The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-02-22
A CORRECTION.

slsV III maintaining sectional OnurCn, WneI
there Is no more necessity for it than there
would be for Southern version of the Bible OF
a Southern Confession of Faith. And they
themselves are the losers by it. Those spiritua
destltutions-which they cannot supply, anc
which we are willing to help them supply
furnish an overwhelming argument in favor o.
Reunion. That there still remains-seventeer
years after the war-a sectional rent in the
grand old Presbyterian Commonwealth o.
Christ, is a matter of amazement and humili
alton. The Lamars, the Bro ms, and the Cor
dons of the South join hands with the Blaine:
and the Shermans of the North in the Senate
Chamber of a common Union. Southern regi
ments are cheered in the streets of Boston, and
Northern regiments are welcomed in Charleston
1t Is only in the army Of "a common Lord ana
Saviour that the intolerable feud and schism
still fingers Brethren of the South, every poor
white man in your border, as well as every
negro brother, Is a living argument in favor Of
sweeping away the last.vestige of sectionality
and In favor of your welcoming every dollar
every teacher, and every missionary, that a
National Presbyterian Church can furnish you
Rev. Z. L. Cuyler in New York Evangelist.
We clip the above from an article OF
DIR. Cuyler in the last weeks New York
Evangelist. The article places the good
brethren" south of the Potomac in an at
titude very different from that which they
holland very unchristian one also.
We should certainly be without excuse If
we persisted in maintaining a sectional
Church, and keeping up an "intolerable
feud and schism in the army of oar COM
mon Lord and Saviour."
1t is true that there is not organic ataion
between the Presbyterians North and
South. But it is also true that all the
Presbyterians at the North are not united
in one organization. The United Pres
byterians, the Reformed, and some other
bodies have their separate organizations.
So in Scotland, Ireland, and England.
But this does not imply the existence of
any sectionalism or feud. For ourselves
and for the Church South we disclaim all
sectional feeling We are resolved that
there shall be no feud between us and any
body of Christians in any part of our land
or any part of the world. We wish to
see the whole army of common Lord
waging war only against sin and the
powers of darkness.
There may be very sufficient rea-
sons for maintaining (not sectional
church, butt distinct organization
This may be the very best way to
prevent, and not foster, any feud. We
have carefully abstained from any discus
sion of the points O. difference between
our brethren at the North and ourselves.
We are sorry that DR.. CuyIer has written
an article that places US in fake atti-
tude towards those brethren-with whom
we have more sympathy than we have
with any other body of Christians in the
world. We, however, differ with them
on some points far more material than
that which DR.. Cuyler has minated
We do not propose to refer to them. But
the occasion presented by Dr. Cuyler JUS
titles us in saying that he has practised
some things in his church which to us
would seem much more serious than any
questions of sectionalism. Our people
are not prepared to encourage the intro
duction of females into the ministry or
their preaching in our pulpits. AS to the
Bible and Confession of Faith we are
thoroughly satisfied with them as they
are, and accept their teachings in good
faith. We sincerely accept and adopt
them. But the Evangelist, which DR..
Cuyler has made the organ for commune
eating with the public, has justified or
excused a certain looseness in interpre-
ting our standards that to us would be
a serious obstacle to any organic union.
Witness the course Of the Evangelist in
regard to the case of Sunday School
teacher in San Francisco, who questioned
the truth of a Bible narrative. The same
journal was not slow to show its sympa-
thy with movement that not only looked
towards a revision of the Confession OF
Faith, but excused the holding of views
that no faithful Interpretation Of that
book could justify.
We have only to say in conclusion that
DR.. Cuyler is entirely mistaken in his
judgment Of the Southern Church. We
have no sectional feelings to hinder us
from extending the hand of christian fell
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