MINUTES. THE General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, in the United States of America, met agreeably to appointment, in the Central Presbyterian Church, in the city of Philadelphia, on Thursday, the 18th day of May, 1837, at 11 o'clock, A. M.; and was opened with a sermon by the Rev. John Witherspoon, D. D., the Moderator of the last Assembly, from 1 Corinthians, i. 10, 11. "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judg ment. For it hath been declared to me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you." After public worship, the Assembly was constituted with prayer, in the Lecture Room of the Central Church, and had a recess until 4 o'clock. At 4 o'clock the Assembly met. The Standing Committee of Commissions reported that the following persons present have been duly appointed commissioners to this General Assembly, viz. * A figure prefixed to the name of a member shows that he was not present at the opening of the Assembly; but took his seat on the day of the Sessions designated by the figure. North River, New York, 2d. New York, 3d. Newark, Elizabethtown, New Brunswick, John B. Preston, Thomas M'Auley, D. D. Ebenezer Cheever, Newton, Susquehanna, John Dorrance, Montrose, Adam Miller, Robert I. Crawford, James W. Wilkin, John Owen, Dr. Charles Sturges, David Burnet, Obadiah Woodruff, Benjamin M'Dowell, Dr. John T. Woodhull, John Wilson, Isaac Harris, William Jessup, Alexander Symington, James Darrach, Ambrose White, Wilfred Hall, James Penny, Dr. John S. Martin, The committee further reported that Mr. David B. Ayres, a ruling elder from the Presbytery of Illinois, had appeared, without a commission; and that the Rev. Bliss Burnap, of the Presbytery of Champlain, and Mr. Henry Brown, a ruling elder from the Presbytery of Lorain, had presented commissions, without the signature of the Moderator. These cases were referred to Mr. Cleaveland, Mr. Murray, and Mr. Ewing, as a Committee of Elections. Dr. Cuyler, Mr. A. White, and Mr. Symington, were appointed a committee to inquire whether a more convenient place can be obtained for the sessions of the Assembly. The Committee of Elections reported in favour of receiving the members whose cases were referred to them; and it was ordered that their names be inserted in the roll of commissioners. Rev. David Elliott, D. D., was elected Moderator, and Rev. Horace S. Pratt, Temporary Clerk. Rev. John M. Krebs was elected Permanent Clerk, in the place of Rev. Dr. John M'Dowell, elected Stated Clerk by the last Assembly. Resolved, That the Permanent Clerk have printed for the use of the Assembly, 1000 copies of the roll. Adjourned till to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock. Concluded with prayer. FRIDAY morning, May 19, 9 o'clock. The Assembly met agreeably to adjournment, and was opened with prayer. The roll was called; and the minutes of the last session were read. The Committee of Commissions reported the following additional members, who appeared and took their seats, viz. Rev. Randolph Campbell, from the Presbytery of Long Island; Mr. Dudley Williams, ruling elder, from the Presbytery of Portage; Rev. Benjamin R. Allen, from the Evangelical Consociation of Rhode Island; and Rev. Benjamin Woodbury, from the Presby tery of Maumee. Resolved, That the calling of the roll, at the opening of the sessions, be dispensed with. Dr. Witherspoon, Dr. Alexander, Dr. Beman, Mr. Murray, Mr. A. Todd, Mr. Latta, Dr. Cleland, Mr. Fullerton, Mr. Coe, Mr. Kiddoo, and Mr. T. P. Smith, were appointed a Committee of Bills and Overtures, to meet in this house on the rising of the Assembly this morning, and afterwards on their own adjournments. Dr. Junkin, Mr. Plumer, Mr. M'Kennan, Mr. Dickinson, Dr. Cuyler, Mr. Jessup, Mr. Ewing, Mr. B. M'Dowell, and Mr. Lenox, were appointed a Judicial Committee, to meet in this house on the rising of the Assembly this morning, and afterwards on their own adjournments. Mr. Annan, Mr. Crane, Mr. Pettibone, Dr. Woodhull, Mr. Bailey, Dr. John S. Martin, and Mr. Slagle, were appointed a committee on leave of absence. Mr. Ambrose White, Mr. Potter, and Mr. Symington, were appointed a committee to receive an account of the miles travelled by the commissioners, and to make an apportionment of the commissioners' fund, agreeably to the standing rule on the subject. The It was moved that the appeal of the Rev. Dr. Wylie, laid over by the last Assembly, be made the order of the day for Monday afternoon next. motion was laid on the table. Dr. Brown, Mr. Wisner, and Mr. J. Alexander, were appointed a Committee of Arrangements for the devotional exercises of Wednesday next. Mr. Steel, Dr. Graham, Mr. Stratton, Mr. H. Kingsbury, and Dr. Archer, |