The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-09-23
NEWSPAPERS CANNOT SETTLE 1T.


return OF our Church to an organic union with
his He requests the publication of these
pieces in the Central Presbyterian.
1t gives us pleasure TO acknowledge the kind
and Christian spirit pervading his entire dis
euSSiOn of the subject in hand; and were 1t
thought best to give it TO the public through
these columns, it is hoped the good effect of
so excellent an example would be seen in the
character of the reply We should feel called
upon to make. But it is our deliberate judg
ment that discussion Of this question for the
end and in the form proposed, would not be
for edifcatiOn. The reasons are
l. That it would lead us through very
wide and protraeted debate Whilst in some
points dividing US, We agree with the views
expressed, in others we differ greatly, Our
hz9ther doe not seem to appreciate the extent
Of .hs dimculties in the way OF union be-
tween these two bodies If to himself and
others they are only as a little ditch to be
crossed any day by friendly plank, it is only
candid 10 declare that TO the most SOber-minded
among us they appear nothing less than
great guilt Whether it is one that is 6red-
whether it will ever be bridged in this world,
or when, or by whom, We presume not to say.
We only say the obstacles are now stupendOus,
and increasing rather than diminishing. For
example, what is it this brother and others
would have US to unite with? The writer of
the pieces referred to must be aware how
rapidly and surely events are now bringing his
Church and the New School together. They
have been for two years trying to see whether
they could not agree upon such explanations
of disputed points long separating them, as
would show they could harmonise. In this
they have utterly failed. The vote of the Old
School Presbyteries now about meeting, will
soon show a determination to go it blind.
They will vote with an overwhelming majority
for union; some upon the basis Of the As
sembly'S report some including as part of
said basis the Hall resolution; others excluding
it. To reconcile a minority, majority will
vote for a union upon the basis Of the stan
dards simply. To this even the Amerieaa
Presbyterian, with well feigned coyness, in
Inmates that the New School will assent. No
doubt of it, for it will be a complete triumph,
and under the circumstances preceding it, will
open sort of PandemOniacal Paradise where
cherished error may eat its forbidden fruit in
good credit.
One way or another this union may be re-
garded as a foregone conclusion. This viii
settle the QUESTION with us, if it was not set
tied before. Under no circumstances will our
Church link its destiny with such body. In
taking the New School the Old not only aug
ments its political hereSies and virus four fold,
but inevitably binds its hands from an effectual
dealing in future with the New Havenism,
&C., which has so largely pervaded the New
School body, and which has eonfeSsedly found
comfortable shelter everywhere among them,
or at least a refusal to expel it. In this de-
termination our brethren lately of the United
Synod are at one with us. We settled that
point when our happy union was effected. In
the doctrinal declaration so extensively adopt
ed on both sides, (by every one of their Pres
byteries,) though it was not found necessary
to make it the formal basis Of the union, their
rejection of that corrupt theology was deeiS-
i've, as we knew it would be. And are we
expected to yoke ourselves now with such
things? Never.
But our point at present is, that we do not
desire newspaper discussion leading US over
these and a dozen other subjects each fruitful
of almost endless debate. And this brings us
to another good reason for declining the offer
of our brother:
p That no amount of this kind of discus
sion could effect any substantial result. We
should, probably, be as wide apart at the end
as at the beginning, and at best our two opin-
ions would settle nothing. WedO not say that
a question of this kind is one which in no
shape or at no stage should come into the
newspapers. But we do hold that it is one
which preeminently and for any effectual re
suit, belongs to the judieatories of the Church;
and any editor taking upon himself the work
of a discussion with party on the other side,
understood to be preliminary to an effort at
formal and official negotiation, would be guilty,
especially in the web known circumstances be-
longing to the present case, Of piece Of pre-
sumption which would soon lead to process
teaching him lesson about his proper place. |
Now there is very plain course by which
this brother or any others whose hearts are |
set the same way, may reach and test the |
question he refers to. Our Church is, and has
been for nearly seven years, an organization as
entirely distinct and separate as any other in |
the land. If, then, DR. and others like |
minded, are persuaded that our reunion with |
them is a matter of vital importance, let them |
not heed the editors or any one else. Let |
them go straight to their own General Assem-
bly, and have definite propositions passed for
negotiation with our General Assembly, just !
as they have done in the case of the n. School. |
If their Assembly earnestly desire a union |
with US, they gan say so, and can take the |
proper steps to open the question. We have
nothing TO do in regard to an initiative, after |
what occurred in the Old School General As |
sembly of 1861, and since. The general atti-
tude Of our Church towards all other Chris
tians, and especially Presbyterian churches, |
was plainly announced by the General Assem-
bly, in Its address in 1861, and in its Pastoral
Letter In 1865. II any ecclesiastical body has
any thing to say in response to those declara-
tons, they will no doubt be respectfully heard
and answered. Our Assembly is the only pro-
per mOuth-pie for Us in such a case and if
properly called to speak, can doubtless tell the
world truly and wiSelr why she moves in one
way or refuses to move in another
If our brother, DR.. -, and others think
their Assembly have already taken the initia-
tive, by mvitiag as to come back, we can only
reply that if the matter were not too serious
our people would simply puff at such mode
of settling the question. As well and better