New-York tribune., 1869-05-21

I'm these respects universal agreement some
eager contrOvesias little disposed 10 accept the
distinction have referred to- But clearly exists ana
cidTs 10 gST " For as an Old PnTon divine las wen said III
there be no essential parts, Christianity IS hohnk or
that Is nothing to which nothing u esseI jul gG ~ fop
be none eXtraessential then there are 10 or
certainly there ia man that knows ana does every tnk
that belongs 10 the Christian religion" Ana u We Wag
for perfect agreement we must stand soated forever
for where men think, they VIII dBef ~ inolt tnIhh
them to do in the form and features OF their persons
Again, We must not insist too hastily ON shgt5tSSy &
Standing the existence Of distinct denominations, and,
indeed the differences already alluded to may necessl'
tate such separate organizations There Is eyll IN sec
tartan divisions but there greater OWLS and perhaps
in Gods providence some good may be resulting from
half centuries, since tho beginning OF the Protestant
Reformation has been passing through one OF Its great
secular changes. Rome, with all her corruphons hXed
upon her by her claims 10 iniaLbihy had established
over half Chrisendom an unprogresslye, IRON
do do What only light and love were competent
to effect The bolts had to be broken and the breaking
was OF necessity attended by great dsinegIa0h fl5e
thought taking the place OF control, lndydua minus
everywhere assuming to judge for every yP P
mental began to be freely examined. Doctrines poll
ties ceremonies modes of worship, sacramento had to
undergo revision some minds seized upon this portion
of the truth and that. Zach saw it from his
own point OF Wow OF course, there was large deyel
Opment OF differing aud contradictory opinions,
and though the great essentials OF the Gospel KNOWN
among US as the doctrines Of the Reformation were
adopted with remarkable unanmity and stated with re-
maTkabe precision some OF the points OF difference
serious to be abandoned to their fate even
for the sake OF external unity Hence the peculiar aspect
which Professionalism thus far has exhibited The eVl IS
manifest The good Is not manifest And yet the lat
Ter may, and We trust will, over6aance the former;
That divine wisdom whose prerogauye IL is 10 bring gOO1
out OF cyl, may by these very means DO cIsainG UP n
| establishing on nrmer basis parts OF uulh WhlCu
| might otherwise have been neglected; ~ is
| plain, however, that this can be effected only in
part. An enforced unity would be hke binding an ex'
plodng ma gaZine with hoops We have plain duty-tO
endeayor to effect such an agreement OF heart suoh
mutual understanding and sincere respect such sym
pathy and cooperation in respect to tho great principles
| held in common by ali the denominations as viii make
them effectively and yslbly one, notwithstanding thelr
OF the age toward which much has already been done
For this the Evangelical Alliance are working. We have
unity intelligent and freely chosen unity OF affection,
Of acknowledged Of final aims and spiritual inte
present need. But, further than this, an external
organization more or lcsa '"upact and universal,
idea OF the Church Such Ideal gave rse to the iron
she'll OF Romlsh authority which, cranping and Injurious
as vet shows the power OF this idea among the early
Christians. Whom all the world comes TO be actually con-
yertcd not only al the den9minaton that now e1iss WIZ
iinuo in1.oenIrpce b1t Christians of England and
America will have TO make common with those OF
France, Germany, Italy Austria Russia Switzerland ana
even of Asia and Africa aud consent 10 have their action
| regulated by some common law and perhaps common
administration. Probably this great hdvauc1
present be fully madoi ,ut there Is already n move
toward Ii q" ,le concentration OF many small divisions
aQud several Ccnters. 1t is preparatory sep that al
sethodsts should form one Methodist organization al
evangelical Protestant Epscopalans Protestant Epis
copal Church THIS suggests the particular question now
interesting Here in these two Assemblies Is TO be de-
desnies Of tho Presbyterian Church in these United
saS' Ssss perhaps 19 %Eoo s faufc 5 5
tory The present aspect OF a the world, & religious
! teral for brilliant and effective peroraon Roman.
