The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-06-28

ION saturday, May 10th, the Rev. Dr.. Yantis, of
the Synod Of Missouri, (Old School, was received
the other delegates not arriving til afterwards
ADDRESS OF DIR. YANTIs.
Mr.. Moderator and brethren of the Gen
eral Assembly I believe that never ad-
dressed any body upon any occasion under
circumstances so delicate and so embarrass-
ing. COnining myself strictly to the duties
of my commission, my business would be both
easy and agreeable. | am charged by my
Synod 20 express to this venerable body our
deep sympathy and affection for you as the
people Of God, and our entire confidence in
your soundnesS in the faith-the good,
old-fashioned Presbyterian faith | wish to
assure you Of our full belief that you and
the people 1 represent, so far as have been
able to discover land have taken some pains
70 make the examination are one, Oae-one
in Judgment and affection, and one in all the
views Of faith that distinguish Presbyterians.
You are aware too that we have deep and
painful fellowship in the suAerings of which
YOU have partaken in such large measure in
these last days In the State of Missouri
We have lad as severe struggles as perhaps
in any part Of the Church Of the living God.
That, however, which embarrasses me is
this. | have been asked very often since I
have been here delightfully."- communicating
with tAe members OF this body since We
arc so nearly one, Il our faith, in our views
Of Church government, in our convictions as
to the obligations resting upon the conscience
Of Presbyterians, why is it that We do not
seek an organic union with the Presbyterian
people IN the South ?" Why is it that we
stand alOof?' "Why is it that We do not
with heart and hand embrace you and rejoice
to 20 forth without any division between US
or lines to separate Us, in the great work to
which We are al alike called?" And here is
the trouble-the difficulty have to encount-
er. l do not know how TO answer that ques-
ton, / am not able TO tell why. (Laughter.)
l am not able to give an answer satisfactory
Co my own mind, and satisfactory to a sensi-
bic man. Laughter You viii see at once
that my position is exceedingly embarrass-
ing; but always determined to 90 according
70 the best lights | have, go ahead and I
fear not Ny Judgment is that we have no
satisfactory answer to make to that question.
That is the honest truth about it. l do not
know what my colleagues may have to say
upon that subject, but have not been able
70 tell Why it is that should not be con-
stituent of "The General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church in the United States.
l eOntended for it very earnestly in our Syn
Cd last fall, and so did many, but the ma
jOrity then present saw fit to differ, and per-
haps the majority of that body may be OPP
posed to that sort of connection.
We did dissolve our connection with the
parent Church, shall l call it? We claim to
be sort Of parent ourselves. We are all
that Is left Of the Old School Church
Laughter. We did declare an act of abso-
lutte separation from that body. 1t was
matter Of form pretty much, for we had been
put out before. Renewed laughter. went
TO that Assembly the first time with a good
clear commission, and was permitted to take
my seat; but was turned out with brother
Robinson and brother Wilson, and sent
adrift. The next time I went with lust such
commission, dOtting all the as and crossing
all the IS, and putting on the very best pos
sible face. / was not permitted to enter at
all; l was allowed to make a speech, and
more positive, and as we thought more un-
generous measure, was adopted. Still, |
was not satisfied They sent me the third
time, all the way to New York. went be-
fore the Committee unwilling to make any
concession, but rather demanding that con-
cessions should be made to me. There was
no sort Of compromise; I had to go home
without being a member Of that Assembly.
Then We resolved that we should have moth
ing more to do with them. They had turned
US Out-we had lost your head. Laughter.
Well, We felt that we had work to do, and
our business then was to determine the best
manner in which that could be done. This
IS the result Of a conference upon that sub
jeet in our Synod-the judgment Of the
majOrity-that we can best DO our work
for the time at least they did not say that
by remaining separate, independent body,
doing the best we can, and expressing the
very kindest sympathy and the most entire
confidence and every manner of regard that
you could desire, except in the practical form
Of asking to be Joined with you in the great
work IN which you are engaged They sent
me down here to tell you that. | would
rather tell you the whole story. l would
rather come as a representative from my
Presbytery with a commission in the old
form, and sit among these brethren, and not
be embarrassed by this particularly unfortu-
nate and unhappy state. l thank you how
ever brethren, because you are so much dis
posed to listen to US in defence of position
that We DO not feel is defensible. Laughter.
The question is frequently asked me,
What in the wide world stands in the way!
You claim to be of the same mind, of the
same heart, and to be the same sort of peo-
pie. Well, the reasons that influence other
men DO not influence me; want that under
stood. But do my brethren Justice One
Of their reasons is that our country is filling
az more rapidly perhaps than any other
par. Of Cur WIDE domain unless it be Texas
with friends and brethren that come from
the other side Of the line. Our people l
suppose presume that they are governed by
sectional Influences, and naturally have a
tendency to adhere to the friends of the old
body. We do not want to give them offence.
We are Ike everybody else, we want to
build up. I want to build up of eongruous
materials, 50 that when built up the body
VIII be harmonious and operate freely. 1
do not care about gathering in all sorts of
fish from all sorts Of places. Laughter. /
would rather have people Coming from
where they may that feel with US, and are
willing to act with US, though they might be
few in number, than the multitudes whom
We should have to regulate, and discipline,