, 1866-05-17
THE akPnEsBxrERtANass assEmBL1Es

The General Assemblies of the Presbyte-
7ian Church, Old aud New Schools, meet At
st. Louis to-day (May 17th.) We do not
know Of nny circumstances which will invest
this meeting OF the New School Assembly
with any special or peculiar interest. The
Old School denomination, however, is in the
midst Of = controversy, growing ont Of the
Wat md the abolition Of slavery which will
give to their annual meeting wide import
snce. Mr.. c. II. Mccormick has been hold
ing IN opaque correspondence with college
professor In Virginia, and getting 1t pub
lishcd in the. New York Obserrer, the burden
Of which seems, TO be that sp effort will be
made 10 snduca the Old School Assembly to
rescind its patriotic and manly " deliver.
ances" during, The war, and put
Itself On copperhead platform whero
the Presbyte1ians Of tho Confederate
States Of America may ultimately unite with
them for the glory Of God. The church In
Missouri and Kentucky, which were restrain
cd from joining the Confederate Assembly by
military rather than ecclesiastical ctrcutn-
stances, hare also number Of supposed
Erieranccs 10 be redressed, which they arc
prepared to bring before the Assembly In St.
Louis. IA early ~ 1861 the Old School Gen.
eral Assembly placed Itself In the position Of
firm adherence to the Union, and sent u
delegation to Washington TO convey to
Abraham Lincoln the assurances of their
sympathy and support. The following rcso-
luton was adopted at this session:
aResosrea, That, IN the spirit Of that Christian
rztsipii7n wh1ch tie Scriptures gploiu. and wtuch
Las always caasacserized this church, we 90 hereby
mote IND pe.pttnaie 20 fa1 n IN ~ les the noz.
11ty OF these Uul eo Sistes and 70 strengthen, mp
hold sad e9eautsEe he Federal Gosernuen, N ~ ihe
sutution and to this Constitution in ali 1te proyl
uuAha,ed loyalty"
In 1862 Dr.. -. Breckinrldge presented to
the General Assembly apaper. which was
| adopted. testiaying against tho rebellion a.
'.contrary tonstursl religion, morality, and
| the revealed will OF God" In 1865 the q de
| uversncen Of 1915 on slavery, aud those o.
1851 and 1862 Oh loyalty were rcat1rmed- In
1864 It vu declared that s'the time had al
length come, in the providence Of God, wheI
it is His will that every re.tige Of human
slavery nmoug us should be etAced-" Asaius
these several de1irerancex the 6yuqds Of Ills
souri, and Kentucky hare warred persistently
and they now propose TO try concluaions will
i the lo-sl majority, perhaps for the last time
rs they arc no longer prevented by the stres
Of military operations from seeding ant
Joining the Confederate organization.
| The public will await with interest the re
enlt OF the struggle. It is too late for tn
church TO retreat from its well chosen poEl
tion OF the past five years, II, indeed, thcr
were any purpose or desire to do so. F1ra
pure, then peaceable," has been the text Q
the Old School denomination during the w,
They cannot preach from different one now
without ro11ei,ing their sel-respeet, and th
respect Of ali Christians and all men who's
good opinion is worth having. If mere NUN
bers are considered an object OF ambition
It will be well for them to inquire whethe
they cannot gain more bS reuniting with th
New School, which they SO nearly resemb]
In points Of doctrlue, than by following NJ
Mccormick and the Missouri and kcutuck
syuods In an Iqais .fatuus chase after Il
southern churches. II my members in Il
North arc dissatisfied with this policy, II
them join the Confederates Is soop as the
, like.