The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-06-10

the United Church, as they have hitherto been
allowed in the separate churches.
The Assembly believes that by emitting
these clauses, the Basis will be more simple,
and more expressive of mutual confidence; and
the Permanent Clerk is directed TO telegraph
this proposed amendment to the Assembly at
Harrisburg; and if that Assembly shall concur
in the amendment, it shall become of effect as
the action of this Assembly The Assembly
also appoints the Rev. G. G. Beatty, d. D.,
the Rev. Vieroy D. Reed, D. D., and ruling
elders Robert Carter and Henry Day, com
mittee to proceed at once to Harrisburg, and
personally to lay this action before the other
Assembly. The committee has already left for
Harrisburg. Please acknowledge the receipt
of this.
THE ASSEMBLY AT HARRISBURG.
This leads us to visit Harrisburg again to
learn how the proposition was received. Here
we copy the graphic account given by the
american Presbyterian. The editor had just
written to his paper concerning the vote of the
Albany Assembly adopting the lst article:
"The vote by which it was approved, 1S5
to II, shows, probably, more diversity of sem
timent than the other articles will develop,
but as the minority includes some of the most
able and influential members of the body and
numbers more than one fourth of the dele
gates, it is altogether uncertain what the fate
of the measure in the Presbyteries will be-
We think they will kill it, though it is very
likely their action will show an advance upon
that of last year.
Then comes the following:
June l, 1868. .
"Since the above was written an event of
the most remarkable character bearing on this
subject has occurred A delegation from the
body at Albany has visited our body In this
place, to urge upon us such mobilization In
the terms as will secure the final adoption OF
the basis by their Presbyteries The history
of the case is this: The several terms OF the
proposed basis were adopted without change
in the face of much opposition and many at,
tempts at amendment, by majority finally OF
1876 to So. The opposition being formidable
and being mainly directed to the doctrinal ar
ticle, it was suggested to the friends OF Re
union at Albany, to inquire whether all the
explanatory and liberal toned phrases OF that
article might not be surrendered by our body,
and thus nearly, if not absolutely ensure Its
final passage by the necessary nu n3er OF the
Presbyteries in their own. The Assembly re,
solved to make the attempt, and telegraphed
their action to our body in dispatch, costing
within fraction of eighteen dollars, after
which delegation, consisting OF Dr. Y. Z:
Beatty Chairman, and DR.. V. ID. Reed and
Messrs. Robert Carter and Henry Day, were
commissioned to back up the telegram. Their
appearance on the floor of our body at about
five o'clock this afternoon, was most Interest
ing, even an extraordinary spectacle When
a hearing was given them, they expressed
themselves as not the persons desiring the al
teration, as reluctant or almost ashamed to
bring the request and only willing under the
urgency of the case. They had adopted the
article as it stood, and were prepared to go
into the campaign on that issue, but the alter
alton would make it easier and surer 1t was
avowed that we had the case in our own hands;
nay, even the destinies of the two branches OF
the Presbyterian Church were declared to be
under our control. twas protested that there
was no desire or purpose to question our char
acters or to abridge our liberties, any more
than their own, by this change. 1t was hoped,
however, that by it the suspicious OF the cap
tious would be allayed, and respect shown to
the fathers who, it was admitted, were OPP
posed to these clauses of the basis. All five of
the Seminary Professors in Albany had voted
against it. 1t was argued that the Confession
without comment was better, less liable to be
a bone Of contention, better understood by
the common people, and more likely to pro.
mote Presbyterian Union on broader scale.
The objections also arising from questions OF
property, involving 100000 at Princeton
alone, would be obviated and the danger OF
losing a portion of the Old School body in case
of reunion would be removed by the change.
But the arguments used had no weight, in
comparison with the fact and spirit Of the del
egation. The profound, even fearful earnest
ness of the speakers, the beseeching tone OF
the plea they made, the throwing themselves
upon the generosity of our Assembly, the pro
testations Of entire confidence in our body,
were as novel and heaven. wide from the old
tone of arrogance, so familiar up to recent
times, as was possible to conceive. When
they sat down, there was a pause. Prof. H.
B. Smith broke silence by proposing vote re-
considering the whole matter, if the required
two-thirds in such cases were present. Prot
Morris moved the following:
RESOLVED, "That committee of five be APP
pointed by the Moderator, to confer with the
committee in attendance from the Assembly in
session at Albany, and to recommend to this As
sembly such action as they deem suitable in the
case"
In answer to some searching questions ad-
dressed to the delegation by cautious members
on our floor, it appeared that the explanations
appended to the Joint Committee Report,
which gave it a more favorable aspect to New
School men 10ere not adopted by the Old School
Assembly, as they were by ours and that it
would probably be impossible to procure a re-
peal Of the Tenth Article. in return for the re-
peal of the clauses of the first article referred to
by the delegation. Dr. Nelson, with the same
frankness which has made the very air Of the
Assembly more wholesome, whenever he has
spoken, put the case to the delegation Of the
application OF minister holding the opinions
of Albert Barnes to specifically Old School
Presbytery, and asked pointedly whether the
same freedom would be accorded to New School
men in passing from one Presbytery to anoth-
er, as he was sure would be given to the Old
School. He received no answer Their was
now called and the necessary two-thirds not
being found present, or voting In favor OF re-
consideration, 1t appeared to be out of the
power of the house to touch the project of our
Old School brethren. The resolution of Prof
Morris above given was adopted and Com
mittee OF conference in courtesy was appoint
ed, consisting of Rev. Fl. B Smith, d. d., r.
w. Patterson, d. D., and Messrs. w. Il.
Dodge, and Edward Miller, who, in conjunc-
ton with the Old School delegation, may pro-
pose some action on the subject not violative
of order. They are in deliberation as we close
this letter.
P. Slate in the evening the Committee
reported the following which was adopted:
"This Assembly has heard with profound sat
sfaction contemporaries with cordial fellowship,
the statementof the delegation from the General
Assembly at Albany about the plan of reunion.
In respect, however, to the proposition for a
change in article first, as our Assembly is on
the eve of adjournment, and greatly reduced in
numbers:
Resolyed, That we regret that no action can
now be had upon this subject, as it cannot ac-
cording to our rules, be reconsdered and amend