Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-01

BCultSlLs 1nS pOWNA VI NhS NhNASA 40
exclusively spiritual, that Of the State in
cludes the exercise Of force.
The constitution of the Church is a di-
vine revelation, the constitution Of the
State must be determined by human reason
and the course Of proyidential events.
The Church has no right to construct a
government for the State, and theState has
no right TO frame creed or policy for the
Church. They are az planets moving in
different orbits, and unless each is confined
TO its own track, the consequences may be
as disastrous in the moral world as the col
hsion of different spheres in the world Of
matter. The early assertion Of this radical
distraction, at the very opening of our his
tory, commits Us To the maintenance and
defense of the crown rights of the Redeem
er-Whether, -on the one hand, they be
usurped by the State, or whether, on the
other, they be removed by any portion of
Gods protesting people. Summoned thus
in the Providence of God to contend for
the same principle for which our martyr
fathers of the Scottish Reformation testi-
fed even to the death, and which the fathers
Of the Southern Presbyterian Church La
bored so earnestly to secure, aud rejoiced
in having obtained their fall recognition
BY the civil government in America, it,
would be most happy if all those in the
different branches OF the Presbyterian fami-
ly, who are called to renew the protest,
would be united in our homogeneous body
for the reassertion of Christ's royal supre-
macy in and over his spiritual kingdom,
the Church. The scattered testimony of
seperate and individual witnesses would
answer in intensity, if gathered into one vol
ume and rolled against those who would
place the Crown of Jesus upon the head of
Cesar.
In view of all which, this Assembly
would tender the hand TO all who are Of
like mind with us as to the dostrines of
grace and as to the order and discipline Of
Gods House; that as our comp2cted church
we may oppose breakwater against the
current which is sweeping from its moor
ings our common Protestsnism, until the
doctrine of the church, as free, spiritual
commonwealth, shall regain its ascendaney,
not only over the Presbyterian, but over
the whole American Protestant mind.
Your committee further recommend that
the Rev. James A. Lyon, ID. D., with the
Rev. ]. N. Caruthers as his alternate, be
appointed to bear the salutations of this
body TO the Associate Reformed Synod of
the South, at their meeting to be held at
GAINESVILLE, Mississippi, on the third Thurs
day in September, 1867, and that the Rev.
7. d. Witherspoon, with the Rev. David
A. Cummins as his alternate, be appointed
to do the same to the General Assembly Of
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, at
their meeting to be held at Memphis, Ten
nessee, on the third Thursday Of May, 1867.
1t is further recommended thata committee
Of FIVE be appointed by this Assembly to
confer with any similar committee on the
part of the Cumberland Presbyterian As
sembly, to ascertain how far the way is
prepared for an organic union between the
two bodies upon the basis of the Washing
ton standards.
The following preamble and resolution
are also respectfully submitted to the con-
sideration of the Assembly:
Whereas, The General Assembly of our
Church did, upon its first organization in
1861, make an explicit declaration, in an
address to all the churches of Jesus Christ
throughout the earth, of Its desire to hold
as far as practicable, with all
the true disciples of our common Lord and
Savior in all the world and
Whereas, We are led to hope that i'm
portant and happy results may be secured
in promoting the great ends of Christian |
by the appointment of chosen
brethren, whose duty it shall be as our rep
to bear true expressions of our
views and wishes to such Christians,
churches and societies in the Kingdom of
Great Britain and ireland, and, if deemed !
best. on the Continent of Europe also, as
the Providence of God may designate, and |
to explain to them, as opportunity may |
offer, the character, condition, work and |
of our beloved Zion, to receive |
such contributions as may be voluntarily |
offered in aid of our general schemes of
evangelization therefore
Resolved, LIST, That this General Assem- |
bly, does now appoint the Rev. M. d. Hays, |
DID,, Rev. 3. NJ. Palmer, DID,, and Rev.
J. L. Giardeau to this important mission, |
and earnestly solicit their acceptance of the
same.
Resolved I'd, That in view of the priva-
tions to which the congregations of these
brethren will be subjected during their abb
senee, the Assembly does hereby request |
their cheerful concurrence in measure |
considered by the Church to be one of much
interest, and whose successful prosecution
must so greatly depend, under God, upon
the peculiar fitness of those to whom it is
Resolved, Sd, That the moderator and
stated clerk bedirected to furnish the breth-
rem here appointed with an attested copy of
this paper, and with such other testimonials
as may be considered proper.
Resolved, 4th, That the Executive Com
mittee of Domestic Missions and Pnblica-
.ions be directed to make such provision
for the expenses Of this mission as may be
deemed suitable.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
THOMAS Morrow, Chairman.
DR.. Palmer's report wasadopted without
debate.
The discussion on the removal Of Column
bia Theological Seminary occupied the re-
naming part of the session.
E'RESBUTERoS.