The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1884-06-04
Our Relations With the Church
South.
(From The Evangelist, New York

(From The Evangelist, New York;
The Southern Assembly, which met
this year at Vicksburg, Miss, finished its
business and adjourned on Monday last
proposing to meet next year in Houston,
Texas. AS our readers know, the pleas
ant interchange of delegates between that
Assembly and our own, was continued
this year, the Rev. Drs Henry A. Nelson
of Geneva, Arthur Mitchell of Cleveland,
and elder George H. Shields of st. Louis,
conveying the fraternal greetings of the
Northern Assembly, and representing us
at Vicksburg, while the Rev. J. B. STRAIT
ton, D. D., of Natchez, alone-in the
absence of his colleague, DIR. M. D. Hoge
performed the like gracious office at
Saratoga. The venerable Southern pas
tors greeting, and after pleasant days of
intercourse, his tender farewell, are given
elsewhere in our report. Our several
delegates were heard at Vicksburg on
Saturday, 18th, and their reception seems
to have been all that could be desired in
the way of courtesy and kindness-and
this was abundantly continued, when
few days later Drs. Nelson and Mitchell
fell into the hands of Dr. B. M. Palmer
at New Orleans, whereof DR.. Nelson
writes elsewhere.
This second, and SO far as now APP
pears, final exchange of delegates, has
served to promote the better understand
ing between the two bodies begun at At
lanta and entertained at Springfield, and
happily advanced last year by the visit
of DIR. Brown to Saratoga. And it is to
be said that our Committee on Co-opera-
ton with the Southern Presbyterian
Church (whose report was presented in
the Assembly on Friday by DIR. S. J.
Niccolls) have assiduously labored to
give form and substance to the improv-
ing relations Of the two Churches That
their success is not all that they had
hoped for, is apparent enough. Yet some
thing has been achieved. Having done
all, the brethren see where to stand
and just that is the present attitude. AS
to cooperation in Home Missions, the
Committee recommend that we see to it
that nothing is done through strife and
vainglory that careful respect be paid
to the rights of Southern brethren al
ready in occupancy; and that all ques-
tons threatening fraternal relations I" be
referred to a joint commission of the
Presbyteries having jurisdiction" and
further, that our Sessions, