The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-02
yUE UNION 0FEVAKGELICAL DENOuI
= ~ MA TTONS.

WE obronicled few days ago the completion OF
the preliminary arrangements for cordial and
complete reunion of the Old and New School
Presbyterian Churches. The feeling displayed
in New York in favor of the proposed basis of
reunion was so nearly unanimous that we pre-
sumo no serious opposition to its final ratifca-
tion will be made i'm the various presbyteries,
and after the energies of the main branches of
this wing of Professionalism are combined, it will
not be strange if they gradually attract within
their fold some of the organizations which, while
protesting substantially the same creed, differ
in respect to subordinate questions of church
government.
Another indication of the prevailing tendency
to promote unity among Protestant denomina-
tions is furnished by the proposition formally
presented for the consideration of the General
Synod of the Reformed Protestant Church, which
meets in this city, at the church at the corner of
Seventh and Spring Garden streets, to-day.
This organization was formerly known as the
Dutch Reformed Church, but within the last few
years it has wisely erased the word Dutch
from its title; for, as large proportion of its
members have substituted the prevailing Ian
guage of the country for the mother tongue of
their ancestors, the significance and propriety
of the former name have been destroyed At its
last session, at Hudson, N. Y, it gave prelmi-
nary sanction to circular which is now to be more
maturely considered here, that suggests a mode
for promoting mot organic but fraternal union"
of all evangelical denominations of the country
1t does not propose "any surrender of the dis
tinctive features and individual characteristics"
of the respective sects, nor any immediate change
of the prevailing systems of church government
but it contemplates the establishment of a Ma
tional Council, in which each evangelical denomi-
nation shall be represented by three ministers
and two laymen. While this council is to have
no positive authority, it is to exercise advisory
power, 'to secure concert of action for the
furtherance of the Gospel, by diminishing secta-
rian rivalries and opposition" and its chief duty
is to Consider and recommend such general
measures as may tend to give expression to the
proper and essential unity of all who love the
Lord Jesus Christ, whether in this or other
lands, and draw them closer together in aggres-
sive labor to bring the whole world into subjec-
ton to Christ"
This project would emanate with peculiar
propriety from the Reformed Protestant Church.
This denomination is sufficiently large and iniu-
ential to command the respect of other sects,
without being large enough to be an object OF
jealousy or antagonism and it has never adopted
an aggressive policy towards other Churches.
IL remains 10 De seen now tne prOpOsltlOn Will
be received and how effective the advice of a
General Council of the character indicated,
would be in calming the troubled waves
of sectarian controversy. But it
can scarcely be doubted that the cause of Chris
tianity might be promoted by securing among
all the evangelical denominations liberation as
sincere and cordial in matters Immediately con-
nected with religious movements, as the tolera-
ton which citizens enjoy in all their secular
relations through the force of law and public
opinion. Trivial dissensions and irritating con-
troyersies do far more harm than good. While
the Churches may not be prepared to endorse
the doctrine incorporated in Pope's famous
lines
''FOr modes OF faith let jealous bigots fight
He can't be wrong whose life is in the right"
The public are much more apt to be disgusted
than edited or improved by the wordy war of
controversial declaimers and the occasional
attempts to ostracize this or that man because he
shows too friendly a spirit towards denomina-
tiOns differing in non-essentials from the one
with which he is officially identified.
We understand that the Synod now in session
will probably consider general plan of Presby-
teran union, as well as the proposition for
National Council; and this movement would
also tend, in another direction, to promote
Christian unity, the proceedings at Mr.. Orr's
church this week will possess deep interest TO all
religious denominations.
THE PROSPECT IN SPAIN