisting of the Rev. John M. Mason, D. D., Rev. Ebenezer Dickey, Rev. John Lind, Mr. William Wilson, and Mr. Joseph VOL. I.

Cushing. These two committees met in joint committee, with great cordiality; and having resolved, unanimously, that an union of the two churches is both desirable and practicable, adopted the following articles as the basis of the same:

"1. The different presbyteries of the Associate Reformed Church shall either retain their separate organization, or shall be amalgamated with those of the General Assembly, at their own choice. In the former case, they shall have as full powers and privileges as any other presbyteries in the united body, and shall attach themselves to the synods most convenient.

"2. The Theological Seminary at Princeton, under the care of the General Assembly, and the Theological Seminary of the Associate Reformed Church, shall be consolidated.

"3. Whereas monies, to the amount of between nine and ten thousand dollars, which were given to the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Church, and of which the interest or product only was to be applied to the support of the Theological Seminary, were necessarily used in the current expenses thereof; which monies so expended were assumed by the Synod as its own debt, at an interest of 7 per cent.; the united body agree to make a joint effort to repay the same, and will apply the interest accruing thereon to the maintenance of a Professorship of Biblical Literature, in the Seminary at Princeton, analogous to that which now exists in the Associate Reformed Church: and until such professorship shall be established, the said interest or product shall be used for the general purposes of the Seminary.

"4. The theological library and funds, belonging to the Associate Reformed Church, shall be transferred, and belong to the Seminary at Princeton."

On the 23d of May, the foregoing articles were reported to the General Assembly, and by that body unanimously adopted. With this auspicious result, the Assembly's committee of conference were sent to the Synod; and soon after the Assembly received the corresponding committee of the Synod, who by their chairman, Dr. Mason, delivered the following communication.

"In General Synod of the Associate Reformed Church, Resolved that this Synod approve of the plan of union agreed upon by the joint committees, and refer the same to the consideration of the different 2 L

Clerk of General Synod, &c." Philadelphia, May 23, 1821.

Here the matter must rest, until the five presbyteries of the Associate Church have acted on the overture sent down to them; but we confidently expect that they will adopt the articles of union, and appoint commissioners to our next General Assembly; so that their Synod may be dissolved, and all its constituent branches be incorporated with us. Such a union is devoutly to be wished; and if the Associate Church, and the Reformed Presbyterian Church would only consent to let us sing the versifications of Watts, while they are at liberty to sing Rouse, without molestation, they too might unite with us, and we rejoice in them as sound members of a large, powerful, and happy branch of the Church of Christ in the world. So far as we can learn, nothing but psalmody can keep us asunder; and on this subject we say, Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind; and are willing to indulge others in the liberty which we claim for ourselves.

From the compendious view of the statistical reports presented to the Assembly, it appears, that there are at present under its care 12 synods and 62 presbyteries. Fifty of these presbyteries sent up reports to this Assembly, but they were not all perfect. Forty-eight only reported on the number of communicants added the last year, and forty-nine on the whole number of communicants. Forty-eight have reported on the number of baptisms. Of thirteen hundred congregations, the whole number reported by 50 presbyteries, five hundred and seventy-eight have reported the number of communicants added to them during the last year, to be 7,186; and 651 congregations the

total number, now in communion, to be 71,364. Three hundred and seventy-three congregations have reported the instances of adult baptisms in them during the last year, which amount to 2,101; and 494 the cases of infant baptisms, which amount to 8,105. The 50 presbyteries, which have reported, contain 546 ministers of the gospel who have pastoral charges, and 188 who have not; giving a total of 734: and have under their care 103 licentiates and 101 candidates. The congregations within the bounds of these 50 presbyteries, which are statedly supplied, are 793; vacant and able to support a pastor, 103; united, able, 20; and unable, in their present condition, 318. It is to be regretted that 12 presbyteries should have made no returns; and that other large presbyteries should have reported little else than the names of their ministers and churches. Not half of the 1300 congregations reported, have stated their increase during the last year; we may warrantably conclude therefore, since the whole number of communicants in 651 congregations is upwards of 71,000, that the whole number in all our congregations cannot be less than 142,000. The number of ordained ministers in our connexion we estimate at 1000.

The Assembly divided the Synod of Geneva, and constituted the Presbyteries of Niagara, Genessee, Rochester and Ontario, into the Synod of Genessee.

Wednesday evening was occupied by the Assembly as a special season of prayer, and the narrative on the state of religion was read by the Rev. Stephen N. Rowan, of New York, the writer of the same, to a large and attentive audience. The address of the Rev. John Truair, of the Presbytery of Otsego, was animating, and all the other exercises appropriate.

Concerning the publication of the Revised Constitution of the Presbyterian Church, the Assembly re

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solved to have the copyright secured, and to appoint in each Synod a committee of three ministers, which is to contract for the payment to the treasurer of the Assembly of three cents on each copy published, by any printer or printers, or booksellers, who may be disposed to print the work; to correct the proof sheets; and to authenticate the edition by their signatures. The profits arising from the publication, are to be equally divided between the missionary funds of the Assembly, and the funds of the Theological Seminary at Princeton.

