The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-06-03
MAJORITY REPORT.

the city of New Yofk and also the proDo-
tsition from the United Assembly OF the
Northern Presbyterian Church, now sitting
In .Philadelphia, conveyed to us bya spe-
csal delegation, respectfully report
That the former Of these. documents is.
virtually superseded by the latter. because
the body by whom it was adopted has since
been merged into the United ASSEMBLY, !!
from which emanates new and fresh pro-
posal rejecting the views of the larger con-.
stttuency. To this proposition, then, g that
a. committee of five ministers and four!
elders be appointed by this Assembly tos
confer with similar committee Of their As.
sembiy in respect to opening friendly COR
respondenee between the Northern and
Southern Presbyterian Church "your CONF
mittee recommend the following answer to,
be returned .,g =. + .g@, 1 't.T
Whatever obstructions may exist in the
way Of cordial intercourse between the two:
bodies above named are entirely of apublicj
nature, and involve grave and fundamental
principles. The Southern Presbyterian
Church can confidently appeal to all the acts
and declarations of all their Assemblies that
no attitude of aggression or hostility has
been, or Is now, assumed by it towards the
Northern Church. And this General Assem-
bly,. distinctly avows (as it has always be-
lieyed and .dec1ared) that no grievances eX-
perienced by us, however real, would justify
us in acts Of aggression or spirit Of malice
or retaliation against any branch of Christ's
visible kingdom. We are prepared, there
fore, 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 un-
der any possible circumstances permit.
Under this view, the appointment of 4 COM
mittee of conference might seem wholly un-
necessary; but, in order to exhibit before
the Christian world the spirit Of conciliation
and kindness to the last degree, this Assem-
bly, agrees to appoint committee of con-
ference to meet a similar committee already
appointed by the Northern Assembly, with
instructions to the same that the difficulties
which lie i'll the way Of cordial correspond
ence between the two bodies must be dis.
tinctly met and removed, and which may
be comprehensively stated in the following
particulars. r- E,I =. t.,2s
1. Both the wings Of the iiew United As
senbiy, during their separate existence be-
| fore the fusion, did fatally complicate them
selves with The State i'll political utteranccs
deliberately pronounced year after year !;
and which, in our judgment, were sad
! betrayal of the cause and kingdom Of our
| common Lord and Head. We believe it to
| be solemnly incumbent upon the Northern
| Presbyterian Church, not with reference to
us, but before the Christian world and be-
fore OUR Divine Master and King, to purge
| itself of this error, and by public proclama-
ton of the truth to place the crown once
more upon the head Of Jesus Christ as the
alone King in Zion. In default Of which.
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 corrc-
spondence even, consent to blunt the edge
of this, our testimony, concerning the very
| nature and mission OF the Chulch as pure
| ly spiritual body among men.
2. The union now cOnSummated between
| the Old and New School Assemblies North
was accomplished by methods which, i'll our
Judgment, involve total surrender Of all
the great testimonies of the Church for the
| fundamental doctrines OF grace ut time
when the victory Of truth over error hung
| long in the balance. The United Assembly
| stands, Of necessity, upon an allowed latl.
| tude of Interpretation Of the standards, aiid
| must come at length to embrace nearly all
| shades Of doctrinaI belief. Of those falling
| testimonies we are now the sole surviving
heirs, which we must lift from the dust ana
bear to the generations after us. ltWould
| be serious compromise OF thls sacred trusI
to enter into public and official Fellowship
| with those repudiating these testimonies ;
| and to do this expressly upon the ground,
| as stated in the preamble to the overture
| before us, ssthat the terms Of rednion be-
| tween the two branches of the Presbyte-
| rian Church at the North, now happily con-
summated, present an auspicious opportun;;,,
| ty for the adjustment Of such relations
| TO found q correspondence prottably upon
/ this idea would be to endorse that which
we thoroughly disapproye.
3. Some Of the members Of our own body
| were but short time since violently and
unconstitutionally expelled from the com.
munion OF Our branch of the now United
Northern Assembly under; ecclesiastical
charges which, if true, render them utterly
infamous before the Church and the world.
1t is to the last degree unsatisfactory to con-
strue this offensive legislation obsolete by
the mere fusion Of that body with another,
or through the operation of faint declara-
tion which was not intended originally 10
! cover this case. This is no mere "rule " or
precedent" but solemn sentence of out
Iawry against what Is now an important and
constituent part of our own body. Every
principle of honor and of good faith COM
pels us to say that an unequivocal repudia-
tion Of that Interpretation of the law undar
which these men were condemned nltlst be
q condition precedent to any official CORE
EsDondence on our part.
| 4. It is well known That similar Injurious
Iaceusations were preferred against the
lwhole Southern Presbyterian Church, with
(which the ear of the Whole world has been
Titled. Extending, as these changes do, to
lberesy and blasphemy, they cannot be
Iauietfy ignored by IN indirection Of any
lsort. If true, we are not worthy of the
\" confidence, respect, Christian honor, and
Hove" which are rendered to us in this
toyerture. If untrue, "Cbristian homer
land love-" manliness, and truth, require
Ethemto be openly and squarcly withdrawn.
ESQ long rs they remain upon record they
I|are an impossible barrier to official inter-
I9course.f @as'1s.