The New York herald., 1877-07-05
poned one year to accommodate the Americans, with
whom The project originated.

whom The project originated
PREsBrTERIASsM DIVIDED AND WIT.
This Council is something under the SUM- and
very naturally excites interest only In tho Presby
terian Church but In other religious bodies also A
few years ago the uppermost among Christians Of
every name was concerning union-the adoption
OF common platform broad enough which all
Christians of every name could stand In 1863 of
| the great bodies which constitute the Presby-
terian Church tNorth) Of America, the old and
new schools came together this city ana shook
hands past differences and agreed TO live shcnce
forth as brethren of family. This compact they
nave faithfully kept SINCE Aud to-day the dele
gates OF both schools equally represented in this
great Council Strange 1t may appear, correspond
has revealed the fact that there iortyeght
distinct branches OF the Presbyterian family each
Housekeeping for Itself And while their creeds and
catechisms and doctrines substantially alike they
have not been abls hitherto to live together in the
unity OF the spirit aud IN the bonds OF peace But
better day is dawning The PresbyterIans we'll
the Mehodsis begin TO see eye TO eye they never
before The Evangelical Alliance has shown
Christendom how members OF different families and
divisions oil God's great army a common
platform and agree, even II 1t be to differ. And II dis
tinct and distant natonaitcs as well creeds do
this thing, why may not those OF faith, and very
largely OF one language meet US brethren also?
The differences relate chiefly matters of govern
ment or OF cnurch order one ulvlSiou lnstance,
dscards all kinds OF musical instruments In the
tuary services aud hymns sacred songs, except
very uncouth merical version OF the inspired Psalms
David, are entroy ignored III the puUiic worship Of
court Of this Church disciplined and neiriy Jeed
George ii. Stuart, OF Philadelphia, Tor singing Tho
| hymns OF Wesley and Watts, OF Topisdy and Mont
| gomery, OF Doddrldge and Bryant whose consecrated
genius have enriched only the poetry but The wor
ship oil the Church for all ages TO come. Another div
ision OF Prcspyterians days when discussions
ON slavery waxed warm, took offence a. GER
tain resolutions which thcr brethren Of aDo-
their deep conviction that the patrarcnal
..lhe sum of MI vilianies" at least IN evll and only
evil, and ,raickers human hesh and blood
| lit persons Tor cnurcu or Christian fellowship Ths
action OF the Northern Presbytersns OF course, gave
the Southerners the needed excuse, and they sci up
| Presbyt yterian Church. Others again broke of from
the parent stock on matters that appear extromeiy
frivolous In the ignt OIL these days. But almost all
differences relate to matters OF work and not TO
the work Itself or 10 the doctrines OF tho Church
And VT asperities ana bitterness have been shown
now and again by member of the family toward
another which have been neither Christian nor Dig
niued.
! STRENGTH AND wEAKSEss OF PREsByTERIANIsM
The Presbyterian Church. including all IFS affiliated
parts is a large body throughout the world. IL
embraces PROBABLY less than 70 O0O churches
about "a 100000 people, and, body, has always
been distinguished Tor It's zeal in the cause OF education
and its liberal support ana endowment OF schools ana
colleges. Dr. McUosh and his committee discovered
by correspondence and inquiry that there are in the
i,resov,er,an organizations. and In Scotland len
more were found And no single bond OF
nm uS0n Oh bs present ae snd labor
u very little purpose ~ maintain those separate
ecclesiastical Establishments But their greatest DIN.
