The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-02-26
From the Philadelphia Presbyterian.
Presbyterian Reunion. No. II.

subject as visionary and utterly inadmisSlble
and abstractiy considered, We are constrained
to admit thar ia whatever mode it may be ac
complished, thorough revision is essential to
any feasible and successful plan Of reunion.
The authorized publication Of the two bodies,
to say nothing now of other books generally
recognized as theological standards on either
side, contain causes Of offence sufficient to in-
sure the dissolution OF any union which might
be formed between us, unless that union is ce-
mented with u distinct understanding that our
literature is to he expurgated. We think it is.
due TO both parties in negotiation, and espe-
ciaiIy to the New School, that this should be
conceded frankly ana promptly Or, if it can
not be conceded, the negotiations ought to be
broken off as kindly and as speedily as possible.
If Caesar wife ought 10 be above sus pcion,
body with whom the Old School Presbyterian
Church proposes to become one flesh, ought,
in the bridegroom estimation, at least 10 be
beyond reproach. Certainly We ought not 10
court new alliance with one whose integrity
we have mpeached, and from whom We have
sought 10 be loosed, without first being ready
either 20 blot out from our records the evidence
whereby We have IStiied her enforcement, or
| else to place over against it the clear and ac-
knowledged proof that she is thoroughly re.
formed.
| Our share in the proposed work of revision,
30 far as the books of the New School Publ
cation Committee are concerned, would be very
small and, however thoroughly it might be
| lone, would require Us to intiIct very ucon-
considerable loss upon them. For, aside from,
| a few doctrinal tracts and tractates, (enough
We should think TO make good sized octave
volume, but furnishing a muitum III pdrUo for
the ends contemplated in these articles, their
catalogue embraces nothing which properly be-
| longs to the category OF theology 1t is evil
dent that their energies for the past thirty
years have not been largely devoted to the pub
LEGATION Of books which, if the two bodies are
to be reunited, is, perhaps, a happy circum-
stance. But with us the case is very different
Their part Of the work would be more difficult
and at the same time more necessary to be
done. For our Board has built up great
monument of evangelical literature, embracing
more than thirteen hundred works, of which
probably fourth belong to the domain of the
ology. No candid man can deny that the lat
ter are, for the most part, Princetonian and
controversial books books either avowedly
intended to indicate and condemn the alleged
errors of our New School Sbrethren, or abun.
dainty stored with the rich treasure Of that an
clent theology, OF which we recognize Prince.
ton. Seminary as an able defender, though we
think il is honoring that school of the prophets
over much to call our theology after its name
We are free to confess that reunion unless
based upon official evidence of a thorough
change in the New School body, would render
all such books nugatory and impertnent. Be-
cause by such a reunion we shall admit, in the
strongest possible way, that they do not now
| tolerate nor sanction the opinions we have at
tnbuted to them, or else that We have been
mistaken and unjust to them in censuring such
! opinions as inconsistent with our doctrinal
standards In either case, Christian charity
land Courtcsy-a decent respect for those who
viii become an an organic part of ourselves
nay, common justice to those against whom,
| by the very act of re union we will acknowledge
that we have brought an evil report without
sufficient reasons, will oblge us TO expunge
IRON our catalogue, both theirs and ours, all
books in which theological error is directly or
Indirectly imputed to them. Heuceforth we
could publish and circulate, by authority of
| the Church, only such works as would be gen.
| oil ha -
body.
Would it not be well, therefore, to inquire,
with some degree of particularly, how far
this work of revision would be likely to reach?
Does it not behoove us to ascertain, before we
go step further in the negotiations, what
works, or, at least, what kind of works the
sharp knife of the vinedressers would be
obliged to lop off, when they come to purge
this fruitful vine Of ours, in order to train it
up on the re union trellis? Manifestly all
books written in the heat of the controversy,
with the avowed design of impeaching the or
thodoxy Of the New School, would have to
be taken away" Here, for example. is odd
and New Theology, or an exhibition of these
differences with regard to Scripture doctrine
y hich have recently agitated, and now divide
the Presbyterian Church. By James Wood,
D. D." OF this book the descriptive cata.
logue OF our Board holds the following lam
guage: TO those who would know the true
grounds on which the Presbyterian Church
was recently divided, this volume is essential.
1t embraces in condensed form the conclusive
evidence of the actual existence of the errors
which produced this schism. But though it
be esteemed essential to knowledge of the
true grounds OF the division, yet Jecause ii
coatajaS the dLieged cOnchsire Evidence Of the
ac',tul G-55Itence Cf errors az Me NeC School
body, 1t must be cast forth as a branch and
wihered. To continue the publication of such
book by the re united Church would be an
act of qualification, if not an act of selfde.
structioD. The New School brethren would
not consent to it, and after inviting them to
unite with Us, We certainly would not require
them TO consent TO it, Doubtless, as an ac
acknowledgement Of our courtesy in banishine
such works as Woods Old and New Tbeol.
ogy" to the place prepared for all bad books,
our New School brethren would consent to
suppress their Tract No I, entitled "A brief
view of Presbyterian History and Doctrine"
in which what We call conclusive evidence"
is summarily dismissed "as the old ISLANDERS
against the dOctrinal views of our denomina-
ton
But the work of expurgation could not stop
here. Consistency and proper regard for
future peace would render it necessary to go
much further The exscinding knife must be
,,,,fiad IN works of a more recent and b;,ber