The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1869-06-30

channels if they desire to do so.
IL. As soon as practicable after
the union shall have been effected, ;,
the General Assembly should re.
constructand consolidate the sever
al permanent committees or boards
which now belong to- the two As
semblies, so as TO represent, as far
as possible, with ilnpartiality, the
views and wishes Of the two bod
les constituting the united church.
8. The publications of the board
of publication and os the pnblica
ton committee should continue to
be issued as at present, leaving it
to the board of publication of the
united church to revise these is
sues and perfect a catalogue for the
united church, so as TO exclude In
vidious references to past contro-,
yersies. .,s re -, ....-,.
8. In order to a uniform system
of ecclesiastical supervision, those
theological seminaries that are now
under Assembly control may, If
their board Of directors SO elect,
be transferred to the watch and
care of one or more of the adjacent
Synods; and the other seminaries
are advised to introduce, as far as
may be, into their constitutions the
Synodical or Assembly supervi.
sion, in which case they shall be
entitled to an official recognition
aud appreciation on the part Of the
General Assembly. @.t ...'
10. 1t should be regarded as the
duty of all judicatories, 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 in order TO avoid the revival
of past issues by the continuance of
any usage in their branch of the
church that has grown out of form.
er conflicts, it is earnestly recon-
mended to the lower judicatories
of the church. that they conform
their practice in relation to all
such, usages, as far, as is consistent
with Their convictions of duty, to
the general custom of the chuyc ych
prior to the controversies that re-
suited in the separation. -. 40
That the counsels OF infinite wis
dom may guide our decisions, and
the blessings Of the Great Head of
the Church rest upon the result of
our efforts for reunion, it is
earnestly recommended to the
churches throughout both branches
of the Presbyterian Church that
they observe the second Sabbath
in September, 1859, as o dsy of
fervent and united prayer to AL
mighty God that He would grant
unto us all "the spirit of council
and might, the spirit Of knowledge
and fear of the Lord" and in the
new relations now contemplated
enable us to keep the unity of
the spirit in the bonds of peace"
Commenting on this matter, the
Baltimore Sun saws: .- ea' . p.
- "In the debatein the old School
A ssembly upon the acceptance Of
the plan, DR.. Skinner; who oppos-
ed it, desired to be informed, in
the event of vote Of the Presby.
teries in favor of the plan, what
power the Assembly had to contin-
ne its legal existence or dissolve
it2 If the two Assemblies were
united, and not one merged in the
other, where were they to get q le-
gal title to their propertya Judge
Kennedy answered DR.. Skinner
on this practical point, and, from
the result of the vote, it would
seem to the satisfaction of the as
sembly. DR.. Laurie opposed the
plan, on the ground that there was
still much disagreement on doctrin.
al points. In the New School,
whore the plan Of union seems to
have been universally popular, it
was advocated by leading speak
ers as desirable for the enlargement
of charity and Christian liberality.
which tolerates different views and
feelings on religious matters. 1t
will be seen that thio plan has yet
to undergo the discussion of the
yarions Presbyteries of the two
Assemblies, who are to express
their approval or disapro, al before
the 18th Of October next, and If
approved of by three-fonrths of.
each, the two Assemblies. meeting
in Pittsburg in November next,
shall 30 declare, and take action
for formal reunion. The almost
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