Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-05-31
PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL As
sEM BLY,, o. y.
ST. LnuIs. MAY 2I.

Dr. Robert J. Brecknridge. and which wal
In session here on Tuesday Of last week, wa
read. Ii discussed at length the reIstioni
OF the church 20 loyalty, etc. Ii was
patriotic paper. The concluding recommen
dston, which is the gist oftbe matter, is
I'VE recommend the Assembly to proceed
at once and with zeal proportioned to the
urgency Of the necessity, to redeem the
solemn promise made by the First Assembly
after the schism Of 1861. that che would
wholly disregard the existence of said schism
and as God might enable hcr, would strive
to recover all she might lose by it, and tc
extend and establish more and more through
out the South the precious system OF Divine
truth into the liberty and power of which
God has called her by His grace"
The idea OF the memoriaists is that the
Assembly shall ignore the existence OF the
Southern Assembly except as a schism. and
shall not negotiate with it for reunion, but
shall treat the territory it claims as mission
airy ground. '5
! An hour was spent in trying to determine
what disposition should he made of the me.
mortal 1t was finally referred to the Com
inittee on Bills and Overtures.
This having been disposed Of, Rev. Dr.
VanDyke, OF Brooklyn, one Of the noble
] oimy VI Wbutu-Uo martyrs, Tebu paper stt-
I ng forth the views of the Declaration and
Testimony men, with copinus references to
the confessions of faith. He claimed that
the deliverences Of the General Assembly
during the war, not having been overturned
| to the Presbyteries, and voted on by them,
are not obligations upon the Church.
DIR. VanDyke moved that this paper also
be referred 10 the Committee on Bills and
Overtures. The commitment was voted as
a matter of courtesy. r..'- .snf p
A memorial was read from Stuart Robin.
son, s. R. Wilson and Mark Hardin, Com
missieners from the Presbytery OF Louis
vile, claiming that said Presbytery had not
''deied" the Assembly, and that its Com.
missioners were eligible to seats in it. Stuart
Robinson, it was alleged, was not banished
for disloyalty, but was merely absent in Can
ada taking vacation for the benefit Of his
health. Fhey complained of the action of
the General Assembly as cruel, unjust, par
tial and unconstitutional.
DIR. Boardman moved that this paper be
referred to the Committee appointed on
Saturday on the Louisville Presbytery, with
instructions to report as early as practicable,
recommending the readmission of the Com
missioners of that Presbytery. Dr. B.
thought the Assembly had placed itself in a
most erroneous and perilous position. He
rejoiced that the war was over, that rebellion
was dead, but said that We are in danger, as
q church, of being left by the ground swell
on a lee shore after the fury of the gale had
passed. DR.. B. disclaimed all sympathy
with the Declaration and Testimony breth-
rem, but could not sit quietly and see any
man oppressed. Dr.. Boardman pitched in.
to DR.. Thomas said truth is stronger than
majorities. and that the minority now may
have the power in their hands, some day. -
He defended DR.. Brooks for his manly and
courageous offer OF his neck to the axe of
martyrdom, that had been raised to cut off
the heads of the ouisville brcthern. He
speech, and contrasted it with DIR. Thomas.
was like geing out of dark, damp, smoky
tunnel into the glad sunshine and the open
air. '- .fi F7' if et
l do not approve. he said, of the princi
Piles Of these declarations and testimony now,
but they are our brethren and we ought to
treat them charitably. We have love and
charity for the New School, for delegates
from abroad, but none for our erring breth
rem of Missouri and Kentucky. DR.. b. was
severe upon the majority for moving the pre-
yious question and cutting off debate. He
declared that even in the exciting times Of
1897, when four synods were rescinded, there
was no previous question, but the fullest
latitude of discussion. He said that the
Assembly was treating the Louisville Com.
miSsioners worse than an indicted murderer
rs treated in our courts Of justice. The As
senlbly is imperling the interests of Ameri-
can liberty, and of all liberty, in its arbitrary
course Applause in the galleries. The
impression of all classes in ST. Louis is that
the kssembly is proceeding on the principles
q desp4ism. If this action goes forth I'M
modified, the victery of the majority will be
kheir Overthrow. You may silence these
men, bht their silence will speak louder than
seven thousands. Ii will make itself heard
allioyer the land. IN. ,.. Ia -s,
The Church is maturing crisis. 1t is in
deep waters. There are two courses to take.
OhSis that Of severity holding every man
accountable for every rash word uttered or
printed during the time of excitement
through which We have passed. Ifyou take
tbis aourse, your church is divided. The
Episcopal Church and the Methodist Church
are reaShiag their hands out to their South
ern>hreSbren, over the sea of blood Let us
do likewise let US deal gently and kindly
with 2ur .efring brethren; let as bear with
dneul, dnu tnuS save tno cnurcu let US say
to them, in the language OF the Declaration
Of ofIndependence, " Enemies in war, in peace
friends Lr'ta ...-'s.,... ..,.. II, 80. -
Dr.. Boardman, by the courtesy Of the
Assembly, spoke beyond the hour Of ad-
'journment. .L. ,ae. ...r. i
Hon. Sam. Galloway obtained the floor,
aud will reply to DIR. Boardman tomorrow.
|" Phe Judicial Committee reported the
com plants of DR.. r. j. Breckinridge and
others against the Synod of Kentucky, and
that of Rev. Mr.. Nicolls andothers against
the Synod of Missouri, both of which W re
accepted and put on the docket. n
.6.ulul sj.a...5 ST Louis, May 20
The unfinished business was reached at
IL clock. Rev. DR.. VanDyke presented
lengthy protest against the action OF the
Assembly in cutting off the Louisville Com
missieuers. The views wore the same as
those presented in his speech last Friday
There were sixteen names en- the protest.
1t was ordered to be recorded, and Com
mittee, with Rev. Dr. West as Chairman,
was appointed to answer it.lsaHsD4 d, ,
's At III o'clock the Hon Samuel Galloway
hegai,' his speech in reply TO DR.. Boardman,
He claimed that every body has the right to
defend itself; to reject as members those
who treat il with contempt. This is power
inherent init ia lawyer ip court calls