The General Assembly [pp. 511-546]

Reorganization of the Boards.
ART. V.- The General Assembly.
THE General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the
United States of America convened in the city of Rochester,
New York, May 17, 1860. The Assembly was called to order
by the Rev. Dr. Magill, the Permanent Clerk, who stated that
the Rev. William L. Breckinridge, D. D., the Moderator of
the last General Assembly, was providentially absent. Whereupon the Rev. William A. Scott, D. D., of San Francisco, the
last Moderator present, was requested to preach the sermon,
and preside until a new Moderator should be chosen. Dr.
Scott accordingly ascended the pulpit, and delivered a discourse on 1 Cor. ii. 2.
After sermon, the Assembly was constituted, and the Rev.
Dr. J. W. Yeomans of the Synod of Philadelphia, Dr. Adger
of the Synod of South Carolina, and Dr. William M. Scott of
the Synod of Chicago, were severally nominated for the Moderator's Chair. Dr. Yeomans received 150 votes, Dr. Adger
91, and Dr. Scott 56; whereupon Dr. Yeomans was declared
duly elected. In the absence of Dr. Leyburn, the Stated Clerk,
Dr. Willis Lord was appointed to officiate in his place, and the
Rev. A. G. Vermilye was elected Temporary Clerk.
Reorganization of the Boards.
The first subject of importance which occupied the attention
of the Assembly, was the reorganization of the Boards of the
Church. On this and its collateral subjects, the last General
Assembly had appointed two Committees, and directed them to
report to the present Assembly. Of one of these Committees,
the Rev. Dr. B. M. Smith, of Virginia, was the Chairman, and
of the other, the Rev. Dr. Humphrey, of Kentucky. On the
first day of the sessions, Dr. Smith offered the following resolution, which was adopted, viz.
Resolved, That a Committee of fifteen be appointed, to whom
shall be referred the overture of the last Assembly on the subject of Reorganizing the Boards of the Church, and the Church
Extension Committee.
1860.]
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