The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-06-14
(From the Presbyterian, Philadelphia
Fraternal Relations and Organic
Union

Union.
The members of the Southern Assem-
bly, who finally voted against the action
which was so overwhelmingly adopted,
placed their opposition chiefly on the
ground that the movement was the first
step towards an organic union of the
Northern and Southern Churches In
the Northern Churches the same antici-
pations have been INDUCED and utteRd,
somewhat prematurely, as we think In
the last Interior the editor takes up the
strain in the following jubilant way:
And now we strike our tents, and
start on the march, short or long as the
forbearance of God with human stub
bornness may make it, to organic union
1t will be resisted violently. Dr. Dabney
with large following in the South, and
Dr. Briggs with an equally large follow
ing in the North, will try by every pos
sible means to divert the continent rivers
and turn them aside, the one to the sands
of Sahara, and the other to the brine of
the sea. \ = But they will be crowded
back, step by step, and inallyebe pushed
out of the field of influence, more easily
than they have been in this preliminary
contest"
We are quite ready to say at once. and
without hesitation, that we are in favor
of the organic union Of the two Churches
which have now come to be friends, and
we shall do all that we can wisely and
righteously do to further this result when
it is within reach, believing that it will
be for the protection and maintenance Of
the Faith which we hold in common, and
which is embodied in these great historic
symbols which bear the name of West
minister.
But we must confess that to US there
seems to be better thing than the mere
union of these two Churches, and that
the greatness q the future which opens
before the Presbyterian Church in this
land should awaken the best minds OF
the Church to the important question how
we shall best meet this future, and how
we shall adapt the structure and methods
of administration of the Church to the
immense work to be done. When the
Church stretches over a continent it may
be wise to adapt the church to the vast
width and needs of continent, and to
bring into our scheme Of polity provincial
Assemblies and a General Council, OF
institutions like to these, by which, while
unity is preserved and the missionary
work of the church abroad made solid
work, the efficiency of the work at home
may be maintained by bodies having de-
finite bounds in the land, and having
special care for the work within these
limits, but all united in one effort to hold
the land for Christ.
We desire to remark with reference to the
allusion made to Dr. Dabney in the above ex
tract from the Interior, that his opposition to
organic union is shared by the great mass of
Southern Presbyterians-ED CEN. PRES
Fraternal Relations
(From the Cincinnati Herald and Presbyter)
Whosoever reads carefully the dis
patches that passed between the Atlanta
and Springfield Assemblies will see that
each held on to It's principles to all the
extent that honor required The explain
atory dispatch OF Dr. johnson, limiting
the withdrawal Of action offensive to the
South to charges of blasphemy, heresy.
and schism, took away all that the South
felt to be necessary. and it included the
idea that the North is willing that the
South shall adhere its views Of the war.
Nothing done at Atlanta or Spring
field had more Of the spirit Of Christ
than the messages sent by the wooing
wires The electric sounds spake of
righteousness and peace and JOY i'm the
Holy Ghost At both ends All hearts
were beating with love and zeal for a
common faith and tie progress Of a com
mon cause. All feel that the plenteous
and perishing harvest can best be reaped
as one heritage The spirit Of restored
iraternal relations is the spirit Of mis-