The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-11-01

2. If our correspondence as it now stands,
is continued, much more if it is extended,
there are weighty considerations in favor of
conducting it mainly by letter, instead OF del
egates.
a. The plan of delegates is already er-
peasivs and With an enlarged operation it
would be a tax upon the Church which moth
ing could Justify, except the clearest demon
stration that it is by far the best mode
This, We think, is not the fact; and leads to
the remsrk--
e. That the present plan as open to another
serious objection. Wedo not under estimate in
general the Influence of personal presence;
aud the addresses and responses in our AS
sembies are sometimes quite edifying. On
many, perhaps most occasions they are far
otherwise. They are mere common, place
compliments about the grand history of each
Church, and proceed upon the general idea,
You tickle me, and I'll tickle you" Who
that has witnessed them year after year,
has not often felt it is custom which would
DO more honored ia the breach than in the
observance
(3.) In point of dignity and authority a
letter is far preferable. 1t is prepared de
liberately, passed in the committee, and then
submitted to the house. Is there any com
parison between the weight of such docu-
ment, and speeches which represent just what
the speakers may fancy, and which their re.
spective Churches might be far from endors
ing? In more instances than one have utter
anees been made, and even Fundamental
measures suggested, rot only without par
ticle of authority, but which were embarrass
ing on both sides.
Thus far as to the General Assembly
Another part of the resolution refers to tn
SyaOds and Pres6yteries. Here the case il
this: When the matter of correspondence wa
begun in the Presbyterian Church, the inyi
tation to seats as corresponding members wa
limited, We believe, to ministers from othel
Synods and Presbyteries of our own Church
or from other ecclesiastical bodies Will
which official correspondence had been estab
lished. But the practice in many places ha
long since departed from this point. 1t il
common now to extend the invitation to Bap
fists, Methodists, Episcopalians, and others
with whom our Southern Church has n,
terms of correspondence. This custom
works harmoniously and comfortably Will
our Methodist brethren, and is cordially re
ciprocated by them. But how is it with tn
Baptists 3? While some Associations unani
mously invite Us to seats, others We believ
do not. It's well known that part of then
are the very highest of the High Churcl
style, and do not at all acknowledge US a
entitled to be called Church, or that on
ministers have any valid right to their office
And sometimes BaptistS ministers of grea
personal excellence and of very kind spirit
have been known formally TO decline the in
yitation when offered by Presbytery.
In the case of Episoopalians the matter i
much more pronounced. Some have beer
known to decline our courtesy: probably al
of them would prefer not to receive it. A
least that much ought to be presumed, since
in not a single instance, is it ever returned
Even in Virginia, the last refuge and for
lorn hope of Low Churchmen-a meeting
of our Synod is hardly ever recognized in {
community where the Episcopal Church hs
much strength and in other places where
there is some sort of recognition, it consists
simply in the loan of their church for th'
occasion. Any proper acknowledgement O.
us as an organized Church of Christ is care
fully avoided. (Itis high time that this fac
and its manifold bearings were more fully
considered and understood among u.s.
Now, in such state of the case, is it mo-
plainly due both to ourselves and TO those
other churches, that some general and vel
defined course should be adopted? Oul
Book Of Government provides that ministers
in good standing, Gin any sister churches,
may be invited to sit as corresponding mem
bers. It is admitted that in certain
sense-and that very precious one-al
evangelical churches are " sister churches )
but whether that appellation was intended
at the time, to have an application beyond
those bodies with which our Church may be
in official correspondence, and where the
courtesy may be reciprocal, and therefore
comfortable and valuable, is another ques
ton.
As the business of Corresponding with
foreign churches " belongs exclusively to OuI
! General Assembly, and "the promotion Of
charity through all the churches under
their care, is also one of Its special dutiee,
it is believed that the whole subject here re-
ferred to, and which is at'present far from
being in satisfactory condition, may be pro-
perly presented to its consideration, as one
which calls for a careful revision.
SAVANNAH, GA The terrible scourge
which carried desolation over this city, has
now almost disappeared. Truly the hand Of
God has been heavily upon that people, and
there are many who feel ike sitting down in
soekoloth and ashes beside them. II ia GOOD