The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-10-20
ACCUSATIONS AGAINST THE SOUTH
ERN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

As these accusations are numerous and Of very
grave character, they necessarily constitute i'm
mense obstacle to any organic union, and it is pro
per to notice them in the discussion we have un
dertaken. This article will be confined to a single
point. In our General Assembly of 1864, there is
passage in the Narrative of the State of Religion
which has been made the ground of weighty accu-
sation. 1t is as follows:
'The reports of all the Presbyteries indicate an
increasing interest in the spiritual welfare Of our
colored population The long-continued agitations
of our aGversaries have wrought within us deeper
conviction of the divine appointment of domestic
servitude, and have led to clearer comprehension
of the duties we owe to the African race. We
hesitate not to affirm that it is the peculiar mission
of the Southern Church to conserve the Institution
of slavery, and to make it blessing both to master
and slave.
ave could not, if we would, yield up these four
millions of immortal beings to the dictates of ia
naticism and to the menaces OF military power
We distinctly recognize the inscrutable Providence
which brought this benighted people into our
midst, and we shall feel that we have not dis
charged our solemn trust until we have used every
effort to bring them under the saving influences Of
the Gospel of Christ.
On this action the following remarks are to be
made:
l. The time and circumstances under which it
was taken were peculiar. 1t was not only at the
close of the meeting of the Assembly, in May,
1864, but at a time when the community was much
agtated under the report of the terrific contest be
tween the Rappahaunock and James Rivers and
elsewhere, when many of the members from Va,
thought it doubtful whether they could reach
home. Very little attention therefore, was paid to
the reading of the Narrative.
?. The meaning attributed to it by Northern
people, was not the meaning attached to it by its
author and the Committee reporting it.
All this and much more was fully and ably pre-
sented in the letter of the Rev. DR.. NJ. D. Hoge,
published in the PHILADELPHIA Presbyterian in Au.
gust, 1865.
In the Pastoral Letter from the General Assem-
bly, met in Macon, Ga. Dec. 1865, it says, in re-
gard to the address" adopted by our General
Assembly in 1861, and with special reference to
what is said concerning the subject of slavery as
follows: 1.-The Address of our General Assembly
before referred to contains the only tul, unambig-
uos, and deliberate and authoritative exposition Of
our Uie,cS IN regard to diS matter"
When this Letter was reported in the Assembly
at Macon, the sentence just quoted brought out a
discussion, in which the Rev. John Miller, of Pc
tersburg, Va, Rev. DR.. Thomas Smythe, of
Charleston, S. c., and the writer of this article
participated. 1t was reported at the time in the
Central Presbyterian, and is now re published not
because of any part we had in it, but because it
has most important bearing upon the subject of
this article, as well as some things to be referred
to hereafter At the time in which it was first
published our Southern mails we're very imperfecty
established and many who would like to keep all
things of this kind for reference, will now see it
for the first time When the Letter had been read,
a motion was made for its adoption, The follow
ing discussion then occurred.
Reu. John Miller said, that he desired to express
to the author Of that paper his grateful feelings