The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-11-01
Presbyter = of New Orleans


Met on the 18th inst. in the Franklin Street
Memorial church, New Orleans.
After sermon by Rev. r. @. Malard, D. D.,
from Psalm cxxxi: l, 2 Presbytery was organized
by the election of Rev. B. Wayne, Moderator, and
elder w. 7. Ogden, clerk. Ten ministers and
eight ruling elders were present. qolosg
The First Presbyterian church. McComb city,
was received, and the Domestic Missionary Com.
mittee we're directed to supply the pulpit A col
lection for this special Committee will be taken up
on the 18th November. aaa 3F.
J. s. Shaw, licentiate, was dismissed to the Pres
bytery of Mississippi
The church at Tangipohoa was enrolled
Rev. s. j. Bingham was granted permission to
labor at Messy Point. ~ sdi ;i0l e3a l
The Book of Church Order was given to COM
mittee to report in the spring, at the meeting at
Magnolia. Miss. fao'ss ~
The Presbytery recorded it's dissent from the
General Assembly action on the parity Of the el-
dership. ....i,,1o.. - sof
FDATERNAL RELATIONS.
Upon Fraternal Relations the following paper
was adopted ,f,, o.,,i, =. rD. ,..
/. The action Of the Assembly in reference to
Freternal Relations appears to have been construed
by some as agreeing to negotiate the questions
pending between the Northern Church and our
own, on 1.-THE basis of reciprocity"
clined by our Assembly, when they specified. that
we maintain the principle laid down 10 the Balti-
more CONFERENCE.-THE is, the necessity of saying
in few plain words that the opprobious epithets
and charges which stand against us on their record
"are to be regretted. 1" Inasmuoh as no charges
are preferred against our record of similar injuries
and inasmuch as no charges have been preferred
against our Assembly of despoiling other denomi
nations of their property, the two bodies do 1ot
sustain similar relations to each other Hence, to
require our Church to negotiate on [" the basis of
reciprocity would require what in the nature Of
the case is impossible ....s ,4 i.-So
2. There seems to be reason to suppose that IN
the minds of some of our people an exaggerated
idea of the value of mere interchange of public
official courtesies, is in danger of obscuring the
more important idea of fidelity to principle. Pres
bytery would far rather incline to the opinion, that
the whole system of public visiting by delegates
between the different bodies of Christians, for no
higher purpose than the mere expression OF good
will. might be dispensed witb-as of doubtful
practical value and unnecessary expense.
g. The journals Of the Northern Assembly and
the published reports Of our own, show that pri
vate communications between the members of the
respective bodies largely contributed to modify the
conclusions reached by our Assembly.
Presbytery regards with alarm the growing ten.
dency to make use Of private telegraphc dispatch
es, to influence the deliberations of our highest
church court. We have the utmost respect for the
purity of motive which prompted it. yet the prac-
tice is evidently fraught with peril. And it might
easily grow to an evil Of such magnitude, as to
compel change in the time of our meeting, in
order to protect the liberty and dignity Of the As
sembly.
Upon the Pan. Presbyterian Alliance:
The question Of the proposed Pan-P Presbyterian
Alliance was brought before the last Assembly in
report of committee appointed by the previous
Assembly, which was to Inquire with power to act.
into the advisability of sending delegate to the
preliminary meeting; and in the report of Dr. Stu
art Robinson, our delegate to the same preliminary
meeting. The question engaged large part of the
time and deliberations, and the result was generally
commented on by the Press. But Presbytery must
rely on the Minutes of the Assembly for data on
which to form a judgment as to the significance of
the conclusions reached, Yet, on examination of
the minutes, it is seen that the official papers pro
vided for by the previous Assembly, and which
formed the very basis Of the discussions. are no.
where to be found upon the record. Meantime
there is great diversity of opinion on the subject,
in different parts Of the Church; and no uniform
standard of Interpretation.
In these circumstances, Presbytery must decline
undertaking to define the precise significance of the
action of the Assembly. And it contents itself
with the statement, that if the Assembly intends
to indorse the principle Of Pan Presbyterian AL
lance, as set forth in the constitution adopted at
the preliminary meeting. Presbytery reafirms its
opposition to the whole scheme, and upon the same
grounds as taken last year.
In order, however, that the Presbyteries may
have the opportunity to consider the whole subject
in all its bearings this Presbytery hereby respect
fully overtures the Assembly to order those official
papers which have been omitted, to be placed upon
our records. j."