New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-22
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
THE PRESBYTERIAN REUNION
PASTORAL LETTER.
EdiLOr OF The TribNne.


THE BASIS.
Tn, General Assemblies of both Branches of NE Presbye
riGn Church IN me United states Of Amered' 70 me
PresbVter1es under heir care:
RRtovrp BRETHREN: You are already informed OF the
successive measures which have been adopted during
the last three years. designed TO effect an organic union
Of the two great of the Presbyterian Church In
these United States. The several conferences ana
oyertures Of preceding Committees and Assem-
blies having accomplished much In the interest
OF mutual understanding and OF Christian conndehce,
the two General Assemblies, recently conyeneu IN
the city OF New-York, found themselves ready
very promptly, to agree, they have agreed with
signal unaniny, upon basis OF reunion. rms basis Is
simply the doctfna and ecclesiastical basis OF our stand
ards heretofore and now common to both branches
"the confession of faith and form OF OF tne
Presbyterian Church in the United States without note
or comment without restriction or qualification Eaeh
body equally with the other recognizes ana apiaes Dy
for those claiming TO be Presbyterans and as the true
SAFE CONSISTENT ana qnehaehgSaoie Soo have Coumn
pled our prayers and praises as one Assembly, ana We
have continued together at the table OF our common
Lord as zone body In Christi; ana we believe tnaI tne
spirit OF love and Of concord has been shed down upon us
Leading to tins gooG Tgs are pr99ponded in tho
hcensure and ordination Of minister's ana IN me ouS
ton Of ruling elders ana acc YS receive and
adopt the confession OF faith OF this church rs containing
and do YOU approve OF the government and discipline
OF the Presbyterian Church in these United states
other OF these great bodies. And as 70 each Oh ese
questions each Of these bodies responds TO the oner
not In the basis are appended Concurrent Declara
tons Of the General Assemblies OF 1902 Ihey P
certain mutual Understandings ia be carried Out IN goOd
faith though Of the nature OF contract 90 spo
plan and so constitutional win such unanous aap
ton by your representatives IN hoth AsscmDuts scceu
10 SOME 10 warrant an immediate eonsumaion. bu,
unanimous ms we're the General Assemblies, they were
t IN deny 10 any Presbytery the free expression
OF us opinion and suffrage even though ls may soe "
have been given already IN ADVANCE
PROMPT AND HARMONIOUS ACTION REQUIRED
Accordingly il was ordered that the plan OF reunion
above described should be transmitted TO you for your
formal and Official approval II only remains that you
take prompt and harmonious action upon H. such ms y
send mn TO the respective General Assemblies your Pres
byeril ratification, and then the separation when mas
lasted nearly half the century thus far, aud almost
whole generation, will be happily ended and We sba
surely grid ourselves for new stadium OF our career III
the work and service Of our Lord We beg you 10 notice
that, nasmuch the Affirmative N0tc OF W0lhius Vi
the Iresbytcres connected win each AsIpy i -
tive And action must be taken definitely on OF D,lote
.ie III Eay ", 49, o crTtt6cl 10 tie Stated Clerk
OF us Assembly, prior 10 November st Ana besides ~
order 10 secure transmission, the Commissioners should
hiring mn i'm hand 10 the adjourned meeting OF the Assem-
bly, IN Pittsburgh the 10th Of November dupHcale
ccrtf cate of Tie action OF their respective Prcsbytces
And now brethren 10 not the times dtmaud OF us such
organic consolidation. when the forces OF Aucnrlsl arc
every where organizing union against the loIu ana agst
his Amounted and when the rallyng call Tor an fcucu
Teal Council goes forth from Rome that would lam mus
ter her recruits from the Protestant ranks Tor Tue great
coming confetti our best answer to the Popes Encycl
cal viii he our reunion IN NoS tnner }. sssTn y" ~
communicated 10 the Papal conclaVe az lho Naucah'
In December We are loudly shlhhoutd 20 re-
uuife now, when euCh gigantic 'Hl,llli7''
are foot % subyer orr holy religion when Hs oI9'
of m,bclcf ana disbelief are banding thcs ioIee. 20
destroy the Christian ihih. 10 nr''A uown va
CHRISTIAN sabbath, 10 drnoialLe sn,',t,l' III
and 10 blessed Christianity from thc woI!I
wheI Romaisn Ra9hJ1n, a"r i ,i Vial m our M"
doctrine and worship; and when the great DeceY'r goes
tiug3 and rcoples 10 an the h0rI orgr, 81 Atheism
At such fearful crisis ought any cVhuSrCil energy 10
gct il n not wocful mistake Co turn our gun, against
hattilOus Of our own army, Who como 10 JON on laA
upor "the communion OF saints" stc Chhp.
