Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-10-19

| hiS "ouou ellc1te0 q wtQe discussion up0r
| me subject Of missions, and the duties o.
stationed ministers TO leave their special
nelds OF labor TO engage in missionary work
| even sor a portion of the year, de-; which
Baekus, Cross, J. T. Smith, j. N. Hays
Taylor, Dickson, Gurley, and others
II was also contended by several ministers tnat
the Potomac Presbytery had carried out the
resolutions in the only way that they could be
observed. On the other hand, it was contended
tnat there Were other ways in which the RESP.
made TO amend by striking out the words "in
the only way it could be done.' The latter
motion prevailed, and the resolution was
The Rev. ). W. Hoover, Of the Methods.
Eplscopa! Church, Rev. MIR. Sherman, of the
Methodist Protestant Church; and Rev Mr.
Columbia, N. s.. appearing in the hall tney y,
were invited to seats as corresponding mem.
Rev. I. T. Smith. from the Special Commit.
Churches, read the following report:
"Whereos the General Assembly has rec est
ed the churches to offer such suggestions to
the Joint Committee on the re. .nnfon of the
two branches OF the Presbyterian Church as
may serve for the guidance Of the Committee
In iheir future deliberations. The Syaod of
dation of the Assembly, as we'll us ont Of re-.
gard to the great importance of the subject it.
self, agrees upon the following:
n.. !: we desire to declare at the outset, in the
most emphatic terms, entire and most
hearty sympathy with the great end proposed
70 be accom- mplished, the Organization Of the
heve that the Church of Christ ought to be
one, not only in Its inner spiritual lifs but in
the outward visible organization through
which that life manitests itself "There is
one body and one spirit." All divisions among
the professed followers OF Christ, such as no
exist, we deplOre as the effect of human lmper.
lection and sinfulness When the sanctifica-
flon OF Christians is complete, all will see eye
to eye, and walk hand in hand, ard when the
sanctification OF the church is complete these
s sects and parties win all vanish away, and
ing, ~ am of Paul and OF Appollos, and I
OF Cephas, and 1 OF Christi When that
which Is perfect is come, then that which is in
part snaii be done away. And this is a con-
the people OF God wait and watch, and labor.
and pray with In fin ite desire. Especially and
most earnestly do we desire 1t with reference
70 the several branches Of our Presbyterian
Churcn holding the same symbols of faith,
having TO so large an extent the same tradition,
and the same glorious history.
"At the same time in their present inner.
1ecIy sanctided state this division OF the peo.
pie OF God into separate organizations is not
an unmlxed evil, but it is often overruled to
promote and maintain their higher spiritual
unity When real differences Of views and
sentiments and feelings do exist upon funda-
mental points, II is better that these should find
expressions In appropropriate outward for US.
Organic unity is desirable only so far as It
man1fests real unit in spirit and in truth
without which it is but mockery ami false.
hood And we would regard it as great ca.
all their dvers,ties OF form and
spirit to be compressed into on q heteroee
neous and dlscordant body held together, as In
me papaa Church, by forclble external con-
s'ralnt The experience OF our own Church
before and since the division has proved con.
ciusiVely that the unity of the spirit In the
o. nds OF peace was better secured by their sep
aration than the organic union. And we ac-
cept the teachings OF this experience is decis.
I've mus 1ar, that, unless now agreed upon the
points which then decided them, the time has
Ieei constrained 10 say that in the basis pro-
posed by the Joint Committee such agreement
is not made sufficiently apparent
VAS suggestions, to be Of any practical
value, should be specific and precise the
Synod would specify the following part,cu
Ia iars @ ID WhIc en- they regard the terms proposed
81. On the doc rinal basis the following
points ought to be clearly guarded: The right
ard duty Of the Church to Insist that all her
ministers and elders shall receive and adopr
the confession of faith and catech,sms, not for
substance OF doctrine only. but in the sense in
Which we are we'll known to receive them, in
opposltlcn to the denial Of the imputation OF
the quit OF Adams first sin, or OF total de-.
pravity thence resulting as comprehensive.
not OF the will only, but Of the whole moral
nature, or OF ne fnn and proper vlcar,ous
people specifically, and the justification of be-
levers by the imputation of his righteousness.
w. The RI ght and duty Of Presbyteres to sat-
lsfy themselves as to the soundness of faith of
all ministers received by them ought to he
distinctly recognized as a principle for which
we as church have always contended. and
Wnlen ,, we believe fidelity to the truth requires
IS. No representative from churches not
fresby ferially organized who have not been
Dreamed ought to be admitted as members of
any church court. 1t being contrary to the con-
stitutlon of the church for any unordained men
to act as rulers in the house of God
~. The Semlnaries in which our ministers
are to be trained ought to be under the most
immediate and responsible centrel of the courts
OF the Church, and we regard it as vital that
provision securing this should be inserted in
SIS. The Board Of Publication ought to pub
lish the distinctive doctrines OF our system,
ana the Joint committee ought il possible, to
specify in the terms Of union such publication,
as are to be dropped from the list.''
In tnus giving expression to our views on
TINS subject, the Synod desires to reiterate its
sincere desire for the organic union Of the two
branches as soon as such union can be effected,
on such terms as will promise to secure the
future harmony and efficiency of the united
body; and in the meantime will rejoice in ali
MANIFESTATIONS OF Christian affection and all
the two bodies"
On motion the report W; accepted, and
session.
Rev. E. A. A. Taylor, from the Committee on
Devotional Exercises submitted a report, ma
mig uHsisuueht TcHSlOuS services tO-mOr.
row, which Will be found else where
The hour Of 12 O'Clock having arrived, the
Synod took a recess.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Synod reassembled at l O'Clock.
The regular order was passed by, and re-
ports of Presbyteries called up, when the
committee of the Presbytery OF Lewes report
ed that the minutes of that Presbytery were
not in the possession Of the Synod, and conse.
quently could not be examined
The consideration of the report OF the speciaI
committee on the subject Of the reunion of tha
old and new school Presbyterian Churches,
was resumed. "
The report was again read, when Rev. Mr.
Williams moved to modify The same by strlk
ing out that part which alluded to the nast
differences In the Church, and which declared
that until these differences were adiu sted there
could be no reunion.
This amendment was ably and earn estlv On.
posed by Rev. Mr.. Carter and Others
The Rev. DE-. Tustin was in favor of laying
the whole paper on the table. It was nothing
but beautiful verbiage, and could accomplished
nothing. The two churches were, in his esti.
nation, irrevocably separated and no earthly
power could again unite them. 1t was his
earnest wish, however. that the reverse had
been the case; for II the time ever came when
the two churches were united, then be vould
be willing to close his eyes and lie down tn die
He concluded BY moving that the whols re.
port be laid on the table.
The Rev. Mr.. Cochran was willing to sacond
the motion, but first desired to exprass hi.
views on the subject. He belle eyed In A. the
great body of the New School Church were A
eound "a our own. aud he should vosa aeajnst
the adoption OF the report. f-Isl