The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1872-05-29
cosarspoyDEvcE WITH THE REPoRMED CHURCH.

Rev. j. H. Bryson presented the following;
TO De Moderator of the General assembly to NEE
al Richmond, Va, on MGy 10th, 1877
In accordance with the Appointment of the last
General Assembly at its sessions in Huntsville Aa
| attended the General Synod OF the Reformed
Church in America which met in the city OF Albany
New York on June the 7th, 1871.
1t affords me much pleasure to report that was wa
received by that body with the greatest cordahty
and Christian friendship, the first delegate from
the General Assembly of our Church. My receps
tion was an occasion of intense interest," as was 70
respond to their friendly overtures. And when l
stood up before that venerable Synod to assure them
that our General Assembly most cordially accepted
their kind propositions touching traternSl cores
pondence, and that / was commissioned to bear to
them the warm sautatons ndtChrstian sympathies
of our Church, every heart seemed to overflow with
rejoicing at the happy issue the matter they had
ventured to propose. Again and again DID re-
ceiye the warmest congratulations, touching the ira
terna alliance that was now tavoraby established
between the two bodies. Nothing was wanting to
make my mission everything | could wish for the
beloved Church was honored to represent; and
cannot too strongly express the earnest and warm
eorGality that characterized my reception hy that
noble Christian people.
The Synod heard with pleasure aud profound IN
ierea all thst 1 Communicated touching our beloved
Ii0f her Doctrines. her history, ner trials, nd lne
900 afk she was endeav0rlDg 20 accomplish tor
the esase Of our common Lord and King. They e4-
pressed their earnest qualification al the wondertul
success that had attended all our operations, and
assured u.s. thet they would ever feel deep interest
in all that per aimed to our future welfare and pros
perity.
On taking my leave, was charged to bear back
to the beloved Church represented, their warmest
salutatons and Christian sympathies, and was IN
structed to give the assurance that they were ready
through the fraternal alliance now so tavorably
cnlra q
way to advance the interests of the glorious king
dom Of our common Lord and Master.
During the sessions of the General Synod, the
Rev. Dr. Van Zandt was appointed to attend the
next session Of our General Assembly, to he held in
the city of Richmond, Va, on the 10th of May,
j. Il. BRYsoN.
Nr. BrySoR-I viii say in addition that my recep-,
ton was everything that could wish for myself and
for the Assembly. They gladly hailed the hour
that brought the two bodies together in the great
work of the Master. 1t was of course with some
hesitation that they ventured to enter upon this cor
reSpondence but when the Huntsville Assembly re-
spOnded so cordially and so generously, no language
that [ can use could give you any conception OF
the warmth and cordiahty with which that noble
Christian people received me as your commissioner.
They hail it as the opening of happy future to
both Churches-a future of usefulness and honor to
the Masters cause.
ReU. Dr. TaR ZaRdt was introduced and said:
MoDERAToR: As the delegate of the g Reformed
Church in America l could desire no more favor
able introduction to this Assembly than the report of
your delegate to our General Synod which has just
been read. You have learned from that with what
qualification our church received your worthy repre-
sentative and recprocated his expressions of fratena
kindness and confidence. His appearance among us
hailed the formal acceptance your part, OF
the overtures of correspondence which we had ven-
frrrp1 10 and I STRENGTHEN
the bonds of our unity and if possible, to draw it
little closer.
But appear before you under circumstances which
are somewhat peculiar and If one who has so few
claims to personal consideration may yet be regarded
as representing his church. my presence here is itself
the evidence that the line of separation between us
is not an impossible bugrier. When l look around
upon the familiar faces, and my heart responds to
the fraternal greetings which meet me everywhere,
[ scarcely know whether l am at home or abroad.
The immediate past seems ike dream of yester-
night and am again of yourselves, In the grand
old Synod of Virginia But son, after long years
of absence returns to his home, and is reminded by
oe marked consideration and kindness Of his recep-
non that he IS nov wrcome and hoporej guest,
whereas rolIelng hoy BE had enjoyed the freedom
of one Of the family am recalled by the grateful,
and vet embarrassing attentions which l have re-
ceived on every hand to my official character as the
representative of another branch of His household
" by whom the whole family in Heaven and ON earth
are named.
am reminded by the terms of my commission
that it is to indulge in personal "reminiscences that
l am here; aud yet it would be expecting too much
to imagine that in this place and presence could be
wholly obvious to the past or could so reNess ITS
crOwding memories to avoid all illusions to the
living and the dead. The scenes through which
have passed and am passing now, call up before me
the men with whom it my privilege and joy to
mingle here, IN the amenities of social life and the
responsibilities of the ministerial office McPheeters,
- l.. ,orf,rv Oft tho
learned and eloquent pen and slvery tongue, among
those from the gallant little presbytery of East
Hanover, who have gone up higher; Foote, the his
oran whose facie pen loved to trace the daring and
devotion of those earlier worthless OF kindred talth
and feeling; Armistead, whose muscular frame and
massive mind gave expression and emphasis to his
pOnderous thoughts; Green, of the eagle-eye and
open heart whose burning words yet failed to over
take the lightning thought of his electric mind;
these and others from the Synod of Virginia, now IN
the General Assembly and Church of the first born
in Heaven; these and others equally true and great
and good who yet remain, were my brethren as well
as YOURS They are my brethren still, and palsied be
this tongue when for any cause, short of apostacy
from God, it shall refuse to own the kindred or to
bless the tie.
Sir, we are no strangers, and though come to you
from a foreign body, yet we are one in Christ our
Head and am here to say that we not your
antagonists, your rivals, your judges, but your
brethren in Christ who desire to exemp1ty III our
relations with you that highest type of Christian
union possible to present condition and crcum-
stances the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of
peace"
Sir, you know, as well as T. that there are certain
cycles of religious thought, which though they have
not the fixed periodicity yet as certainly bring round
sooner or later particular phases of popular OPINION
and feeling as the revolution otthe heavenly Dodles
bring around the alterations of heat and cold,
summer and winter. Some one truth, or half-truth,
A. 1ia nd nd iG
it fills the whole field of vision, to the observation
of every other TRUTH until in turn, it gives place to
another exaggeration. Hence, the recurrence OF
what NAV be STYLED religious epdemics, more or
less widespread and virulent, but happily not OF
long duration. The epidemic now prevalent In
many quarters, springing out of the exaggeratlon
of false conception of Christian union, is the de-
sire for an indiscriminste fusion OF all evangelical
churches into one grand cOnglomeration. The
''seamless robe of Christ" is made cover for all
sorts of error of those who yet claim to hold the
Head. And his prayer that his people "may all be
onen which win certainly be fulfilled because 1t is
His,-is expected to find its accomplishment in the
external organic union of the most discordant ele-
ments. Ignoring that inspired challenge to the
common sense of mankind, show can two Walk To-
gether except they be agreed, the nominal union
of those of every shade and complexion OF opinion
and practee is counted the grand desideratum
which is to introduce the millennisl gories of the
Church. Hence that spurious catholcity which
"reioiceth not in the truth, but would eliminate
all that is distinctive in doctrine practice for the
empty sound of union and the aggregation of num-
/ bers.
1t is not from any sympathy with that boastful
Iberality, which is ifberal only to those who are
true to their convictions; it is not from any desire
OF purpose to absorb your organization into ours, or
to be absorbed by you that we have extended to you
our fraterna greetings and opened this correspond
ence. Though there are no differences between us
sufficient to hinder our cordial cooperation as a
united Church; though in doctrine identical, and In
order not dissimiar and, as believe, one in spirit,
vet should regard mutual fusion into single