PRESBYTERIAN NATIONAL UNION CONVENTION, HELD IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, NOVEMBER 6TH, 1867. (MINUTES AND PHONOGRAPHIC REPORT.) For they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zjon. Isaiah lii. 8. PHILADELPHIA: JAS. B. RODGERS, PRINTER, 52 & 54 NORTH SIXTH STREET. 1868. NOTE. IN sending forth this document to the public a few remarks of an explanatory and apologetic character may be proper : First, The delay in its publication has been mainly due to the fact that the Phonographic Reporters were unable at once to transcribe their work for the printer. Second, There were three such Reporters reporting the proceedings during as many different stages of the sessions of the Convention; hence any apparent diversity in the character of the Reporters may be accounted for. Third, The reports of speeches and prayers would doubtless have been more to the satisfaction of the respective authors, if, before being sent to Press, they could have been submitted to them for revision. But in the nature of the case-the range of speakers embracing perhaps fifty persons, scattered over an area of two thousand miles,—this was found, without great difficulty and delay, to be impossible. Fourth, In a few instances the names of the speakers were not at the time obtained either by the Secretaries or the Reporters, and it was found impossible from memory to supply them. Speeches and prayers in such cases are ascribed to "A Delegate.” Fifth, Great difficulty has been experienced in revising and correcting the Roll. During the sessions of the Convention, owing to the shortness of the time, and the press of devotion and business, it was found impossible to do this: and after the adjournment the work was assigned to a competent committee, consisting of one from each branch of the church represented, in connection with the Secretary on the ground, who, it is believed, have made the Roll as nearly perfect as was possible under the circumstances. Still there may be errors which will be observed by persons immediately concerned. Finally, It has been no small work in the brief time allowed, and with pressing pulpit and pastoral duties on hand, to prepare this document for publication. The work has mainly devolved upon the junior and resident Secretary, in connection with the Rev. Dr. Grier, editor of the Presbyterian; Rev. W. W. Barr of the United Presbyterian Church; and Prof. B. F. Kendall of the New School Branch. It is now sent forth to the churches in accordance with the order of the Convention itself, and with the prayer and hope that its circulation may do something toward perpetuating and even increasing the blessed spirit of Christian unity, the exhibition of which, in what was, perhaps, one of the most remarkable gatherings of the disciples of Jesus since the day of Pentecost, was so marked and glorious: and in this way contribute to the bringing on of that blessed consummation for which the Convention labored and prayed. WILLIAM T. EVA, Jun. Sec'y. 3 |
