The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-07-05

/ JOTUleU ITOt6SJUHt DuJCN ONuTcH M AfolW
america. Before proceeding to make that
statement, permit me to indulge in brief
personal reminiscence connected with one of
the churches which this Assembly repre-
sents. In the year 1858, having spent few
weeks in the Island of Cuba, stranger in
strange land, not having seen human face,
or any other kind of face that ever knew
or had seen before, returned to my native
country, and on bright and beautiful Sab
bath morning, landed in the harbor of
Charleston. One of the first things | did
after providing for the necessities of the
physical man was to find church, a Pro-
testant Christian Church, in which l might
for the first time for weeks worship God ac-
cording to the dictates of my conscience
In the providence of God, found my way
into the church of which the Rev. Mr.. Dana
was pastor and sat down among the worship
pers. When the exercises commenced he
gave out the hymn,
welcome, sweet day of rest
That saw the Lord arise;
Welcome to this reviving breast
And these rejoicing eyes,"
My eyes did rejoice That touched a
chord that responded; it was like the touch
of Moses rod; it unsealed the fountain, and
for few moments | could not see that min
lister distinctly. | saw him through mist
through the tears in which my eyes were
swimming. had this feeling, that should
Just like for once to take the whole congre-
CATION and the minister too in my arms, and
give them good hearty hug! Laughter
| have thought thousand times of the pleas
ure had that day sitting in that house, and
participating in those exercises as an un-
known worshipper. Well, sir, that is just
what is true of us always wherever the heart
finds its object to love, and the love can flow
out to that object. We become happy; he
who loves most enjoys most. Love is from
heaven; hate'is from hell The one comes
down from the great father of lights, the
igivel Of every good and perfect gift, the
other comes up from those dark regions of
the lost. l could not help thinking last
night as listened to your preacher when
he spoke about loving each other with all
our might-loving our husbands, and wives,
and children, friends, kindred and country
how we might love them all with all our
might. He compared it to the overflow of
the Nile, enriching that fertile valley of
Egypt. 1t made me think that this is just
the experience through which | have gone
here, and through which l went there, and
through which the people of God always go
when the heart finds its object, and the love
goes out to that object. Then in the soul
there is phenomenon like that in Old
Egypt where the springing flowers and yer.
dure chase the receding waters back to their
proper channels
came here to-day upon this mission of
love. Allow me to assure you, cir, that if
that story which is current in our Church in
regard to yourself is true, q do not know
whether it is true or not | can add some
thing to it. There is story current among
our ministers that the Rev. DR.. Pumer on
some occasion made the remark that the
ministera of the Dutch Church were in one
respect at least like Moses; they received
their theology in the clouds-of smoke
Laughter
THE Moderator-I never said it, sir,
Laughter.
DR.. T0dd-Whether you made that re-
mark or not, can assure you of this that
the love which | come charged to bear to-
day, and which l feel in my heart, as God
knows, comes from a region beyond the
clouds-from Him whose definition is love,
and who $50 loved the world that he gave
His only begotten Son that whosoever be.
lieveth on him should not perish but have
everlasting life"
Now, sir, the better to explain to you the rea-
son why Commissioner from the Reformed
Church in America happens to be present
on the floor of this Assembly to-day, permit
me to read brief extract from the published
Minutes of the last annual meeting held in
Newark, New Jersey. The extract is this
In view of the fact that our Church is now
extending its operations in the Southern
States, which open 80 wide field for evan.
gelical labor, your Committee are impressed
with the propriety of inaugurating frater-
nal correspondence by delegates with the
General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church in the United States. As the church
es in connection with this Synod which may
there be organized must necessarily be in
| close proximity and intimate relations with
those in connection with that General As
sembly, it seems eminently desirable that the
two denominations holding common faith
and laboring side by side for common re-
suit, should cultivate spirit of Christian
sympathy and brotherly love. Your Com
mittee therefore recommend the adoption of
| the following resolution:
Resolced. That delegate be appointed by this
General Synod to attend the next meeting Of the
General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in
the United States, and to bear to that reverend
body the cordial salutatons of this Synod, together
with the expression of its desire to enter into
| frateInal correspondence.
That is the action that was unanimously
approved by the Synod, with the utmost
Christian affection and good feeling towards
yourselves. And after having been discussed
to an extent that was quite remarkable in
the deliberations of that body, the conclu-
sion was unanimous or so nearly unanimous
that we might properly call it so. 1t was
my desire when the resolution was adopted
3-ond T bod tba honor of drowino n nvcelf