2i) And II there should be any dissent from r. tno
sent ltivcs, then is ~ not the true Ircsbytcrinn
locally cd 5aat minority mna ali ,0" c sil char
10 the Prcshyteral majority" following offer
with one may edIfy auothcr"-Rom. xiv: 10. Aud now,
beloved brethren. let Il, not boast our'eycs a. by mo
force of such compact our great work couid ne
achieved Else. like jacob his Fucccss with the VTcst
ling Angel the sinew OF thc thigh VIII be suInnA ana we
shall be sent hating on our way Gen AAA - ~ ~
Nor the other hand let any one i9'.r o."
mlschievousy placed Is 20 sct on hfe the
standing corn, aud vineyards ana olive, tNat
and then remember that greater than Faith aud
Hope u Charity. Cor. N 49, 10 cAetl,c an inter-
pcty pastors and people and to devise AVID execute
liberal things for Christ ana us ChgICh-'he'e III. TIC
| urgent demands Of this Jnbiant occasion
TIE WORK TO 81 PERFORMED.
Aud finally dear brethren, for tins great. united re-
united Presbyterian Church In these United stated s
opening her TO receive other members OF the same
with US" what stupCudOus work is set forth which we
may enter upon aud achieve! Our own land pleading
for our united and aggressive action. Moral elr-
mefts good and bad, are seeking their Hihnlles.
TpryangrlIzed masses, in tecming cities
and on wide frontiers, are retaliang upon our
neg OF them, by claiming license under thc Lah' OF
liberty, and threatening our free institutions. Mean
while the ends OF the earth nIrvcously brought TO-
Reter, rs u IN eager wag 10 see the '9Fallo o "i
God. And AS II TcbUke the slOWuc-s of our Foreign
Missionary work. the dnatfOus populations Of Asia arc
hrongns upon our Pacific coast not hlsh tne inr
MS Church, 10 move ~ soma phaauN upon te
for, Is and weaken dcfcusos by working apari ANd
shall not this Church. TO whom God has committed, as
anew at this loving upuls To disseminate tins truth IN
all ands and languages! In such Gay OF ms power;
g tr,gbt the Ior, offering 10 the work Of Tie
tabernacle OF the and women, rs many
as were wnghcarcd, aud brought bracelet and ear
rings and rngs aud tablets all Jewels OF gold" t3xod.
xXRy: 2I ecj Wealth that has long withheld will
flow forth trust In new conservation, ana our
excellent Presbyterian system will De operated with
only merchant princes, but the masses OF our
membership touched by this spirit Of revival and hall
ing tins new I'm the annals Of our church, VIII bring
forward their munihcent thank offerings, to supply be
OF Boards and Committees 10 eudOw ana
ecu y Theological Seminare5; TO sustain our I'm.
poverished ministry and against all negative aud
false Christianity, to bear Aioit tue standards
of tho Presbyterian Church, iIs Confession and
Cacchisms, with It's free government ana
It's simple, soriptura worship for the salvation OF the
world. We have only, In conclusion To beg your obeiN
OF the second sabbath IN september recDmnehded
united prayer 10 Almighty God, that he would grant, unto
all the spirit OF COulrc ana lnt hplllt VI
edge aud OF the fear OF the LOrd and that he would
enable us, in the relations contemplated, 10
keen the unity OF the Spirit In the bond Of peace Pray
for the peace Of jerusalem They shall prosper mat love
thee" "NOW the God OF patience aud consolation
grant yOn be kemuded ono toward another accord
Ing CHRIST Jesus that yo may, with one mind aud one
mouth gOriiy God. the Father OF our Lord Jesus
Christ Wherefore receive We one another as Christ albO
received us, 10 tho glory OF GOd."-HOmans Ky b-H
Signed by the Joint Committee,
NJ ". Jacobs, r. II. FOWLER,
Moderator. o. g. Moderator. n. s.
G. W. MuSGRAYE WM. ADAMS
A. q. HALL J. r. SIEARES
LYMAN IT, ATWATER, H. W. PATTERSON.
WILLIS LORD. W. FISHER
II R. WILSON, JAS b. SHAW,