Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-03-15
THE PRESBYTERIANS.
Steps Toward a Union of the Presby.
byterian and the Reformed Church
conference of Committees.

New York on Feb. %:
The results of the conference between
the Committee of our General Assembly
and the Committee ofthe Reformed Church
will be found in the report they have adopt
ed. This report will be laid before the re-
| spective bodies which meet in May and
June; but it is judged suitable to publish it
Tor general information, and especially that
the members of our Presbyteries may have
II before them at as early day as possible
While the document must be Judged upon
Its own merits, it may be satisfactory to say
some things concerning the conference
which cannot appear in the paper which it
adopted.
All the members of our Committee were
present, namely, Rev. Messrs. b. NJ. Palm
er, j. X. Wilson, VIM. Brown, j. K. Snloot:
Elders, VIM. Henry Smith, Major ]. T.
kirkpatrick, and Gen. A. NJ. Scales. Of
the Committee from the Reformed Church
the following were present, most Of them
through the whole of the conference, few
during part of the time: Rev. Messrs. Ii.
u. Ganse, j. Elmendorf, A. B. Van Zandt,
p. ID. Van Cleef, E 7. Corwin, A. G.. Yer
milye, w. r. Gordon, W. Omission, w. J.
X. Taylor, p. Peltz; Elders, Messrs. +.
AAhEAAobAf W . u DG[Nll.
5. X. w. Heath.
There was no delegation present from the
Synod Of Missouri. They would have been
heartily welcomed, and it would have been
a great pleasure had they been united with
US in these fraternal counseIs. But believ-
ing that by the action Of the Synod last
fall their case had become substantially
merged into that of the Southern Presby-
fnrinu church f1.air
judge it suitable that they should have a
kind Of double representation. This, as
we understand, is the explanation of their
absence.
Nearly all the conferences were in Joint
sessions of these committees. Only once
at the opening, and once st the close, was it
necessary for each committee to meet sepa-
rately, and then only for a few minutes.
\ general remark concerning this whole
Conference is that, from beginning to end,
il was conducted in spirit Of the utmost
frankneSs, courtesy and brotherly kindness.
We did not come together under any sus-
piciOns Of each other, but in mutual conf
dence; not to examine and settle existing
strifes-for We had none; but to see how
far it was practicable to draw the bonds of
affection more closely together. To deter
HltAAG AiAAo Alllol Wisely
were extended over the whole ground, and
were protracted through four days of labo-
rious work. The two leading questions
were these:
First, was Organic Union practicable {?
That il was in itself desirable seemed to
be generally admitted. Some, however,
were inclined to the opinion that, sup
posing all other things out of the way, it
l.. q Il,
vast extent Of territory which must be
trayersed, and therefore the great expense
incurred, in attending the meetings of the
highest judicatOry. But the question of
practicability was the chief one; and it
was soon perceived that on this point there
was general concurrence Of opinion on
both sides. There is a close agreement in
our standards Of doctrine, and a general
agreement in our forms Of government and
rules of discipline. But still there are, in
these two last, various points i'll which
the two churches differ, presenting Obsta-
cles to organic union not easily removed.
They have a different national origin, with
different traditions and uSages. Most
people give up their usages with the ut
most reluctance, and perhaps much of the
peculiar life of each is derived frona them.
Some whodeemed such a union practicable
so far as their own views were concerned,
admitted that the two churches at large
were not prepared for it at present, and
therefore it was not judiciOus TO attempt it.
Next. was cooperative union practica-
| bic: and, if so, what should it include, and
| how far should it extend? These questions
cover the main ground Of our conference;
| and here il was soon manifest that we were
/ I,,,r-4;1,- oil no
| points and examining them in all the rela-
lions we could think of, they were shaped
| into the paper which was finally adopted
| with perfect unanimity. There was, OF
| course, much conference about these mat
tiers, both as to their general bearing and
! as to their precise phraseolOgy; and there
was the usual difference Of opinion, some
| preferring one thing, some another; but en-
tire agreement at last. As to the value OF
cooperation presented in this scheme, there
will probably be some difference of views
among the people on both sides. Some
things are in a form to be adopted a. once
and cOnclusively, if such be the mind OF
the General Synod and General Assembly,
Others are only brought forward for more
careful examination, and such future meas
ures as may be deemed expedient. Sug-
| EtSLlOtA= Gtt L4alAC MllANlA a.
ton may or may not approve. In all this due
caution was observed. The hope
is that if the plan Of cO-Opera-
tiOn embodied in this report goes
into effect, il will do good at once, and will
ultimately bring about great and happy re-
suits. Take as an illustration what is sug-
gested about foreign missions. Who Car
say that in fifty or a hundred years hence
| L., -,
terrain churches nearly, if not quite, as nu-
merOus as those now in the Reformed or in
our own? Will il be an insignificant thing
if we are now taking the first step to com.
bine them into one united church, instead
of perpetuating two separate organizations:
The various measures proposed by this con
ference will bring the two denomination:
into more intimate acquaintance with eacf
other. They are prudent and safe, j
anything proposed is not found by exper
encs TO work well, it can be modified, Of
annulled, and there need be no jar.
they answer our expectations, and organic
unity is the best, that will become plain Il
the mind Of both parties, and they WI
then just quietly and happily IAeit int
each other. If not, still this cooperation
and close christian Fellowship continue
ana 10 good for an indefinite length Of time
This is the usual process in nature and il
gface-the bud, the flower, and then the
fruit. "Whereto we have attained. let u:
walk bv the same rule, let as mind the
same thing ''and il in anything We bC
otherwise minded, God shall reveal ever
this unto u.s. Curl hope, then, is that what
has been done will be cordially approved
on both sides, and that it may so please
the Head of the Church as to be source O
present and increasing good all around.
II is hardly possible that any conference
could be more delightful than the ole her'
referred to. Not yc-a was uttered tC
give pair q ahy one. We did not use fiat
t.Tins words, but the Christian affection
prevailing in the hearts of all would tinC
its way out in fit expression. Our season!
Of prayer, and above all the closing how
and the final dOxolOgy, were such as mem
DRY will love to recall not only in this lite
but Ia the liIe TO come,
Private Inequalities, If not too sacred
are at least too delicate in their nature L
b, brought forward for the inspection {
those who did not partake of them. 1t i
enough to mention that all of us from tn
South were the guests of our friends OF tn
Reformed Church, and that nothing wa
wanting to make us feel ourselves at home
Let them be assured that whenever the
visit such homes as we have in the South
while we may not be able to welcomes then
! lOlr tn their own tapyr,iu. Abundance, on