The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-09-06

would have the Church go back on its
record for the last seven years, and all
because he fears that organic union will
be the ultimate result.
Now we are no more in favor of Or
ganic union than DR.. Dabney, but we
cannot oppose it by his methods. Moth
ing can create sentiment in favor of or
ganic union so readily as to present to
the Church his alternative There is no
such alternative, and it is a great mis-
take to try to make it. We can main
tain our Independent organization if we
take position which is defensible and
right; which will Justify US in the sight of
the Christian world, in the Judgment of
our own people, and in view of our re-
sponsibilities to the great head of the
Church. But our people will revolt
against any extreme positions on this
subject.
Those who have signed the circular
are among the very best men in the
Church. They are held in the highest
esteem and honor. We should rejoice to
see them, and others who think with
them, thoroughly satisfied. But the
Church, we think, cannot afford to do
what they ask. 1t would moreover give
dissatisfaction to others. Besides they
are not agreed among themselves as to
what they desire. Now we will venture,
in the hope that it will help to reconcile
differences, to make
Suggestion.
Whether In the covenant of fraternity
made at Atlanta and Springfield between
the Southern and Northern Presbyterian
churches, there was complete withdraw
al of all injurious charges on our part,
and partial withdrawal on their part is
a question that will never be settled by
letter-writers, or the newspapers or the
Presbyteries.
What was done by these two Assem-
blies is simple question of fact.
Now let it be remembered that these
two bodies appointed delegates, author
lied ambassadors, to visit the Assemblies
next year at Lexington and Saratoga, to
present their credentials, to take their
seats, and to deliver their messages.
Drs. Brown and Hoyt, and elder Estes,
are eminently qualified and abundantIy
able to tell the Saratoga Assembly what
was done at Atlanta, and in what sense
the entire action taken at Springfield was
understood at Atlanta. If the Saratoga
Assembly accepts this statement of our
delegates, we have all we have ever
asked for, expected, or desired; and fra
ternity is fixed on firm and honorable
basis. On the other hand, if the North
ern Church is of opinion that the Herrick
johnson explanation did modify the ba-
sis, that the withdrawal of injurious
charges was on their part partial and IN
complete, then certainly there will be
more than enough Christian candor in
that Assembly to tell us so frankly, and
when our delegates return and report the
facts, one way or the other-for the ques-
ton of fact will then be definitely, final
ly, and officially decided-then our AS
sembly will have wisdom and grace to act
wisely and for the good of the Church.
The fraternal delegates from Spring
field will be present officially at Licking
ton; among them will be DIR. Herrick
Johnson, the Moderator, who wrote the
famous resolution-the explanation that
did "not modify" If any living man
can tell what was actually done at Spring
field, he can; and it will be his official
duty to tell the Lexington Assembly the
precise sense in which the basis of frater-
nifty was adopted by that Assembly over
which he presided If the message of the
fraternal delegates is acceptable to the
Lexington Assembly, then again all will
be well. IT that Assembly is told, how
ever, that the " explanation" did modify,
and that injurious and offensive imputa-
tons upon our character as a Christian
Church are mot Withdrawn but retained
and re-afirmed, does any man doubt the
wisdom or power Of our Assembly to act
properly in the premises2
1t is due to the Assemblies of the past,
due to the constitution of the Church,