Smyrna times., 1867-05-29
The Presbyterian Reconciliation.

The Presbyterian Reconciliation.
The attempts of the Old and New School
Presbyterians to heal their long-existing DIFF
ferences, and to cooperate together on COM
mon principles of observance and action, is one !
of the most interesting indications of a tenden |
cy that shows itself in all the sects Such at
tempts are likely to be successful in proportion
as the differences are superficial, or the cOndi |
tiSps of reconciliation are radical If the diff |
ferNnces are radical and the unities superficial,
thetettort does not promise an equally satlstac-
tory result. Ever since the Reformation loos-
ed human mind from thraldom, two par
ties have appeared, and more or less visibly |
dlvlFed every religious sect. Some wished |
nOrF form, others less; some construed the |
dOgAas literally, others interpreted them free
ly; Pme attached more, others less, signif- |
cande to the sacraments and rites some exact
ed 4gld compliance was denominatiOnal usage
in matters of church administration, others
deemed such things of small moment, and
were quite willing to sacrifice them to ends
which they regarded as being more vital The
differences were substantially of The same kind
everywhere and were due to the same causes.
Sometimes they struck in, and sometimes they
lay loosely on the surface Every sect has or
has had its Old and its New Schools. The
great sect, like the Episcopaians, Baptists, and
Presbyterians, and the small sects like the Uni
tarians, the SwedenbOrgians and the Quakers
AS general thing, the more radical the sect,
the more conservative the Sect the more radi-
Cal the agreement.
The Presbyterian Church has a very noble
record, and very ancient one. In social and
civil revolutions well as in religious, it has
played distinguished part. 1t has given pow
erful and famous men to the company of
| 81 o4kKy 4rIth
compromising in doctrine, firm in discipline,
austere in morals, well-knit in organization, in
administration vigorous, in spirit earnest and
devout, it has done well its part in fostering at
once religious zeal and political liberty. But
even the Presbyterian Church could not es-
cape from the disintegrating movement of
thought and feeling The marks of old dis
sensiOns are visible all over its body. Emf
grants from Scotland and the north of ireland
! brought Presbyteranism to the American Colo
MES SO early as 1890, and before the end of the
century several churches were established in
| Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New
Jersey. BY l7l6, four Presbyteries had been
! instituted, and synod formed. So long as
the members were mainly Scotch, and Irish,
and Puritan, the severe integrity of the body
was preserved but foreign elements poured in !;
/ Frenchmen and Welshnen, Dutch and Swiss
| brought their native and acquired pecuiari
ties opinions began to conflict, not 50 much
on points of faith, whether spiritual or theo-
logical, as on points of discipline and obser
vance. The education of ministers, the mode
OF testing their fitness to preach and admins
ter the sacraments, the rules to be respected In
their ordination, the binding nature Of this or
that regulation i'll the form of worship. To
trace the course of these disagreements would
be impossible here. They broke out again and
! again with great violence, the more rigid par
ty usually prevailing, but the party tavOring
greater liberty gaining incidental advantages.
The ordination of Mr.. John Rowland in 1893,
: by the New Brunswick Presbytery, in defiance
of the decree of the Synod prescribing a spe.
cial feature in the examination of u candidate,
furnished one occasion for dissensiun White
field visit to America divided the sympathies
of the two parties in the Church; the stricter
disappearing Of the Irregularities OF his proce-
dure, the laxer warming into enthusiasm at his
favor. The Synod was broken i'll two in l74l,
the Old School or Conservatives making Phia
phia their stronghold the New School tax
ing up their headquarters in New York. This
breach was healed in 1853, the independent:
? holding out the olive branch. During the pc
rod of separation, the New School had gained
in number and influence over the Old, but
: both were strong. This reconciliation lated
: ill toward 1880, a period Of about seventy
years The organization OF the PresbyterleS
and Synods was perfected in that time. The
: rules of practice and standards OF government
were revised, rearranged and published; the
' order of discipline and of worship was prescrib
! ed and fixed. The Westminster Confession OF
L Faith was sanctioned, with slight notifications
!. The catechisms were readopted almost pre-
!, cisey as they were before. The basis of har
e mony was substantially the stout old Scotch
r Presbyterianism founded away little to adap
y it to the United State
e But the troublesome spirit was not dead
!: The Strict Constituencies and the Llbera
}. Constructionists existed, and whenever the ole
IT controversy came up with them. In 1881, tn
y body fell asunder again; the bonds OF union
after severe strain, gave way at the same OH
s. weak spot. The ordination clause and tOu
r Synods, those of Genesee, Geneva, Utica, an
1t the Western Reserve, where set apart from tn
l. rest. The schism between the Old School AM
er the New School, as we know them, occurred
ne a generation ago. For the last thirty years, tn
Presbyterian Church has consisted OF two dis
I tinct bodies, wholly independent OF each othe
Il. as to government and administration. Bot
lg increased in wealth and influence. Both hat
I'd Synods, Presbyteries, ministers, churches, an
" commitments. Both supported foreign an
IN domestic Missions Boards of Education, Put
" fishing Committees, Church Building Commit
ad tees, and all the appliances for doing Evangel
ed cal work. The Old School, in 1860, had si1
er the New School had five Theological Semin;
ry ries. Judging by exterior signs, the numbC
he of synods, Presbyteries, churches. minister
students, professors, and COMMITMENTS, an
,so the amount of money raised annually, and tt
~ extent of work accounted for, the power OF Il
Ss Old School preponderates over the New.
ow If it were not that disputes are apt to be bi
by ter in proportion as the subject of them is tt
'ey % fling, It would excite surprise that the work
,en reunion between the wings of so powerful ;
nat organization should be thought difficult. II
nd present arrangement is in the most compete
i = hands. Two Committees, each representa-
he i one of the General Assemblies, have charge
' aet the details. These Committees are compos
ce of able, devout, and Conscientious men. L
nor spirit on both sides, has been sweet aud frier
lie ly. The terms seem to be fair. The reuni
rdv Of two independent bodies on equal terms
.th, heend contemplated. 1.-THE tendency throui