The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-07-16
a calm REVIEW FOR SOUTHERN
PRESBYTERIANS.
rHE g OLIVE BRANCH.

Il
sented in this series of articles; for which
reason it was thought best to interrupt it for
week.
The las. article presented al gre glance at
the charges made at various tus by the
Northern Assembly against our Church.
There was no attempt to exhaust the vOcab-
ulary Of their .satiens. It's fullness and
variety are such - 70 make this impractical
ole. But enough has been given to remind
thereader Of their nature and their aggravat-
ed violence. They were such as must of neces-
sity, and efFectually break the peace between
us. If there was schism, they madeit. Nor
have We even touched upon a review of the
various acts by which that Assembly de-
graded the Church of Christ into a political
and partisan body. This must stand in his
tory as one Of the most deplOrable and dis
z crflT OF ats chapters. But even pass
iug notice would far transcend our pre-
limits
It would, however, be quite unjust to sup
pose that our Northern brethren have all
this time been shifting with the sword, or
" with the fist Of wickedness. Have they
all this while had no bowels of mercies"
for their suffering (even suppose they were
erring) brethren, their kindred according to
the Resh?' Certainly they had; and this
brings US to tbesecond part of our task, which
is to set forth for the admiration of all the his
tory Of their " Olivs Branch" Whatever
grace and beauty are inherent in it will be
visible as soon as we can wiring its shy
retiring virtues out." 1t viii be seen that
these virtues have a historical Development
ike nearly all great things, from a small be-
ginning So We begin.
Olive BRANCH NO. 1-1S62.
40 tie Christian people scattered through
out those unfortunate regions, and who have
been left of God to have any hand in bring
ing on these terrible calamities, We earnestly
address words of exhOrtstiOn and rebuke, as
unto brethren who have sinned exceedingly,
and whom God calls to repentance by fearful
judgments.
But concerning the wide sehism which Is
reported to have occurred in many Southern
Synods. this Assembly will take no action
at this tine. 1t declares, however, its fixed
purpose, under all circumstances, to labor
for the extension snd the permanent main
tenance of the Church under its care, in
every part Of the United States. Scbism,
50 far as q mag ezist, ere hope to see healed.
If that cannot Be It wiU Be disregarded."
Mark this last part, which we make en-
phadc. The proposal is to heal the schism
there is the first leaf of the "olive branch. "
But if this is not accepted, they intend to dis
regard it-that is to treat opr Church as a
no!ity and occupy our ground, and as far
as possible take our churches. For that
this is the meaning is made plain by their
open avowals in 1865, when they arrogantly
assumed that the events of the war left the
churches of the South in their hands.
In 1868 and 1864, We find no action Of
the kind referred to.
OLIVE BRANCH No. 2-1S65.
This Assembly was held just after the war
was over. With its proceedings and re-
port of its debates under our eye, there is
no departure from truth or charity in saying
that it was an assembly Of violent men, "
and the place where it met Pittsburgh
got we'll be called The Hill of Eml
Coaael9 Suen thoroughly bad measures,
s.eh thorough disregard of the plaiDest prin-
riples Of the constitution; such deplorable
prostitution Of the Church in deciding purely
political questions; such thorough mahgnity
in the debates To such length did it pro-
ceed, that Judge Ewing of Pennsylvania, a
member of the body felt constrained at last
to say, that although he had been a member
Of many public conventions he had never
seen q spirit Of more relentless persecution. "
We feel persuaded there are not a few
Northern Presbyterians who, in reading over
those measures and the unprovoked gall aud
bitterness poured out in the debates, must be
tempted towards feeling concerning it, SINH
lar to that expressed by Job about the day
Of his birth. The immense difference, for
example, between the speech of DR.. S. J.
NiocoIs, endorsing the speech just then de-
Evered of one George p. Strong, ruling
elder from St. Louis, (the relentless per-
secutor Of DR.. MePheeters and other good
men in Missouri and his recent milder
utterance in Baltimore shows very great
modification. Then DR.. n. was utterly OPP
posed to a proposition made to recognize US
as a Church, because among other reasons,
"it ,ciU furnish a Church wbieb aOiH be a
hidiuq place for san" he was also a signer
to the Memorial presented to that As
sembly, a part Of which begins thus
And, whereas, although there may be
no fear at present of realizing the desire
Of some persons in our Church, to hare
formal and organic reception Of the said
Synods, Presbyteries, ministers and churches
into connection with the General Assembly"
sc. And the F,ssbyteries and Synods are
solemnly enioined in it to take stringent
measures in regard to "many officers and
colder rom the Is recent disbanding of the
rebel armies who had returned home in
the border States, and who had resumed
their places as members of their churches,