New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-03
PRESBYTERIAN UNION.

To CONSIDER MEASURES FOR THE CONFERENCE
or COMMITTEES
There are ut present about forty eight dif-
fsycnt and independent churches throughout the world
each one OF which claims, far doctrine and general
poty Co. the name OF Presbyterian These 4S Churches
embrace 10000 congregations that the aggregate OF
the members OF these various congregations must repre-
sent several millions. 1t Is now designed, "a indeed IL
has long desired to bring together all these millions
in one solid union regards doctrine and ecclesiastical
discipline. Yet tenacious ara the various congrega
lions OF their several points OF belief tradition ana prac-
ce that the promoters OF the scheme for the reunion OF tho
whole body by means ovcrslnguine OF an early
success The Presbyterian Church. as whole IL widely
spread over this Continent Australia, tie British Colo
nlcs England and Ireland and through Scotland, which
birthplace. Its principal organizations in Europe
are The Church of Scotland, known as the Established
Church OF Scotland the Reformed Presbyterian Church
the Presbyterian Church OF Ireland In this country the
principal organizations are The General Assembly or
the Presbyterian Church OF North America the Presby-
terrain Church Of the United States the United Presby
terrain Church of North America the Reformed Presby
tcrians and the Reformed Church in America formerly
known the Dutch Reformed. In Canada there exists
what Is known the Canada Presbyterian Church In
Australia, NewZealand, and Van Deman's Land Presby-
terlansm Is in much the same condition "a In Canada
All these various and independent organizations hold
substantially the gOs doctrine and ecclesiastical
p0y. Prcsbyterianisn Is that form OF Calyinsm which
was carried from Geneva into Scotland by John Knox
In 1917 during the time OF the English Commonwealth
the Presbyterian doctrines drawn up and embodied
in what known " the Westminster Confession of Faith
This Confession Of Faith prepared by the English
NonconforInists aided by Commissioners from Scotland
in Westminster Abbey. At the same time Book OF Dis
cplne also prepared and accepted Since that date
the Westminster Confession has been universally ac-
cepcd by Prcsbyerans, Of all organizations al their
standard Of doctrine while the Book of Discipline has
been accepted In like tho standard OF disc
pne and pOlity. The Church OF Scotland Ia known as
and acknowledged by all to be- the mother church OF
Presbyteriansm 1t adheres 10 this day to the original
doctrines and pOty Of the Church 1t il, however
neced With tho state and in this respect stands to Scot
land in DucS the regard "a the Anglican Church
does to England Both are the Established Churches in
their respective countries and both consequently
state patronage exercised Both supported by the
system of thes. The Crown patronage existed in Scot
land up to last year, when it abolished by Mr. Dis
raeli In 1913 what IL known as the Free Church OF
Scotland seeded and carried away with very cOnsd
cradle portion Of the parent church Tho Free Church
rejected State patronage altogether while IL accepted
the payment Of tthes Since the dsesabllshment Of the
Irish Church under Mr. Gadstone's Government, the
Free Church of Scotland has pronounced against State
endOwments In any FORM On these points agrees sub
stanally with the United Presbyterian Church, which
started by the Ersknc family who objected to State
tronage in the Church. and originated what was known
as the Secession Church. Urged by similar motives,
Thomas Boston and others founded the Relief Church
toward the latter part of the century In S47 these two
churches combined and formed the United Presbyterian
Church. which adheres to the old standards OF doctrine
and poty but discaims all State patronage and State
support. The Reformed Presbyterian Church claims to
be the nea descendant of the Church before the Revo
volution and represent the signer5 of the Solemn
League and Covenant
All these churches act independently Oh one another
having no ecclesiastical intercourse although in doctrine
they are all The points that divide them mainly
State patronage and minor questions regarding the
ner Of public worship The Covenanters. those who ad
here strictly to the Solemn League and Covenant conne
themselves to the of the psalms in public praise.
The Free Church psalms and hymns while the Estab
shed Church of Scotland and the United Presbyterians
use psalms and hymns and allow instrumental music.
The Presbyterian Church OF Ireland was founded by
emigrlns and coloniss who settled in that
country In doctrine and church pOity 1t agrees with
the Scotch Churches. In the time OF william III. it
ceivcd an endowment from the stae, known the Re
giuIn Donum. This endowment gradually increased in
amount until it was finally committed by the Govern
ment of Mr. Gladstone. The English Presbyterian
Church. is ofshOo OF the Free Church Of Scotland,
with which agrees al points 1t grew up under DR..
James Hamilton of London, and claims " represent the
old English Presbyterian Church
PREsBYTERiANS IN AMERICA.
In the United the chief Prcsby body is the
General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of North
America which goes back in its history to the beginning
Of the Seventeenth Century In 1887 the Assembly di
vidcd in docrina and other matters and the separated
bodies assumed the titles of the New School and the Old
School Presbyterian Church The Old school was repre-
scented In its doctrnal positions by Dr. Charles Hodge OF
Princeton; the New School by Dr. Albert Barnes of Phil
G,.l.
In doctrna poity they adhere to the old Westminster
standards and allow the singing OF psalms and hymns
and the OF instrumental music. The General AS
scmbly comprises 4,9i6 congregations, 1857 minister's
i95, 634 communicates and $4,000 SabbathschOOl
children Some idea of its wealth may be formed from
the fact last year raised 81 900 for home and
foreign purposes 1t owns very large amount of real
estate in churches colleges semnares and other educa
tonal establishments scattered all the country.
Owing to dssensons which arose the outbreak the
Civil War; the Presbyterian Churches Of the South.
which before the had formed part OF the Old School,
separated and formed distinct organization under the
Of the Presbyterian Church In the United
states This organization numbers about 500 congcga-
TONS which up the present time have declined to ell
into any union to hold any intercourse with the
Presbyterian Church North
The United Presbyterian Church of North America was
founded by coonts who came over from the Secession
Churches in Europe. IL retains the doctrine and
polly the General Assembly but differs from the lat
Ter in combining itself to the exclusive use of psalms in
public worship aud in opposing the OF instrumental
music IL also excludes Freeinas0ns from membership
The Church embraces about 700 congregations.
The Reformed Presbytelians number about 100 con
grcgatOns. They represent the most conservative ele
ment of Presbyteranism requiring members Of their
body adhere to the Old Solemn League and Covenant
They cOnine themselves to the use Of psalms in public
worship oppose the use of instrumental music, and
Guide Freemas0ns from membership. They in common
with United Presbyterian Church OF North America
were antASlavery churches before the war
In Canada, during the last century the Scotch emf
grants laid the foundations OF the Canada Presbyterian
Church The emgrants brought with them the ecclesas
ca discussions of the mother country, and thus sep
arate churches representing the various churches Ut
home were formed These different sections have been
gradually drawing more closely together; much
that the present year the last division will disappear
and all the congre cations will unite in forming indie