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II E General Assembly meets on the 18th at Charleston, W. Va. This is always an important gathering of the representatives of the Chruch. After having attended many meet ings of the Assembly and many other gather ings of men, we have no hesitation in saying that the General Assembly works harder and more faithfully during its entire session than any other body that we know of. If any mein Ikt of this Assembly, who for the first time is attending such a meeting, thinks that he is going on a pleasure trip just to have a good time, he had better stay at home. The daily session of the As sembly usually extends from 9:30 A. M. to about 10 P. M., with only brief recesses for lunch and dinner. Con.' mittee meetings must be held ordinarily when the body is not in ses sion. Close attention is jziven to all matters of importance brought be fore the Assembly and usually full time is friven for their consid eration. That mistakes are sometimes made is inevitable, because the members are human. But not as many mis takes are made as is sometimes charged. S o nV e t i m e s some of the members of the churches think that a certain action ought to lie taken and criticize the Assembly for not ?loing so. It may be 'hat in the full discus sion of the matter im |> o r t a n t facts are brought out, which were not known by the cri tics, and these decided the action of the As sembly. It is against 'he policy and practice ?f our Church to in struct its commissions ?'i any subject. They ar? sent as choice free '"en, to consider all phases of all subjects bought to their atten ' ion, and then to vote on the questions involved according to their en lightened judgment MANY important matters will occupy the attention of this Assembly. The report ?f the Committee on Closer Relations with other Churches will no doubt awaken interest. Be cause it seemed impossible to find any plan upon ^hich the churches concerned would unite, the committee will recommend that the matter be topped. Another important matter in the Wds of an ad interim committee is the prop osition to change the constitution of the Gen oral Assembly, so as to elect the commissioners for two years, instead of for one as at present. What the report of the committee will be is not known. But all over the Church the matter is attracting attention and the sentiment in favor of the change is widespread. The Northern Assembly adopted the plan last year and sent it down to their Presbyteries. Another item of great interest is the Equipment Fund Pro gram adopted by the last Assembly. This pro posed to raise $5,000,000 for the better equip ment of the work of the Church, especially in home and foreign mission fields. Several over The miserable village, Sebatieb onee Herod's proud capital, Hebaste, and once the famous city of Mamaria. (Peregrine Papers, i>age 3.) tures have l>een sent up to the Assembly by the Presbyteries asking that this plan be dropped for the present. There will be many other matters to be attended to that will require the conse crated wisdom of the commissioners. P HE -ASS E M BL Y meetings have several times been held the day l>efore the Assem bly opens, to consider some of the great depart ments of the Church's work. Last year at St. Louis there was a gathering that day to con sider the subject of Evangelism. This will also be the subject for the meeting 011 Wednesday, the day before the Assembly meets. This Con ference will be under the charge of the Assem bly's Executive Committee of Home Missions. It is desired that as many of the commissioners as possible shall attend the Conference, but an invitation is given to any others who wish to at tend. Addresses will be made by Rev. Dr. Clias. L. Goodell, of New York, 011 "The Supreme Task of the Church" ; Rev. Dr. J. S. Lyons, of Atlanta, on "Our Church at its Whole Task'' ; Rev. Dr. Win. Crowe, of St. Louis, 011 "Re sponsibility of Church Officers"; Rev. Dr. T. \V. Sloan, of Greene ville, S. on "How to Enlist a Congregation in Effective Soul-W in ning" ; Rev. Dr. C. IT. "Williamson, of .Mem phis, on "Keeping at it Through the Year"; Kev. Dr. A. S. John son, of Charlotte, X. C., on "IIow to Develop ami Maintain a Pas sion for Souls"; Kev. Dr. J. F. Ilardie, of Houston, Tex., 011 "A Minister and His Own Soul." lion. William Jennings Krvan has lieen asked to address the Conference Wednes day evening, and it. is hoped that he will ac cept the invitation. COMMISSION KRS going, to the (ten oral Assembly this year may look forward to some very pleasant ex periences. It does not often occur that all who go will travel over the same railroad. B u t whether they travel east or west they will find that t h e ( 'hesapeake ami Ohio will not only provide a comfortable trip, but it will take them through l>eautiful scenery of mountains, rivers and very fine farming, mining and manufacturing sections. Charleston is so well up in the mountains that there is no proba bility of the intense heat which the Assem bly has sometimes l>een called upon to endure in other places. These conditions ought to help the commissioners in do?ng their work. Great questions concerning the great matters of the kingdom of Christ will occupy mind ami heart and a thorough consecration to the work commit teed to them will be needed, and when given will do much to advance the interests of the Church, and its work.