The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-11-30

Wnlle otneTs constitute the SeetS, Win
whom the least possible intercourse
shall be held. Let US with generous
rivalry strive together concerning
which shall do most for the cause OF
Christ and u dying world; and let US
combine onf efforts In such common
instruments Of usefulness Ms the Bible
and Tract Societies. Such a union Is
incomparahly higher than that OF mere
outward forms.
TIE EVILS OF EXCESSIVE pESoMtsA.
TxoNAL DIVISIONS. 4s K
Whether the day shall soon come
when all Evangelical Christians shall
be united In a single, visible ofganlza.
tion, Is question belonging to 4 high
region, where II would not be profila.
BILE for ns 10 speculate to-day. But II
there are 10 be different denomination
they should not be unnecessarily mul.
tiplled. These divisions are jusiihable
only on twoRrounds. One Is difference
Of belief In regard TO great doctrines or
fornis of church government. The other
IL distance OF residence. Therefore take
II as an indication that something is
wrong, because Christians between
whom no such grounds of separation
exist, are frequently split inton mum.
bsr Of distinct bodies. This IL an evil
which ls perhaps no more apparent
among Presbyterlans than among 9TH
ers, but IL certainly IL evident In the
case OF ourselves. Even Ia Scotland,
there are at least four leading Pr6sby.
terian bodies. Leaving out Of consid.
erntlon the National Church, we who
live beyond the limits OF the land Of
Knox, can see no good reason why the
other three should be separated. We
are glad that union Is almost certain
TO be effected between the Free Church
aud the United Presbyterian Church of
that country, which will then together
constitute body OF about 1000
churches, and l 500 ministers.
DIVISIONS AMONG PREsBYTERIANs IN
. THE UNITED STATES.
In this country there are three bodies,
calling themselves the Presbyterian
Church 10 the United States, popularity
distinguished aS the Old School, the
New School, and the Southern. There
are also two known as tine RefOrmel-
popular distinguished rs the Old Side
and the. New Side CovenEQters. Besides
these are the United Presbyterian and
the Dutch Reformed Churches, the
Associate Synod of North America, the
Associate Reformed Synod OF New
York, the Associate Reformed Synod OF
the South, aRd several temporary in-
dependent Synods nnd PresbyterIes,
not TO count the Cumberland Preshyte.
rlan Church, which IL Presbyterian
only in form Of government. PntlheSe
bodies all together and they would be
one OF the largest denominations OF
Christians in the world. None would
be more influential. DR.. Hodge, In the
Convention ut Philadelphia, said In his
address 10 the Episcopal delegation,
that he was for the moment represent
Ing i've thousand ministers and "over
u million OF souls who have been bap.
tlZed In the name OF Jesus Christ" Ac-
cording 10 the census OF 1860, which It
will be remembered, must in It's estl-
mate now fall tar below the truth, 10
the PreSbyterlHns, excluding tue Cum
berlAnd Church, belonged 6,02G church.
es, which were capable Of accommO.
dating 2,79S,0 persons, and which
were then valued, though these figures
might now b5 doubted, at SS0,9V7, 40.
But, us matters now stand, the Old
School Church, which Is the largest OF
All, according 10 the minutes OF the
General Assembly for this year, hns
only 5302 ministers, 500 licenliatCs and
candidates for the ministry, and 24G, $50
communicates |, Tor one, am pre-
pared 10 assume the position that the
number r0fPresbyterian denominations
ought to be reduced, perhaps TO u sin.
gle organization.
UNION DESIRABLE.
Such a union would vastly Increase
the efficiency OF this entire branch OF
the church. 1t ought to be formed,
also, because there Is no really sum.
cieEt ground for separation. While ]
would not In the least doubt the sin.
certify Of conscience OF the brethren who
may think differently, ask why
should not the United aud Old School
Presbyterians come together Confess.
edly the main point Of difference be-
tween us Is the hequestlOn neither we shall
use only what some regard Hs u literal
version or David's Psalms, or whether
we shall have liberty TO employ also
hyinuS-in the praise OF God! What.
ever others may think OF the necessity
for separate organizations on this
ground, l cannot see II. Neither do |
believe that the nlNss OF Gods people
zee 1t. Nor yet do believe that this
separntiOn meets with the full approval
OF the great head of the church.
THE HISTORY OF UNION AMONG pREsBY-
TRRIANs.
1t Is source Of encouragement to
look back over the past, and 10 learn
that a union OF distinct Presbyterian
bodies IL not without precedent. The
schism In the Synod Of Philadelphia,
which lasted from l74l to 1858, was
completely healed. In 1872, the Gen.
9ral Synod Ui the Associate Reformed
Church THE PresbyLeries Of New York
and PhiladelphiH) were received into
our Church. Comparatively recently
the United Presbyterian Church was
formed out OF the Associate and AssO-
cinte Reformed, t"Seeeder" aud
Union, " Churches. In 1854 the South.
ern Presbyterian Church united with
tho New School Synod al the South, by
simple act OF the Assembly, without
references 10 tho Presbyterles, aud after
refusing 10 incorporate an explanation
OF belief concerning the points OF doc.
trlne upon which the Church divided In
1887. They came together upon this
simple article, ~ far Ha doctrine and
policy are concerned:
"Artlcle |, The General Assembly
and the United Synod declare that they
continue sincerely to receive and adopt
the Confession Of Faith and CAleohsmS
Of the Presbyterian Church MS con.
thinning the system Of doctrMe
taught In the Holy Scriptures, and
approve Of its government and disci.
pline." If mistake not, the Southern
Church, through one ofils SynOdS, has
also since formed a union with Con.
ventiOn Of Independent Presby yterinns
In South CRrOllnH,Hnd has been ntgutIA.
ting with the Associate Reformed SYNOD
OF tue south. II Is also now negotin-
ting with tho Cumberland Church.
May we not hope that by the tlme the
Prrshytsrinns OF that region have all
united. IA similar result Will have been
reached Ht tho North on Hn nbiectlonN.
bic basls; and that the causes Of d.
vision between the Churches OF the two
sections Will then have been removed
nhd we shall come together from tho far.
lheTest NOrtht TO the nOst distant South,
Lot US thank God Tor even the dim
prospect.
TnR rROsPECr or A UNION HErwEEN
rIIE OLD AND NEw SCHOOLS.
a joint committee was appointed =,
last Maya year ngO, by Tho OId and
New School AssetnbiIes-the two
largest Presbyterian bodies In the