The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-05-26
Northern Presbyterian General AS.
scmbEy- Interesting Debate Concern.
fuS Rc-Enion with the Southcru


Northern Presbyterian General AS
sembLy- Interesting Debate Concern
fuS Rc-Enion with the Southeru
Church.
In the General Assembly of the Presby
tcrion Church North, now in session in New
York, the following debate took place last
Saturday. We copy from the Tribune:
An overture was reported from the Pres.
bytery of Philadelphia requesting the As
Scmhly 10 take measures TO opcn n CORES
pondcnce with the General Assembly of tb,
Presbyterian Church in the South, An.
other was presented from the Preshytcrv OF
Louisville, suggesting that steps be taken +,
haImonize ana unite with the Southern
Church. The PrcShytery Of Potomac also
overturned the Assembly to institute men
SurcS promotivc Of union with the Southern
Church. The Committee on Bills and over
lures. who had considered these papers. re
commended the Assembly to institute lnca.
surcS preparatory to correspondence with
that Assembly.
4 commissioner asked whether the South.
crn Assembly lad asked for any action q,
this kind, or iutimatcd that il would he ac.
ccptablc TO them: If they had not, thi,
Assembly might damage itself bv any pro.
CccdugS in that direction.
The Rev. Mr.. Carson. Of North Carolina.
said that the churches he represented in the
South were not prepared for this measure
The Rev. William .. Johnston. of Phila.
dclphia. said that he had conferred with
many of the southern brethren. and he re.
ioired that tho subject had been introduced,
and that the first movement had been made
in the PTeShytcry OF Philadelphia, and II,
felt sure that many in the South would re.
joicc if this action should be taken. TIL,
Southern Church agreed with this in its or
thodoXy. In this respect il had always
stood on high vantage ground. The speaker
hoped that no feeling or prejudice would be
allowed TO interfere with the right action on
this subject. We must defer somewhat to
the feelings of the southern brethren re.
spectin@ the deliverancCS Of this Assembly
during and since the war. We may review
them. They We're uttered in haste. and I'm.
der some pressure OF popular sentiment. \
wide field Of usefulness for this Church i
opened in the South. but it can only bC
made available by propitiating the Church
there, and, to do the good that should De
done. the Churches should be one. 4 wide
misrepresentation exists 1T the South us K
the extent to which the pulpit> Of the North
had been used against them during the war
Political preaching was not SO general n
they imagined. Were the real extent Of thi,
explained to the southern brethren it would
remove much misconccption, and smooth
the way for reconciliation and union. The
speaker hoped the recommendation Of the
committee would be adopted. and kindly
correspondence opened.
The Rev. A. A. i, Taylor, Of George
town, ID. c., 4 member Of the Potomac
PreSbytcry, was strongly in favor Of Il cor.
reSpondence by letter. He had met Will
many southern ministers who would rejoice
in Il union of the divided bodies. But there
were serious obstacles TO this end, and We
should proceed carefully. The proposed
union with the New School Church would
be serious, if not inSuperable, obstacle
That Church had been more outSpoken than
this: had rushed to the front in its oppoSi
ton TO the South. and had aroused grave
feeling against ii among that people. If tn,
desire 10 unite with the New School was ell
;crtaincd. this should be completed before
ury steps We're tNken to secure forma
union With the Church South. The one
project will Interfere with the other, anu
the Assembly must choose which they pre-
Ter. Another serious obstacle grows out O
the alienation produced by the action o.
This Assembly III past years. especially that
AZ pi;t>b!lrg in 1867. Were the Southern
Assembly approached or this subject, he
presumed they would answer that certain
actions Of this Assembly must be set right
before they could entertain propositions fol
correspondence and union. This course
will be necessary to promote good feeling
and without this there can be 10 union.
The Rev. Dr.. BlackwOod thought ant
hopcd that this conSummation was nearer
at hand than many supposed. He testified
70 the Christian courtesy and bearing OF tht
ministers in the South. He had ATTENDED
their last General Assembly ut Baltimore
ana throughout their whole sittings, whlcl
he had carefully noted, hot d "ord of hit
terncSs had dropped from their lips. H'
had attended many Assemblies III TINS coun
try. in Scotland. and in Canada, but nevel
saw one marked by greater decorum ant
piety. ,.,,,,
The Moderator stated there had been
priyate correspondence between the statc'
clerk OF the Assembly and that OF the soul
crn one. and that the stated clerk OF the lat
fer had said that the agitation OF thls qucS
ton now by the Assembly would compil
cate the peace of the southern churches.
The Rev. Mr.. Mcrkland stated rs the re
suit of numerous interviews with southern
brethren his convictions that unless the As
sembly rubs ont its past adverse acton yo'
need send no communications.
The subject was referred to special com
miltee. to be appointed by the Moderator.