The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-03-24

Tugs ol men were profoundly nOVeQ that as acts OF
Assemblies, which do not represent, we cannot
sit in Judgment upon them, nor express any opinion
as to their characters that we feel competent to ex
press the desire that they may be considered by you
in the spirit of charity and Christian forgive
ness. which, we trust the people whom we represent
will exercise towards anything to which they may
object in the proceedings of the Southern Assembly.
That is to say, as we understand it, even if you
insist on holding responsible for the actions of
our separate Assemblies before our union we trust
that in the exercise of Christian charity you will
toratUe US.
Now we appeal to every impartial and candid
reader to all who are not In heart opposed to fra
ternal relations on any terms, and who are willing
to receive their solemn and official declaration as
not jesuitca and designing, but as sincere. manly
and honest, to say whether, In composing these
two notable passages, VIZ the one suggested by
our Committee, and the one actually adopted by
the other, there is any substantial difference in
their respective imports? And yet our Commit
tee, we regret to say, was not satisfied with this
solemn and official protestation, but defeated the
" fraternal relations" which thousands of earnest
Christians on both sides we're so prayelfully anx-
lous might be established
But whilst we are not able to detect any substan-
tal difference in the Interpretation of the two pas.
sages above laid side by side, without far-tetched
and strained construction, yet candor compels us
to say, that as the Northern Church were confess.
eddy the original offenders in the case, and in view
OF the fact that they are great and dominant
Church, 1t would, in our opinion, have been no
sacrifice of magnanimity or honor on their part to
have complied with the suggestion of our Commit
tee, and thus end the difficulty at once Had the
Apostle Paul been negotator on either side, we
have not the shadow OF doubt but that the result
would have been different.
4th. ln the fourth pace We a sorry on account
OF the failure, because 1t revlves anew the terrible
war spirit in which these offensive utcrances orig
mated. LIS tendency i@to fan afresh the fires OF
anger, prejudice hate and bitter denunciltion, as
is SO lamentably verified by the fact. Bat we ask
in all rankness whether this undisguised prtjudice
shall we call it hate 2? felt on the part OF some on
both sides towards-let us say erring Christians
we have not yet called each other spostate) is not
to be deeply deplored2 And would it not have
been better and more Chrstlike TO have sumbit
ted to wrong" if need be Il Cor. vi !: 7 rather
than to have opened afresh the suices of vitupera
ton, and the bltterest denunciation? We on the
one side drag forth anew their war de'iverauces,
their lawless ipSo tdcto proceedings, and charge
them with having their hands stained with oul
blood, &c. Whilst they, on the other, retort by
referring TO the conduct OF some OF our ministers
who not only sounded the tocsin OF war from tFeil
pulpits, went from army to army, and by thrilling
and fiery eoquence stirred the war spirit but act
ually donned the harness of Mars, and with sword
and spur led the battle. What good can possibly
be accomplished by probing these old but slowly
healing sores There is no heresy 10 the world
greater than hatred to acknowledged brethren u
John iii: l0-l5 The failure at Baltimore. which
is discussed by the press, religious and Secular
North and South, reyives all the old issues between
the two sections aud in our judgment will, in the
end, do infinitely more harm to the cause of Christ
than it was possible could have resulted from the
establishment of e fraternal relations y on the
terms offered by either side. What harm, we ask
could have resulted from Jrothaly correspondence
Do we not fraternze with the Cumberland Presby
terian Church And do not their ministers and
magazines and their book publications, sanctioned
by their Church, misrepresent US, and charge u!
with holding " damuable heresies, such as "in
FAINT damnation. 'baptismal regeneration, % lin
tied atonement," and "fatalism p What is Fa
talisn, but ATHEISM? Has the Northern Church
ever made harder or more unjust charges thar
these2 And yet We very properly shake hands
with them. The fact is, if we require perfection
on the part Of Church, as condition of friendly
correspondence with them we must stand like the
Jews OF old, aloof from every sect and Christian
brotherhood in the world The only consistent
ground that We can occupy. in our present unriend
" attitude towards the Northern Church, is t.
"Apostate Church u
5th. Once more, we much regret the result, be-
cause our Church, or respectable portion of it.
will not be satisfied. They will feel, and do feel
disappointed. The action of our late Assembly
consequent upon the earnest and protracted dis
cussion at Columbus, evidently looked to "frater
nal relations" The elaborate protest against the
action, signed by twenty three members, including
the Moderator, was based upon the same thing
7.
Had the committee been appointed by the Assem-
bly, themselves, instead of the Moderator we doubt
not the result at Baltimore would have been diff
terent Does any believe that. had frsternal rela.
tions been established, it would not have given
general satisfaction to the Church? in fact, to all
except such as fear "organic union" as the ulti.
mate result? We sincerely believe that bad the
expected relations been established, it would have
been recognized aoi heartfelt joy by the great body
of our Church. But, as the matter now stands,
there are many, as the event will surely prove, who
of the two branches of the Presbyterian family,
whose friendly cooperation might accomplish so
much for the advancement of Christ's king
dom. They are not willing that these twin sisters
in Christ, having the same history, the same pre-
cious faith, the same church order and the same
ecclesiastical ancestry should like the ancient Jews
and Samaritans, stand 10 frownng attitude towards
each other refusing to shake hands and bid each
other "God-speedl' They regard it as little
less than monstrous, and utterly subversive of the
spirit of Christ and His Gospel. They do not de.
sire to become "a kissing and by. word" to jeal
GUS sectaries and scofing infdels. Nor do we be-
lieve that the Northern Church will rest any more
satisfied with this state of things than ourselves.
Why higgle about trihes when the interest Of
Christ's Kingdom are at stake? 1t is our hope
and prayer and belief and in this expression we
represent many, that the next Northern Assembly,
following the example Of Paul Il Cor tx: 22,) will
adopt resolutions embodying substantially, or lit
orally, the suggestion of our Committee, which
will lend the difficulty at once" This they GER
tainly can afford to do And this multitudes OF US
hope and pray they will do.
In conclusion, we beg leave to say that We do not
desire to be understood by anything contained in
this paper as calling in question the honesty and
integrity of our honored Committee who went to
Baltimore. We do not doubt their zeal for the
honor of the Southern Church. But we honestly
think they committed blunder. We do not be
lieve that there was sufficient difference between
the meaning of the form of words suggested by our
Committee, and the form actually adopted by
theirs, to justify the defeat OF SO important nego
tiaton. This criticism applies equally to the
Northern Committee.
Now, Messrs. Il iitors, we have, as our custom
is spoken what we believe to be the truth, boldly,
honestly, candidly, but not, we trust, unkindy.-
This DONE our duty is done. The rest remains
with God