The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-10-20
CORRESPONDENCE ON FRATERNAL
RELATIONS.


we can, what it is likely to accomplish. In
the Southern Church it has been published
in full by the South, Western, the NORTH
Carolina. the Southern, the Central, and
the st. Louis Presbyterian. The Christian
Observer gave a synopsis only. In the
Northern Church it has been published in
full By the Herald and Pres5yter, the Ns'0
York Evanqslst, and the Interior. The
Pres5msrtqn Banner and the Weekly Pres
5yterian publish no part of it. The editorial
notice Of each is about fifteen lines in length
in sighting tone, and Insignificant in
every respect.
The PHILADELPHIA Presbyterian gives an
outline of the discussion, and thinks the two
brethren shave not marched step nearer
each other by their discussions. DR.. Pal
mer, it states, dwell8 upon and makes clear
the precise demand made by US as to the re-
moyal Of accusations by the Northern Church
CDR. Nelson makes it clear that ne is
willing to abandon the word 'PreseRt IN
the minute of the last Assembly, aud aecords
70 the Southern Presbyteriaus the merit OF
conscientious conviction in their course dur
ing the war. But the question which arises,
whether this would satisfy the Presbyterian
Church South, is not answered. DR.. Pal
mer evidently thinks that it could not be
considered satisfactory, because OF the H.
defniteness still remaining And so the cor,
respondenee comes in the end to be an argu-
ment for silence-for silence until the time
comes, which we believe will come, in which
the Assembly of our Church will feel ready
TO GRANT a little more than it has granted
and the Southern Church accept little less
than it has hitherto claimed.
The NeoV York Evangelist has long ar
tiole on the subject. We can only indicate
It's character by few extracts, and state
ments.
at seems to us futile to attempt by for
NAL resolution or otherwise to wipe out the
acts of the past. We cannot affect then
quality by any process Of review.
-" It is gratifying to record that the tlna
action in regard to our relations to the South
ern Church was so candid, and so nearly
unanimous. The question was really settled
when DIR. Niccolls had presented the case II
its various bearings. 1t is difficult to see
how the Assembly, in consistency with Its
own selerespeet, could have taken any other
action than it did" Sour Assembly passed
an admirable resolution on the subject. >
Then follows the old song about what they
had done by virtue of their a6racadabrc
act of " null and void. "Thst is where oul
Church now stands. 1t seems to be suthcl
entity full and explicit" &c. " Can any
thing be palmer"
The word present" it suppOses was pu
in, 1st, because we said in Baltimore tina
tho imputations were still resting upon US
So at present" ''This was denied" I'd
Because they, the Northern Assembly, di'
not wish to go back into the past-and theJ
. BID not intend, land have distinctly agar
gain denied that they can be held re
s6ona6le for what was done by former As
ssmblies.
Besides this, the Evangelist says that i
they are "forced to face the old issues
again, we DO not know that we could es
sentially change our ground, any more thar
can our Southern brethren"
Finally, off we are to confess what Oul
Southern brethren construe as the sins o.
former Old and New School Assemblies
why should they not say the same of US
Are we the only sinners? Have we alone
held pernicious theories, and been unbrOth
erly in our speech ?" Aud more in the same
strain.
The Herald and Pres5ytsr has two arti.
eles, but the tone is fippant and they amount
to very little. DIR. Palmer is represented
(he is also By the Presbyterian as artful and
lodging the question Of DR.. Nelson, and a;
hard to satisfy, except upon impossible
terms" It can see no difference between
DR.. Nelson views and those of the Northern
Baltimore Committee, and DR.. NicoOlr:
speech, "unless it be in the use Of single
word no doubt the word "pre
sen" before character. Itsays ''the word
present did not change the sense, and the
Assembly in future will be ready to pass as
strong action without using the word. "
Finally the Herald thinks the Presbyte-
risn Alliance and Dr.. McKee's eyangehstiC
labors in Kentucky viii soon bring about
fraternal relations, and extremists in either
Church viii soon be poSerless to check the
spirit of fraternity aud cooperation. We
must learn to respect and love each other.
In this respect the North is greatly in ad-
vance of the South-but the South is making
rapid progress. The South will yet pass as
kind action as The North has done. We
hope that but few Southern ministers will
die without the sight"
"a considerable touch Of gltsh towards a
pack Of "schismaties, " heretics," and
a. blasphemers,
THE Interior is kind and courteous in its
tone, and says that while DR.. Palmer is
guarded, he expresses a preference for the
form of DR.. Nelson's proposition. The fair
intimation is that be would be satisfied with
it, since, if both were seriously Objectionable,
he could have no special choice between
them" It thinks this correspondence will do
good, and says that IF a single word which
is not essential to the maintenance of any
truth is offensive to, or misunderstood BY our