The New York herald., 1869-05-28

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S.ringency of rule In matters not essential
TO salvation has ever been the cause of dis
union in the Presbyterian Church. The Gen.
eral Assembly has always been noted for Its
determination to interfere In matters outside
of ecclesiastical jurisdiction, and from psalm
singing to human slavery great variety OF
major and minor questions have been the sub
jects Of difference. As the Church Is organ
lied exclusively on the principle OF repre-
sentative government, these questions are
carried into the congregations, and are dis
cussed with greater or less heat by the COM
municants, according to their personal pre-
dilections or prejudioes. From the time that
Calvin gained the control of politics in Geneva
by colonizing three hundred French Presby-
terian voters just before the city election, to
the present day these conflicts have charac-
terized that Church; and England and Scot
land have presented from time to time similar
discussions to those now Witnessed in this
country.
The points Of issue have always been ques-
tions of transitory interest and influence, and
their subsistence has generally given occasion
for conciliatory movements like those now
going on between the several divisions of the
Church represented In New York. Psalm
singing and the heterodoxy of DR.. Barnes
were among the causes of the division known
as the Old School and the New School; but
besides these other divisions have sprung up,
and the Reformed Dutch, the Reformed Pres
byterian, the United Presbyterian and the
Cumberland Presbyterian all take their turn at
orthodoxy. These divisions, however, were
finally overshadowed by the great question of
slavery, which split both the Old School and
the New School into Northern and Southern
organizations, and gave abundant scope for a
few years to the natural combativeness of
slavery has produced crisis in the Church,
and it must either find new subjects for dis
sent or submit to the general spirit for recon
c;liation and union which now pervades the
land.
Owing to the absence Of an aggressive
and partisan preaching and literature it is
asserted, In the midst of the General Assem-
blies now in session, that the spirit of Presby-
terianism has much diminished, its foreign
missions are in bad way, and its publications
are going to decay. According to the report
of the competent officer, If legacy Of sixty
eight thousand dollars had not oome In through
the providence Of God the Board Of Foreign
Missions would have been seriously embar-
rassed; and another complained that "Pres-
byterians would not take the Presbyterian
lMonthIy because it was dull reading to them."
With these convictions animating the leaders
it is evident something must b9 done. The
question Of reunion seems not to be popular
one among the rank and file, as is apparent by the
reported vote Of one hundred and forty-seven
presbyteries on this question. By that report
it is found that only five churches voted fof
unconditional and thirty-seven for conditional
reunion, while one hundred and one did not
want any reconciliation on the terms proposed
last year. In the Southern General Assem-
blies, now in session In Mobile, we find the
same spirit evinced. No practical form of
cooperation can be found between the two
Churches in their schemes for evangelizing the
pared to take any steps towards reconciliation.
But the Assemblies now In session in this city
feel the pressure of the general union move
ment that is spreading over the whole country,
and have reported unanimously in favor Of
reunion, and the force Of this movement car
ried the report through both Assemblies,
though in that Of the Old School the unyield-
ing, exacting, uncompromlsing spirit of the
Covenanter of old cropped out with consider
able vigor, and could hardly be restrained
The above confessions are remarkable, and
go far towards showing in what consists the
true life of our sectarianlsm. The vital dogmas
of religion afford no ground for this; there I
fore an outside and minor issue must be
found. Slavery was seized upon as a godsend
to give new life to the Church. II II were not
militant and aggressive II would be nothing.
Now that this has passed away under the
bosom of destruction something else must ill
its place. Temperance Is looked upon by
many as a holy duty, and may yet revive the
Churches. The question of woman's rights be-
longs to the same class Of social reforms with
slavery, but would not make 80 good fighting
ground. In the Old School.Assembly we find
squirting towards making the question of
infanticide areligious issue, and not a few who
incline to raise the ancient banner of Calvin
and preach crusade against what is called
''the aggressive growth" of the Roman Catholic
Church. But this course labors under the
difficulty that 1t cannot be made political
issue. To insure an active fight the new ques-
ton must be political as well as religious.
In all the discussions which agitate the two
General Assemblies and their respective
churches we fail TO find any recognition of the
great fact which is now developing among the
rolininna of the civilized world Hisforu nre-