The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-05-13

!. incurred the penalties OF treason, lnese
are certainly political topics. They are
, the questions on which the future con-
tests of political parties will turn. 30
far as they can do so the New School
Assembly has identified the Church with
one of these parties. If these resolutions
are a fair exposition of New School views,
growing out of their apprehensions of
the teachings of Gods word, and falling
within what they regard as the province
of the Church; then, it is impossible to
be New School Presbyterian in reli
gion, and Democrat in politics at the
same time; for the Democratic party uni
versalIg. reject and abhor the whole polti-
cal scheme of which negro suffrage is the
!, head and front. Now, in view of these
facts, what will be the position of the re-
united body in reference to these political
questions and contests :?
Are the Old School prepared to wheel
into line and unite with the New School
in the unanimous support of policy in
the State, whose success, or failure is
identified with the fortunes of the Re-
publican party. Perhaps the leaders of
the movement in both branches hatter
themselves that such consummation can
be effected; or, perhaps they are only
willing cheerfully to acquiesce in it as one
of the prouidential results of reunion.-
But, we tell them they are mistaken in
such anticipations Such results can
never be reached without rending our
Church to its foundations. Our people
are daily becoming less willing to sup
port the Freedmen's Bureau as a stand
ing means of grace, or to accept the dog
ma of negro suffrage as part of their
Confession of Faith. And, even if they
believed in these political doctrines, there
is enough of the anti Church-and- State
spirit left among us to resist their enforce
ment by ecclesiastical authority. Among
our elders and church-members are
thousands whose political sympathies are
with the Democratic party; who came
into the Church with the distinct under
standing that their political preferences
and afinities are not to be interfered with
by our Church courts; and who will
never submit to any such attempt to
''lord it over their consciences" in mat
tiers which are neither revealed in the
Scriptures nor set down in our doctrinal
standards.
But perhaps for the sake of reunion
the New School body will recede from
IL r-r.:c"1 rosit;o, - has assumed
How is this possible? Their position is
the legitimate expression of their opin-
ions. They hold these opinions as part
of their religion. They preach the doc
trines set forth in the foregoing resolu-
tions as part of their Christian faith.
They honestly believe that these subjects
fall within the province of the Church
and of the pulpit. How can they re-
cede? The recent decisive majorities
against negro suffrage in the popular
votes of many Northern States, if re-
garded by them as prOuidential 'ndica-
cations, will be interpreted to mean that
the Church must address herself more
zealously to her work. AS honest men
they dare not and will not abandon po-
sition assumed in the name of Christ,
simply because the popular majority may
be against them. Neither can they as
honest men, take the ground that negro
suffrage is "but simple dictate of JUS
tice only IN the Southern States
They are bound to carry out their solemn
resolutions at St. Louis to their legiti-
mate result. And, now, if the Old
School unite with them upon the broad
basis of our theological standards, say
ing nothing about these vexed questions,
and making no attempt to define the lin
its within which the reunited Assembly
shall confne its deliverances and DEGREES
on political subjects; the superficial feel
ings which will hail such an union will be
but the calm that precedes the storm, the
torrents smoothness ere it dash below.
The contest will not and cannot be al
lowed to slumber. The same sincere
zeal which kept up the agitation of the
slavery question until it resulted in civil
war and violent emancipation, will keep
up the agitation of this negro question.
The same honest motives which prompted
the introduction of the resolutions into
the New School Assembly at St. Louis,
would insist upon other, and as the con-
test wakes warm. upon more stringent
deiverances. The reunited Assembly
could not conclude second meeting be-
fore the anticipated love-feast would be
turned into a contest, characterized by
those fierce passions which are always
kindled when religion identifies itself
with the strife of political parties.
H. j. V.
SOME men will follow Christ on Ger.
tain conditions: If he will not lead