New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-06-17

OF double effect GEORGE sLuTER,
Shei6ycilte, Ind, June g. 1874.
REFORMED AND PRESBYTERIAN FUSION.
THE PROSPECT OF ORGANIC UNION NOT IMMEDIATE
BASIS OF COOPERATION AND SYMPATHY.
To the Edttor Of The Trt6une.
SIR: The attitude taken by the late General
Synod of the Reformed Church in regard with
other churches does distinctly appear from
ports of its proceedings have hitherto been published
1t can be described, however, in few words At the
session Of ls73 held at New-B brunswick the Synod re-
ceived from three different ecclesiastical bodies the offer
OF conference with view TO OF union between
itself and them. These bodies the German Re
formed Church, the Presbyterian Church South, and
the Presbyterian Church North. Al these courteous
proposals SO far entertained that committee
appointed by the General Synod with instructions to
confer with the committees OF the these several bodies
and TO report TO the Synod Of 1874
With the German Committee IL may here be said In
word, no conference secured. This fact having
been reported to the Synod II has directed its
mttee, which 1t has continued unchanged. to secure
that conference, II possible, during the ecclesiastical
year begun.
The special interest OF the late debate and action thus
turns entirely en- the relations between the Synod and
the two Presbyterian Churches North and South. 1t
is to be carefully noted that two bodies had pro-
posed TO the Reformed Church two very different kinds
Ut dLAIance Ihe southern Cnureh had asked only Tor
"closer relations" with the Reformed Church. The
Northern Church had proposed organic union"
The Reformed Committee, in reporting to the late
synod explained that 1t had separately conferred with
the two Committees upon the different bases proposed
by EACH and 1t accordingly suggested to the Synod two
different lines OF action In regard the Southern
Church, 1t reported in favor OF an intimate
operative alliance" defined in plan which had been
elaborated in conference with the Committee,
had hppu n,,cfr hot
Some of the details of this plan were of nature to bs
completed by the mere vote of the General Synod ut
Others would reau,e further adjustment by means Of
continued conference and you'd also require faal
adoption by future Synod.
In regard the Northern Presbyterian Church, the
report proposed actual scheme. whether Of union or
cooperation. 1t plainly looked, however, toward ut
union bat 1t insisted upon the thorough afrma-
tive and the deliberate and general consent Of the two
communiOns the Indispensable conditions Of that re-
suit 1t further laid down broad and liberal prin
cples OF equal mutual consideration between the two
churches in view Of which principles the discussion OF
the subject might safely proceed and it suggested a
continuance of conference that basis minority OF
the committee dssened from this part of the report
advising in effect that all conference il the Northern
Church the subject of organic union. be arrested
Tie synod was informed by the delegates from the
Southern Church and from the Northern, that their
spectve Assemblies had each acted already upon these
Recommendations Of the comforting Commttees-the
Southern Assembly in approving the plan of co0pera-
ton, the Northern in contnun. the Committee of Con-
ference.
Under these circumstances tie Synod has acted with
the following results: o. The Committee Of Conference
is continued unchanged. a. The scheme Of intimate
cooperative alliance with the Southern Church has been
adopted and the unsettled details above referred TO
have been put into the hands of the Conference Com
mitee be reported upon to the Synod. 3) The
Synod's Conference Committee has been, in effect,
forbidden TO confer with the Northern Presbyterian
Committee the subject of organization. But
a. IL has been directed" to confer with that Com
mitee in regard to just such cooperative alliance
with the Northern Church has been adopted with the
Southern Church. And this last-named action was
absolutely unanimous.
1t will thus appear that the synod has n0 refused 10
the Northern Church any expression of respect or SYM
patty which it has addressed to the Southern Church
1t has declined, indeed, 10 forward in particular
form OF conference with the Northern Assembly but
the conference thus declined concerned a matter
which the Northern Church had proposed and the
Southern Church had not-namey, organic union. Be-
Sides such the Synod has shown toward the
Northern Church in that direction has been sudiousy
compensated by its unanimous action IN offering TO the
Northern Assembly, through the two committees, the
very same proposal Of formal respect sympathy, aud
cooperation which it has already agreed upon with the
Southern Church.
But the measure meaning Of the thus
fully compensated should not be oyeres;imated. The
vote which declines the conference on ultimate union
stood co to 50. Ii plain thai with synod so closely
divided neither defeat victory is more than formal
Whoever will consider how many OF those Influences
which are operative ancient, weorganized de-
nomination are 10 set themselves against the nrsi
distinct proposal organic union with another and es
pecially Is larger church, will in that vote OF 60
against CO. terminating, it did in two days strenu
Gus debate the tokens OF very signf ant march OF
opinion. No candid will quote such
vote as proof that the Reformed Church has Ia
any decisive pronounced against ultimate organic
union with the Presbyterian Church. Tue late Synod
indeed has authortatyey forbidden its committee 10
moot that matter its conferences with the Northern
committee during the present year. But meanwhile
the Committees report in favor OF ultimate unon aud
defining he liberal which the Northern Church
ready discuss that subject is o be printed and cir
cuated with the minutes OF the Synod for the nforma
ton Of the whole Church. Since the minority report Is
20 be printed a WELL nothiag could be fairer After 50
ndecsive tine synod did not offer TO adopt either
report indefinitely postpOning the consideration OF
both, very wisely suffered them 70 60 together TO
that larger jury OF the whole Reformed Church, from
which decisive verdict this great issue must qpue
in its time. -s.s.--1@.r-s
The public will not fully understand one Of the most
important and interesting aspects of this question
less 1t remembers that the ultimate" union toward
which the Reformed Committee looked with great
interest Intended least in the wish and prayer
OF a majo ty Of the Committee to prove union with
both Southern Church and Northern Such result is
al, dast rah he ma of