The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-04-05
CENTRAL PRESBY 7 E r A n

proposed in this Alliance Gnstead OF being
expressly disclaimed) it's application here
would be to the point. But the fact failing,
it all fails
(5). The writer asserts that the Old School
Presbyterians separated the New School
from their communion in 1887, on account
of errors both of doctrin ard order. =
They do indeed recognize 6 existence of
erroneous doctrines, but thevnly separation
they made was touching the four Synods,
and this fright or wrong was grounded solely
upon the nconstitutionality Of the Plan Of
Union under which they were alleged to
have been organized. Farther, he asserts
that they refused fraternal relations with
the New School on account of these errors.
If there is a syllable in point of fact to sus
tain this, it has escaped our careful reading
for forty years.
(6.) Attention should be called to wha'
seems fundamental error pervading the
whole of this article. The idea seems to be
that our Church must keep itself entirely to
itself, until we are satisfied there is ''real
and hearty unity of dOctriual belief and
church ORDER" and then, (afser all he has
said before the writer consents that IS far as
this agreement exists, $50 far may gu
preme Presbyt terrain court - its juris-
diction." Very good; aasbjec
ton is that no "such real W Fists among
the Presbyterian Churches OF the world. "
Agreed; the extent Of unity ia not such as
to make an organic union at all desirable.
But this being SO, does it follow there is no
way left by which Presbyterians may make
visible to the world the many and great
points in which they do agree? There, we
respectfully submit, is a grand mistake. We
are not at all insensible to the fact that some
of the Presbyterian bodies forming this ALI
ance have in various respects departed from
the pure Presbyterian faith, and in its pro-
per place We would contend against them
with the utmost energy possible. At the
same time it must be admitted that We hold far
more truth in common with them than with
any other churches upon earth. 1t is the
best that is to be found; and these common
truths are inestimably precious. The course
which seems plainly set before our Church is
to compromise no truth of God whatever we
dare not; and therefore to have no organic
union with any body of Christians where this
would be the necessary result. But what
then ? Must We shut ourselves up from all
kinds of intercourse, lest "evl c2mmunica
tons should corrupt our good manners .
If so, we must "then needs 60 out of the
world" The idea of such policy is so con,
trary to the whole spirit and charity of the Cos
pei, that the suggestion is grief and burden.
Is it not clear aud solemn duty to do all we
righteously can to manifest to the world such
degree of unity as really does exist? If
so, the only practical question is whether we
can righteOusly and safely do this in such
an association as the one contemplated. And
right here we 60 back, for the answer, to
what has been before remarked: If We can
hold all manner of personal fellowship with
brethren of other Presbyterian Churches: if
we can bold ecclesiastical fellowship with
those Churches themselves in many ways,
sending and receiving delegates; even in
viting ministers of the Northern Presbyte
rian Church to seats in our Presbyteries and
Synods as corresponding members; (though
not thereby compromising our righteous con-
troversy with their General Assembly, if all
this can be properly done, it must not be
thought strange if many of us fad ourselves
puzzled to discover the immense danger Of
corruption and other terrible evils which
some of our beloved brethen find lurking in
this new "gun. powder Percy
There is one ground indeed, if it can be
established, upon which all that we have said
must go for nothing. If there is no cOnstitu-
tiOnal poorer in our Assembly to enter into
this Alliance, then the case is at an end, at
least until the Constitution is changed
That it is utterly unconstitutional is strongly
urged by the reviewer as his last and
"crowning objection" We are persuaded it
is not; but this vital point must be left for
another article.