posed of different denominations, to interfere, both with its policy and its ecclesiastical discipline.

That it might not act without a full understanding of the case, a commission was raised with directions to ascertain, by a thorough investigation, the facts in the case, and to procure such other information as may be in their power, relating to the history of our connection with the work of Home Missions, and our present relations to it; also, to learn the principles and modes of administration of the American Home Missionary Society over the entire field of its operations, and to submit the whole, well authenticated, to the next General Assembly.

In pursuance of the object of their appointment, the commission during the year, made a thorough examination of the historical documents, compiled from the publications of the society a careful estimate of contributions and benefactions, instituted an extensive correspondence, conferred in writing with the executive committee of the society, and prepared an extended report which they presented to the General Assembly convened at Pittsburg, in 1860.

It

It was now clear that a separation must take place. The Assembly came reluctantly to the conclusion. The churches had been warmly attached to the society. In the whole system of voluntary societies, there were none which they regarded as so emphatically their own. was founded chiefly by Presbyterians, and sustained by them several years before their Congregational brethren came into it. They had important interests, moral and pecuniary, involved in it. And if part they must, they desired earnestly to part amicably and with a fair ad

justment of all mutual claims. To accomplish, if possible, this object, the Assembly made one more effort at conference; and, since the society held no meetings, except once a year, and those but formal ones and with out an adequate representation, it resorted to the appointment of a committee, with instructions to invite the appointment of corresponding committees by the associations with which the Assembly was in correspondence, to confer with reference to the adjustment of their and our mutual relations with the society, and, if a separation should be found necessary, to agree upon equitable terms. This proposition was declined. Most of the associations declared their approval of the offensive acts of the society and saw no good to be expected from negotiations.

The next year the Assembly withdrew, leaving be hind all the interests of its churches in an institution which they had done so much to build up; leaving also, for the sole benefit of the sister denomination, all the unexpended funds and legacies, some of which were large, of Presbyterian contributors. The committee of conference, in accordance with the duty assigned them by the Assembly, "to recommend to that body such plans and measures pertaining to the Home Missionary work, as they may deem wise and necessary," presented a constitution, carefully drawn up, in the adoption of which the Assembly resolved, that "the General Assembly, in accordance with the obvious indications of providence, and agreeably to the constitution of the church (Form of Gov. xviii.), assumes the responsibility of conducting the work of Home Missions within its bounds." To this end, the Assembly hereby insti

tutes a permanent committee, to be known as the PRES BYTERIAN COMMITTEE OF HOME MISSIONS.

The Church Extension Committee, of which the lamented Dr. Wallace was the indefatigable secretary, discharged its difficult and responsible trust, during the six years of its continuance, with eminent wisdom and fidelity, and with perfect good faith to all parties. In all that time it never had a divided vote, and to its agency it is largely due that the church, in that critical period, was not only preserved from disintegration, but advanced in prosperity and usefulness.

This was the only serious collision which the New School ever had with their Congregational brethren. Some misunderstandings threatened at one time to disturb their relations with the American Board. But the prompt and fraternal manner in which the Board met the case in their action at Newark, in 1856, and again at Philadelphia, in 1859, quelled at once the rising discontent; and from that time the harmonious co-operation of the two parties in that most beneficent institution, has continued unabated to this hour.

We have had occasion to glance more than once at the question of slavery. The relations of the New School Church to that subject demand a much fuller consideration than the limits of this chapter will allow. Probably no denomination of Christians in the land has devoted a larger, if so large a portion of its time and strength to the discussion of it. It finds a record in the minutes of almost every Assembly, from the organization of the separate body till the providence of God, forcing on the issue, took it out of the range of deliberation. In 1846, nearly the whole time was con

sumed with it. The roll was called, alternating be tween the top and the bottom, to give every member, northern or southern, conservative or radical, a full and equal opportunity to express his opinions. At the close, resolutions were adopted by a large majority, -92 to 29,- declaring "the system as it exists in the United States, viewed either in the laws of the several states which sanction it, or in its actual operation and results in society, an intrinsically unrighteous and oppressive system, and opposed to the principles of the law of God, the precepts of the Gospel, and the best interests of humanity." The Assembly of 1849, in a paper occupying four pages of the minutes, recites the action of former Assemblies, and, while deprecating all harsh and indiscriminate judgments, exhorts all under its care to do their utmost, and "make all necessary sacrifices to remove this foul blot on our holy religion," and specifies certain evils incident to the system, as the buying and selling of slaves by way of traffic, and the separation of families, as "evils which should be corrected by discipline." The Assembly of 1850, after another long discussion running through nearly a week, adopted by a majority of 87 to 16 the article known, from the place of meeting, as "the Detroit resolution:" That "the holding of our fellow-men in the condition of slavery, except in those cases where it is unavoidable by the laws of the state, the obligations of guardianship, or the demands of humanity, is an offence in the proper import of that term, as used in the Book of Discipline, chap. i. sec. 3, and should be regarded and treated as other offences." The Assembly of 1853 reaffirms the Detroit resolution, exhorts to "patience and fraternal confidence

towards brethren who are subject to embarrassments from which we are happily free," and in order to cor rect misapprehensions, and allay irritations by a knowl edge of the real facts, requests the presbyteries in the slave-holding states, to lay before the next general Assembly distinct statements respecting the number of slaves and slave-holders in the churches, how far they are included in the excepted cases of the Detroit resolution, and what regard is paid to the parental and conjugal relations and the religious needs, privileges, and well-being of the enslaved. To this request there were urgent protests: it was pronounced unconstitutional and offensive, and was never complied with. In 1856, both the Assemblies met in the city of New York, and were numerously attended. The question came up on the report of a committee on the constitutional powers of the General Assembly. It was ably debated; and the southern brethren by general consent occupied a large proportion of the time. They put a special construction of their own on the Detroit resolution, frankly acknowl edged that the views of the South, their own among the rest, had materially changed in regard to the alleged evil of slavery, and did not hesitate openly to avow that they now accepted the system of slavery. The report of the committee, which was a guarded one, and carefully limited the constitutional powers of the Assembly, was adopted, and the report of the minority, a document covering eight pages, contrary to the custom, was, at the request of the southern members, printed side by side with it in the minutes.

The Assembly of 1857 found itself in a new posture of affairs. Developments had been made during the