The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-06-27

DllSt your opinion, if that is not your feel
ing, then say it out openly and squarely, like
men, and fraterna relations are buried.
have nothing more to say unless there should
be discussion.
Rev. DR.. Robinson offered the following
substitute for the entire report:
"Inasmuch as the letter from the General
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. re-
Gently holding its sessions in the city OF New
Orleans, presents no suggestion not consid'
cred by previous General Assemblies of this
body, and makes no advance toward the at
tanment of fraternal relations between the
two bodies, and indicates no disposition to
forget the past, or pass it over, save upon
conditions impractcable for the Assembly ;
therefore,
"Resolved, That no further action of this
Assembly is called for in this matter"
Rev. DR.. Malin moved to lay DR.. Robin
sons substitute on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was lost.
Mr. Mcknight, Mr.. Lewis, Mr.. Stewart,
of Ohio, DR.. Edison, and Rev. A. Shiland
discussed the subject generally in favor of
the substitute.
Rev. DR.. Van Dyke said-Mr. Moderator,
1 would be gladly excused from saying any
thing on this subject; and if | thought it
were consistent with honor and truth, and
fidelity to this Assembly and to God, would
keep silent. | have heard of certain old
lady who was doubtless descendant of the
wise woman of Tekoa, who said that there
were three things in this world that greatly
surprised her. The first is: Why the foolish
men will 60 to war and kill each other, when,
if they would only stay at home, they would
die soon enough. The second is: Why the
foolish boys will knock down green apples,
when, if they would only let them alone,
they would fall themselves. The third iG,
why the foolish young men will run SO
eagerly after the young girls when, if they
would only stay at home and mind their own
business, the girls would come after them.
Laughter l do not indorse all these pro-
positions, especially the latter, which think
would be very uDgallant on the part of the
men. But do indorse the principle Of this
wise woman, that it is we'll not to grasp
things before they are ripe. And honestly
believe, after seven years experience on this
subject of fraternal relations, that this is just
what this Assembly has been doing; and TO-
day, after looking back over a great deal of
public and private labor in reference to this
matter, the sentiment and the opinion Of my
head and heart are just this: The time of
figs is not yet.
Now, sir, there is no man in this Assembly
or anywhere on the face of this continent,
that is more anxious, not merely for the ous-
ward show of fraternal relations, but for the
thing itself, than l am. But when fraternal
relations come in their outward and formal
establishment, if you want them to be a
reality, and not sham, they must be based
upon the principle of equality and recipro-
city. Applause. You cannot unite in the
coniugal relation, or in any form of ecclesi-
astical marriage, two parties, one of which
assumes to be all-holy, while the other is
held to be all-wicked, and have harmonious
union. The General Assembly of last year,
in Brooklyn, uttered the principle which
have contended for from the beginning-that
when this fraternal relation is established, il
must be as between two independent bodies
recognizing the Church, State and Christian
character, and doctrines and standards Of
each other, and burying the past applause
in grave so deep that even the bitterest
memory cannot reach it; burying it with its
face downward, 80 that if it does come to
life, it will scratch deeper; burying it out Of
sight, and handing over the key of the Sc.
pulchre to the Sadducees, who say there is
no resurrection. Applause. do not think
we are ready for that yet. [ am not going
back on my old friends. If they count me
their enemy because l stand up for what
have always believed to be the truth, l must
y bear it. l have not one word to say as to
fHEGkpt ready for this fraternal relation,
mot believe both parties are ready
| II ION the principle I have enuncia:ed. My
objection to the report of the Committee is
in the first place, it assumes, in accordance
, with the utterances of the newspapers, anc
of private correspondence, and public utter
ances on the part of our Southern brethren
that all the Assembly at the North has done
from 1870 to the present time is insncere
and therefore insufficient.
, Now, Sir, in 1870, in paper drawn up b!
, my own hand, (aud therefore | know Wha
it meant, or what it was intended to mean,
though the paper was offered by venerable
father in the Church whom | love and honor
the Assembly declared that the former deliv
erances of the Assemblies of which that wa
the Iineal descendant, of which the SOutheri
brethren complained, were and are 'rull sn,
void" l think know what null and void
D means; and l think | know that when tina
/. Assembly said that, it meant it. Aud car
ried that meSsage-being honored with tn
Office of peace maker-to the Assembly a
Louisville. l thought it was blooming oliv
a branch of green leaves, like the one whic
the dove brought back to Noah in the ark
But when l came back the leaves of tina
olive branch we're all stripped off; it was
: rod, the blows of which | felt on my back
+ My judgment then was that this Asseubl
!, ought just to stand upon that declaration
and say nothing more, if it took ten or twent.
years to vindicate the soundnesS Of that prin
ciple. 1 do not believe in the application
which has been made by some one of tn
poets lines, that