The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-05-31

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all the members of our beloved church
to cherish sentiments of brotherly kind
ness and charity towards their brethren
of the Presbyterian Church of the United
States of America Gas, indeed, towards
their fellow Christians everywhere, and
to cooperate with them, as far as prac-
ticable, in every good work; thus mani
testing to the world the great truth that,
Notwithstanding the imperfections and
divisions of the Church of Christ, there is
still a unity and a communion of saints
which is of priceless value
The Debate Opened.
Mr.. P. Fairly, of Mississippi, moved to
receive and adopt the report. DR.. Pitzer
suggested to the chairman Of the commit
tee that there were two minds in the
body as to the differences of the past.
Although the report did not come up to
the measure of what he and his friends
wanted, yet for the sake of peace, he
would be content if the committee would
eliminate from the report the embodied
reasons and thus let the report be unan-
imous. This, in connection with the
kilograms sent would cover the case.
We should make for peace, and for that
purpose he moved that the reasons" be
omitted from the report. DIR. Brown
thought that, coming from DIR. Pitzer,
the proposition was very strange. So
ardent was DR.. Pitzer for She sending of
delegates and early action, that he en-
deavored to anticipate the regular order
by his resolution now before the COM
mittee. If the kilograms were sufficient
did he not know that then as we'll as
now. He defended the reasons embodied
in the report The character of the
overtures in favor of fraternal relations
were such as to demand an elaborate re-
ply in order to give correct idea of the
matter at issue. The granting of the
overtures would be surrender of prln-
ciple. DR.. DuBose favored striking out,
as it was the path to peace. The paper,
as presented means irritation and argu-
ment. He moved to recommit the re-
port, that the necessary alterations might
be made. Dr. Lefevre took the floor,
and entered into a long argument, in
which he particularly insisted that the
third reason should be sustained. He
was willing to let the dead past bury it's
dead, and recognized the fact that we
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by so doing good may result; but though
we surrender the right we may still hold
to the principle. A question involved in
this controversy rs whether we shall
have formal relations with other religious
bodies at the expense of the fraternal re-
lations of our own members. Presbyte-
rians from the South divide off into the
Northern Churches when they 90 to Bal
timore, so that we are carrying our bur
dens alone All of us should be willing
to carry our difficulties into the grave
with us, but let it not be with dishonor.
Therefore, he wanted especially the third
reason to be retained. DR.. Pitzer said
that fourteen years ago with two persons
he met in a Washington room, and orga-
nized church which now stands 18th in
list Of 1900 Councils have erred,
people have erred, we ourselves have our
share. A great part of life passes in rec
tifying error. There are those who claim
to be the special custodians of the
Church. Confederate brigadiers coming
to Washington do not find any principle
so deep as to prevent them from constant
attendance on Northern Churches. The
action of the General Assembly Of 1870,
refusing to send delegates, was a great
blunder. The Northern Assembly of
1878 had declared null and void all
legislation rejecting upon the Southern
Church.
DR.. Farris-Where was that Assembly
in session?
DR.. Pitzer.-Baltimore In the past
we have had differences. They are gone.
The report speaks of the reconciliation as
matter simply of form and extent" =
not essence. Then let that form be re-
moved. DR.. Brown taunts me with in
consistency. For peace I was willing to
yield. The Northern Church is nearer
to us than any other. 1t is sound in the
faith once delivered to the saints"
believe in the Holy Catholic Church
DR.. Lefevre-And in the communion
of saints.
DR.. Pitzer-And in the communion OF
saints.
DR.. Lefevre-Put in a comma, don't
put in a semi-colon.
DR.. Pitzer further pleaded for unity.
DR.. Richardson, OF Virginia, said the
second Of the reasons in the report con.
tanned language which he would be slow
to adopt, even if true.
Mr.. S. f. Tenney, Of Texas, said: We.
too, in Texas feel that if our Assembly
refuses fraternal relations it lays heavy
] burden uDon us-hea vier than +bot which