The General Assembly [pp. 511-546]

(Conclusion.
ness and courtesy with which they had sustained him whilst
presiding over their deliberations. He expressed gratitude to
God for the urbanity, dignity, and brotherly kindness which
had prevailed. He reminded his brethren that the parting
moment was approaching, and that it was certain we would not
all meet together again in any earthly assembly; but expressed
the hope that we would all meet in the General Assembly and
church of the first born, written in heaven; in that glorious
gathering,
"Where the Assembly ne'er breaks up,
And Sabbaths have no end."
The hymn,
"Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love,"
was then sung by the whole Assembly, standing; prayer was
offered by the Moderator, the benediction pronounced, and
then the Moderator formally dissolved the Assembly, according to the previously adopted resolution.
In the commencement of this account of the General Assembly, it was stated that Dr. W. L. Breckinridge, the Moderator of the preceding Assembly was absent. It is proper
that the reason of his absence should be given, that he may not
be supposed voluntarily to have neglected an important duty.
We, therefore, append his letter to the Stated Clerk of the
Presbytery of Louisville:
OAKLAND COLLEGE, Miss., April 23.
Rev. Dr. HILL, Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of Louisville:
Dear Brother —The Presbyterian Ilerald of the 12th inst.
has brought me the proceedings of our Presbytery, in session
at Owensboro' on the 5th inst. They make known to me that
I was chosen a Commissioner to the General Assembly, and,
further, that "the Presbytery heartily approves (and requests
the Commissioners to sustain) the action of the General Assembly of 1859, and also that of 1848, on the subject of the relations of the church of Christ, and voluntary societies formed
for the purpose of Art, Literature, and Secular Morality."
1860.]
543