Guilty is experienced in their mission work among the
heahen wno cannot perceive nor understand the razor
edged differences mat separate the United from the
Reformed or this from tue Associate or the Cunber
land, or either oil these from the other orty Jour secls
which Presbyteriansm is divided Here is where
the Church shows and feels its weakness most the
missionaries heathcn lands have tried lar they
to ignore their own sectarian and to work
together simply as Prcsbyterians tor The salvation OF
the heathen While tins great Council will have no
legislative authority at All It's deIvcrances on any
question that may como before IL Will undoubtedly
carry great weight SO that II they speak The aues
lion OF uniting mssion work AT nome abroad aside
from the saving IN expense that would necessarily
their advice we may assume will be cheer
fully taken by the missionary boards or assem-
blies OF the now separated sects. Already The
General ssemby Of Australia has sent inquiry
the Council 10 oe ADVISED "wheher any changes are
demanded IN The Confession OF Faith, and IL so. what
the particular changes most urgently neededy''
| This motion, II IL understood. Will bc seconded
by some OF the Scotch representatives. But dele
gates In position TO know assert that the Council will
give answer, lest rent be made In ''the stand
ards, :, which alter all arc but compromises between
the different phases OF Caivinstic thought adAerng
Presbyterian Church pohty. IL Is claimed that the
standards as they are are satisfactory 10 the vast
Jory OF the Presbyterian membership, and so long as
tney held or The purposes Tor winch they were
framed and in the spirit IN which the Westminster
So ii is only when an attempt is made
to convert this bond of union ino whip OF |
scorpions that cry revision or abolition raised
| The great motive which brought the Westminster |
dwines, the trainers OF these Standards together and
held them together was the necessity for a strong
citadel OF religious liberty; and they built winch
will ouast the Pyramids. Any attempt to convert |
this citadel into bas.lc will iail just because the
DEPENDENT hberty-lovng spirit oil PresbyterIansm
VIII tolerate no bastie, and because the standards
SWING open hundred gates, every OF which gives
found IN the scriptures. For, after ALL the standards
refer tho Presbyterian believer to the Bible,
equal. Hence while the standards declare
lor ELECTION" and infant damnation, the Rev.
General Assembly Of tue PrcsDy erian Church North,
which met in Chicago In May, stood up before that
august body and declared that he did believe the
latter doctrine, and challenged any IN the Assem-
bly, who did 10 stand up. But there
accept the offer The standards may say what they
ike, but the ministers may give them such nterpre-
tations as they please CONSISTENT with the Word of
Cod The point which tue party for revision makes
here s that the standards and the faith of the Church
ought To conform. And yet the former declares one
thing to be based ON the Scriptures aud to be worthy
oil belief while the ministry of the Church either dis.
boieve altogether or hold certain doctrines abey-
| ance
MANY orINIoSs BUT ONE AIM
There will probably be wide differences OF opinion in
the Connc certainly 80, II it is rsaiy representa-
tive-and these differences will be backed by intense
convictions ON both sides II mas been decided how.
ever, that controvered points will be aio wed to
enieT. Aud yet as our Loudon letter shows tho con.
scrvatve BODY may SIT down upon The safely valve,
bank The ores anu dr lacdly on refreshing stream
oi brotherly love and mutual deerence. II has not
'beeu thought desirable that the meetings OF Couuc
should extend beyond week but 1t is likely that
other meetings may oo arranged Tor tie second
OF July, either at Edinburgh or elsewhere, in winch
most members ot tho Council viii tc-l IA iuleres 1t
Is SAID he Established Kirk oil Scotland will not take
part IN tins gathering What results oi good may
lac expected from such series OF neeungs all hold.
ing up Jesus cnr,s. ana m crucied'' wltn such va
riety o presentation, and with sucn carnestness
Gospel authority, and all inviting sinners to seek tho
great salvation!
THIS great Presbyterian assembly OF representative
will be the necessarily oil comparison OF
views, not to oppose Other but to how nesry
alike all the branches of the family, scattered,
indeed, the whole carth but suUstan ally one.
The power of the conferences must be 10 the dirccon
of visible union The 2ravtation may be invisible,
but IL Is not mperceptibe The bodies will ieel n
they approach each other and the central sun OF tho
system If the divdcd branches OF family arc
brought together into conference and thus
appreciate more highly their essential unity II may be
that ecumenical council OF Evangelical Chrislcndom
may be ono OF The fruits OF II; not convention OF IN
dividunis representing none but themselves, but a
council Vi Delegates from those organizations that hold