The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-06-09
Tne Pre-byterian Church.
,,,rRTrRE FOR RE-UNIoS DECLINED BY THE
SOUTHERN ASSEMBLY.

After an interesting discussion in tn
General Assembly, at Louisville, las
week. the following report was adopte'
bv a vote of so to II. A minority re
port, signed by one member of the Com
mittee, was supported by the Rev. DIR
Lyon, of this State, and a few others
We are glad to see our churches, of tht
different denominations, thus determine
Il keep themselves aloof from entangline
alliances. There is field enough for eacf
to occupy, and work enough for each tt
do:
Committee on Foreign Correspondence
10 whom were referred the overture for
reunion from the Old School General As
sembiy, North, of 1869. at its sessions in the
CITY of New York and also the proposition
from the United Assembly OF the Northern
Presbyterian Church, now sitting in PhiIa-
dephia conveyed to us by special delega-
tioa. respectfully report:
That the former of these documents Is
virtually superseded by the latter; because
he body by whom it was adopted has since
been merged into the United Assembly.
from which emanates new and fresh pro-
r.osal rejecting the views of the larger con-
stituency- 70 this proposition, then, ..that
4 committee OF five ministers and four elders
~ appointed BY this Assembly to confer
With a similar committee of their Assembly
ia respect TO opening friendly corresDon-
dcuce between the Northern and Southern
Presbyterian ChuTch"-your committee re-
commend the following answer To be re-
turned
whatever distractions may exfs in the
gay of cordial Intercourse between the two
hojies abOye-named, are entirely of a pub
H. nature and involve grave and fundarnen-
raj principles. The Southern Presbyterian
Church can confidently appeal TO all the acts
aud declarations of all their Assemblies
that no attitude of aggression or ity
ia. been. or is now, assumed by il towards
the Northern Church. And this General
Assembly distinctly avows (as it has always
believed aud declared) that no grievances
experienced by Us, however real, would
iustify ~ in acts of aggression or a spirit of
malice or retaliation against any branch OF
Christ's visible kingdom. We are prepared.
therefore, in advance of all discussion, to
exercise towards the General Assembly
North and the churches represented therein
such amity as fidelity to our principles could |
nnler any possible circumstances permit. |
Under this view the appointment of Com
mittee of Conference might seem wholly |
Unnecessary; but In order to exhibit before |
tbe Christian world the spirit liberalization |
and kindness to the last degree, this Assem- |
hly agrees TO appoint "A Committee of Con- |
appointed by the Northern Assembly, with |
Instructions TO the same that the difficulties |
which lie in the way of cordial corrcSpOn- |
dence between the two bodies must be dis |
tinctly met and removed, aud which may
be comprehensively stated in the following
particulars:
|. Both the wings Of the new United As
sembly. during their separate existence
before the fusion, did fatally complicate
themselves with the State, in political utter
year; and which. III our Judgment, were
a sad betrayal of the cause and kingdom of
our common Lord and Head. We believe
il to be solennly incumbent upon the North
ern Presbyterian Church, not with refer
enee to us, but before the Christian world
and before our Divine Master and King, to
purge itself of this error, and by public proc
lamatiOn of the truth to place the crown
once more upon the head of Jesus Christ rs
the alone King in Zion. In default Ofwhich,
the Southern Presbyterian Church, which |
has already suffered much in maintaining
the independence and spirituality of the
Redeemer's kingdom upon earth, feels con-
strained to bear public testimony against
this detection of our late associates from the
truth. Nor can we, by official correspOn-
dence even' consent to blunt the edge of this
our testimony, concerning the very nature
and mission of the church rs purely spirit
nal body among men.
2. The union now cOnsummated between
the Old and New School Assemblies North
was accomplished by methods which, in our
Judgment. involve total surrender of all
The great testimonies of the church for the
fundamental doctrines of grace, at a time
when the victory of truth over error hung
long in the balance. The United Assembly
stands, of necessity, upon an allowed lati-
tude of Interpretation of the standards. and
must come at length to embrace nearly all
shades of doctrinal belief. OF those falling
testimonies we are now the sole surviving
heirs, which must lift from the dust and
bear to tine generations after us. 1t would
be a serious compromise of this sacred trust
to enter into public and official fellowship
with those repudiating these testimonies;
and 10 do this expressly Upon the ground,
as stated in the preamble to the Overture
before us, that the terms of reunion between
the two branches ofthe Presbyterian Church
at the North, now happily eonsummated,
present an suspicious opportunity for the
adjustment of such relations" To found a
profitably upon this idea
would be to indorse that which we thorough
" disapproye.
3. Some of the members of our own body
Were but short time since, violently and
expelled from the COM
nunion one of our branch of the now Uni
led Northern Assembly, under ecclesiastical
'harges which. if true, render them utterly
Infamous before the Church and the world.
It is 10 the last degree unsatisfactory to
,onstrue this offensive legislation obsolete
BY the mere fusion of that body with an
,ther; through the operation OF a faint dec
aratiOn which was not intended, originally,
o cover this case. This is no mere rule
,r precedent" but solemn sentence of
)utlawry against what is now an important
lnd constituent part of our own body. Ev-
Fry principle of honor and of good faith
,ompels us to say that an unequivocal re-
pudiation of that Interpretation of tire law
lnder which these men were condemned
must be condition precedent to any official
on our part. as
1. 1t is well known that similar injurious
accusations were preferred az ainst the whole
southern Presbyterian Church, with which
he ear of the whole world has been filled.
Extending, as these charges do, TO heresy
and blasphemy, they cannot be quietly ig-
lored by an indirection of any sort. If true,
we are not worthy of the coincidence, re-
'peet Christian honor and love" which are
rendered to us in this overture. If untrue,
christian honor and love- manliness and
ruth, require them to be openly and square
y withdrawn. So long as they remain up
A1t 81 llaT