The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1875-04-15
From the Jesersonian Democrat OF Lou
isyiIle, Ky.l
THE BALTIMORE PRESBY'
TERRAIN CONFERENCE.
why the Two Presbyterian As
xemblics Should notbc Console.
dated.
Published by request.

We give 4 considerable share OF
our space this issue to DR.. Stuart
Robinson's presentation of the diff
culties and attempts at reconciliation
between the two Assemblies Of the
Presbyterian Church. His review
thereupon is an able defense of the
Southern Assembly against the char
ges Of being "uncharitable, unforgiv-
ing and petulent." Our object in
this publication is not, perse the pro
pogation Of Presbyterianism. We
have political motive, and it takes
its root in our determination in favor
of the decentralization of social, re-
ligious and political institutions.
Weare opposed to excessively large
bodies whether they be legal, social,
political or religious in their compo-
sition and designs. We do not be-
lieve in large churches or large as
semblies, for the same reason that We
are opposed to huge railroads, or an
oyergrown State. a church Of 4
thousand members. never hasas much
piety and charity, and meelaiess in
it, in proportion to numbers, as one
of FIVE hundred members. In large
social or religious bodies the integers
come to rely too much upon the col
lective action, and the handspring
of all human excellence, individual
activity and responsibility becomes
rusty from disuse. A mob of five
hundred men will do collectively, and
boast of it, deeds that not more than
two or three among them would at
tempt individually.
So We are opposed to the union Of
the two Presbyterian Assemblies.
Acting separately they can do more
good religiously, and far less harm
politically. By itself the Southern
Presbyterian Church will lend its
collective influence to the Jefferson
ian idea of politics, and be able to
maintain its own publishing houses
in the South. It's attitude of seces-
sion from the Northern Assembly,
and independence of it, puts it pat
with the true theory of our institu
tions. The instinct of sclfprcserva-
ton, dignity and untrammelled de-
velopment compels both small States
and small eccleSiastic bodies to stand
more or less resolutely by that grand
idea. All large human bodies gray
itate into the Capitalization macl-
strom. 1t comes from the grossncss
and dcpravity of the natural man.
DR.. Robinson makes it evident that
Southern Presbvtcrians can not come
to terms with the Northern Presby-
terians in a consolidation of the two
Assemblies. In our opinion the I'M
ion would be crime against the
country, and an offcnsc to God and
man. We do not alludc to the trans
lent indisposition Of Northern Pres
byterians to ,recant the false and
wicked ibels published against
Southern Prcsbyterians, but to the
principle involved in such proposal.
PreSbvterians are divided, for cause
special to them in their local habita
lions, into two Assemblies. 1t does
not affect their PrcSbyterianiSm;
therefore there is no religious schism
to be bridged in 4 union of the As
semblies.
The cause which divides them has
its origin in that principle which
divides the country itself naturally
into sections, and, politically, into a
great number of comparatively small
States. Their continued separation
will not only strengthen Prcsbyter-
ianism, but help to maintain the
principle of local self-govcrnment
through independent republican
States. The Northern Presbyterian
Assembly rcjoices in the idea of a
nation of all the States, while the
Southern Assembly has for its ideal
the sovereignty of the States respec-
lively. The first means that men
arc for governments; the second that
governments are for men. One is
theocratical and monarchical; the
other physiological and democratical.
The distinction is as wide as earth
and sky, and essential both to human
self-government and human rcdemp-
ton.
The moral government Of the life
that now is Of Christ, and the politi-
cal government of the Democracy
itself. The day of theocratical gov
crnment in the church has passed
away and new dispensation, with
Christ as its law-giver, reigns. The
Gospel is for the poor, for sinners,
and not for the elect and and phari-
saical. They who attempt to link
the church with the idea of 4 central
authority in the government of this
country as one nation, put themselves
not only in antagonism with the DEM
ocratic principle of self-government
through the division Of the country
into many small bodies polite, but
in opposition to the spirit and prin-
ciplcs of Christianity itself.
We have argued this question aside
from the position occupied by DR..
Robinson and scarcely with any ref
ercncc to it. Therefore we ask our
readers to read his lecture for the