The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-05-24
Presbyterian General Assemb's-o
SchooI-NanIy speech "f he''
Van Dykc.

. Louisville prc>bytcrN was hhuc' "''N"'
sion the Rev. Dr.. Van Dyke Said
L,xr been waiting patiently all TINS
,;,,,. ,,l If had been allowed I" 60 on
| ~hnuld have concluded Toy this time.
think perhaps, il is due TO some "i the mem
hcr, nt This Assembly who have manifested
d, kind interest in me, and certainty dnc 10
myself that should explain exactly my
relation L. the business now before II.
have failed many times 10 receive credit
far what | have done, and | have many
times received credit for what have not
done. have been told by several mem
krrs of this Assembly that ! have been ac
credited with writing the Declaration and
Testimony. The brethren do me honor
over much. did not write il. ! had no
part i'll the writing OF II. am not rcSpoh-
>iblc for il in any way. Ii l had either
written or approved the putting iorth oi IL
at tha, time | should have signed my name
10 il. Having said that, | am bound To go
further. and say that whatever principle Is
ipcorpnratcd in the Declaration and IcStl-
mouv aside from the languagc-irom the
practical inference IN it-hut whatever OF
principle there is in il do subscribe to,
and practically will ever act upon II so
long aS God will give me strength 50 To DO.
lApplauScl. And, sir, agreeing with those
principles. should do injustice 10 myself
II | were not willing to take my full share
Of auv rcproach or any condemnation on
which might come OH those brethren
for having advocated these principles,
even though they might have erred Ill the
language.
Now, sir, my objection to this whole pro
cccdiug is, that il is partial. Why, Il
stranger coming in here might suppose
that these brethren of the Louisville pres
hvtrrv are sinners above all men, when II
is perfectly notorious that men high IN po-
>iion in the church have, from the begin
ming. protested against the proceedings OF
the General Assembly in language quite aS
strong ~ any OF these gentlemen ever
used. SiXty-onc members OF the General
Neutrality-suspicious., | think the number
is orrrct-with DR.. Hodge AT their head,
said the dclivcrancc ot the General As
>cmhly WAS " unconstitutional Il uSurpation
uf' Christ prcrogativc. cruel ami UNJUST
l> there anything stronger than that Ill Tie
Declaration and Tc>timunyt. Ii IS perfectly
notorious that in the Synud> "1 Baltimore
all New Iork-cspccially in the cities
,hc orders Of the General Assembly nave
not been attempted 10 he carried out. /
,lo not know Il man in the region OF the
church from which | come that viii con-
sent to carry out these orders ana tur-
thcr. it i we'll known III The prc>bytcry IL
which | hclouy-aud who, vita The luii
knowledge OF that fact, sent lnc hcrc-thu
| have nut only refused Ia carry out TINS
order. but have openly said would not
not out oi any rcbclliou> spirit against TIE
A>>cmulv-Gud knows have no such feel
iug--but on the high ground that | owe an
ailrgiancc 10 Jesus Christ, and upon the
further ground that, according 10 the Con
>tilution Of the Church, this General AS
>cmhly las no authority To MAKE such an
UId,r.
Rev. Mr.. West rise 10 a point Of or
der. / desire 10 know if this whole sub
icct in relation to the principles involved
in the Declaration and Testimony i 10 bc
gone into.
Rev. Mr.. Van Dykc.-I am not going into
il. am speaking entirely to the point.
am showing that you have grounds 10 make
your action in this case great deal
broader.
The Observation-Disclosures even, than the
action of the last Assembly!
Mr.. Van Dykc.--No, sir. Our own Con
ics>ion Of Faith says all Synod>-
Rev. Mr.. Wc>t.-What is the decision OF
the MODERATOR
The Modcrator.--I have already decided
the point before this talk commenced. /
stated il | discovered that the gentleman
travelled beyond the bounds of my dccl-
sion, / would call him to order. ] confess
was not paving strict attention 10 what hc
was saving At the moment.
Rev. Mr.. Wc>t.-Am | 10 understand
that the merits of the question are to come
up!
! The Molcrator.-Ju>t 50 far as IL Is ne
cc>>arv To discuss the question, and II he
goes beyond that | will call him 10 order.
Mr.. Van Dyke will tryto continc my
self t. the question it You will allow me.
Ii the charge alleged against the Louisville
PrcSbytcrv, in the paper which you have
already adopted, and which charge is equal
IL applicable 10 other brethren, were true,
respectfully submit to YOU that II involves
neither hcrc>y nor crime. When ! adopted
the Confession of Faith, and affirmed the
government of the Presbyterian Church,
and >ulcmulV sworc allegiance 10 II, meant
L. keep it but there was clause there
respecting my personal rights III that mat
teri right Of private Judgment.
All Synods and councils since the time
of the Apostles, either generally or par
ticularlv. NAV err, and many have erred.
They are not 10 bc made the rule ot both
faith and practice: they may lapse Ill both.
And further i" Before any oNcrturc> or
regulations, proposed 10y the General As
>cmblv To hc established ~ constitutional
rules, Shall be obligatory on the churches,
il shall hc necessary 10 transmit them 10
all Prc>bytcrcS, aud 10 receive the return
oi al least majority Of them III writing,
approved hv thcln." Now, 10 act "i TINS
General Assembly on freedmen and loyalty,
from l>Cl 10 1863 lanl especially the orders
of the last General Assembly, was trans
mitt,d 10 the prcsbytcrics, and affirm,
according To the language OF the book, they
are not obligatory on any church or As
Scmhlv, and no binding authority on me
whatever. Ifthcy had been transmitted to
the PreShytcrics and adopted by them, then
the question would come up fairly ~ 10 what
i tie constitutional rule Of the Church;
but there i no rule that has been violated
hy the PrcShytcry Of Louisville according
10 the language of the book. Ii they could
prove all YOU have said, there then Is no
violation. The language OF the resolution
is, they dcGcd the General Assembly.
Now, | do not think the facts justify the
Use of the word "dciiancc.' And what Is
the proof, The resolution says they have
refused 10 obey the orders OF the General
Assembly, and said so. That Is just what
| IL, u. ,I,t s., hat