The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1872-11-20
DR.. DICKSON AND THE MISSOURI
SYNOD.

DR.. Dickson, the Secretary for Sustentation of
the Northern Assembly, was their delegate to the
Missouri Synod sent on q special mission. He
was courteously received and fully heard. The
Old School Presbyterian states that it has not been
able to procure copy of his address. 1t says,
1.-THE DR.. assured the Synod of the Assembly,
traternal regard-depored the separation and its
consequent alterations and trOubles--expressed
satisfaction with the action of the Synod respect
ing union with the Southern and Reformed Church
es-besought the Synod, in its movement for
union, not to leave his Church out in the cold, and
asked the Synod to appoint committee to confer
with committee of which he is a member, con-
corning our grievances" &C., &c.
THE MODERATOR S RESPONSE.
The response of the Moderator, the Rev. Mr..
Montgomery, while entirely respectful and kind,
was certainly one in "great plainness of speech, "
and without any veil over his face" 1t was as
follows
Dear Brother:-SuFer me, Cd behalf of the Old
School Synod of Missouri, to give you the earnest
grasp OF Christian friendship, as the organ accred-
tied to this Synod from the General Assembly of
the Presbyterian Church in the United States of
America.
Let me say to you that this Synod feels the full
force of what you have so pertinently uttered
touching the sad divisions which, for mournful
years, have distracted and torn and rent our un-
happy churches You have, with great cleardess
and unanswerable logic, -deduced the amentabe
evils which must, with inevitable certainty, flow
from these most unfortunate divisions; and you
have, with an urusu& degree of earnestness, ex
horted US to exert Ourselves IN prayer and effort
toward healing these bleaSing wounds in our be-
loved Zion
My brother, we acknowledge all you have so
eloquenty delivered. In our poor estimation, how
ever, the half has not been told. Not only are our
churches split aud weakened almost unto death
DOT only is unhoy strife INDUCED in, and sad ex
ample set before the ungodly world; but even our
| poor missionary fields can find no rest Take a
single example. l myself organized small and
struggling church Of some fifteen or twenty men,
bers, and very soon thereafter Brother (?) came
alonG persuaded the people that Though sent by
my Presbytery) | was not authorized to organize
them-that, in fact, they we're not organized in a
constitutional manner, and proceeded to do the
work over, placing church of different connection
on the same ground, using, in great part, the same
material, and finally so conducting matters as to
make it very doubtful whether either will ever
prosper.
You speak of frankness l will endeavor to be
equally frank with yourself My brother, whence
came all these sad influences and results? That is
| the question There too rests the responsibility.
| We solemnly aver the work is not ours. Our pre-.
sent position is not of our choosing. We did all
we could to avoid it. We stand to day in relation
to your Assembly, just where they put us-nay, in
the posture into which they forced US. l was my
self so grieved and overwhelmed by the sad disas-
| NH md ost hot for q
long time | knew not what to do or where to go,
and stood absolutely alone, without church relation.
For years our Presbyteres claimed their place and
their rights in our dear Old School ROther church.
Again and again we sent our delegates to the As
sembly, to have them coldly and cruelty dismissed,
and sent back to us-their seats denied, as recog
nised members in that venerable court. 1t is IN.
necessary to recount the sad history of the past
| further
You speak of our grievances. All sir, griev-
ances we could bear: but your Assembly has put
burdens on our consciences- insupportable burdens
which stern duty torbids us to tolerate. These
ntoerable burdens it is peculiarly fit and proper
for your Assembly to lift from off US. When il
may please the Assembly so to do, we shall rejoice
| D, sir would gladly sacrifice this poor crippled
right arm to have these agitations cease-these
rude storms which beat SO disastronsly on the ark
of God subside and | thiUk this Synod would join
in such a sacrifice.
You speak of your Scotch blood. Well, have
the blood Of an English mother coursing through
my veins, which nav simna~ .enss pssisieu
sol ing OF stubbornness gay not,-and u
vi undertake to say for this S aod, they may moi
do gIoIence to Christian Ger once. You tell us
to appoint committee>to E.Ge known our griev-
ances to the Assembly. The Synod cannot per-
suade itself that the Assembly, is at all ignorant il
this respect Besides it i'll COMFORTS with either
duty or dignity Tor this Synod to place itself in the
attitude OF one seeking terms with the Assembly
which you represent. Co. my Brother, and tell
your people they have beaten US openly uneon
demned, being Romans, and have cast US into pri
son: and now do they thrust us out privily? Nay
verify, but let them come themselves and fetch III
out.