The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1863-06-13
Gl)urtb Af(airs.
The Presbyterian General As
SeEsphhieN.
INDICATION OF UNION.

INDICATION OF UNION.
The following interesting addresses
taken from the proceedings of the New
School General Assembly late holding
its session in Philadelphia, will be read
with interest. These large and iuhucn-
tial Religious bodies have now been sep
aratcd since The year 1898. The pros
pee of their speedy Union is one of the
favorable signs of the times
dddrcss Of Rer Dr. 7nstdn, delegate from ii,
Peoria assembly.
Mr.. Moderator end Brethren IF he -fsSembly:
In the year of our lod, lS37 u violent
ccc!csastlc CONFUSION VAS experienced III til"
heart Of this city BY that CONFUSION the
great Prcsby tcrinn Church was rent in twain,
like the vail Of the temple, from the top 10 the
bottom. From that time down TO the present.
period embracing full quarter of Il century
We have been two distinct peoples, bearing it
is tue the san name and rejoicing in Che s,lur
sublime symbol of fash; bnt still separate il.
our action and aliclm'cd in our affections
With respect to the causes, real OF Imaginary,
of tlat disruption, it would lac ncxpclent il
not lndccoro,s Of me TO speak al this time and
i'll this prc"encc. Some things, however. urgl,l
to We named, even thurgh il should cover Us
with shame and sclt-cundcnlnalion. We have
INDUCED i'll srnt Of bitterness toward each
other, not wanentod by the Go~iI We ,.oc<S
We have INDUCED p.cjudices for which we can
find no Justification We have ultecd words
of unkindreS5 and ieiroach which we can well
afford to lave obcia:cd, not only from on,
own recollection, but from the len.cnb ance of
God.
The question is frequently pr"poundcd by
lips upon which have often tcnIhcd the words
of prayer and suppiicaion for the unity ana
prosperity OF our Ziuu, " Shall we he always
thus separated Shall the barriers which now
separate us never be removed Shall we never
become what we once were, II united, happy
and prosperous church, the praise and The glory
OF the whole land I"
In reply to these touching aud emphatic III
tcrrogalions, would say, that in my Representa-
tive character, AIN not authorized To express a
Judgment Oh this branch Of the subject. /
might, ii it would answer any valuable purpose,
speak of individual opinions and WISHES, bul
not OF the embodied sentiment OF the church
court which represent
One thing, however, am authorized to say
that so fur Us we nIe concerned the STRIFE is at an
end The fierce war cry that grncd so long
upon the heart of pictv has died away into an
echo 50 ndistinct Us to be scarcely distinguish
able Our ecclesiastical war slccCs, if may so
speak, are reclining amidst the olive groves of
peace.
come to you bearing alolt the trophies of
fraernn love and afTecion-iur love las its
triumphs as well as hae-lcacc as well as war
come to invite you back to our confidence and
esteem. | come to express 10 you the wishes of
my brethren, that the blessing of God, in its
richest manifestations, may rest upon you ind-
yidually and collectively that harmony may
characterize all Your deliberations, that a
heavenly influence may pervade your hearts
as that nothing shall occur TO mar the beauty
and symmetry of the body Of Christ.
by the kindncs and courtesy of my venerable
and honored friend, the moderator of the la. t
General Assembly which met II year ago at
Columbus, Ohio, was placed at the head Of
"thc Committee on Foreign Correspondence"
This position soon enabled me to ascertain the
views and feelings OF my brethren, from differ
ent sections of the church, on this interesting
question. found that while some difference
of opinion prevailed with respect to the reunion
Of these two bodies at the present time, there
was but one sentiment in reference to the pro-
priety and desirableness of an interchange of
Christian salutations through the medium Of
annually appointed delegates
Having heard whether rightfl;lly or not am
not prepared to say, that you We're discussing
the same subject in your General Assembly at
Cincinnati, Ohio, the committee Of our Assem-
bly, FASTENED to anticipate your action and thus
secure the honor of inauguiating measure 50
credable to the source where it might first
originate 1t may have been ungenerous, but
candor obges Inc to confess, that the commit
tee was ambitious Of that high Distinction
You, Mr.. Moderator and the brethren of this
Assembly will, am sure, in such a case par
don our aspirations. Accordingly, the commit
tee reported in favor of immediate action by tic
Assembly, and actually nominated worthy
brother, who should be the bearer of our Chris
tain and friendly salutations, with the pleasing
expectation that you would reciprocate our wei
meant courcsies.
Some of the brethren, however, thought thi.
action too hasty and precipitate for so grave
subject, and proposed more sedate and de
libcrted procedure. With view of securing
unanimity on measure dear to many hearts
the committee surrendered their original report
and presented the paper which has been read il
your hearing, as u substitute This paper wa
not only unanimously, but feel warranted il
in saying, cordially adopted by the Assembly.
Having learned through the telegraph, o
your favorable action on the subject, the Assem-
bly, now in session at Peoria, III, have through
the same medium authorized me- to represen
them in part, in this Assembly.
I accept this appointment with .unfeigne'
satisfaction am sincerely Sreatiul to nj,