The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-06-21
For the Central Presbyterian.
F'raternal Relations.
A Calm Review of the Situation.
(BY THE Rev. DIR. BROWN

A Calm Review OF the SITUATION.
(BY THE Rev. DIR. BROWN
The action of our last General Assem-
bly, under which a trouble with the
Northern Assembly of grave character
and of long duration, seems to have been
settled, has awakened widespread in
terest among our people. A natural
anxiety is felt lest our beloved Church
may have reached this end by some com
promise of the position long ago taken,
and steadfastly maintained against all
attempts to change it. In complying
with the promise given last week, it will
now be my endeavor to relieve any such
apprehensions by showing that the ad
iustment referred to has, in point of
principle, been made completely upon our
own righteous foundation; that so far as
there is any difference between our pre-
sent and our former action, it is merely
circumstantial; and that the course of
our last Assembly was right, consistent,
safe, and magnanimous. Let us inquire
1. What has been the position Of oar
Church an this matter /? The committees
appointed by the two Assemblies met in
Baltimore in January, 1875. Having
been requested to do so we made full
and candid statement of the grievances
received at the hands of the other party.
They related chiefly to the charges of
heresy, schism, and blasphemy." The
fact of such accusations, and in the most
aggravated terms, was established by CO.
pious citations We said also that no
such instance is known to us in modern
times in which one evangelical church has
heaped upon another such wrongs as
yours has put upon your Southern breth-
rem from 1861 to 1866" "That accusa-
tions such as these which have been
brought to your notice must present OBJ
stacles to fraternal relations as long as
they remain unremoved, is too plain to
admit of argument. We are obliged to
declare that they are an offence against
the truth, and a perpetual offence against
the rightful good name and Christian
honor of our Church. We say, therefore,
in all kindness and frmness that it is ne
cessary for the end desired that they be
fairly removed" Cali that we desire is
that the imputations which we conceive
to be resting upon our Church by the acts
Of your Assembly, should be removed; /;
we care not in what terms, SO they di-
rectly and fairly cover the case. Any
thing beyond that we should consider it
unworthy of the character of Christian
gentleman to ask or accept" "The i'm.
putations are there to this day, aggrava-
ted, not instigated as you intimate, by
the length of time I'VE simply desire
when called to confer about forming
closer. relations, to ascertain in the most
direct manner whether your Church dis
approves of the dishonoring accusations
referred to-" If your Assembly could
seeits way clear to say in a few plain
words to this effect that these obnoxious
things were said and done in times of
great excitement; that they are to be re-
gretted, and that now, upon calm re-
view the imputations cast upon the
Southern Church are disapproved-tba
would end the difficulty at once"
Other things were mentioned as {" a
serious hindrance," but not an insupera-
bic obstacle" to fraternal correspondence.
Their course in regard to vast litigations
about church property, (Which we Of
fered in vain to get settled by arbitra-
tion) was scandal to religion but we
let that 60 Their opinions and enact
ments on subjects purely political were
IN our view lamentable departures
from some Of the fundamental principles
iald down in those noble standards we
mold In common" But considered
merely as to any political principle in
vowed, however erroneous and impro-
per Tor a court Of Christ, they were re-
gPonsble for them directly to God alone.
put for the aspersions cast upon the
southern Church they were directly re-
sPonsible to it also So we stood upon
that one point, no more and no less
the 'ndispensable necessity of remocinq
Ja'r(y and fully all those o6ensve in,p,l-