New-York tribune., 1869-05-21
TIE NEW SCHOOL ASSEMBLY.
FIRST DAY-MOENISG sEssION-THE OPENING
STANDARDIZATION OF OFFICERS.

! FIRST DAY-MOBNISG sEssION-THE OPENING
sERMON-ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
The General Assembly of the New School
Presbyterian Church 10 tho United States assembled at
the Church OF tho Covenant Park Thirty
Gnst, yesterday morning at II o'clock Tho number OF
Commissioners IN attendance usually large being
out OF go; and the audience which listened 70 the
discourse with which the Moderator always opens the
session. was nearly sufficient TO M tho Church.
The sermon OF the retiring Moderator exceed
ngy weIarranged able aud liberal discussion Of the
general subject Of Reunion. The speaker tho Row. iona
than stearns, D. D., Of Newark n. j., IS member Of
the Joint Committee Reunion, and eminent both
pastor and acute thcologian. lie occupies tho pulpit
Of the old First Church Of Newark once famous for tho
cloqucuce Of Dr. Richards eI.President Griffin Of VIII
hams College, and other leading Presbyterian clergymen.
SERMON BY TIE MODERATOR
Dr. eaIns introduced his discourse by brief refer.
ence tho meeting OF that Assembly, May H. 1885, at
which be separation OF the Old and New Schools was
consummated, and 70 the ylcisstudcs OF tho Church
since; and said that the remembrance OF oil these called
up nvountariy 10 his mind these words OF Christ which
he made his text; That they all may DO one"-John
xvii 2j. Referring first 20 tho context 20 eI.
plain the circumstances Of tho utterance, no ro-
marked that tho thing asked for IN this prayer Of Christ
marks the ginning and the end Of the Chuchs progress
and then entered upon the discussion Of "Christan
Union" l. The nature OF this union shown 20 be
founded in the union between the Persons Of the undi
vided Trinity. In the union Of the Church and each
truly regenerate with God Christ by the poWarf
the Holy Spirit lies tho basis OF all truly Christian union
O. But not only is this individual union OF Christians 10
the Lord necessary 10 the realizing OF tho prayer but
also the inward union must obtain outward expression
and DO bodied forth In some visible and effective
form. Hero serious difficulties arise, owing to the
variety Of tastes, habits emperamens, nationalities
and degrees OF culture, beside natural imporfectons
How can these differences bo harmOnizedi In the first
uuOu does not necessarily rcOure perfect
uniformity either In the modes OF worship the methods
OF action "The kingdom OF God" says st. Paul, "is
not meat and drink but righteousness and peace and JOY
not 20 preclude Christian fellowship The or dsuso OF
aboOin prayer should not bound Christian charity Pres
bytey Conference ana Association DO nOlenake dHerent
religions Many matters OF this sort have no clear Cos
pei rule to determine them. We must learn to tolerate
cach Oher pecuarlt!eo Bc NAT our way is tho Dest
our ncghDOr does not see H. Why not let him try his
own, until experience or further knowledge manliesls his
efICrf Inc ChuIch is Destined 10 extend re over hl
nations and include within ITS pale men OF all races and
man ana Chlnaman, the Christian monarch ana
ihe, christian peasant TO DO governed III ai,
As well expect them all TO speak the language or
have the same features Nor Is 1t sure as things now
stand, that the differences which all marks OF
deficiency the one side the other David could not
hght III sauls arl0r, any moro than saul WIN Dayds
sing ana stone There Is great variety Of work needed,
ana great variety OF character to be nodded Nor,
again, does this unity require perfect ualtmty in all
the mlnut1 OF Christian doctrine Not that these OF no
moment TOT u blght divergence from the INC OF lIuth
may land the traveller In the deep marshes OF error and
what they for that 20 which they inevitably tend
HOWOOtSiOs and hDmOtOUsOS differ by only an Ota, but
they mako the difference between infinite Savior and
finite one and here we must make tho distinction be-
tween essentials and nOnessontals. But must not
smut our fclOwChrstans from our fellowship for errors
winch they reject because tre think their ayOwed opinions
Hdd logically To their adoption. Besides IL is not easy
Always To determine the exact force ana bearing OF other
ncs opinions. what some profess I'm words may lie quito
aHsehty among the elements OF thought aud feeling in
tHeIf inner man from what II does In ours Men have
appeared TO differ widely aud long ana angry contra
Nei's nave been held between Them aftor all the
FAR tt fltt
a'ls or the thought, than n the thought Itself such
cIAe'"ee7 arc iH6cp1rablo from human nature We look