The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-06-10
THE TWO GENERAL ASSEMBLIES
ON REUNION.

AS thiS udClGT mas COuIC w q SOuSiuslOu, 81
far as the action Of the two Assemblies of the
present year is concerned, our readers will ex-
pect some information about it. We cannot,
of course, give them the documents and de-
bates at large, but only a general ACCOUNT
Let us take then, first
THE NEW SCHOOL ASSEMBLY AT HARRISBURG.
The joint report of The two committees was
in due time PUT into the hands of special
committee, of which Rev. Dr. Hickok was
chairman The report of this committee en-
braced an argument most earnestly in favor
of union on the basis recommended by the two
committees.
The Rev. DR.. Patterson of Chicago led the
opposition in very earnest debate, chiefly on
the 10Th article, which asserts the right OF
Presbyteries to examine applicants for admis-
sion. When the vote was taken on that arti.
Gle, of the 243 names on the roll only 81 voted
against it. Upon the final vote, the basis of
union was adopted unanimously. We turn
next to
THE OLD SCHOOL ASSEMBLY, AT ALBANY.
When the joint Report was read by DR.. G..
G. Beatty, Judge Leavitt offered three resolu-
tions, of which the following is the only one
of special Importance:
Resolred, That the Report of the Joint
Committee on the basis OF the Reunion OF the
two branches of the Church now made, be and
the same is hereby approved and adopted by
the Assembly, and it is ordered that it be sent
down to the Presbyteries for their final action.
This brought on protracted discussion,
in which Messrs. DR.. Blauvelt, Mr.. Steward,
DR.. Monfort, Henry Day, (elder,) A. Mclean,
William Y. Allen, Thos. P. Hunt, Dr. Shedd,
were the chief speakers in the affirmative
and Messrs. DR.. Smith, DR.. j. G. Backus,
Bergen, DR.. R. j. Breckenridge and DR.. Chas.
Hodge, DR.. Humphrey, were the chief OPP
posers The closing part of DR.. Hodges ad-
dress gives the gist of the opposition, and we
therefore copy it, as reported by the Philadel-
phia Presbyterian
"This whole question may be condensed into
two sentences. There are certain forms of
doctrine against which this Assembly has pro
tested for thirty years, as inconsistent with
what is taught in the Confession of Faith
Our New School brethren believe them con-
sistent They call them differences of inter
probation merely. There is no doubt of this
DR.. Patterson, of Chicago, says that the New
School Church receives Andover students,
holding the peculiar doctrines taught there
So of New Haven students, holding the pecu-
la, views taught y--Dr. Taylor. And it re-
ceives students from Union and Auburn Semi
naries upon the same terms.
"Now ask, is this consistent with the Con
fession of Faith? Are we prepared to do the
same thing? Are we prepared to cancel all
that we have done, draw lines over all our ac-
tons for thirty years and declare that these
forms of doctrine are consistent with our Con-
fession of Faith, and our past professions? 1t
is obvious and palpable that we shall do this,
if we adopt this Basis, for do not their men
teach these doctrines? Some say that three
fourths, others that one-half of them, do
not. But the question is not, ho,o many?
The principle is, do any Of them Are we to
bow down henceforth, and say we regard as
consistent with Gods eternal truth, errors
which we have stigmatized and repudialed for
thirty years?
1.-The gentleman DR. Darling) who ad
dressed us the other day, told us that the dis.
ruption of 1887 hadvery little to do with mat.
tiers of doctrine. He said it was a difference
of polity that divided US, and asked if we
should now stay apart because of those differ
ences. But he said, at the same time, that
he was not born when that division took place.
Those of us who have gray hairs know better
Doctrine, doctrine only, was the cause of that
division The Convention, and the Act and
Testimony were allabout doctrine. The Amer.
lean Education Society undertook to educate
III op1 n folca
into our churches through this agency. At
one time twelve graduates Of New Haven Sem
inary we're sent into one Presbytery to turn the
majority in their favor Doctrine caused the
separation. Our differences were such, that
we could not live in harmony, and so we sepa-
rated. They maintained that their doctrines
aoere consistent with the Confession of Faith.
We contended that they were not. We have
no evidence that they have changed.
ION the contrary, we have evidence that
many of them have not. Drs Patterson,
Spear, and others, boldly say they do not hold
TO the old doctrines. We know that minis
tiers rejected by our Presbyteries 60 to theirs,
and are received. If you form this union you
may have the same name, but where will be
your Church? That body which has stood up
from first to last the advocate Of that glorious
system of doctrine which upholds all other doc
trines, as the earth upholds the verdant fields,
and forests and pasture, will be blotted out
With this union that Church will cease to ex-
list upon the principles always sustained by us.
Do you wonder, then, that we feel deeply up
on this subject-that we are astonished when
men come here and tell us this is simply
question Of policy? | do believe we are to-
day sitting in judgment on the question wheth-
er the Old School Presbyterian Church is to
live or die. Here the venerable speaker was
almost overcome by his emotions. and nearly
the entire Assembly was in tears If you
unite, the Old School Church will be no more.
These are my solemn convictions. Some say
that if three-fourths of our Presbyteries say so,
we must bow to their decision. |, however,
cherish the confident hope that this will never
be-that that number Of our Presbyteres will
never say that doctrines condemned by this
Assembly shall be tolerated in the Presbyte-
rian Church.
When the vote was taken on Friday, May
29th, it resulted, as mentioned last week, in
the adoption of the lst article, by 1S5 to II,
and the next morning, the adoption of the
whole report by lS7 to &c.
On Monday morning the following paper Of
fered by DIR. Monfort was adopted, unanimous
ly we believe, and a telegram embodying it
sent to the New School Assembly.
"The General Assembly, in session at Al
bany May 80, 1868, has passed, without
amendment, by 1877 yeas to SO nays, lone ex
cused, the Report of the Joint Committee on
Reunion, with the following supplementary
papers: a.,
While the Assembly has approved Of the
Report of the Joint Committee on Reunion,
it expresses its preference for change in the
first item in the Basis, leaving out the follow
ing words, viz 1t being understood that the
Confession is received in its proper historical
that is, the Calvinistic or Reformed sense;
l. LII. Il. bnIc,