The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-04-29
FoR THE CErSRAL PRrsBrrER1As.
Presbyterian Reunion. No. TX.

The Presbyterian Church has always been
distinguished among Christian denominations
for her strict and jealous adherence to theo-
logical truth. The hiding place of her power
is in the pulpit A Presbyterian minister,
worthy Of the name, is one who is liable by
sound doctrine both to exhOrt and to convince
the gain-sayers. This has been our glory and
our strength. The very terms of reproach
which unbelievers, who do not discriminate be-
tween bigotry and the love of truth, have been
accustomed to cast upon US, are tlnged with
confessions of our intellectual integrity and of
the moral power we exert by our fidelity to our
creed. We may be called stern, and stiff, and
blue,-preacherS of hard doctrine, and stick
lers for opinions which are offensive TO the
popular mind-all which in effect was affirmed
of Christ and his apostles-but no one ever yet
accused our Church of the gross inconsistency
of having "a CalviuiStie creed, an Arminian
ministry, and Popish liturgy"
These observations explain the chief ground
of our doubts in regard to the desirableness
and practicabihty Of reunion between the Old
and New School bodies. Aside from the spe-
eifc difficulties in the wayof its eonsummation,
we object 10 the whole movement, because,
under it's present aspect, IL involves a broad
church indifferentism as to doctrine, which
neither the history nor the genius of the Pres
byterian Church can endure. The truth of this
position is obvious in the origin OF the move
ment, in the favorite arguments of Its advo-
Gates, in the measures employed to urge it for
ward, in the conditions which are recognized
On all sides as indispensable to its success.
Up to the commencement of the late civil
war no such reunion had ever been seriously
proposed DIR. Van Rensselaer, in his eenten-
NAL discourse before the General Assembly of
1858 demonstrated, to the satisfaction OF his
audience, that organic reunion was, at that
time, neither desirable nor possible; and that
it never could take place, so long as the New
School body retainedits peculiar character and
views. This discourse, revised by the author,
was published by our Board, with high COM
mendation, only seven years ago. There can
be no doubt that it expressed, at the time of
Its publication, the almost universal opinion OF
Old School men. Now, what has produced
the sudden and marvellous change which has
come over our Church in reference to the sub
ject? What has transformed the very men,
who, six years ago, would have secuted the
proposal, into the ardent advocates of reunion,
and made some of those whose past record Is
the most explicit against it, the most impa-
tient and intolerant towards all who now op-
pose the scheme? Has there been are-diseus-
sion and readjustment of our theological
differences? Have either the Old or the New
School renouneed the views for which they
contended thirty years, and confessed that they
were wrong in the course they have pursued to-
wards the other branch? By no MEANS
Both parties profess to stand, theOlogicaly,
Just where they have always stood. Neither
of them has made, nor is willing to make, the
least confession of error; and every attempt
at fair and candid discussion reveals and con-
firms the existence of broad theological differ
ences between them. But, says DR.. Henry
B. Smith,-whO Is a competent witness, and
one whose testimony is established by what
everybody ykuOws,-'The progress of the war
yes, these are the very words, and this is the
literal truth-'the progress Of the lCdr drew
our Churches together. The Ole School be-
came as a whole, as loyal, and as Outspoken on
the subject Of slavery, as the New School
Their extreme border State men were driven
to the wall. Matters advanced so rapidly that
in 1866 large and able committees were ap-
pointed to consider the terms Of reunion. -
This is the whole story briefly and frankly told.
The real origin Of the movement was not theO-
logical agreement, but political sympathy
We do not deny that religious sympathy and
Christian emotion have been largely developed
in the progress of the negotiation. But we
agree with Dr. Smith, that its real origin, its
impeling motive, its underlying strength, are
to be sought for in the feelings and views ex-
cited by "the progress Of the war" These
views and feelings are continually cropping out
like the projecting points Of coal bed through
a thin covering of soil. Take a single speci-
men from a speech reported in the proceedings
of the Philadelphia Convention. After telling
the Convention what has been done by ''re-
bels" and by the fusing power of treason, the
eloquent speaker proceeded to say: ''We are
called upon as lovers Of Jesus Christ, as lovers
OF Presbyterianism, to elevate our banners,
and, under these circumstances, to unite all
those who love Christ and the stars and stripes.
How can we break these combined forces OF
the enemies of Christ and Of union, unless uni
ted ourselves? East Tennessee sends
cheering words to the friends Of union from
her Synod. She has given twenty thousand
white majority in favor of negro suffrage, and