The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-05-29
REV. u. ". rISmER.
The Southern Presbyterian General A.
sembIY Lately In session Al Louis
willie.

The southern PfeAby terrain dehcFhI hN
sembIY Lately In session Al Louis
Vile.
MADISON, ISD, May 81, 1879.
Intelligeneer.
The General Assembly Of the Southern
Presbyterian Church has just closed its
sessions, which the present year were held
in the n~eighboring city Of Louisville.
Scarcely anything was done which Is OF
much interest to people outside OF its oF'n
ecclesiastical bounds. In this particular
1t has resembled the Northern Presbylc.
rian Assembly, which has been meeting
at the same time nj Saratoga. Neither Of
these bodies have done much business,
which has been outside OF the ordinary
routine, connected with the working OF
the regular machinery Of the two
churches.
0 MICH L.EGIsLATIlN.
But they are not for this reason to be
held in slight esteem. The truth is that
both in Church and State wehave to much
legislation. When men arc elected to the
Legislature or Congress they often seem
to imagine that this ise~Quivalcnt to an i'm
perative necessity that they should devise
some new laws. Ambitious politicians
hope by Il bold new move in these bodies,
to bring themselves prominently before
their party and the people at large. The
consequence Is that n great deal OF our
laws are constantly varyingOr at least un-
certain. This affects %uniavOrably the IN
terests Immediately involved, and extends
its influence iofevil far beyond, to concerns
only remotely touched. II the country at
large could have the assurance that for
ten years there would be no legislation be-
yOnd that which may I've essential to the
routine OF the various departments OF the
government, We would us q nation
be almost certain OF Il q era
Of material prosperity. To IL large
extent the same principles apply in the
management Of the Church. There are
occasions when circumstances demand
strong measures and new departures. The
great ecclesiastical assemblies are those
which are compelled to deal with such
matters. But these occasions are Compar.
atively i%ntreQuent. The temptation is for
men who cOvet prominence in the Church
to invent necessities Of this kind, and to
atllict the whole denomination to which
they belong, with their tinkering. think
that it is q cause OF gratitude when an &c.
clesiastical assembly meets, orderly trans
acts its routine OF business, sings the dOx.
olugy, pays its own hotel bills, and its
members come back able to say that il
they did not immortalize themselves by
any wonderful new action they ut least
did not spoil the clock by taking out the
old wheels and substituting their own
patent inventions.
FRATERNAL CORRESPONDENCE.
For one | am glad that so much good
sense was also exercised about what il
known as ''fraternal correspondence" be,
tween these two bodies. | think that it il
greatly to be regretted that the presbv
terians OF the United States are split int
so many denominations. The differences
OF their creeds are too slight to JUSTLY
such separations, except as matters 0
temporary expedienCy. | am fully aware
that the division is outward and formal
and does not touch the vital unity whicI
exists, and which is now so widely rccOg
nized. But il it could be thoroughly nc
complished the ranks ought to be visibl,
closed. One Presbyterian OneMethodist ,on(
Baptist Church is enough. Nevertheless!
it is folly to attempt to precipitate such &c
clcSiaStlcal unions, or even to Gndeavol
p%rcmaturcly to open forms OF correspond
enCe which are generally intnrnrntn,
to look ultimately TO such re
suits. They are apt only to wider
the breach, and to prOtract the separation
That is just what has occurred between
the Northern and Southern Presbyterians
since the war. | am sorry that they arr
not prepared to come together; and yet
am compelled to acknowledge that such il
the case, even down to the present. There
has been a disposition on the part OF the
Northern Church to press formal fraternaI
correspondence on their Southern breth,
rem. Year after year it has been tried.
But It has been uniformly met with tie
mNnds which those most eager for the in
tercOurSe could not agree to yield. This
year a wise course has been adopted. A
simple fraternal greeting was tclrgraphcd
I ON the Saratoga Assembly to the Louis.
vile Assembly, Hnda like response was
sent from Louisville TO Saratoga; and
there the matter has ended. The thing
really has been done, and nobody has had
their feelings wounded.
REUNION.
But why cannot these two bodies come
together and be one? They could du il