The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-09-02
southern Presbyterian
NEW sCHOOL) CONYENTION.
r.,ronrxp ron rHs arcmxosD pArLr prsrArcH

The Convention assembled 81 o'clock, and amer
religious services -
Dr. Leach resumed the floor. He said that Mon
dag afernoon, after concluding his remarks, he had
been approached by lady, who expressed her
surprise that the Convention, instead of deliberat
ing on matters connected with their future move
ments, had gon back to the time Of Isle and
~ lie thought similarly bins II. He wss IN faver
School had abandoned, and would call on the Old
School To unite on that basis. He passed over all
minor points, and came TO the subject OF "Exami-
nation lie denied its existence as interpreted by
the Old School. AZ they rendered aud practiced IT,
there was not shade of fairness In it. He went
on to relate the objections to the act Of separate
examination. ffs 81
Mr.. Mcintire, of Nd, interrupted, and said that
he had great deal of patience, but was opposed
to going into the history of matters which per-
tanned to the Old school, when he could state here,
advsedly. that no considerable number of the Old
School body entertained any idea of receiving the
New school 1T all.
DIR. L. said he was striving to show that no in
separable obstacle existed to the reunion Of the
Old School and New school, and that honorable to
all. After q few more remarks he concluded.
Hon. VIM. NJ. Cooke gave notice of bis intention
to introduce resolution expressing the willing
ness of the Southern New School Presbyterans to
unite with the Old School, If fair and honorable
terms can be agreed upon.
Mr.. Marshall, of Tenn, was a Presbyterian from
principle, and ii had made his heart bleed when
met Dy MS IrlendS anu tolu, you arc now aufHt-
what are you to dor" He repealed the assertion
that were adrift-we had separated from our
Northern brethren because our self respect would
not allow us TO remain with them-we are not excin-
ded. They have taught that which is not taught
in the bible, and We have obeyed the commands OF
the bible in withdrawing from them. They have
declared slavery sin, and we Believe it is not and
there is not one of us who holds slaves that does
not believe it is sanctioned in the bible He believed
that the Christianity of the South the purest in
the world. Its purity had been illustrated by their
long forbearance with the attacks of the Northern
brethren. That forbearance he confessed was mis-
taken charity. 1t was charity different from that
named in the bible which, though it commands us
to suffer long, yet commands us not to yield
one inch when We are in the right.
1t had been opposed to new organiZation-that it
was a sectional one. Then, indeed, we unfortu-
nate. The North has abused usand yet must go to
some other organization connected with the North
(Old School to avoid being called sectional. The
question now should not be, what will the world
think, but what is right. and we should dare to do
right, and leave the consequences with God He
represented a small, but "A NOBLE church-a church
containing men who knew the principles of Pres
byterianism, and were not to be driven about by
every wind that blows. In those scenes which
brought mourning over our Presbyterian heritage
the scenes of 81 was an actor. The news OF
the action of the Old School came upon me like
thunder shock. We were not cut off, however,
we moved with those who were cut off, and the
movement was taken on principle The "plan of
uuLoH WAS utCidTeU utlCOHSlltutloDhf. hell, ii III
WAS, there was right way to dissolve it. If the
Western Synods ought to have been cut off, there
was right way to cut them off, If these acts were
wrong when committed, they are wrong now A
crime cannot become less from its age; the con-
trary, II persisted in, 1t becomes more Infamous
The Old School persist in the error; and they have
persisted in ii so long, that he did not doubt
that many of them thought it was right, and
the act constitutional. lie believed that if the
Old School were to acknowledge these acts were
committed rashly and disavow tn. there would be
such revival of religion would crush abolition
ism out of existence He believed the act of exami-
nation" was passed in iniquity; and he once had a
paper i'll his possession urging the D. s. churches
To be careful not to admit a new member into the
Presbytery opposed TO the orthodox, where the ma
jority of orthodox members was already small
The Old School stand on the same ground that they
did in 1S3I--they have not repealed the extending
resolutions, nor have they made any overture
to the New School. The speaker then went on to
discuss the doctrinal points of difference between
the Old and New School, and did it very thorough
ly. lie said he was anxious for reunion on hon
CRADLE grounds, but what prospect was there Tor IT.
