The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-07-16

seems for some cause to have undergone
change. 1t were to be wished they would
tell what has produced it.
But we intended to say something of the
SOLVE branch held out at this same meet
ing. The phrase was in fact first used in
this Assembly. Dr. James Wood, Of South
Hanover, Indiana; of Northern birth, but
for years a member of the Synod of Vir-
GINA, was the Moderator the previous
year, and this year was by courtesy
chairman of the committee of bills and
oyertures. The following are extracts from
his speeches about the Southern churches
eve say to them, we will recognize the
schism, but keep the field" 81 would open
the door to penitent men, but not to rebels
at heart. "Men viii try to come back. l.
say let them wait till they give evidence
of repentance. In regard to slavery
he said-"I consider their course, for the
last few years, as making them guilty OF
heresy. Why not then discipline them, for
do we not discipline for heresy?" when
leprosy gets into building, the only way is
to burn it, Leprosy has invaded our temple
of liberty, and must be burned out. d"
DR.. Wood was commonly very mild
and iudioious man. He has gone to his
account, and we have no wish to deal severe
ly with his memory but these sentences
show how even such man could be carried
away on that Hill of Evil Council" Tut,
curious to tell, right in the midst of all this
extreme speech, which related to a paper he
had reported, and which was finally adopted,
he says of that paper, g 1t as full of the milk
of human kindness. This paper holds
out the olive branch" Here is the origin
of the phrase, as applied to us, and it is so
designated in subsequent years, as will be
seen. This solve branch, as presented in
the extended paper adopted, contained a
merciful provision that Southern sinners,
who had defended their homes and their
land, might have the privilege of getting
back into the same church with their North
ern brethren, only they must be required
to confess and forsake their sin in this re-
gard" and also agree to the deliverances of
recent Assemblies on the subjects of "loyalty
and freedom" But to give more special
sample of this " olive branch, " we must quote
the sixth article of this remarkable paper :
o"VI. The General Assembly give counsel
to the several church court specified in these
orders, that in discharging the duties euJoin-
ed therein, due regard be paid to the crcum-
stances of the case, and that justice be ten
pered with mercy. Especially is this cOun-
sci given TO churches in the Border States,
where many impulsive and ardent young
men, without due consideration, have been
led away by their superiOrs, or seduced from
their LOYALTY by their erroneous interpreta,
ton of the doctrine of State rights. Such
persons, though highly criminal, are far less
so than their unprincipled and ambitious
leaders. While in the treatment even OF
these, the honor of religion ought to be full
ly vindicated, more tenderness may be prop
erly exercised than duty requires or admits
in dealing with their guides and deceivers.
By kind and faithful instruction and admOni-
zion, and by the presence of the Holy Spirit,
most of them, it is hoped, will be reclaimed
from the error of their ways, and become
LOYAL citizens and valuable church members.
What a thoughtful temperipg of justice
and mercy! And with what comfortable
compIacency must the Northern Presbyterian
Church now look back upon such acts as
this and reflect, that whatever other churches
may have failed to put their hands into purely
political questions, there was one at least that
never lost an opportunity to thrust theirs in
up to the elbows. The erroneous interpre,
tation of the doctrine of State rigbts!" What
model for a Church of Christ Not only
an interpreter, of the Bible, but of " State
rights ?" Can Rome herself beat that :"
But there stands the record to this day.
And there is the solve branch No. g.
There are more to come.