Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1866-11-27
PRESBYTERIANISM.
The General Assembly Of the Church
az Memphis.
Specially Reported for the Union and Dispatch.

Specially Reported for the Union and Dispatch.
The Assembly convened pursuant to adj
tournament. Unfinished business being in
order. tbe aCanonsof Discipline were again
called up and acted upon, until the order
of the DAY arrived, when the Rev. Chas. A.
Davis, d. d, a delegate from the CumbeF-
land Presbyterian Church, was introduced,
and addressed the Assembly. d r-fa fs,ssr
Like DIR. Palmer, he did not believe in
platform speeches IN a body and at a time
iike the present. He would have little to
say he had not anticipated addressing the
Assembly. In May last his church. had
appointed him delegate 10 this body. His
Commission was duly made out and given
him be had taken il, carried it home and
carefully placed il away, 50 carefully that
he had not been able to, find 1it since.
Having thus lost his commission he hai1
given up all idea of having anything to say
on this occasion in fact he had became
quite Iuke-warm upon the subject, and
given il but very little thought, Some
years ago he had attended an Assembly in
the State of Missouri, where delegation
from the Reformed Church was received--
the representative delegated by the seeded
church said many things that pleased US
and our Moderator replied in language
equally pleasant All present seemed
highly pleased and he 1.-THE speaker was
forced TO ask himself if all these are
Presbyterians-have common faith and
common feelings, why are they divi-
ded why are these people two people?
But what was the result of this interview
Only little talk. If this was all, and
this Is all that is to result from his presence
on the present occasion, be certainly. had
lost but little in losing his papers. He
saw but little good to result from talk, and
therefore he proposed to say but little he
received no Instructions, and he would only
present the kind and Christian salutation
Of his Church. In doing this he knew
that he was speaking the heart Of the whole
Cumberland Presbyterian body. This was
the first Assembly he had attended, and yet
he could not refrain from expressing the
fact that he felt at home here-that he felt
as one of this body. The relations be-,
tween the Cumberland Church and this
body were the most Intimate and friendly.
In the name ofhis brethren and his Church
he would say to the old Church, God-speed
in the good work. God-speed in the good
work. God-speed in spreading enlighten-
ment and Christianity throughout the land.
He had listened to the deliberations of the
Assembly, and he had repeatedly asked
"why is this body one, and my Church an
other?" There were no other reasons, no
difference, that justified this division, and
he hoped to see the day when it no longer
exists there was no barrier to prevent a
reunion, and be would hail with peculiar
delight the adoption BY this body of some
measures looking to the contamination OF
this end. He had sometimes entertained
the thought that the Old Church did moi
appreciate his own. The Cumberland
Church was organized in 1910, and it had
since grown up until it now numbers
about one hundred thousand communicants.
It had become body whose labors
were worth something, whose prayers we're
worth something, and whose money was
worth something. The Old Church is
also body Of great numbers and great inn
portance; they too are all Presbyterians,
and suppose the two were united-were
one-hOw much greater would be their in
fuence for good He further remarked
that on questions Of state the two churches
agree, and 10 doctrine they were not far
apart. The fathers Of his church had con-
sfdered themselves badly treated by certain
synods they would not submit to what
they regarded as oppression, and set up for
themselves. II they had been afforded a
hearing in the General Assembly, the mat
ter would have been adjusted, and the
churches would probably now have been
one as they were formerly one. He alluded
to the idea which was entertained by some
that it was the viii Of God that separations
should take place, that Christians should
be divided, and that denominations should
be formed according to the different tastes
and sentiments ofmankind. He had never
been able to iDdorse such doctrine; he
was not willing to stultify himself by say
ing / am right, and the man who differs
from me is right too" The true church
could have but one heart and one soul !
Jesus had prayed that his people might be
one Presbyterians should be one, and il
should be feeling Of pride with the Church
to consummate this end. The speaker
concluded by remarking that he was not
authorized TO make any overture of union
to the Assembly, but he was convinced the
time had arrived when some movement
should be made in this direction. His
Church loved the old Church I; he felt at
home in their churches and in their pull
pits, and he looked forward to the day
when the two should be but one.
To the address Of DIR. Davis the Rev.
Moderator, A. H. Kerr, ID. d., responded
on behalf Of the Assembly.
He remarked 10 the reverend gentleman
that his presence afforded the Assembly the
profoundest satisfaction. The old church
saw in the new one Of its daughters one of
Its own dear offspring. They had gone of,
but the parent church had kept its eye upon
them. The illusions made to the union of
the two churches in one, as they are already
one in feeling and faith, gave evidence of
the basis upon which this end might be
brought about "And that these words
might have weight" he continued, may
say that know this brother who has come
among us. | know him we'll. know
him in head and in heart. know him in
faith 10 be an out and out Presbyterian,
and as l know him l honor, respect and
love him." The speaker then extending
his hand to the delegate, concluded: What
you have said respecting the feelings and
the faith of your church will be earnestly
and prayerfully considered, and when you
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