The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-11-20
The Presbyterian uAion Convention.

Penn, November 9th, IN accordance with an
invitation extended to all the Presbyterian
bodies in this country by the Reformed Pres
byterian Synod at its meeting in May.
From the american Presbyterian we gather
the best reports of the meeting:
'The Union Convention was success of
such magnitude and character as overwhelmed
its most sangune friends with surprise; espe-
cially since the Old School Church by its Pres
byteries had taken such an equivocal attitude
on reunion with our IN. S. branch. In num-
beers it far exceeded their expectations, there
being about three hundred and twenty dele
gates in all.
1.-The delegates from the Old School were
considerably more than one-half of the whole
number present (lS0 out Of 320) and more
than twice as numerous as those from our (N.
S. branch And the character and ability of
these delegates were such that 1t was declared
by good Judges the ablcst body of Presbyteri-
ans that had ever convened in our county
Drs. Hodge, Breckenridge. Musgrave, David
son. and Montort of the Old School; Prof II.
B. Smith, Drs. Fisher, Stearns, Hatfield,
Booth, Duf6eld, Jr., and others OF our own
IN. S. J Church; Drs. Davidson and Harper of
the United Presbyterian Church, DIR. Wylle,
of the Reformed Church, with such laymen
as Senator Drake Of Missouri, and Robert Car
ter of New York, and George II. Stuart, OF
our city, were sufficient TO give high tone and
character to the body.
The sessions continued through three days,
and all the discussions were characterized by
great unanimity and good feeling. Fully one
third of the time was spent In devotional ex-
ercises.
The committee on the Basis of Union were
Rev. DR.. Eagleson, and A. Il. Chamberlain,
(Old School Presbyterian y Rev. Dr. Fisher,
and Hon. H. w. Williams, IN S. Presbyte-
rians y Rev. J. Y Scouller and VIM. Getty,
10. Pa Rev. DR.. T. w. j. Wyie, and James
G. Macmillan, reformed Presbyterians J
Rev. J. w. Schenck, and James Peters, Ire
formed Dutch;) Rev. d. Mllar and Robert
Carr, Cumberland Presbyterians.) Their re-
port was adopted and is as follows:
The committee appointed to prepare and
report a-18SW 6nf0fsSto DC submitted for
consideration by the various branches of the
Presbyterian Church represented in this Con-
vention, submit the following:
I. An acknowledgment of the Old and New
Tcstaments to be the inspired Word Of God,
and the only infallible rule Of faith and prac-
tice.
III. That in the United Church, the West.
minister Confession of Faith shall be received
and adopted, as containing the System of Doc
trine taught in the Holy Scriptures; it being
understood that this Confession is received in
its proper historical, that Isl the Calvinistic or
Reformed sense.
Whilst the Committee recommend the fore
going basis of doctrine, they wish to be under
stood as recognizing the orthodoxy Of the
Larger and Shorter Catechisms Of the Hell
delberg Catechsm; and of the canons Of the
Synod of bort.
Ill That the United Church shall receive
and adopt the Presbyterian Form Of Church
Government.
". The Book of Psalms, which is of Di-
vine inspiration, is well adapted to the state
of the Church in all ages and circumstances,
and should be used in the worship of Cod
Therefore, we recommend that new and
faithful version of the Psalms be provided as
soon as practicable But inasmuch as various
collections of Psalmody are used in the differ
ent churches, a change in this respect shall
not be required.
The Committee also recommend the adop-
ton of the following resolutions, viz:
|. That we unite In requesting our respec-
tive Churches, in their supreme judicatories,
to appoint committee of five each, which
shall constitute Joint Committee, whose duty
it shall be to meet, at time and place to be
agreed upon, and proceed, with all convenient
dispatch, in an attempt to form a Basis OF
Union, according to the principles of this re-
port; which Basis they shall submit to the
it being understood that this is not designed
to interfere with the pending negotiations for
union between two of the larger bodies repre-
sented in this Convention.
9. That in case the above Basis of Union
should be adopted, a committee be appointed
to lay it before the highest judicatories of the
various branches Of the Church here repre-
scented.
That the members of the Convention,
who may vote for the foregoing Basis of Union,
to be laid before the Churches, shall not thereby
be regarded as being committed to advocate
its adoption when laid before the branches of
the Church to which they respectively belong;
but shall be free to act according to the lndi-
cations of Providence at the time.
4. As there is so much agreement among
the Churches here represented in all essential
matters of faith, discipline, and order, it is
recommended that friendly and fraternal in
tercourse be cultivated, by interchange of pull
pits, by fellowship with one another in social
meetings and in every other practicable way.
By order Of the Committee.
JOHN EAGLEsoN, Chairman.
The Convention voted by Churches; and on
the adoption Of the Basis as whole, the final
vote stood:
Old School, unanimous
New School, unanimous.
United Presbyterian, ten for, and one against
Reformed Presbyterian, five for, and four
against.
Reformed Dutch, unanimous.
Cumberland Presbyterian, declined voting.
(The Cumberland Presbyterians saw that on
the platform of the Westminster Confession,
there was no standing place for them, and
they accepted the situation with grace that
won golden opinions
The Report was declared adopted by the
Churches voting unanimously.
Attest, WM. T. Eva, Secretary.
1t seemed most happy arrangement of
Providence that the convention of Evangelical
Episcopalians, comprising the very best men
in that Church and some of the noblest and
most devoted Christian men OF the land should
be in session at Epiphany Church, almost
within call of our body. The announcement
made Wednesday evening, that we had place
in their prayers, sentan unwonted thrill through