Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-06-04
The PresbyteriaHs. Old and New
SchOOiS---The Plan Of Reunion.

tween the Old and New School PIesby-
terrain Churches, reported by the commit
tee of conference TO the two General AS
semblies sitting in New York, and adopted
on Thursday unanimously by the New
School body, and with only eight dissent
ing voices by the Old School body. This
is the most decisive step yet taken toward
consolidation. Tt will be seen that the
plan is to be submitted to the different
Presbyteries, and approval expressed by
the 18th of October next. DIR. Musgrave
said that the committee had been unani-
nous in their recon mendations as follows:
PLAN OF REUNION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
l. The Presbyterian Churches in the United
States Of America, namely, that whose General
Assembly convened in the Brick Church, in the
city OF New York. on the goth day of May. 1869,
and that whose General Assembly met i'll the
Church of the Covenant. in the said city, on the
the name and style of the Presbyterian Church
in the United States Of America, possessing all
the legal and corporate rights and powers per-
tanning to the church previous to the division IN
1898, and all the legal and corporate rights and
powers which the separate churches now pos
sess.
2. The reunion shall be effected on the docri
nal and ecclesiastical basis Of our common stan
dards the Scriptures Of the Old and New Tesla
ments shall be acknowledged to be the inspired
word of God, and the only infaliible rule or faith
tinue to be sincerely received and adopted. as
containing the system of doctrine taught In Holy
Scriptures and the government and discipline
of the Presbyterian Church in the United States
shall be approved as containing the principles
and rules OF our polity.
8. Each of said assemblies shall submit the
foregoing basis to it's presbyteries, which shall
be required TO meet On or before the 18th day OF
October, 1869, to express their approval or dis
approval OF the same, by categorical answer to
the following question:
n Unu no nv IlS
now claiming the name and rights OF the Presby-
tcrian Church in the United Hates Of America, on
the following basis, namely The reunion shall
ne effected on the dOctrinat and ecclesiastical
basis of our common standards; the Scriptures
OF the Old and New Testaments shall be acknOwl-
edged to be the inspired word of God, and the
only intalhbe rule OF faith and practice; the Con
fession of Faith shall continue to be sincerely
revered and adopted containing the system
OF doctrine taught i'll the Holy Sc iptures and
the government and discipline Of the Presby-
tcrian Church in the United States shall be ap-
proved al containing the principl and rule Of
our pOiity ?"
Each Presbyte1y shall. before the first day Of
November, 1869, forward to the stated clerk OF
the General Assembly with which it is connect
ed statement Of its vote on the said basis of re-
union.
4. The said General Assemblies now sitting
shall, after finishing their business, adj ourn to
meet i'll the city of Pittsbure, Pa, on the second
Wednesday Of November, 1869. At ii O'Clock A. NJ.
If The two General Assemblies shall then find
and declare that the above named basis of
union has been approved by two-thirds of the
Pr"shyteriea conuectcd with each branch of the
Church, then the same shall hc Of binding force,
and the two assemblies shall take action accord
ing!y.
). The said General Assemblies shall then and
there make provisions for the meeting OF the
General Assembly of the united Church on the
third Thursday of May, 1870. Tie mode1ators
side at the said Assembly Of 1870, until another
moderator is ch0aen. The moderator Of the As
senlhiy now ettlrf; at the Brick Church aforesaid
shsll, if present, put all votes and decide ques-
items OF order aud the moderator OF the ether
Assembly ehail, Il present, preach the opening
sermon and the stated clerks Of the present As
sembies shall act stated clel ks of the Assem-
bly, OF the united Church until stated clerk or
clerks shall have been chosen thereby and no COM
missi }ner shall h We right to vote or deliberate
III said Assembly until his name shall have been
enrolled by the said clerks, and his commission
examined and filed among the papers Of the As
eenbly.
6. Each Pre5byiery Of the separate churches
shall be e1tltiei TO the came represen tatiOn in
the Assembly OF the united church in 1870 it is
entitled to in the Assembly Will which it is now
connected.
CONCURRENT DECLARATIONS OF THE GENERAL AS
SEMBLIEs OF 1865.
|. All the ministers and churches embraced in
the two bodies should be admitted to the same
standing in the united body which they may have
held in their respective connections up TO the
z 1mperfecty organized churches aro couu-
-eod aud expected to become thoroughly Pres
byterian as early within the period Of five years
rs may be permitted BY the highest interests to
be consulted; and no other such churches shall
be hereafter received.
3. The boundaries OF he several Pres yteries
and SvnOds shOn!d be adjusted by the General
Assembly of the united church.
+. The official records OF tho t97u branches OF
the church for the period of separation should be
preserved and he'll as making up the one history
# al ,Iar,t l,io1a
does not stand approved by both the bodies
should be OF auy authority until re.estabIished
i'll the united body, except iii 50 far as such rule
or precedent may afec' tho rights OF property
founded thereon.
Tie corporate rights now held by the two
General Asst mbits. and by their boards and com.
liittots, should, as far aa possible, be consoli-
dated, and Applied Tor their several objects as
defined by law.
6. There shunl,t be ret OF committees or
boards for home and foreign missions and the
other religious enterprises OF the church. which
the chnrctes should DO encouraged to sustain,
though tree to cast their contributions into other
CHANNELS II they t!tsie6 to do
z. IA soon as Practicable after thC nniOn shall
have been effected, the General Assembly should
reconstruct and roneoidale the several perma-
LeIt committees and boards which now belong
to the two Assemblies, to represent as far
as possible, with impartialisy, the views and
" lsilt 81 tbs Two bodies constituting the united
church.
s. The publications Of the board of publication
AMI OF the publication committee should continue
to be issued at present leaving it to The board
of publication Of the unitod church TO revise
these issues and perfect catalogue for the unit
ed church SO to exclude invidious references
TO past controversies
3. In order to u uniform system OF ecclesiasti-
cal supervision, those theological seminaries
that are now under Assembly control may il
their board Of directors select be transferred
TO the watch and care OF one or more Of the ad- |
Jacent SynOds; and the other seminaries are ad- !
vlsed to introduce. as far may be, into their |
the principles OF Synodioal or AS
sembly supervision, in which they shall be |
ant tied to official recognition and approba- |
ton on this part OF the General Assembly.
10. 1t should be regarded as the duty of all u-
ministers and people in the united |
church to study the things which make for peace |
and to guard against all needless and offensive
references to the causes that have divided Us; |
and III order 10 avoid the revival OF Fast issues
by the continuance Of any usage in either branch
Of the church that has grown out of former I
conflicts, It is earnestly recommended to |
the lower judicatorles of the Church that they /
conform their practice in relation to all such |
usages, as far is consistent with their convic-
lions Of duty, to the general custom OF the |
Church prior to the controversies that resulted |
in the separation.
Tha: the counsels of infinite wisdom may guide |
our decisions, and the blessings of the Great J
Head OF the Church rest upon the result Of our |
efforts for reunion, it is earnestly recommended |
TO the churches thrOCsho both branches of the |
Presbyterian Church that they observe the second |
Sabbath in September, 1869. day of fervent |
md united prayer to almighty God that He would |
yrant INTO lis al 1.-The spIrit of cOunsel and