The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-05-30
TEE Pr PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.


an interesting one, as it is the first sine
the cessation of hostilities, and will natu
rally be looked to with interest, when tn
discussion as to the treatment OF its South
ern members shall be opened.
In the year 1887 the Presbyteria'
Church split on the question of "origina
sin the atonement," and other doctr'
nal points, besides on several minor ques
tons of Church Government. AS the sla
very excitement increased the New Schoo
Church, like their Congregational brethren
became infected with abolition sentiment
and, therefore, its circle was almost total,
confined to the Northern, States. On tn
other hand the Old School branch was EN-
inently conservative in its sentiments, ant
by refusing to entertain any Jurisdiction o
authority over the slavery question, within
the pale of It's judicatory, maintained a.
organization both at the North and thu
South, respectable in numbers, and distin
guished for the general piety and intelli
gence of its members. This state ofthing
continued up to the breaking out of the
war. In the Spring of 1861, however, OF
the announcement Of the commencement
of hostilities, the Old School Presbyterian
Church went off in the hallelujahs over the
old flag" and became as yindictive to
wards their Southern fbrethren," as they
had formerly been friendly and careful o
their rights. The General Assembly being
lin Session at Philadelphia caught the con
tagion, aud presented spectacle more
suggestive of Black Republican mob
than calm, deliberative, religious Assem-
bly,. During its sitting one Commodore
Stewart, who commanded some kind Of {
craft during the late war with Great Bri
tain, published a cock and bull story" or
Mr. Calhoun, to the effect that he heart
him say as early as 1913 that the Southern
Democrats were only using the Northern
people for the purpose of bringing about
disunion at some future day. The youns
delegates, with white cavats, the most ap
proved nasal-twang, and an afectation o
bronchial afections--a disease incident te
stupid pastors with small congregations
who probably heard for the first time thu
old abolition charge that Mr. Calhoun was
a disunionist, Immediately let off their sur
charged batteries, and pitched into the
Southern disunionists and man.stealers al
ter the most approved Black Republican
style. It mattered not that the venerable
DR.. Hodge, Of Princeton, who had taugh
three, fourths of them what little they knew
advised moderation, a conciliatory spirit
and an adherance to their former policy o.
keeping aloof from the political questions
Of the day. The fathers of the Church
were overuled, and the young madmen
catching the contagion Of the hour, com
mitted the last remaining conservative
organization at the North to the prevailing
sentiments ofthe dominant abolition party
AS a matter Of course the Southern
members laughed at the insane rawlings 0
their Northern brethren" They set W
a Southern Presbyterian Church, an organ
ization which is in full force to-day.
The question now before the Old Schoo
Presbyterian General Assembly is whether
the Southern members shall be forgiven ant
be invited back to the folds Of the "methe
church." This question entered into tn
election Of moderator, and we judge from
the election Of DR.. Stanton, rabid Ohi'
abolitionist, that the exclusion Of tn
Southern Presbyteries has been decided on
As means Of strengthening the abolition
element the two wings Of the Church ar
billing and cooling preparatory to union
giving up all their differences of opinion Of
Original SIM" and kindred doctrines
which have caused such deadly strife il
times past, and uniting On the grand fun
damental principle Of hasled to Southern
ers, to disunionists and to shareholders.
I 1t shonld be remembered, however, tina
the Southern Presbyterians have not aske
admission into this Abolition Sanhedrim
Only a few men from Kentucky have ar
piled for the precious privilege, got togeth
er by Dr. Robert j. Breckenridge for tn
special purpose ofgiying the old agitato
something to go upon. 1t was he and d.
Ashbel Green, who, more than any othe
men, were instrumental in breaking up tn
Church in 1887, and he could not live nov
[ifhe had not the privilege of raising som
kind ola row. When we remember th
savage trades which he hurled against tn
Southern people in 1851, it sounds a it'll
strange to hear him now boast OF his con
servatism and coDciliatory spirit toward
the Southern Churches. But if Sewar
and Frank Blair, and Raymond have go
to be Conservatives we can see no rea
son why Bob Breckenridge should not b
conservative too. Ifmeanness and malie
nifty constitute claim to conservatism, W
see nothing to prevent DR.. Breckinridg
from attaining commencing position il
the Conservative Church.
But, as we said, all this pow-wow abou
the admission of the Southern Churc
does not arise on any petition Of tn
Southern churches themselves. Following
the example of theic Methodist friend