The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1857-10-17
TIE WRONG DOOR.

When the memorable division between
the Old and New School took place, there
we're mulutudes in Virginia, and in other
Southern States, who went off with the lat
ter, wholly because they believed the ex-
scinding acts to be unconstitutional. So far
as doctrines were concerned, they were per-
fectly orthodox, and so they have remained
to this day Such has been their spiritual
identity with us, such their admiration of
our conservatism, such their appreciation OF
the efficient working Of our great enterprises
of beneyolence, such their conviction OF our
unity, and homogeniousness of principle,
and polity, that their drawings toward us
have been more and more strong and ten
der. They do not see the necessity of or
ganizing another Presbyterian church in the
South, for they know that ours embraces
all and more than they could hope to find
in new enterprise; and discarding preju-
dice, and influenced only by love of truth,
bv an honest desire for the triumph of Pres
byterian principles, and for the glory of
Christ, they prefer Union with us. They
know that every one who subscribes hearth
/ ly, and without mental reservation, to the
Confession of Faith of the Westminster As
sembly, is tcelcome into our church. They
are aware that no honor IS sacrificed in
leaving an organization which obey believe
to be needless, for church which they
know to be sound, evangelical, and blessed
of Heaven. Hence they are warmly in ia
yor of union with the Old School. With
such sympathies and convictions they could
not be otherwise But since the session Of
the late New School Convention in this city,
they have been pleasantly reposing on the
expectation excited, by the last resolution
adopted, proposing steps for a union with
the Old School But they forget that the
great majority of the speakers in that Con-
yention, argued earnestly, that union with
the Old School was impracticable and UNI
esirable-they forget that it was urged by
prominent men that there were such radical
doctrinal differences between the churches,
as to make coalescence impossible-they
forget that the very men who boldly asserted
doctrines not in accordance with our STAN
dards, denounced and ridiculed the ''erami-
nation ie,"-they forget that the leading
men in that Convention contended that the
Old School must disavow and repeal their
acts of 81 and '3S-they forget that other
prominent members of that Convention,
candidly declared that the Old School could
not, and ought not to consent to union on
such terms-they forget that two of the
most distinguished members of the Conven-
ton, who on principle opposed reunion,
were consistent and honest enough to r0tl
against the resolution contemplating re-
union-and yet IN the face Of all this, they
dream of reunion as the result of the
Knoxville Synod 1t will never come from
that Synod.
The men who controlled the Richmond
Convention will have address enough to con-
troll that Mr.. Dicberson was right when he
said that brethren were laying down condi-
tons of union to which the Old School could
not, and ought not agree We venture the
prediction-that the spirit of the Knoxville
Convention will demand terms to which the
Old School could not accede without stulti-
flying its own acts and principles for the last
twenty years. A distinct Southern New
School organization, so far from opening the
door for reunion, shuts, and bars the door.
The only practicable, and really desirable
terms of reunion are those suggested in
the Central Presbyterian in an editorial
entitled, "Our Position" of July 18th.
Those we're terms honorable and right
for both parties alike, imposing no con-
cessions or humiliationS on either, terms
perfectly in accordance with the high re-
gard our church has ever entertained for
doctrinal purity, and which, if cordially ac-
coded to, would bring both great branches
of the Presbyterian family into such happy
fusion as would forever obliterate all traces
of division, and result in the building up Of
a church in the South which would be mighty
through God to the yindication of his truths
and the advancement of his glory. We
heartily love all true Presbyterians, whatever
their accidental church connexion, and we
have a sincere sympathy for those of them
who are ingenuously looking forward to re-
union from the Knoxville Synod. They will
be disappointed-and Notwithstanding the
convictions of their Judgment as to what
would be really best for themselves and for
their children, mistaken sense Of "honor"
may at least carry them into an organiza-
ton, which, to say the least, will be rery
different in character from the Old School
General Assembly of these United States
SCARCELY A DOZEN WORDS"
I. III l. ,,,,,borod that in 1912 q