as might otherwise have been expected, justice to its history requires us to add that, during all that period of discouragement, an important work was going on, in it and by it, both for immediate results and in preparation for the future. The "co-operative" or undenominational method to which the New School strongly adhered in their work of evangelization, so merged their contributions with those of a sister denomination, that it is not easy to determine, except approximately, what portion of the common results was due to their agency. But there is reason to believe it was in full proportion, both in men and money, to their comparative ability. With generous aid afforded them from New England, they sustained and strengthened their numerous feeble and infant churches, and made provisions for the support and endowment of their theological and literary institutions. Some of these suffered severely from the financial embarrassments which wellnigh overwhelmed the country just at the occurrence of the separation, and it was only with the greatest difficulty, and at the cost of great self-denials and exertions on the part of their guardians and Faculties, that they were kept alive, to be the blessings which they now are to the church. The records of the General Assembly give tokens likewise of a high degree of devotion to the work of the gospel, in the frequent, very extensive, and deeply moving revivals of religion, which obtain notice in its Pastoral letters and official "Narratives of the state of Religion." Large numbers were, from year to to year, added to the church; bold and judicious testimony was uttered for the sanctity of the Sabbath, the purity and integrity of the Christian doc

trines, the promotion of temperance, and against the worldly spirit threatening in various ways to corrupt the piety of the church. In that most critical and formative period in the history of our Western country, there went forth steadily, it is believed, from this devoted band of hard-working, self-denying ministers and churches, an influence of vast though silent efficacy, to make that great and now powerful section of our country what it is,-eminently Christian. Meanwhile, a process was going on within the body itself, whose beneficial results some, no doubt, were then unable to foresee. That process of depletion which began, as we have seen, at the beginning of its troubles, the dropping off, on this side and on that, of men and churches, that had been considered in some cases leaders of the body, and that certainly did contribute to swell its numbers and apparent strength, was gradually disentangling it from hurtful complications, removing the embarrassment and peril of alien counsels, and promoting unity and homogeneousness among its members. Some of those trusted leaders, who, in the days of adversity, went away, and walked no more with them, were among the rowers who rowed them into the deep waters, and whose unwise measures, or vulnerable expressions, had made their views and actions to be misinterpreted by those who were really of the same principles. At the same time, questions vital to their future peace and ity were getting discussed and settled. Such was the question of slavery, to the discussion of which they gave the utmost latitude, as will be shown hereafter, and with respect to which they reached conclusions which, during all the fierce struggles which afterwards

prosper

agitated the country, they saw no reason to alter. Night seems to most men, especially if it be overcast with clouds, a season of gloom; but it adds mightily, with its refreshing moisture and its sparkling dewdrops, to the beauty and freshness of the morning. Winter seems a cheerless and barren interval; but spring owes not a little of its bursting life, and summer and autumn of their growth and wealth of prod ucts, to its silent processes. So, often, does the church of God look back with gratitude to her seasons of discouragement, as she looks forward, and takes up the words of hope,

"The winter season has been sharp,

But spring shall all its wastes repair."

It has been necessary to dwell thus long upon this period of depression, that we might the better understand that of the new life and activity which followed. The stirrings of this new life began to discover themselves during the meeting of the triennial Assembly in 1846. Most of the time in that meeting, to the great disparagement of the Assembly in the eyes of some, was occupied with the discussion of slavery. In consequence of this, as appears from the minutes, "business of vast importance to the prosperity of our church, especially at the West, was left unfinished and unat tempted; business which, in the opinion of many entitled to belief, must be done soon, or it would be wholly beyond our power ever to do it." In this view, the evil of triennial, instead of annual Assemblies, began to be apparent to many. "It was not surprising," they said, "that during the long interval, the churches at the West, in all stages of existence, among a heterogen

eous and rapidly increasing population, should feel the want of the presence and wisdom of the General Assembly, both to attract around a common centre these diverse elements, and to devise plans for the extension and consolidation of our branch of the church. That the exigency might not fail to be met, an adjourned meeting of the Assembly was agreed upon, to be held in the spring of the next year; and as the measure was then without precedent, and some doubted its legality, the opinion of Chancellor Kent was procured, who gave it the sanction of his weighty authority.

In the spring of 1847, the Assembly came together in the city of Cincinnati, full of the spirit of their important mission. A memorial was presented from Rev. Thornton A. Mills, not a member of the Assembly, which, though not to be found upon the minutes, deserves to be carefully preserved, both as a memorial of the man, and an important monument of progress in the history of the church. The opening paragraph is characteristic: "That, being a native of the great West, and expecting to live and die in the service of Christ, endeavoring to spread the influence of the Presbyterian Church throughout its wide limits, he feels peculiar pleasure in welcoming the Assembly, at this, its first session in the great city of the West, and in learning that one object of the adjournment, was to consider the condition of our western churches, and devise means for their enlargement. Having been all his life an observer of the state of things, and having for several years past possessed peculiar advantages of acquiring knowledge from his connection with the Home Missionary Society through a large portion of this region, he trusts it will

not be deemed presumptuous if, in the form of a memorial, he ventures to offer a few suggestions as to the best means of extending the influence of the kingdom of Christ, as it is connected with our church." In this memorial, four points are very clearly presented and forcibly urged. 1. The great want of places of public worship. "The power of Presbyterianism" lies "in the continuity of its efforts; and this cannot be secured without permanent church accommodations.” 2. The expediency of a temporary system of itineracy under the direction of presbyteries and synods. Presbyterianism cannot be made aggressive without this. 3. The need of some new measures to supply suitable ministers, "men apt to teach, who will persevere in laying the foundations of many generations." 4. The need of some special provision for the wants of our foreign population, especially the Germans.

This memorial, carefully considered in a committee, and freely discussed in interlocutory meetings of the Assembly, resulted in the adoption of a plan which required only to be matured and carried out, to place the church on a new platform in respect to its prosperity and usefulness. "Every pastor, session, and church," were exhorted to "regard themselves as a missionary body, established in the midst of the most important missionary field in the world, and the object of their vocation to lead all around them to Christ." To this end, the congregations were to be "thoroughly instructed," "thoroughly grounded in the doctrines of grace," and particularly "in the doctrines of the Bible as contained in the standards of our church." All the points contained in the memorial were urged as of