The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-05-17

drew oil much Of the foreign anu ulscOrd ant
element which had brought this separation
about. The supply of ministers from the theo-
logical schools whose Presbyterianism was I'M
questioned became greatly increased, and event
ually the New School" seminaries at New
York Auburn, and Cincinnati, and the "Old
School" seminaries at Princeton. Allegheny, and
Danville, were found sufficiently prosperous to
fill the vacant pulpts, without any draft being
made upon the Congregational seminaries at
Andover and New Haven. A significant indica-
tion of the harmonizing spirit which was begin
ming to prevail was the fact that the churches
belonging to either branch did not hesitate TO
call TO their ministrations the students of semi
naTies under the control of the opposite branch
The "Sew school" Makes n Formal Advance.
Under these circumstances when, after the
lapse Of Just quarter of n century, formal
tender towards reconciliation was made by the
''New School," il met with unexpected favor. 1t
came from Professor Henry B. Smith, of the
Union Theological Seminary at New York, who
% Moderator of the New school, Assembly of
1863, in the sermon which he preached at the
opening of the succeeding Assembly, took for
his theme Christian Union and Ecclesiastical
Reunion
Preliminary Negotiations.
This was the first step leading to the opening
0t n correspondence between JDe TWO Te0eral
Assemblies, and in 1866 when the two bodies
met at the same time at st. Louis, measures
were taken towards bringing about a reunion by
the appointment of joint committee of thirty
fifteen from each ''School"-to prepare and SUBJ
init basis for it, the overtures coming in this
instance as at the outset, from the New School"
branch. From that date forward the subject
was kept constantly before both branches of the
Church. and was discussed eagerly and earnestly
in the Presbytenes, Synods, and Assemblies, in
pamphlets, church journals, and reviews The
two branches were gradually adopting the same
standards. working on the same plan, aiming at
the same results and necessarily drawing nearer
and nearer together.
The report of the joint committee appointed
at st. Louis, in 1866 was presented in the fol-
lowing year to the "New School" Assembly at
Rochester by DIR. Adams, aud to the ''Old
School" Assembly at Cincinnati by DR.. Beatty.
and received hearty welcome. Some discus
sion was had over it in the latter, but both
bodies finally voted to send it down to the Pres
byteries for ratification, according to the under
stood law. The New School" Presbyterles
ratified the proposed basis; but, dissatisfaction
being manifested on the part of those of the
'Old School" with portion of the basis, it was
somewhat modified by the General Assembly of
1S6S-that of the New School" meeting in Har-
risburg, and that of the 'Old School" in Albany
in pursuance of the report of the joint COM
mittee, prepared at meeting held in this city
in March of that year. An extended discussion
over this report was held in both the Assemblies
of 1868, the basis being, however finally adopted
by both, despite objections which were raised
in each to some of its points. When this pro-
posed basis went down to the Presbyteries of
,ppn /, i'll;
opposition in many of those of the sold School"
branch, which voted to approve, not the report
of the Joint committee, but the basis as amended
by many unauthorized parties.
The "PIan of Reunion'' Finally Submitted.
On the Goth of May, 1869, the two Assemblies
met in New York, the sold School" in the Brick
Church. at the corner of Fifth avenue and
Thirty-ffth street, and the New School" in the
Church of the Covenant, at the corner of Park
Avenue and Thirty-fifth street. Still further
notifications were made in the basis by the
Joint committee, and the final report, as agreed
upon by it unanimously, was presented to the
'Old School" Assembly on the morning of May
81, by the Rev. George w. Musgrave, of this
city, At the evening session of the same day,
after long discussion, it was adopted the vote
standing 259 yeas TO nays, with 81 MEM
bers absent.
On the morning of the 27th likewise, the re-
port of a basis of reunion was presented in the
''Old School" Assembly, by the Rev. Willism
Adams d. D., of the Madison Square Church
New York, and, after several hours discussion
it was adopted by unanimous rising vote.
The "Plan of Reunion" thus adopted consisted
OF preamble and six articles, reading as fol-
lows
Relieving that the interests OF the Redeemers
Kingdom would be promoted by the healing OF Oul
divisions, and that the two bodies bearing the same
name. having the same constitution, and eacl
recognizing the other as SOUND ana Orthodox body
according to the principles OF the ne confession com
imperative reasons in maintaining separate and, II
some respects rival organizations, we are nov
clearly of the opinion that the reunion of those
bodies ought, soon as the necessary steps can bt
taken, TO be accomplished upon the basis hereinafte
/. The Presbyterian Churches in the United States
OF America namely, that whose General Assembl!
convened in the Bk C@9Te csa "a e and cy t5 Of S New
General Assembly met in the Church OF the Cove
nant in the said city on the same day shall be re
united as one Church, under the name and style o
the Presbyterian Church in the United State
OF America, possessing all the legal and cor
Church previous to the division in issS. ant
all the legal and corporate rights and power
which the separate churches now possess.
2. The reunion shall be efected ON the d0ctfina
and ecclesiastical basis OF our common standards
the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments shal
be acknowledged to be the inspired Word OF God
and the only infalibe rule Of faith and practice tn
Confession OF Faith shall continue TO be sincere
received and adopted as containing the system o
doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures and tn
government and discipline OF the Presbyterian
Church in the United states shall be approves
ss containing the principles and rules OF on
s. zach of the said Assemblies shall submit tn
foregoing basis 10 IT'S Presbyteries, which shall D
required to meet on or before the 18th day OF OctC
ber 1862 to express their approval or disapproya
the same by categorical answer 10 the Iono"ih
auestiOns:-