The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-03-24
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
THE BALTIMORE COMMITTEE
BY JAMES A. LYON, d. D.

THE BALTIMORE COMMITTEE.
BY JAMES A. LYON d. d.
As our Assembly's Committee and their cham
pions have been patiently heard in defence OF the
late abortion at Baltimore, it is certainly but just
and equitable that the honest views of brethren on
the otner side of the question should be also heard
Whilst the failure at Baltimore to effect frater.
nal relations between the two great branches OF
the Presbyterian family in this country will not
surprise many, for reasons which it is not now ne
cessary to explain yet it will be sincerely regretted
by mutitudes. Regretted:
lst Because there are many ministers and mem
bers in the Southern Presbyterian Church who re.
gard the ur Just and almost insane deliverances OF
the Northern Church, whilst infurated by the
spirit of war, and instigated by designing dema
gogues, as not being the true expression OF the
good and great men, who, in times of peace were
looked up to as the leaders and pillars OF the
Church. They, as history attests were overborne,
brow beaten iDtimidated and effectually silenced
by the "terrorists who, by the aid of bayonets
and bolts, were at the time in the ascepdency.-
But those fearful times have passed away; those
accidental and self constituted leaders have been
set aside, and the eyes of the Northern Church are
now turned to the substantial and good men Of
auti.war times as their cornselors and guides So
and 1866 but with fathers and brethren who were
always our friends, and who were not responsible
for those frenzed war manifestations instgaed by
politicians.
I'd. In the next place we regret the failure be-
cause we cannot bring ourselves to believe that our
Northern brethren, who have repeatedly offered
the hand OF friendship, are not sincere in their eX
nressions of kindly feeling and brotherly regard.
1t is psychological impossbity for us to regard
h,,ko al.N,
rem beloved in the Lord, and one with us in the
same great undivided Church, extending from the
lakes to the gulf, and from ocean to ocean, as hav
ing in so short time, become dereict with regard
to all truth and honesty Our present position
compels US to cali in question either their honesty
or their intelligence neither of which are we vii
ling to do.
Sd. In the third place, we regret the upshot of
the negotiation, because when our brethren Off
cially declare to US that by null and void,' and
other equally significant utteFances they in good
faith, mean to inCudsssd wipe out literally every
thing offensive to u.s. and to place US in all respects
on the same level with themselves, we sincerely
believe that they are honest in what they say. We
do not call In question, by word or insinuation,
their veracity. We have not the capacity to be-
lieve, the heart to insnuate that their utter
ances are "Delphic," their faith punic," and
their courtesy "glozpg'' 1t is an invarable
dence, that every man shall have the right to ex.
plain what he MEANS and to put his owe construc-
ton upon bis own language. But for this lnallen-
able right, and universally admitted principle, no
one would be safe. We should be liable to all the
horrors of the inquis!tion. Every man would be in
danger of having his words and his blunders so
construed as to convict him. of falsehood, of per-
jury, of blasphemy OF treason, OF any crime what
ever Consequently it is not allowable for one
party to dictate to another the anguage-the ipSiS
sin,a uerba-in which he shall make his apology,
otherwise the offended party might dictate such
terms as would not only be humiiating, but de-
grading to the other! This dctation, the Code"
Of the worlds honor, to say nothing of Chris
tian charity Il Cor xiii ~ says one man shall
not exercise towards another. 1t is even in the
worlds esteem considered ignoble to require terms
of apology tantamount to vengeance. The party
explaining or apologzing shall be allowed the priv
i!ege of using his own terms, and OF putting his
own construction upon them. And if the construc-
ton be satisfactory the complaining party is bound
by every law OF evidence and of honor to be salts
fed otherwise any captous critic might defeat
the most earnest desire to bring about reconcile
alton of parties. Consequently, when our North
ern brethren solemnly and officially declare that
by null and void" they mean to wipe out every
thing, as already stated, justly offensive to u.s. or,
to use their own language, their action was in
special sense intended to do away with the dehUer
aaces concerning the Southern Church, ao,o com.
planned of and to afford an opportunity to all
Presbyterans, without hindrance from the actions
of the past. to unite together in closer raternal re-
ation. When they thus solemny and officially
declare their meaning, we have it not in our hearts
to disbelieve what they say. Aud when they
further say: 1--WE can add nothing to the force of
these direct aud simple utterances by comment or
argument. They we're made in sincerity, and 10
the earnest desire to remOUe the causes of alienation
and restore peace when they thus.speak, we be.
lieve what they say TO be true. We feel that we
would but dishonor ourselves 10 call in question
their veracty When they again say, 1--WE are
ready, so soon as this first proposal shall be ac-
cepted by you, as we still hope it will be- to submit
other overtures looking cthe speedy settlement OF
all controversies between us touching church pro-
perry" &c. When they say this, we honestly be-
lieve that they meant what they say.
Once more. when the Northern Committee. act
ing in their official capacity acknowledge that the
offensive utterances of which we SO justly complain,
" Were made in peculiar times and under strange
and exciting circumstances when the passions and
feelings OF men were profoundly moved"' aud
when they assure us That these actions and de- |
liverances are not now law or rule or precedent"
we confess we do not any substantial difference
between this, their declaration, and the form of |
Jour Committed declare would be satisfactory
Let us lay these two statemeuts-these two forms
Of expression-the one actually made by the North
srn brethren, and the one suggested by our Com
nitee, side by side, in order to afford fair oppor
tunity to every unbiased reader to judge for him
,elf THE italics here, as elsewhere, are ours. y
Dur Committee says:
If your Assembly could see its way clear to say,
n few plain words to this efect-that these OBJ
loxious things said and done in times of great
that they are to be regretted, and that
low, in calm review, the imputations cast upon
he Southern Church are disapprored-that would
md the difficulty at once.
Iu answer, the Northern Committee says:
We declare that all the acts and deliverances of
he Northern Assembly, of ,Ohich you complain, are
wholly null and void, and of no binding efficacy
judgments of the Church we represent, or as rules
If proceeding for its Presbyteres and Church Ses-
lions; that in so far as they, or any of them can be
opposed to import any Injurious imputation upon
he present character and standing OF the churches
md members of the Southern Assembly as Chris
ians or Presbyterians, such application of them
would be unjust to you, and would be DIsAPPRovED
md REGRETTED by US that the acts and deiverances
# the Northern Assembly of which you complain
Tere made in peculiar times, and under strange and
rciting circumstances when the passions and feel