The members of the several committees, respectively, are held responsible to the Church, for the accuracy of the editions which may be published under their superintendency. The committee of the Synod of Philadelphia is charged with preparing an index to the volume; and is required to publish the work as speedily as possible, that other editions may be copied from it.

To the constitution is to be appended a System of General Rules for Judicatories, designed to promote uniformity in the transaction of business. These rules have not been adopted by the presbyteries, and therefore form no part of the Constitution of the Church; but the Assembly approves of the same, and recommends them to all inferior judicatories to be adopted by them, if they think proper, for their own go

dained the Rev. William L. M'Calla, contrary to presbyterial order; he having been suspended from the privileges of the church by the Presbytery bringing the complaint, in consequence of a reference on the subject from the session of the church in Chilicothe. While in this state of suspension, Mr. M'Calla had not only refused to make any confession of the fault alleged against him, but had undertaken, without any license from any ecclesiastical body, to preach the gospel; and had actually officiated as chaplain to the army under the command of Major General Andrew Jackson, at New Orleans. It appeared on the examination of the case, that Mr. M'Calla was originally a member in full communion in the church in Lexington, Kentucky, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Mr. Cunningham, from which he had not, at the time of being licensed, been dismissed by any written or verbal consent of the pastor or session. He had, however, in consequence of marriage, taken up his residence in Chilicothe in Ohio, and had asked for the privilege of communion with that church; which request was granted by the pastor, who gave him a token for admission to the Lord's table. While entitled, as the writer of this article judges, to nothing more than occasional communion with the church in Chilicothe, and while liable only to have this occasional communion withheld from him, the session in Chilicothe undertook to exercise discipline upon him, to which he refused submisssion. When he would not appear and answer before the session for withdrawing from the worship of that church, his case was referred to the Presbytery of Washington in Ohio, which judicature, without citing Mr. M'Calla to appear and answer to any charge brought against him, proceeded to pass on him a sentence of suspension. With this act of suspension the Presbytery of West Lexington were made ac

quainted; but they nevertheless proceeded to license and ordain Mr. M'Calla, and the Synod of Kentucky approved of their conduct.

The Assembly finally came to the following decision in the case.

"Resolved, that while the Assembly disapprove the conduct of Mr. M'Calla in preaching the gospel before he was regufarly licensed, and while they regret that the Presbytery of West Lexington in the final trials of Mr. M'Calla for licensure, did not pay sufficient attention, either to his irregularity in preaching as just mentioned, or to the proceedings in the Session of the church of Chilicothe and of the Presbytery of Washington in his case; they nevertheless judge that the proceedings of the Presbytery of West Lexington in licensing and ordaining Mr. M'Calla, be sustained, and that Mr. M'Calla be considered as a minister in good and regular standing in the Presbyterian church.

"The Assembly, moreover, cannot forbear expressing their regret, that the Presbytery of Washington should have passed a vote of censure upon Mr. M'Calla, without citing him to appear before them, or giving him any opportunity of making a defence, since this mode of proceeding seems to have occasioned a portion of the irregularity in the Presbytery of West Lexington, of which the Presbytery of Washington have complained.

"Nor can the Assembly forbear to regret, that the Session of Chilicothe had not acted in a more formal manner, in receiving Mr. M'Calla; and had not required a regular certificate of dismission from the church to which Mr. M'Calla belonged before they received him."

It is often said, Behold how great a fire a little spark kindleth! and we say, Behold how much mischief is done by the neglect of a simple form! If communicants may pass from the government and care of one particular church to another, without any form of dismission from one, which shall be the ground of reception in another, it will be impossible to say where multitudes belong, and there will be an end of discipline. Had Mr. M'Calla been dismissed at all, from the church in Lexington, and then received by the church in Chilicothe, there could have been no objection against their jurisdiction, or that of the Presbytery of Washington, in his case,

however informal that reception may have been. Our new form of government is so explicit on this subject, that we hope all similar difficulties will be precluded in future, and that every member of the Presbyterian church will know to whom, under God, he is amenable for his conduct.

In acting on the report of the directors of the Theological Seminary, the Assembly approved of the employment of Mr. Charles Hodge, by the professors, as a teacher of the original languages of scripture in the seminary, for the last year; and authorized the professors to employ him, or any other person whom they might judge qualified, for the same purpose, for the year ensuing, at a salary of $400. In addition to the unexpended balance of the last year's appropriation, amounting to $448.44, the Assembly appropriated $4,200 for the current expenses of the present year. With a view to the holding of the real estate of the General Assembly, in the commonwealth of New Jersey, more securely than could otherwise be done, the directors of the seminary were authorized to apply to the legislature of said commonwealth, for an act of incorporation, to be reported to the next Assembly for adoption. The Assembly moreover assumed the payment of $2,150 due for the professor's house in Princeton, together with $850 for out houses, fences, and a well; and directed the trustees of the General Assembly to borrow on the best terms in their power, the sum of $3000 for the purpose of discharging the debt. At a meeting of the trustees soon after the adjournment of the Assembly, Alexander Henry, Esq. loaned the said sum, on the bond of the trustees, at an interest of six per cent.

From the report of the Board of Education to the Assembly, it appears, that only five auxiliary societies have made returns of their