The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-10-20
For THE CENTRAL PREsBYTERIAN.
THE NEW SCHOOL REUNION AND THE
SOUTHERN CHURCH.

w nen Cne late CIVIL Wal peS"h' OhNio "0i0
many lovers of the cause of Christ who cher
ished the hope that the Presbyterian Church
would still be found true to the noble posi-
ton which she had long held, maintaining
sublime superiority to the mad passions BY
which the civil world was reached, knowing
no politics but those of that kingdom which
cannot be moved, and no parties but those
of the friends and the enemies of Christ
The Assembly of 1861 met in Philadelphia,
and the Spring resolutions were introduced.
They were sustained by all the furious pas
sions which ruled the hour, by kilograms
from the officials at Washington, by threats
of military violence, freely uttered in the
lobbies of the House, and by significant
efigy suspended from tree in front of the
place of sessions,-a figure in clerical garb
and bands, hanging by the neck, placarded
on its breast with skull and cross bones and
the inscription, "Death to clerical traitors
Still all was not lost, until the man who by
position, age, and extensive influence was
recognized as the proper leader of the oppo-
sition made portentous concession. owe
do not oppose the resolutions, because they
are untrue, or the Assembly incompetent to
take such action. Were they offered in the
Synod of New Jersey we would gladly vote
for them" The admission was fatal, and
the plea of expediency urged on the other
hand, was futile. 1t was in vain that feeble
voices were raised to deny the right of the
Assembly to judge of such questions. owe
came here," said one after another of the
most influential men in the Assembly, elders
and ministers, extremely doubtful as to the
competence of the Assembly to touch this
subject. But our doubts are removed by
the highest authority. DR.. Hodge admits
that the question is within the sphere of the
Assembly's jurisdiction. " 1t was in vain
that, at the last moment, when the discus
sion was ended, and the vote about to be
taken, DR.. Hodge rectifed his position, and
asserted that it was competent to the Church
to enforce the doctrine that the powers that
be are ordained of God; but that she had
no right to interpose and judge between con.
ficting powers. The resolutions were
passed, the Assembly dragged into the ra-
ging maelstrom of politics and civil war, and
the Church rent asunder.
The separation of the Southern Church
was no casual or unexpected result of the
decision on the Spring resolutions. Not only
was it pointed out by the minority in debate
and protest as the inevitable consequence,
but it was so recognized and accepted by
the majority, and by some of them with ex-
pectation and pleasure. cit is good way
to get rid of the South, and leave us untram-
meled" So said they freely, outside the
house.
The barriers thus swept away, and the en-
cumbrance of the South cast off, the Church
under the guidance of class of men thrown
up to the surface by the excitement of the
hour, became helpless tool and puppet of
party politicians, and her Assemblies the
avenues of political agitation, strife and bit
terness.
At length the war came to an end, and
with returning peace hope revived of har-
mony and reunion to the distracted and dl-
vided Church. But such hopes cherished
by some, were cause Of apprehension to 9TH
ers. Those who had been borne aloft to in
fuence and power by the agitation of the
storm. saw in such a consummation the in
evitable prospect of being left to sink again
out of sight, by the force of their own pro-
per gravity. A remedy must be found
The South must be excluded. To this end
two features of policy were devised. The
one was the resolutions of the Assembly OF
1865. The other, the reunion of the New
School. The Assembly of 1865, convened
at moment when the whole country was
convulsed and infuriate at the mad and
wicked deed of Booth and his confederates.
The moment of passion was seized to blot
the pages of the Assembly's records with a
minute which revolted the moral sense
of the Church, and remains to this day
a dead letter, but letter of record as part
of the supreme laws of the Church. Laterd
scripte manet. What is written, is written
The design of this action was apparent anc
expressed upon its face,-to prevent the re-
union of the Southern Church. Nothing
could have been more effectual to that end
1t was but few days after, that two emf
nent Southern ministers met on the streets
of Richmond "Brother A., said the one
"I have, since the surrender, been thinking
anxiously over the situation of our ecclesias
tical affairs, and have come to the concu
sion that the best thing we can do is to g
back to the old Church" 81 think, broth
er B." said A., "you had better wait unit
YOU see what the Assembly has just beer
doing in Pittsburgh. 1t will probably mod
ify your views on the subject" The expec
tation of A. was realized, and B. was rep
reseutative of many of the wisest and best
both in his original impulses, and his subse
quent record.
In the summer of that same year, two
ministerial brethren, one of the Synod ot
Philadelphia, and the other of that of New
Jersey, met casually in the cars. The state