, 1861-01-15

ter1ze the deceit Of such phEaseologyf Alr.
Crittenden's early vacancy in tho Senate
has already been filed, US we believe, by
q man who will stick to his opinions in
spite Of threats, anl who will call things by
their right names in spite Of the devil.
Most profoundly do we rejoice that it is so.
PRESBYTERIAN UNION.
|. is not the province Of asecular journal
to engage in the controversies which may
exist in any church, or between different
churches; but it certainly may notice any
indications Of q more intimate union, and
higher Christian development in different
branches Of the same church, as part Of
the current history Of the times.
AT the last meeting Of the Presbyterian
General Assemblies (Old and New SCHOOL,,
1t was recommended to the Churches con-
nected with cacll, that the first week in
january be observed Us a season Of fasting
and prayer for the conversion ofthe world.
The fast was kept last week by the Church
es in this city, and after Monday, union
services Of the Old and New School Pres
byterian Churches were held every after
noon, and evening, except Saturday even
ing. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thurs
day they were held in Rev. Dr, pattcrson's
Church, N. S. and on Friday and satur-
day in the North Presbyterian, Rev. Dr..
Rice's, Church, which wc need scarcely add
is connected with the Old School Assem-
bly,. So fur as we know, this is the first
tine such service hos been held since the
division Of the Assembly in 1888, and it
gives us pleasure to notice, that the Church
es Of Chicago have had independence,
shall We add, piety, enough to unite
in such d meeting. The services
were led alternately by the clergymen Of
the different churches, and on Wednesday
evening, DR.. Rice preached one of the
ablest and most practical sermons it was
ever our good fortune to hear. The meet
ings were fully attended, and were charac-
tcrized throughout by a kind and deeply
devotional spirit, and il they havc no other
effect, will produce better understanding
and more fraternnl spirit among those
who attended them. The incident shows
that great Christian progress has been made
since 1854, when both General Assemblies
being. then in session in the city Of Phila-
delphia, one Of them refused to engage
in communion services with the other, and
it marks the approach Of the day when no
clumsy adjcctives will be necessary 10 des-
cribe the Presbyterian church.
We shall not weary our renders by at
tempting detail Of the causes which di~
videl the General Assembly in 1898.
Slavery had not little to do with it, and
the party TINT became the Old School AS
semb]y'were also decidedly opposed to the
co-ope ration Of several Synods which be-
came. part Of the New.School Churcl,
with the Congregationalists in the Home
Missionary work. That cooperation has
row virtually ceased, and so far as The New
School branch Of the Church is, concerned
it occupies very nearly an independent
position. At the meeting Of that Assembly
in 1857, the Southern Churches, with per-
haps few exceptions in the border States,
under the leadership Of DR.. Ross, severed
their connection with the Assembly, and
since then its meetings have been free from
slavery agitation-that theme ever SO fruit
full in angry discussion and strife. Under
the blessing Of Heaven, the New School
brunch Of the Church, appears now to
possess every element Of Il vigorous and
healthy Development
Thus far the Old School Assembly has
been able TO keep down the Slavery ques-
tion, but it is plain that discussion and
probably division must come. Doctors
Palmer and Thornwell preach IN essen
tally different gospel from Drs. Rice and
Spring, and it will surprise no one if in the
next Assembly the Southern members
should demand the repeal Of the resolr-
tion of 1918 On the Slavery question, and
then the same result must inevitably follow
that occurred in the New School Assem-
bly, in Cleveland in 1857. Should the
Southern members withdraw, the North
ezn portion Of the Church would not differ
much in numbers from those connected
with the New School Church. The way
would thea he open for the Northern sec
tons to unite, and that they would do so,
there can scarcely be reasonable doubt.
| 4 precedent for such course is furnished
by the union Of the Synods Of New York
and New Jersey in 1853, after separation
Of seventeen years, the happy results Of
which is abundantly proved in the subse-
| queut history Of the Church.
| The Old and the New School Churches
use precisely the same standards, they hold
the same doctrines, and both their prcach-
ing and their practice are alike in every es.
sential particular. They are in the contli.
ton IF two good men, who, having become
alienaled by some misunderstan ing, when
mutual explanations are made, become
warm friends, and wonder that matters SC
trivial could have so long kept them at VI
Rance. Dr.. Lord and DR.. Rice preach
precisely the same doctrines and the SAINT
gospel that DR.. Patterson and Mr. Hum.
| pllrey preach. The only ditfercncein thei1
| views, if any, relates to matters outside o
| their theological opinions and practicc
Then why should not they and all thci1
brethren "dwell together in unity" Lc
the useless adjectives, New and Old School
be buried out Of sight forever. But per
haps We are transcending cur own duties
and attempting to preach to the preachers
and therefore we forbear.
@%@
Union Meeting in St. Louis.
A large aud enthusiastic meeting Of the Re
pub1icans Of st. Louis County and city wn'
held On Friday night Last at which the following
resolutions were received with great npplaus,
md unanimously adopted:
Rtsogrtd, That the Republican party Of the cit,
and comfy Of 81 Louls in tho present crisis dcen
| 1t proper and in accordance with the t!ic.atcx q
Patriotism 10 merge oll political distinctions in tts
/ Grcatmovcnent fur the preservation Of the union
and to this end we do snienlr pledge our fortune.
our sacred honor, and, II need be- our lyee to tht
maintenance Of the Union. the Fedora Coneti,u
! ton. and the enforcement Of the laws.
| R1o{efd, That VIC cordially, and In the spi,i. o
I true patriots, invite all who love Il cir conntry-
/ who afH Ni1lfnr to UNFOLD and defend nrr t3nr1nu