The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1872-12-11

THIS coDnlc OF interest produced no rupture III tut
past how can any one, without 'amaz ament. pro-
phesy an outbreak in the years that are to come?
The logic of events" to which DR.. Van ZIndt
alludes, cannot be ignored. History, in these lat
ter times, quickeus its pace. That which, in BY
gone generations, it required centuries . lui Is
accomplished 10 our day, in a single decade.
But DR.. Brown will probably object to the flow
ing silk. And yet Presbyterian ministers veal
without challenge, this very same gown" But
then there lis that Liturgy" which Col Preston
so earnestly advocated in Richmond, and that the
Assembly 20 summary put to rest. Well, the
Associate reformed brethren chung with the same
affection ! d teuacity to ROuses version of the
Psalms, bt fraterna conference and wise Chris
tan conce ions, disposed of even this grave him
lrance to non.
The al Assembly in the United States pro
fessess the true faith-to cherish those doc
rrines ,ciples that are vital to the world
l. it SION to preach this gospel only to the
South IS not her commission extent, like.
wise, to North? At present, however, the
loor north ID is closed But if our Assembly
unites u he Dutch Reformed, then way is
open. le faith, as we hold it, from Mexico
| to Ma. from the Atlantic to the Pacific
On the 7:sit to Missouri and the borders Of
Kansas. asart leaped with expectation as the
eve swept err that wonderful field already open
aud
The gone and will never return. For bet
ter or f. ., the barriers between the two dis.
tinct cv Is Of this continent are now broken
down meantime, sceptlcism is on the
aer 70 combine all elements OF mis-.
kchiel. -V.s. For ten men, united
in spirit, lar stronger than one by himself.
few deter. red braves can overcome the largest
army in world, if the forces of the latter are
taken in Il il Ia union and cooperation there
is strenl s1d if the Missouri Synod, the
Dutch Il, and the General Assembly in the
United S we're fifty joined together and
compac. a lat which every joint supplieth, y
they could power for truth in that mighty
empire OF 5st, at the bare prospect Of which
the very app might rejoice. 1t was while these
thoughts rol trough my mind, and standing in
delightful fell ship with the noble men who con
stitute the of Missouri that the bands
were broken der, and the large, full joy of the
hour demonstr I'd to all that in the highest sense,
the service God is perfect freedom.
Since writipl be above, learn through the col
umns of the trail that when DR.. Van Zandt
presented to General Synod of his Church a
report of his sos, "he was persuaded that if
the time shou arrive when our mission as a
Church can bes le fulfilled by union with some
other. our bre eu of the South would not be
ayerse to epters hiug the proposition of a nearer
alliance" Ups which Dr. Brown comments as
follows: Herr : will be observed, is sudden
and remarkable auge in regard to the situation.
La the shortspas Of twenty days a mutual fusion
into single Gnu ID is transformed from "a calam-
ity to both into something wearing most inviting
countenance. IS will, therefore, be seen, Mr..
Editor, not only rat the logic of events is at
work, but moreo er and still further that the
cautious, phiosop ical Van Z4ndt bore the thought
away from Richn md, that the brethren Of the
South would not 1 ayerse to entertaining the pro
position of q neare alliance" Ii the calm wary
nature of DR.. Van zandt yielded to such impress
sions as those froil what ne heard and saw and
felt in the capital Of Virginia, is it matter for won
der that temper ent more sanguine should have
followed in the W ~
1t only remains me to reciprocate with great
heartiness. the pr .ed friendship Of DR.. Brown
1t is his indispuias yht, as faithful chroncler
of the times, to res the Church at large the
acts of her 8 Il the doctor and my
! self were not justice I'd sense Of
right might be 4 on to shield him from
discourtesy and &c prepeaSe