The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1872-07-31
We " Az = oNiAssA d Nitltt
WM. T. Eva, Secretary.
". j. MCELROY.
NJ. ID. MCCORD.

the members were union men. But the Southern
people have kept up a constant litigation and agl-
taton ever since the separation took place. They
now want one half of the property. The speaker
wanted q committee who could come to the work
lie moro without the feelings OF those on the
ground.
Rev. r. ". Sproull was anxious that whatever
was done should be done In the strctest justice.
He commenced to build a church in Jacksonville
about 10 wears ago, and he thought the majority
In the church when it was built were Southern
people, and in his labOrs to getmOney in the North
he did not get over $50. He was Northern man
10 al bis sympathes, but wanted to see strict JUS
tice in this case.
Rev. DIR. Musgrave thought the Assembly ought
70 hesitate If the committee is TO be so pGrte
70 refuse justice to the Southern Church. He
thoul BIT this great Church could afford to be just
If not generous The original motion was put and
g led
pon the exposition thus presented we beg
,o4ve to offer some remarks.
" Haze been IL correspondence 1oith parties az th0t
place; 5" sc. This is disingenuOus Every one IN
acquainted with the facts would understand the
words "parties in that place. to mean parties on
both sides. But DR.. Musgrave knows as well as
we do that such is not the fact The parties
he correspondent with were confined entirely to the
Northern Church there; no effort to open cores
pondence with any member of the Southern Church
was ever made. When it was found that the As
semby North had appointed a committee to look
into these matters, of which DR.. Musgrave was
Chairman, the President Of the Board of Trustees
Of the Southern Presbyterian Church in Jackson
vile wrote to that gentleman, inviting an invest-
CATION, and offering every possible facility for that
end. Not the least notice was ever taken of his
letter Dr.. MusgIave's correspondence, and the
information elected from it were entirely &c parte
How it came that he did not state this fact to his
Assembly, "may give Us pause. Sidney Smith
used to say, waggishly that in writing review Of
a book, it was a decided advantage not to have
read word Of it beforehand; the criticisms being
thereby rendered without any prejudice. DR.. Mus
grave has improved upon this idea. Let him hear
Just one side Of controversy, and nothing more is
needed to present decided report to the body
which had charged him with this responsible and
sacred trust. Having his own mind thoroughly
Illuminated BY his one-sidea Correspondence with
par,es () in that place, he was Of course per-
fectly qualified to say
sour brethren there having gone as far IN efforts
6rtbe adjustment of the difficulty as then feel called
"a honor, a conscience, or IL charity to 90, &C.
Had it occurred to DR.. Musgrave that there was
any propriety or advantage in hearing more than
one part Of case, he would have learned that this
statement is certainly and entirely unsupported BY
the facts. No efforts" Of any kind have ever
been made By the Northern Church in Jackson
vile for the adjustment Of the difficulty. Every
effort that was made came from the Southern
Church. The "honOr, conscience, and charity"
Of the Northern Church consisted in rejecting
sgr 9Fsr made by the Southern. But it may be
ssked. we're these offers reasonable? Let the fol-
wing facts testify:
Early In the controversy an offer was made BY
sou.h ern Church to divide the property equal
s offer has never been withdrawn. But
on several occasions, the attention Of the
Church was drawn to it by eOuespon
otherwise, it was invariably rejected
re then made to adjust the controversy
atom. Information Of this offer was CON-
seated to Dr.. MuSgrave, and attention to 1t
Was urged upon him, BY distinguished minister
Of bis Church living in the North who took Q
kindly, yet Just and impartial interest in the mat
-. But it was all of no avail; the offer was re
ieeted. An effort was then made by party Of dis
interested gentlemen, residents of Jacksonville
Bus no proposition would be entertained by the
Northern Church. 1t is true they afterwards Of
Ia to the Southern Church, by way Of cOmprO-
riss. $1,000, a sum representing about One-6fth
If ne value Of the property. lltis now worth far
more But, even as to this offer, before the Trus
= II the latter could act upon It, Il 1oas Nth
RAJ These are facts. The efforts" then,
ere N on the part Of the Southern Church; the
y seEon Of the offers conveyed in them were in
gsriably on the part Of the Northern. What now
becomes Of DR.. Musgraves statement. But he
says
''TRe other party appealed to the eivil courts. "
True; but it was only after all fair and honorable
efforts for adjustment had failed.
" Where tbe case IS R0lg pending Yes; and
Bas been pending for two years partly at least be-