The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-02-20
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
To the GRANDCHILDREN of Rev James H
C. Leach, D. D.
LETTER VII.

Time, in its silent course softens ami
mosities and re.awakens affection. The
time came that the two divisions of the
Virginia Synod, and the two divisions Of
the Presbyterian Church, South, began
to feel more and more strongly the bonds
of brotherhood, lacerated and bleeding
yet recovering life and strength The
churches looked round upon each other
and began to recognize less and less dim
ly, their features of mutual relationship
and to discern, more and more distinctly
that they were bone of bone, flesh OF
flesh, creed of creed, discipline of disci-
pline, habit of habit, custom of custom
and that the cries that went up to God
for help and mercy from one part, echoed
tenderly on the heart-strings of the other.
1t had come to pass, unexpectedly, that
those in the Southern Presbyteries who
had sympathized with, favored, assisted
and defended the Northern portion of the
division of the Assembly of 1888, had
found it necessary in order to preserve
their honor and their identity, to with
draw from that connexion, and ultimately
to form the United Synod, south of Ma
son and Dixon'S line. This withdrawal
was accompanied with great diminution
of mutual confidence and sympathy.
The United Synod was active, vigorous
and expansive; and often elected the ap-
probation of the larger body of the South
ern Presbyterians, who, like the Arab,
could not bear to see one of his fold
beaten; though by that defeat alone he
could gain the victory.
As time passed on, the other Presby-
teries of the Southern church felt con-
strained to withdraw from their O. School
Northern connexion, and form General
.Assembly of the Presbyterian Church.
* st'e]lt -rle-se, = vihrated the ifcur- or ttrc
United Synod at this act of her elder
sister.
These two bodies were evidently draw
ing near each other: union seemed in
evitable, and yet to form union was a
work of great delicacy. No man felt
himself sufficiently influential by position,
or otherwise, by circumstance, to propose
publicly such measure. No one was
willing to open discussion on the sub
ject; no one requested that there should
be any publications, or series of publca-
tons, proposing the union of the two
bodies. The ministers were cautious
about making any move; lest by some
unhappy act, or speech, or sentiment,
the evident approach of harmony and en-
tire concord should be preiudiced.
The first decided speech in favor OF
union, the one that writes to you recol-
lects to have heard, was made by an ell
der of the church from Rockingham
county, early in the summer of 1861
He was Colonel in the army. His reg
iment, after hard service was permitted
to refresh in a pleasant village in the
mountains few days. He carefully at
tended on the family worship of his host,
who he knew was of different church
from his own; and without having con-
versed on the particular position of either
of the churches, the morning before he
parted with his host, he said to him most
kindly, "ought not our churches to be
one? e?'-What other answer could his
host give brave man (such as Colonel
Warren, returning to the camp and to
the strife in which he lost his life. than
simply to say, "most certainly" The
next was in the Fall of the same year,
and was made by congressman of the
Episcopal Church. Meeting with some
delegates on their way to the Assembly
at Augusta, Georgia, after conversations,
before parting-he says, "what a blessed
thing it would be to your church should
your two divisions become one" 1t made
a deep impression. The next was from
some elders, members of the Legislature
They occupied rooms so contiguous that
they met for worship as a family. They
were from each of the two divisions
They passed more than one session IL
that intercourse of reading the WORD
and prayer. l heard one day on a visit
to them, that "they had concluded theil
churches ought to be one. >"
The next was from an elder in the
church of the Rev. DR.. Boyd, of Winches
ter, Meeting with an Old School preach
er with whom he was on friendly terms
and uniting in public worship with hin
a number of times, he put this question
to him; "ought not our churches to be
come one? After a conference it wa:
agreed that it would be for the common
good, if they were one.
These and such like speeches were
made known TO DR.. Leach; and made ;
most profound impression on him that th'
time was at hand for union.
In the Spring of 1862, an old minis
terial acquaintance of your grandfather
who had once been his room mate, ant
an Old School man, to use a common ex
preston, became an exile in consequence,
of the ravages of war. DR.: Leacl
opened his doors for the residence o
himself, his wife and daughter for mum
Der of weeks, till other arrangement