The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-07-05
worrying About the Inevitable.

IN Ine presbyterian Cnurcn D0tn
North and South there are some vague
and feeble regrets and murmurings about
the decisions Of the two General Assem-
blies on fraternal relations. 1t is vain
oblation, however, it matters not where
it comes from. The decisions are facts.
1t is the will of God, and the sublimest
act under this guidance that has been
done by the Church in this century. No
power but that of Almighty God, through
the all-conquering love of Jesus Christ,
could have sweetened hearts once so
overcharged by bitterness. 1t is price
less as an example with which to con-
vince men of the almightiness of the love
of God
When Miss Martineau visited this
country she was introduced to Mr.. Clay,
and during the conversation she is re-
ported as sneering at practical religion.
To which Mr.. Clay replied :" Miss
Martineau, 1 do not know practically
about what the churches call religion.
l wish did But 1 do know of its eff
fects. In the neighborhood of my home
were two very estimable families who
in years past fell into what is known as
a Kentucky feud, which means that as
often as any of the embittered parties
met at a fair or public meeting there was a
probability that the fray would begin,
and it was as likely to kill the innocent
as those in the strife. The neighbors did
every thing in their power for reconcilia-
ton. did all in my power with the
rest; but all was vain. The killing went
on until one of the denominations known
here as the Baptists held what they call
a basket meeting and had what they
call a revival, and these belligerent
families were converted, as they say, and
they have lived on the best of terms ever
since, a blessing to the whole community.
[ tell you, Miss Martineau, that what
ever will change a Kentucky feud into
loving fellowships so soon and effectively
is of God. No power short of His could
do it"
And this is the trophy gained in the
establishment of fraternal relations
Other advantages will follow, but this
is the crown jewel, and it is not worth
while to find fault with or to regret the
methods. Goodwill lOiU do all the rest.
Love is ingenious and has methods for
every emergency of its own and this act
of the Assemblies, so surprisingly strange
to us, is one of them. And now the
world has accepted it as fact, because
it felt that it was Christlike and ought
to be done. Only few days ago man
called on us for the particulars of this
movement to insert in his almanac, which
will appear the first of January, 1888.
So it has gone into the convictions of
men as Christlike as wise and becoming
our history and traditions, and before we
can meet to undo or modify it, it will be
in the almanacs and histories, and we can
not go back of our acts, if we wanted to.
Every Presbyterian who knows any
thing of church polity knows how many
examples we have of the irregular in
form but valid in substance. What
then, hinders US to pronounce the divine
formula, " What God hath joined together
let no man put asunder ?"
On the other hand, we deprecate that
inconsiderate haste which CONSTITUTES this
action as synonymous with organic union.
We take it iust in its literal sense-fra-
ternal relations, the burying of the carcass
over which we continually stumbled
when we would obey TIE impulses of our
hearts to love and crust each other as
brethren We do not mean to be un-
derstood as not desiring organic union
may we live to see it, for it will give this
country of ours more to Christ in our
work, and the spirit in which it should
be done, than since the earth opened be-
tween us-but we do not want to plan
for Providence, nor to embarrass those
who have fought SO nobly and conquered
so much that, but for the love of Christ,
would have been so bitter to them, to
bring us where we are. We feel about
it as an eminent lawyer of Philadelphia
said of his business. When asked how
he got through with so much he replied,
" Part Of it>does itself, and 1 do some OF
it, and the rest never gets done" AS to
our future, if organic union be in the
purposes of God it will come itself, or it
may please Him to let us do it, or it may
be best that it never be done. Pres5y-
terrain, Philadelphia.