The General Assembly [pp. 511-546]

General Assembly.
Conclusion.
The Rev. Dr. Thornwell said that he rose to make a very unusual motion; but he did it by request. A resolution had been
offered, tendering thanks to the citizens of Rochester for their
hospitality. Never, in his estimation, was a tender of gratitude more richly deserved, and he felt sure the heart of the
entire Assembly went forth with the vote of thanks. The
citizens of Rochester desired permission to express their sentiments in regard to the sojourn of the Assembly amongst them;
and he moved that an opportunity be now afforded. Carried.
Rev. Dr. McIlvaine, pastor of the church in which the
Assembly met, said-Moderator, this call upon me is wholly
unexpected, and I shall say but little, because what I would
say cannot be expressed in words. We received the General
Assembly with high expectations that on this "Plan-of-Union"
ground, we should be able to give our people a more favourable
view of the Presbyterian church than they had before an
opportunity of obtaining; and our expectations have been more
than realized. The influence of this Assembly, composed of
persons from different parts of our common country, will be
greater than it is possible for you to understand;-I mean its
influence in mitigating acerbities and removing prejudices,
which interested and imprudent parties on both sides have been
diligent in fostering. Most pleasant to us, and happy in its
influence has been your sojourn amongst us; and when it shall
be the pleasure of this Assembly to withdraw from us, we shall
bid you farewell, as one of our Committee of Arrangements
has this moment instructed me to say, with the regret of every
citizen of Rochester.
The resolution of thanks previously offered by Dr. Bocock
was then unanimously adopted.
It was then
Resolved, That this General Assembly be now dissolved, and
another, constituted in like manner, be required to meet in the
Seventh Presbyterian church in the city of Philadelphia, on
the third Thursday of May, 1861.
The Moderator then gave a few words of parting, expressing
his thanks to the Assembly for the uniform and universal kind
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