The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1875-02-04
From the Central Presbyterian. =
The ConGcrcHcc in Baltimore.

( AMc S0Rsry'kStlSSSsA As1 -A's- -AsA---~
TIE, Committee Of the Northern
andsoutaern Presbyterian Churches,
appointed to confer about removing
the causes which have prevented
freternal relations, met IN Baltimore
on Thursday. evening; the 7th insts
and on Thursday evening, the 18th
inst, they adjourned siine dc: 1t
should. be noticed that the confer
cnec vas not concerning organic
union, as has been pefsistently rep
resented; it was to remove the exist
ing hindrances to friendly relations,
such as official correspondence BY
delegates. When it IS anponnecd
tina. the Conference entirely failedte
accomplish the purpose Of its ap,
pointn,cat, and .lefs every Thing about
',ssofs
S1n 6e keAltl - -. -
by thousands both North and South,
who felt that, while organic union
might be impracticablc, il. not I'M
possible, amicable relations between
the two churches ought on every ac-
count to be established, and that a
failure to accomplish this would be q
continual reproach upon the intel
ligencc and piety of the Prebyterian,
and Christian name. BY an dgrcc-
ment of the committees all the papers
passingbetween them will be pub
lished, and the matters involved
will speedily pass under the public
eye. 1t was impossible to give them
this week, but the whole will ap-
pear in our next issue, occupying q
large part Of the paper.
1t is not for any purpose of preoc-
cupyins the public mind that We
here indicate in general the course
of discussson in this Conference, but
because We know there is an intense
anxiety to obtain information con-
cerning it. We give therefore the
essential points.
l. The Southern Committee, as
the party invited to the Conference,
announced to the other Committees
that they were ready to consider any
proposals for removing hindranccs
to fraternal relations.
2 To this the Northirn Committee
replied by proposing simply to rec
ommend to both Assemblies "an in
terchange of delegates; thus recogniz-
iiiag sasA AaslsE:as:eoFre esppadias bod,
-ies..'
8. To this the Southern Committee
objected, because it proposed to ar
range the whole proceeding exactly
wrong end foremost, inasnueh as an
interchange of delegates, and the es-
tablishment of correspondence has
always been recognized rs the sym
Dol and complete evidence Of frater-
nal relations wbich hatc beer aleady
established. This Conference was ap-
pointed by both Assemblies upon
the idea that there were hindrances,
and of seeking their removal. Their
paper then entered at considerable
length into statement OF the caHses
heretofore preventing fraternal in
tereourse, arising from the unjust
and injurious accusations made by
the Northern Assembly; such as
"schism," "heresy," ''blasphemy,'
&C.; also their course in regard to
church property. The chief stress
was unon the former, and they asked
that these dishonorins imputations
should be removed. They were not
particular as to the terms, so it was
done directly and unequivocally,
which it was maintained had not
been yet done.
4. To this the Northern Committee
replied at equal length. Thcoutlinc
Of material points argued is this: 1t
contains full recital Of the action
of their Assembly in 1870, 1878, and
1874 and maintains that these Of
fensive declarations had been sin
the most positive andcomprehensive
language" declared 4null and void,'
and therefore Of no binding effect,
and not to be pleaded as precedent
in the future" and that their Assem-
bly, had expressed its confidence in
the soundncss of doctrine of those
who compose your (cur) communion
This refers to the paper adopted by
the Baltimore Assembly. They de-
L.: LO....,.o. 70 rrn,,orn mn. thinr