The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-11-08
,rhe ProDosed Union of the Presbyte-
riau Churches.

Church, the object of the assemblage of which
avowedly is TO secure the union of all the
opposipg branches Of that denomination. We
hope that its object may be successfully accom-
plshed. The division between the New AMI
Old School, and the reform school, and all the
other schools of Presbyterians, has long been
the subject of keen regret by those who desire
TO see all working together to forward the
influence of the Church. 1t would seem, from
the aotiens of the wise men of that denomna-
tion, that they have not read Hsop's fable of
the bundle of sticks, or else they would never
have presented each of their feeble schisms
separately to be broken by contact with
the world. It has long been wonder to
intelligent men why it is that while
protesting the most unequalled enthusiasm in
their Masters work, the tendency Of all de-
nominations is to divide into counter factions,
which are not allowed to exist in any secular
association. 1t would, indeed, appear that
sinners are wiser in this generation than the
children Of light; for we do not see political
parties in their struggle for Office, cutting
themselves up into fragments, with such dis
regard TO power as to make us have suspi-
cion of treason. Yet this has marked the life
Of the Presbyterian Church. Doctrines inf
nitely minute have been the cause of division
details-so trivial and unimportant that, had
they occurred in any other association but a
Church, would not have merited debate, much
less divisiOn-have been magnifed into rocks
on which the society has split. The election
of deaoons and the power of elders was one
sc kl,oc 90 = H.. Il. =
tiOn into the Old and New School Presbyterian
Church. These divisions, small at first, have
grown with time, until for some years there
has been little more union between the two
SCHOOLS" than either has with the Roman
Church. At last, however, the folly, the
wiokedness of such sacrifice of the power in
their possession to the petty arguing over
small difference, has become apparent, and
both the conventions of the divisions adopted
resolutions favoring a union on some basis of
compromise. And this Convention is the
fruit of this desire to secure a united Presby-
terian Church. 1t is, therefore, of great in
terest to the Church at large, and should re-
ceive the sympathy of all those who desire to
see the influence of an influential religious
denomination extended.
Its success, however, depends, to very
great extent--we may say depends entirely
on the preservation of spirit Of unity and
mutual concession among the members. 1t is
vitality important that each should yield his
particular theory in order that a basis gene
rally satisfactory can be secured. And as the
Convention was called for the declared object
of effecting an union, it seems hardly neces-
sary for us to add our conviction that, If any
one is in it who is not in favor of such a con-
summation, he owes it to himself and the
Master he processes to serve to withdraw,
without seeking to cause discord. Recognizing
the importance of fraternal unity OF SEN
timent among the members, we extremely
regret the untoward occurrence of Wednes-
day afternoon. The circumstances of the
case are not laid before the public, and false
impression may be engendered that serious
division exists in regard to the feasibility of a
union. The truth is that DR.. Breckenridge, o
Kentucky, commenced a speech with deny
ing the possibility of the union of five diffe-
rent branches of the Presbyterian Church,
SOOTHING at the object as one so impossible as
not worthy of being attempted. In the
course of his remarks he stated that not one
of the Committee on Union were theologians,
and for this statement was very properly called
to order by Mr.. Stuart, who was acting as
President. The Doctor made some quick re-
tort, and was continuing in the same strain
when the President insisted on his desisting
which, after protest, he reluctantly did. 1t is
due 10 the rest of the Convention to say thai
they did not appear in the least to sympathizt
with the course of the reverend gentleman
and seemed much annoyed at the tone which
he adopted.
Looking at the objection urged against the
CommAttee on Union, that none of then
were tneolOgians, we fail to see any good cause
for complaint. On the contrary. we mos
heartily congratulate the Convention that Il,
committees are not ''theOlogians." What Il
needed at present is not discussion of IN.
refined subtleties of the faith, nor the visws q
the members on some obscure PASSAGE Of g.
Paul ON the subject of deacons. Men OF so,,,,
common sense and earnest religious faith ar
the only ones who can gain the object in view
Hwas the theologians who caused the dis
union. II has been their contumaoiousnes
which has kept the breach open; and the mos
encouraging harbinger that the union is pra
tioable Is furnished by Dr. Breckenridge, whe
he tells us that the men who have the matte
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