New-York tribune., 1875-01-25
PRESBYTERLAN UNION.

TIRE LATE CONFERENCE OF COMMITTEES or TIE
NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN AssENBLEs-CAUsE
OF THE DISAGREEMENT.
A synopsis Of the proceedings Of the recent
unsuccessful conference at Baltimore between COm
uittees OF the Northern and Southern Presbyterian
Assemblies hts just been published. The conference
was called prepare tie way for fra-crnd relations
the bodies. The question under discussion
simply whether hero should be regular exchange
OF delegates, there being already sort OF intercourse
between the members and ministers Of the two
churches Ministers pass from the presbyteres OF one
body those OF the other and certificates OF member
ship readily by either from the other
The southern Committee at the opening OF tie coz
ference requested that the negotiations be carried on in
writing, regret Of the Northern Committee, who
felt that personal conference and debate would be far
more efectua III explaining difficulties anu mlsunder
standings.
Two POINT sessions held al the beginning, the
other at the end Of The substance OF
the communications that passed between tie Commit
tees is stated as follows:
/ The Southern Committee offered paprr. previously
prepared rec.ng at large t." former actions of the
Assemblies especially thar at Louisville, aud d"cl rn2
tnel- readiness IN confer aIoIt the removing OF ob
staces 10 closer fellowship aud 1tercOur-e.
,. The Northern Committee IN answer, proposed an
Interchange or delegates as between corresponding
bodies and declared that they knew VI no Obstacles ~
s. Tne Southern Committee presented statement OF
their Rreyces. quo,ng 1T euZth from reports OF the
proceedings Of Northern Assemblies made pr .vious
the reunion OF tine Old and New scnool churches.
1. The Northern COmmltse declared, IL reply that
these obstacles mad been removed.
they argued that the action OF t1e ,rncrn As
semDy BIImOre IN 1873, under winch the Northern
Committee was appointed and luS tCtu, "sS not cor
rectly interpreted by the latter. IueY Questioned tho
competency of the Northern Committee 10 explain tie
acts OF NOrtaerr Assembly. Tuey insisted, an
eDsaDe condition OF their consent TO tine pro
posa for the interchange Of delegates, that the North
ern Committee should recommend. and their Assembly
should adopt, resolution lsayOWng al the acts aud
deIveraIces compldi-rd Of,
g. The Northern Committee declined n accede TO this
proposition tne following grounds: "a rney wOu
by consent TO sanction tue dccusauJns VI the
Southern Committee against the Assembly AZ Baltimore
nor would they submit t0 tue assumption or tlat CJm
Committee. o. In the u0ginent ot the Committee
dehyerances me Northern Assemblies Of 1870 AMI
posed cores pOndenor. e. The following sent
concise statement OF Tie position OF the Northern
Committee: "A the acts AMI delverances or the
nh ana vrd a"d Of No nindiIe, - iir No.
o church represent. rules OF proceeding
for its pres0yteues and church sessions and IN 80
far they, or any OF them. can De supposed
to import Injurious HnputIuOn upon the
present character aud s.anuug Oh the churches
as Christians, Presbyteriang, sucn application
them would be unl lst 10 yOu d1d would be dis p
proved and regretted oy TAe and dclyeraBces
peculiar times, and unier strange all cxcIg
circumsta ncos, when the pa siJns OF pro
fouudly moved A, acts Or Assemblies winch we 90 not
represent, we cannot st III Judgment upon them nor
express any opinion their W. do feel
competent express the tDat they may
by you spirit OF cldrlty and CHRIS
tan forgiveness that trust the people represent
will exercise toward anything 10 wn tEey may OBJECT
IN tue prOceediuss OF your Assembly"
T. this paper the Southern Committee replied that
t was satisfactory, aud Inmated tnAt they desired
to conference, leaving the question u aiorn
relations 10 has been.
The Southern Committee presented paper in relation
TO disputed church property, requesting that 1t be-
brought before the Northern Assembly IL states
value Of property dispute at s2Oo)OJo Tae Northern
Com mittee denied that the woul reach than
5000 600 but promised refer the the Asse
Dly. The conference then closed.