The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-06-02


representation in the Assembly of the
united Church in 1870 as it is entitled
to it in the Assembly with which it is
now connected.
CONCURRENT DECLARATIONS OF THE GENE
| RAJ ASSEMBLIES OF 1869.
l. All the ministers and churches en-
braced in the two bodies should be ad-
mitted to the same standing in the united
body which they may have held in their
respective connections up to the corsum-
nation of the union.
2. Imperfectly organized churches are
counseled and expected to become tho
roughly Presbyterian as early within the
period of five years as may be permitted
by. the highest interests to be consultetl:
and no other such churches shall be
hereafter received
b. The boundaries OF the several Pres
byteries and Synods should be adjusted
by the General Assembly of the united
| church. a.
4. The official records of the two
branches of the church for the period of
separation should be preserved, and held
as making up the one history of the
church,; and no rule or precedent which
does not stand approved by both the
bodies should be of any authority until
re-established in the united body, except
In 80 far as such rule or precedent NAV
affect the rights of property founded
thereon.
B. The corporate rights now held by
the two General Assemblies and by their
boards and committees should, as far as
practicable, be consolidated, and ap-'
piled for their several objects, as defined
by law.
6. There should be one set of commit
tees or boards for home and foreign mis-
slons and the other religious enterprises
OF the church. which the churches should
be encouraged to sustain, though free to
cast their contributions into other chan.
nels if they desire to do so.
z. As soon as practicable after the
union shall have been effected, the Cen
eral Assembly should reconstruct and
consolidate the several permanent COM
mattees and boards which now belongito
the two Assemblies, so as to represent,
as far as possible, with impartiality, the
views and wishes of tho two bodies con
stituting the united ohuroh. = SE
8. The publications of the board of
publication and of the publication COM
mittee should continue to be issued as at
present, leaving it to the board of publ
cation Of the united church to revise
these issues and perfect catalogue for
the united church, so as to exclude in
vidlous references to past controversies.
8. In order to uniform system of &C.
clesiastical supervision, those theological
seminaries that are now under Assembly
control may, if their board of directors
so elect, be transferred to the watch and
care Of one or more OF the adjacent Sy-
mods; and the other seminaries are ad-
vlsed to introduce, as far as may be, into
their constitutions the principle of Sy-
nodical or Assembly supervision, in
which case they shall be entitled to an
official recognition and appreciation on
the part of the General Assembly.
10. 1t should be regarded as the duty
OF all judlcatories, ministers and people
in the united church to study the things
which make for peace, and to guard
against all needless and offensive refer
ences to the causes that have divided us;
and in order to avoid the revival of past
issues by the continuance of any usage
in either branch Of the church that has
grown ont of former conflicts, it is ear
nestly recommended to the lower iudica-
| tories of the church that they conform
| their practice in relation to all such
usages, as far as is consistent with their
convictions of duty, to the general Gus
tom of the church prior to the eontro-
versies that resulted in the separation
That the counsels OF infinite. wisdom,
may guide our decisions, and the bless
ing of the Great Head of the Church
rest upon the result of our efforts for re-
union, it is earnestly recommended to
the churches throughout both branches
OF the Presbyterian Church that they OBJ
serve the second Sabbath in September,
1869, as O day of fervent and united
prayer to Almighty God that He would
grant unto us all "the spirit of counsel
and might. the spirit OF knowledge and
of the fear of the Lord" and in the new
relations now contemplated enable us to
keep the unity of the spirit in the bonds
of peace" -.
Commenting on this matter, the Balti,
more Sun says: is,ssssi
In the debate in the Old Schooi' Ak
SemblY unon the acnantanca Of tha ,,ln,,