The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-03-01


It is enough for the present purpose to say
hat though your Assembly has made ex-
press admission on it's records that your
Church was reuohttioniza2" on the ques
ion of slavery-that is to- was abolition
zed-yet the same her as prevailed
among the Congregation and others.
Moreover, a multitude asaries, not
confined to one denominS we're pouring
over the Southern county e most out
rageous sentiments wered proclaimed,
as to what they intended pected to do
in subvertiug our church could fill col
umnS of this paper in pro Vas it tres
pass upon your rights, an etO your AS
sembly, that We should in We most general
terms, End that briefly, without syllable
of personal mention or even allusion-as you
are obliged to admit-warn our people to
beware of these things? You seem to be
touched to the quick, sOmshow but l deny,
for the reasons named, that you have 6 par
ticle of ground againstys. If you have,
then you may take up every resolution and
pastoral letter of General Assemblies from
the foundation of the prch, which warn
against errors and sins, and object that they
are improper and offensive. Here, then,
submit that the case, in this respect, is wholly
different between the two Assemblies, and
that your attempt to establish the contrary is
a signal failure.
You have introduced another topic not
strictly belonging to the issue between US,
though nearly allied, and of serious import.
A single sentence will indicate it. You say ;
"What we said was, tits not in the province
Of our Zone p Assembly TO- sapprove of the
disposition shO0n, to taxi option to the
temper displayed, and n the acts per-
formed By Assemblies long held" The
italics are yours 1 said he kentucky
Presbyterian that " if one emily cannot
review, Improperly print .psw) repeal,
and in all manner of way in judgment
upon what previous Assei 8 have done,
it is an anomaly on earth To this you
reply" Nobody denies tt But are the
men that compose our Assemblies now the
same men that composed them ten years
ago? If not, can the men of our present
Assemblies 90 back of the official acts of
their predecessors, assume without giving
them hearing that they acted under high
excitement, and showed bad temper, and
all this, express sorrow for their
sins ?"
This is your position; and if l mistake
not all candid readers will regard it as com
pletely overthrow by such considerations
and facts as these:
1. Governments have an official and con-
tinuous life, and a General Assembly is as
much responsible for acts committed ten
years ago, as of those committed last year.
2 If OAe civil government has insulted or
wronged another, reparation is justly de
manded, and often given. 1t makes no diff.
ference at all that the insult was given by a
preceding administration. That is common
sense and justice infused into international
law. 1t Straightly contradicts your notion
Of obligation among Christian bodies Which
is right?
3. You mistake our demand. The sen
tence you quote was only suggestion of a
general character, and only part of what
was said. All We asked in Baltimore was
that the Computations" SHOULD be removed (;
we care not in what terms, so they directly
and fairly cover the case" Your own Com
nittee of Conference land by approving your
Assembly alSo) decare-that these acts and
"were made in peculiar times,
and under strange and exciting crcumstan-
,es when the passions and feelings of men
we're profoundly moved" What more have
We suggested than your ON Committee and
Assembly say? DR.. q E, you know,
to the world th certain things
,eferred to your former sembly "Aad
gcted sVickedly," and mis- that the As
'embly of 1874 Gin bot elements (Old
md New SCHOOL, thoug New York
June 11th But this is
lot the essential point, stand not at
III upon it, as was dec Ito your CON-
nittee in Baltimore. Y preached us on
he question of " fraternM relations now
Ices your Assembly di8approve of those dis
IGNORING accusations =? That is the gist Of
he whole. 1t is not question as to the
emper or the conscientiousness of the men
Tho did the acts; not at all. All we ask
ou to say is that injustice was done US in
his thing, and that SO declaring you remove
; from our Church the Church then as well
g non. But against this reasonable demand
GU make great cutlery. 1t is "prepOs-
erous," at would be an outrage. There
not sentiment of honor, or justice, or
but what revolts at the PROPOSE.
on. We are bold in the affirmation that
is without parallel in the history of the
Presbyterian Church" Such is your Ian
uage.
know that the principle which holds gov
rnments having continuous life to an off
ial Responsibility unde their changes, is
ghteous one; and kw that where
rong has been done INT to be righted.
Thether our demand p parallel or not,
of little consouueIl houch 7 think il |