Did the Old School show any disposition 70 make
oyertures to them, ..e thought not. Brethren
had attempted to show that there were no lmpor-
tant difference between the two branches lie
thought there were. He differed grayely with
them on the General Atonement, and on other
,ints of doctrine. In concu fon, he hoped MS
brethren would not be conservative i'll refer
ence to great moral questions; not stop 10
church, but decide what right and then go
forward. There has been no conservatism, except IN
the South the representatives OF southern Churches
have gone into the General Assembly with lnstruc-
tOns to bear as long AS they could, for DIVISION
it is a great calamity. They had exercised too
much conservatism, and this trouble was the con
sequence of it. And he would now say to this
body of constitutional Presbyteries, that they had
done more for their country than any religious
body ever has done before. Let no man who has
marched up to the very point OF victory, now
cover and say we are too few, let us retreat Let
us trust in tiod-do our duty, never turning to the
right hand or the left, and He will bless us and
guide u.s. God grant the day, that not only the
Did School and New School, but every religious
body, may be united and marching onward in their
work of good.
The hour having arrived, the Convention ad-
journed until o'clock.
EVENING SESSION.
The Convention reopened at the usual heur.
Rev Dir. Mitchell, of Virginia. had the floor, and
gave way to MIR. shillngford, of Pennsylvania.
Mr.. Shilliugtord of Pennsylvania said he occu-
pied novel position, being the only man here from
North of Mason and DiXons line. lie had been
reared under different influences than those that
now surrounded him. lie had come here with
much to lose, but he was rewarded BY the truth he
had to gain. MIR. Tucker had argued that there WAS
no representative from the North here. The speak
ker formed an exception. He came here with an
honest heart and determined will to express to
those he found here the sympathy OF portion OF
their Northern brethren felt for them IN their move
ments They wanted all the aid they could avail
themselves Of, and he brought it, however small it
might be. and laid it before them. On his re-
turn to the North. his mission would be to de-
feud the cause which was being upheld in their
church. During the Cleveland Assembly, in
reDly to a Geographic dispatch, asking for nfor-
nation about action on the slavery subject he re-
ceiyed for an answer, Just voted % to 0o-al uni
tedu lie could not understand what was meant
by all united, but he understood it now He
fuvn of p
Ii the Convention did not form an organiZa-
tion it would not have the strength that belonged
to it. By the invitation, they had extended to
the Northern Presbyteries to withdraw from the
Cleaveland Assembly, it became their duty to
form some organization to receive them inte.-
Being here, he imposed upon himself the duty
to promulgate the doctrines here set forth
among his people at the North. He opposed
Southern organization, as being calculated
to leave the sympathizing churches at the North
with nobody to connect themselves with, unless
they fell back on that branch of the Church which
would not tolerate slavery. At the North, when he
uttered his views, he called save-driyer, fire
eater, &c. When he replied to these epthets; he
ferred his reyers to the 18th chapter of evticus,
and called on them to answer God Word. He was
sad after coming down here, to see great and IA
bored efforts made to induce to join body of
Christians who had not come upto our standard on
The slavery question. They tell us We will gain
peace. lie did not expect peace this side of Hea-
ven, and certainly not by going into the Old
school. With that BODY we nave struggle OF
consciene, which must cease We have three OBJ
staces to union with the Old School, which had
been set forth fully in the discussions in that body,
lie had been cognizant of the difficulties in 1887,
and he had seen many moist eyes here to-day when
they referred to; when recollecting the
hopes that had been crushed He had found that
in the North that the great want was discrimina-
ton. They did not discriminate where he did He
felt that he had nothing to do with slavery exist
ing In Virginia under the laws of the State. On
the other hand his Northern brethren looked nj
slavery In a political view. AS to the doctrinal
differences between the Old School and New School,
he found no obstacles there, and was quite fit to
enter the Old School. He said there were many
hateG-with Christian hate--the acts of the
Cleveland General Assembly. He knew five minis
tiers in the city of Philadelphia who were prepared
to withdraw and form themselves into Presby-