New-York tribune., 1874-03-14
ARELI;!oUs CONSOLIDATION.

TIg PLAN FOR UNITING THE REFORMED CHURCH
OF ANEmCA AND TuE PHlsBY n.ElAS CHURCH
SOUTH.
The Committees representing the Reformed
Church in America aud the Presbyterian Church South
unanimously adopted the following plan Of union at
their session in this city, which they viii
me I'D for adoption 70 their respective bodies their
next session in Nay and Juno of the present year
l. That the standards Of doctrine in both chUehes
have always G,cn recognized as orthodox oNp1slnons
ana noble monuments OF the faith proessed by the Re
formed Church lu America, the Belgc tOnlcsslOn he
Articles Of the Synod of Dart and the Heidelberg Cate
chism; and FOR tHy P.osby ,cran Church, tie Confession
Of Faith OF the Westminster Assembly, with the Larger
ana shorter CaecsUS and in forming closer relations
with each other with the solemn pUfpOse OF stvu.
together and OF hg'heng our hands to uphold Tue
doctrines of these venerable symbolic aua OF maintain
lng lnrl "a o l.' G.Se - w1ich they have been re-
"~'"~" 80 ..Gfi7pt6i from the first.
H. should anything be found in the proceedings Of
garded inconsst ont with TIE principle That the Church
of Jesus is spiritual kingdom ana not secular or
political and that ecclesasc ca courts are to handle and
conclude only ecclesastca matters, such action shil
not be pleaded precedent IN Sthihg connected
with the scheme oi cooperation herein pfOVlIcl iOr
III Tnst the close agreement between the doctlnal
standards the two churches and the general agree
mcnt OF tbelr forms Ol government ana rules ot DIS
cine with their steadfust adherence to the same pre-
a solid and satisfactory basis OF strong mutual con
their recent Intercourse ani experience OF irattrnal
| sympathy and kintuC5s.
followers OF our Lord Jesus Christ t. Eek t. embrace
all proper means OF maheeuns sIch utSec OF uny VA
ihat the unity may. view, be encctu4ly mani
fnstd nv us in the ascnce of outward ecclesiastical
Uniformity with which never ought to be cOufouHdcd.
aud which ought never TO Do purchased d" uc cost OF
While there are at present obstacles to the form
alton OF an organic union between hcsc denominations,
Vet cordially aerenne in the above declaration have
good reason 10 hecVe that tue way II happily opened.
updcY the guidance Ot Gods Holy Splt dnd holy prONi-
Sence Tor sncb intimate cooperative alliance Will
move comfortable and useful OA bOtn sides. The pro
Visions of the plan brace bc following particulars,
l. With view OF expressing more euphdiclliy the
II, a At%tl
istead OF the former system Of delegates, delegation
consisns ot Two ministers and Two eOers shall Dc
ANNA y from General synod 10 the meeting OF the
General Assembly, and similar delegation from the
General ASSEMBLY to thc meeting ol (e Oenefal synod
which delegation shall be expected 70 st ant deliberate
throughout the sessions OF these bodies respectively.
endeayQjDg esp9iy 20 Stnrt an tHoso Interests ia
which the two churches cooperate .
III vacant con gregato shall he AT liberty 10 call
minister from either of the churcGe~, according u the
nrdaT cet Ibishcd in that church ~ which hc may be
called anu shall conform to thc oricl of the ehnrch
III where particular churches either body are in
l,cations much convenient for connection with
Sed TO then to seek tausfcr in such way AS snail
conformity with the regulations OF both denomi,
students OF theology OF either body TO pursGe their
s1e5 IN lnstutiOnS Of the other u VIII De regarded
with hearty appreciation oy Dom. Aan stuochls VINO
nave pursued full course of study IN the theoiosical
semnares OF ether church sna P9 peSu 80 On S ~ o Sf
| 10 islbeloved that valuable c0opera,ion may pe
secured regard 10 most OF those schemes OF Oeuevo-
! ienee In winch both churches ere engaged A. the
extent 10 which this may be most JudicousN carried
Z 1a
nernent many OF the details must be left for future
agreemrnt Tne following Is ad0ptoa rs indicating what
! may be initiated AT the present tlme;
l. Iu regard 10 foreign missions we believe that It
v uroaby most promote The glory OF God that there
shond moi be separate denoinatOpai interests perna
nently established where our missions are or may ne
planted within reach Of each other bur the establish.
ineut of one united church Should be encouraged But
n deserves 70 be caletuy considered whetier IN our
whole work OF fOfegn missions complete -dsion Is mol
aAyisae Il therefore agreed tHt 'nc entire subject
snail be referred the Board and Committee IN the two
hurcbes having charge of these interests. With instruc
tinns TO devise plans IL deemed practicable, IN accord
| asge with these suggestions.
n In regard 10 Domestic Missions especially ia the
eyangestic work, It 10 Judged eXpedient 10 refer the
whole subject the appropriate Board and COMMITTEE
~ he two churches their consideration a provided
for in the matter of Foreign MISSIONS IL may DE sun
Able however 20 declare at tis tune our convection o
the Of tins in both churches ana
ssne,sy of that Of Ii which Pesents itself within
the bounds Of the General AsseWVy III pehai VI 'no
| large aud needy cOored population. ,..-,
iii In regard to Publication, IL is agreed tba eaeh
Committee or BOARD, shall furnish the other wlth us
n9biications and 10 two publishing houses sha act as
deposares, leach for the other. 40 ar a.
shall DO 1T TO tue Board au nav ~
charge Of the interests. rms whoe nltf. uso is
referred oy me General ~ hou 1a c"osdtr
whether the two agencies may not NC Iauc mug ono;
| 1t In tortLer recommended 10 the General eyhoo
ana eneral Assembly 10 cohtnue -, 1,nsorance an
po n.ed by each, who Hhall @ JOlutD lnsIuScu W
Cve by Jan l. 1876, the plans propaIea ~ y,1 ne
Aud Committees as hereinDefOie IhoNiueu, WIN
10 modify far necessary ana hhrhiOhi1c teu q"
I an ono Commemorative schcme OF cooperative UNION
which seheine shalt lie submitted 10 the Synou sni ~
the Assembly rcspcctiN ely ~ thelr hnhnii soeons ~
| 1875. fhc provisions " this agreement OF any Phi'
thereof snail be from the time OF tleiP adop
by poih tie General SYNOD and the GENERA hese"'p
THE BROOKLYN NAvY-YABD.