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


was the Rev. Or. Van Za0d, now OF Mont |
gomery county, New York, who was for |
merlv q pastor Of the Presbyterian church |
in Petersburg Va. The result was contrary
70 both my wish and expectation; Not be- |
cause L did not prize the opportunity OF
meeting and minglng with you, but for other
reasons K sLought it more desirable that ne
should come and bear this message. But
the result is that / have the pleasure 10 bear
90 YOU, AIr. Moderator and brethren of this
General Assembly, the Christian salutations
Of the Reformed Church In Ameriea-to
olTer to vou the right hand of fellowship With
our hearts In It, and in their behalf to wish
You grace, mercy and peace. You have
another name, but not another faith. You
live under q different sky, but you and we
are equally near to the common heaven Of
our hopes, and the same glorious Master
whom We bath love and honor IS equally
near O. as. "O4c Lord, one faith, one bap-
tism' IS she motto Of our kindred churches,
and ;lcIcgeud that floats upon the banner
which we fling TO tle breeze as We march on
under the blessing OF God to the conquest Of
the world IS thai glorious motto which is
IS the power Of Col and the wisdom of God
to the salvation of this dying world" Jesus
Christ and him cruei6ed.
Coming 60 you In this spirit aud express
ing these views and feelings Of our General
Synod. i DO not know why there should be
any obstacle to the establishment of this
fratcrnal CORES ondeHce. I an not unmind-
ful Of Che fact that since the beginning Of
the last decade. there have been political
commissions which have stirred this union to
its centre. DO not forget that the storm of
wax has dalSlucd your heavens and ours
that blood has flowed Whatever may be
our honest convictions on either side, or
whatever they may have been, / am sure We
shall all unite IN .Lis--in the deep regret, IN
the heartfelt sorrow. even the tears, that so
many homes should have been made desolate,
and SO much noble blood should have been
spilled. am sure that we shall agree in
that. come to yoa to propose no admis-
sions from Ms; i come to propose no admis-
sions from ycu. i do come to propose that
We shall meet as Christian men should meet
on the broad basis Of Christian love and
charity, and that we should hold out help
ing hand 60 each other, to reclaim this
world which Christ died to save. l come in
that spirit, and / hope, snd trust, and believe
that I shall meet the response in this AS
sembl7 which / have met in the hearts Of
many O. iS Individual members. Let me be
understood. We 10 not propose that there
shall be any organic union. The story is a
plain and simple one. We have no selfish
ends, no sinister purposes or interests to sub
serve. We come with tenacious chnglng
20 our own Individuality. We are not dis
posed TO DE merged into any other body.
We recognize the right and the duty which
devo,yes upon you TO cling to your own in
diyiilsii-y too. We simply propose that we
shall stand upon a common platform; that
We shall at ,sls, be Ike ships out at sea, and
as we pass up and down in the course Of this
life, pursuing the mission God has laid upon
US, hail each other rs brethren, and breathe
a friendly wish 70 Waft each other 60 the
port Tire other day, a gentleman standing
on tie deck If the steamer as we came from
New York 60 Charleston, saw the steamers
ont on The ocean, and he said TO ne, "Why,
it is not so very lonesome out here after all;
% does not seem so lonesome when we can
see a sail; &c seems that there is human life
and sympathy there" Our hearts must
have expression, and j. not only cheers US,
bur it cheers those to whom that expression
is gwen.
DO not know what may be in the fu-
ture In regard to the relation Of our Church
to the great Presbyterian body. We are
presbv.er'an oursclrcg-a little more so
than ron, f you VIII pardon me. Laugh
ter. / DO not know what may be IL the fu-
ture f.ru IN our individual capacity and
relations. Perhaps It may be that the sec,
ular philosophy now abroad, Of the develop
ment ard change Of one form Of organic life
to another, may bound across quite through
in the department. of morals and religion
Mr.. Darwin has told Us, in his first edition,
that his friend Mr.. Hearn saw q black bear
on the nerth coast Of North America swim
ming iu the water, with lis mouth open
catchic- flies; and he said he could see no
difficulty FL ,Le idea that provided the sup
ply Of lies were sufficient, and the eompe-
titioD not TOO great, the black bear might
in due time De transformed to whale
Laughter I do not know what transfer
nation may be IN store ioy as. We cannot
see the future; bat as tbe matter now stands,
We seek a union which we think is better
shan or ais union q union which old Au-
EustCc expresses in that one briet sentence
and i nan were 90 write from sunrise
20 sunset Be never could express in our es-
timatioD more clearly or properly the true
sriris C. Christian union and harmony" In