The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-21
PRESBYTERIANISM.

The Projected Union Between the Old and New
School Misunderstanding of the Two Gene-
raj Assemblies-Thc Basis of Reunion.
There are now in session in New York the General
Assemblies of the Old and New School branches of
the Presbyterian Church. 1t is supposed that this
simultaneous meeting will result in the reunion of
both branches 1t was in the year 1856 that the two
General Assemblies met by accident in the same
place. Although il became evident during those ten
days that organic reunion could not then even be
initiated, yet much doubtless accomplished
towards fraternal interchange of feeling by the ac
quaintances which sprang up in consequence of the
nearness of the two to each other BY singular
Providence both the Assemblies that met in 1865
appointed ST. Louis for the place OF meeting in 1866,
wholly without design or knowledge. Indeed it was
greatly feared when the coincidence became known,
that the hosptalities of St Louis citizens would be
taxed beyond their powers. But the Assemblies
met; the Old School on Fifth street and the New
School on Lucas place. a distance apart not much
greater than that between the Brick Church and the
Church of the Covenantn New York The coincidence
was accepted as provdentia Overtures OF peace
sent from the New to the Old; and Joint committee
of fifteen from each Assembly-thirty in all-was
actually appointed to draft basis of organic reunion
during the year 1861 to be reported at the ensuing
The Basis of Reunion.
The report of this presented by DIR Beatty
before the Old School at Cincinnati and Dr. Adams
before the New School at Rochester, and received
with the heartiest welcome. Some discussion was
had over 1t in the former, but both bodies finally
voted to send it down to the presbyteres for ratf-
cation according to the understood law After great
discussion in conventions of both schools, the follow
ing articles of the basis agreed upon and went
down to the presbyeres for action during the pre-
| sent year,
l. The reunion shall be effected the docrinAl and
tures Of the ud and New Testaments shall be ScRoow
ledged to be the inspired Word of God and the only na
shall continue to be sincerely received and adopted
Scriptures being understood that this Confession
Geiyed in its proper is the C9ynistc or
methods OF viewing stating, explaining and illustrating
integrity the Reformed Caynstic system are to be
freely allowed in the United Church, they have hitherto
been allowed in the separate churches; and the govern
and discipline of the Presbyterian Church the
g. All the ministers and churches, embraced the two
united body which they may hold their respective con-
ieoty organized churches shall be oounseod and ex
the period Of five years as is permitted by the highest in
teress be consulted and other such churches shall
The boundaries Of the Presbyteres and synods
shall be adjudged by the OF the United
The official records Of the tive branches Of the Church
making the history of the Church, and rule
oes @ bs SuRo in the the
e on so r f &
8. The corporate rights now held by the two General
far practicable be consolidated and applied for their
There shah be one set Of Committees or Boards for
Home and Foreign Missions and the other religious
eouraged to sustain though free to cast their eOntrbu
effected the General Assembly shall reconstruct CON
which belong to the two assemblies in SUCH
|
tue and wishes of the two bodies constituting the
s. The publications of the Board of Publication and of
Publication Committee shall continue to be issued
at present leaving it to the Board of Publication of the
logue for the joint Church to exclude nydious
3 In order TO uniform system of ecclesiastical super
vision, those Theological Semnaries that under
Assembly control may il their Boards of Directors
the adjacent Synods and the other Seminares ad
ysed to introduce as far as may be- into their consitu
in which they shall be entitled to official
cognon and appreciation ON the part of the General As
TO- il agreed that the Presbyteries possess the right
Pre6yteries but each Presbytey shall be Lett free to- d
| eide for itself when it shall exercise the right.
res minister's and people in the united Church study
the things which make for peace and TO guard against all
divided and in order to avoid the revival of issues
by the continuance of any usage in either branch of the
earnestly recommended to the lower judcaores OF the
Church. that they conform their practice in relation to all
such as far as consistent with their convictions
of duty to the general custom of the Church prior to the
CONTROVERSIES that resulted in separation.
~ The terms of the Reunion if they approved by
the General Assemblies of 1863 shall be overturned TO the
ing force if they ratified by threeourth of the Pres
byteres connected with each branch of the Church within
after they shall have been submitted to them for
B II the two General Assemblies of 1869 shall find that
the plan of Reunion has been ratified by the requisite
oncsion of ali their business be- dissolved by their re-
spectiye Moderators in the nanner and form following
viz: Each Moderator shall address the Assembly over
gated by the Church and in conformity with the
plan of union adopted by the two Presbyterian Churches
and require General Assembly, chosen in the
ner by all the Presbytees in connection with this body
Of May A. b. $50 and DO hereby declare and proclaim
rghtfu General Assembly Of the Presbyterian Church in
the United States Of America now, by the grace Of God
] happily united"