The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-06-14
Scene in the Northern Presbyterian
Assembly.

Scene in the Northern Presbyterian
Assembly.
On Tuesday last, when the subject O
the restoration of friendly relations will
the Southern Presbyterian Church was
under consideration in Chicago, in the
General Assembly of the Northern Pres
byterian Church, the following scene oc.
Cured. The Chicago Times is the paint
er:
Rev. DR.. Van Dyke, in the course of g
speech against making any further con-
cessions, though he said in substance
that he was opposed to the late war, al
luded to statement which had been
made in the city to the effect that dele.
gate was in Chicago from the Southern
General Assembly, and that this Geu-
eral Assembly had refused to receive him:
This was not true; but distinguished
divine of South Carolina was visiting the
city, q man whom he had loved as his
own soul, and he moved that the Rev.
DIR. Plumer be invited to address the
General Assembly upon the subject OF
reunion. To the discredit of the mem
bers the motion was not unanimously
carried. The invitation so churlishly
accorded procured response which must
be characterized as extraordinary.
All eyes were turned toward cyno-
sure under the gallery, near the main
entrance. A little gentle clapping Of
hands in that direction disseminated no
infection beyond the narrow immediate
circle. Slowly the group separated, and
through the friendly breach thus formed
strobe a majestic figure. As the grand
vision dawned upon the upturned faces
of the Assembly resistance to its charms
was impossible; generous impulse over
came the heat of prejudice and courtesy
paid voluntary tribute to the highest type
Of manliness. The applause arose and
swelled, and waned again; then waxed
higher and more fervent as the royal
form went on down the aisle, and as the
gallery caught the first glimpse of his
advancing figure, ladies and gentlemen
rose en- n1asse and cheered and cheered
again, while the pent-up emotion of the
scene found vent here and there in un-
checked tears.
This man might have sat for Michael
Angeles Moses. In Italy, some of the
landscapes are admired because they so
remind the beholder of Claude Loraine's
pictures. DR.. Plumer is living sculp-
ture of heroic mold. As he stood there
facing the Assembly, calm and rigid, one
could not resist the fancy that the statue
of patriarch or a prophet, Moses or
Elijah, would have such a personifcation.
Above the average height, symmetrical
in proportion, straight and firm, he pre-
sented the rare and beautiful spectacle of
perfect old age. His hair and beard are
white as the purest snow; the latter
waved about upon his breast like flow
ing vestment. His hair lies thick and
undulating, in lines of statuesque grace.
His eyes are bright, as with a conscious
ness of being near enough the Gate of
Light to catch a reflection of the glory
from within. His features, aspect,
stature, expression, gesture-for already
his curving arm commanded a thrilling
silence-all spoke q man of power,
strength, and grace. At first, his voice
was low but not indistinct The volume
increased with the increasing JUNCTION of
his thought, and as he proceeded all eyes
were rapt upon his, for brief as was his
speech the Assembly recognized the first
true orator who had stood before it.
What he said must be readin full. How
he said, that pen would be indeed pre-
sulnptuous which would attempt to de-
scribe. The spectacle was one never to
be forgotten by those who saw it-as a
spectacle of the grandeur of age, with no
trace of its weakness; of the tenderness
of age, without imbecility of the elo-
quence of age, with undiminished fervor ;
delivered over register of cadence mel
lowed by tremor in harmony with the
SNOW upon his head, but vivifed by a
dynamic power in harmony with the
yalor and sanctity of his aspect. Let not
any reader omit the perusal of what he
said. He pleaded, as Paul in old age
would have pleaded, for charity, love,
and brotherly goodwill. He pleaded
that the present might be used to brighten
the future and hide the past. "By what
this Assembly does to-day" he ex-
claimed, "Christ will be greatly honored
or dishonored." He had been told of
one who had so excellent memory that
he never forgot anything. II have read
of one who had still better memory
Archbishop Cranmer, who never forgot
anything but injuries. May God in His
mercy give us all such memories"
But the appeal was in vain.
WHAT DR.. VAN DYKE SAID OF DIR.
PLUMER.
There is a venerable father belonging
to that branch of the Presbyterian
Church in this city-a man whom I love
as love my own soul-and it has been
reported in this city, j was confronted
with it at dinner table only three days
ago, that he came here as delegate
from the Southern Assembly and we
would not receive him. Sir, I take it
upon myself to say it, and if l am wrong
let the brethren correct me, if the vene-
rable DR.. Plumer-God bless his white
head-if he had come to us with papers
or without papers and said: Brethren,
1 am authorized to represent the South
ern Assembly in this body" we would
have received him with open arms Jap
plause; "that's so, with unanimous
acclamations; and his face, as he would
have sat here upon this platform, would
have been to us like the face of an angel
shining, as the face of Moses shone when
he came down from communion with
God upon the holy mount. And now:
sir, 1 pledge myself, if DR.. Plumer will
come forward and say he is authorized tc
take his seat as corresponding delegate
from the Southern Assembly in this
body, he would be received. Ap
plause.
DIR. PLUMER's SPEECH.
Rev. DR.. Plumer: No, sir. Sound as
cends, not descends. I shall be heard
1 wish to say, first of all, why I am il
Chicago. am here entirely on socia
accounts, and would have been here i