ISM gathering force for new onset lnudcHty OF all
sorts and degrees pcryading almost an current tera-
tufe sclCutnC investigate often at yarance With
religion because the links ~ their natural harmony arc
uUdlscoyered and the social compacts and intimace5
which are Increasing all over the world all these having
been briefly skecEed. led TO the remark that this IA tho
high IN heavens. the flowing, the powmen
have gone forth aud are everywhere 1roakng up the
anew. And who shall sow 1t Tho enemy with
bis ares, the Lords servants with the finest Of tho
wheat That Is tho question: II the church does
not sow the seeds OF divine truth among all the dycrs
ties OF thought Iecih h"pi, anu Gus,ou' g,in ., our
country aud the world be sure the powers OF darkness
and below, Will avail themselves Of tho opportunity
Is this the time iur To be bagging about Little ncoles
of theory and speculation the business OF the cOistcr,
when the wants of the call 90 urgently FOR work. and
neglected. and full Of hope promptly and encrceti.
caly urged forWard| Dr. Stevens closed with aludug
Church and ~ tho present question VI reunion On this
say, no denomination Ia better adapted to produce
deep aud lasting rcsnlts II we were oaly united And
could candid man, looking and observing the ways
OF these two branches Of tho Presbyterian Church.
devise why they should stand apart claim to be
disug gushodt They have the Confession OF Faith
not word letter or point either In tho Confession,
properly TO called or the Catechsms that repeat and
oXpuuud u, which Is not exactly the same And
20 this they hayo both held fast during the
precisely Tho same form of Government Book of Dlsc
uo and Directory for worship the same order of exer
c7e lhe same methods OF procedure the same objects OF
Christian bencnconce, aud the same style and stamp OF
piety aud action. Aud they both claim and bear pre-
csely the Where In the whole history VI the
Church there exhibited such . spccacet two
bodies OF Christian men who could mud nothing tangible
nothing by which the eye or the ear Of pIsscr by would
be able 10 distinguish them. and yet unable TO 20
the doctrines .5Wcl not oil Jealous about thcmi
Why then have kept the Old Confession of Faithi
among who would exchange II FOR another system
allow ts proper integrity system Of doctrine TO be
liberty, both Of thought and expression" What liberty
Liberty TO subscribe ono thing, and believe another
Holy scripturesI None Of us would say
that, that DO We then sla6 require other or greater
words OF standards They require us TO
tupes md 70 receive them 81 the o1ly nf1bo rue 81
faith aud practice. PIclbycriausm has made provision
for cyocsh resort Co that fountain o truth 10 does
require 90 receive tho Confession OF Faith infa
be u does not TIC us up 10 those precise words ard
10 every proposition contained in it but only TO receive
it as containing according 70 It's true intent ana original
meaning tho system Of doctrines taught by the
Scriptures There is no dispute now between tho two
parties twhaoyer there may have been oncc IN regard
that matter True, II would Do hard to mud In the Con
fesslOn any other than pretty strong Calyinn. But
Caynsm Is not that iron thing which some have sup
posed None OF us take IL as 5uch None ot us preach
II SUCH We mean to have all reasonable liberty But
ia the union OF out OF IT, we mean TO maintain ahd teach
tho doctrines o the Confession why then need We stand
any longer parleying and suspecngi rms separation
world VIII never regard 10 otherwise than as family
quarrel tho most dlsreputabe OF quarrels. They will
say as thcy look On These Prchbyerans hro so quarrel
some that they cannot live with each other how then
can anybody else hopo TO live comfortably with themi
While wo stand apart we magnify our differences We
do II uncOnsciOusy. Wo impeled 10 do II In order to
Justify our separaencss And why need keep up
rivalry Need there be a New School and Ola school
Church I'm every yillagoi Why this waste OF means
aud OF men, as well AS OF Christian charitiesi little
caudor, little fOrbearance, little OF the spirit Of
cessiOn and concation. would enable those who have
long apart To DO united In tho most fraternAl
relations. IL Is unquestionable think that the great
body Of the members OF both the branches OF the Church
have strong aud ycarning desire for this cOnsum-
nation. Our laymen feel IL. practical mon
looking at the great practical results which
they see depending. Our young ministers feel 10,
convinced that the future has strong claim allow