The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1878-05-15

bna5 THIS was no EehsOu why We euV0tN A"'
20 on and make an adjustment touching the
second.
Is awe fully assented to this view, yet
being disappointed as to the first, we con-
cluded to refer the second to our General AS
sembly Now please do not misunderstood
us, dear brethren. Our position is briefly
and logically this, viz: We were sent here to
make an end of this trouble, and are indeed
extremely anxious to do so, as re have re-
peatedly told you; and we fully admit that
our Disappointment as to one part does not
at all diminish our obligation to settle the
other; nevertheless, being thus disappointed.
We think it clearly our duty to leave it IN
settled
As to a reference to their General Assem-
bly,, the matter was indeed briefly and feebly
mentioned in their report the next spring, and
there it sleeps its sleep, as We all predicted.
Not a syllable OF sllusion was made to the
subject by that body, in 1874, nor has there
been by any since. If DR.. Van Dyke has
engaged in any labors in that direction to
relieve his Church from its unenViable posi-
tiop, it will give US pleasure to make due re
cord at the earliest date after the report OF
them shall reach our ears. But there stand
the indisputable facts to this day. Thes,
| fierce, bitter, implacable Southern Christians,
after trying in each particular instance, las
they uniformly did, so far as we know to
settle these unseemly contentious in the Vir
giniss, in Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri,
Florida, South Carolina, and wherever they
arose, by compromise and arbitration, did
propose distinctly and publicly to the other
side to bring them to an end in the same
Christian manner; and now let all the world
know that their meek and loving brethren
(so regarded by themselves in the way of con-
trast) have met it all with complete silence
and neglect. The Southern Church has suf-
fered much from the harrassing proceedings
which have grown out of this most unright-
eOuS course, but is thankfully cOmforted in
knowing that no faint of diShOnOr aud shame
is upon her face.
When, therefore, Dr. Van Dyke refers to
the Episcopal and Methodist Churches as
examples to be initiated by the Southern
Presbyterians in the proposed scheme of
''by. gones," it was suitable just to lift the
veil of history little, that the reference
may be understood in its true light
This article concludes the review which it
was our desire to make last year soon after
the delivery of DR.. Van Dykes speech in
the Chicago Assembly. Absence across the
sea then preventing, promise was made to
our readers which it has not been in our power
to redeem before the present time. We said
last June, "Dr. Van Dyke has accounts to
settle with DR.. Van Dyke respecting this
whole matter, which are yet to give him
pause and if providence permit, we propose
such help in that direction as in US may lie,
as soon as time and opportunity are eff,
forded." "No fox ever doubled on his own
tracks more completely, but We judge none
ever did it more unskilfully." These re
msrkable inconsistencies have been here
freely criticised, as also statements of Opin-
ions which are believed to be erroneous
These criticisms have been confined to pub
Il lie acts which are, in that respect, public
property. 1t answers but little purpose in
matters of this kind to diSclaim personal ami.
mosities writings, like men, must be judged
by what they sre.i themselves. We desire
{, however no concealments; we frankly declare
that one main purpose in this review is to
let it be understood that when DR.. Van
| Dyke shall again present himself before the
Church, whether in his Assembly, (as he has
done again and AGAIN. or elsewhere, as q
kind of representative of opinion and feeling
| in the Southern Presbyterian Church, his
statements, however sincere, are to be taken
with many grains of allowance. When men,
even very good men, get first into one posi-
ton, and then into another quite different,
they are apt to have the appearance, and IN,
consciously the reality sometimes, of carry
ing water on both shoulders.
! With one remark in the close of his article
Of March Goth We are bound to agree-"On
one point there seems to be general agree
ment both North and South-that the ques-
ton of fraternal relations is indefinitely
postponed" From frat to last We have
been sincerely in favor of such fraternal re-
lations as belong to the usual ecclesiastical
correspondence, whenever the Northern AS
sembly is prepared fairly to wipe away their
aggravated, repeated, and long continued as
pensions; not otherwise. This they will not
do, and in that view the next best thing they
can do is to hold their peace. But this al
tentative does not salt their policy. Hence
we find the PresOytery of New York "a body
nearly as large as the Synod of Virginia.
adopting resolution framed SO as to con-
form to remark coming from prominent
committee The members of the committee
confess themselves unable to believe that our
brethren of the Southern Church wiU long
continue in their present attitude" As long
as members and committees of the Northern
Church feql free to indulge themselves in
that strain of remark, and judicatOries to
frame their measures of Church polity in re,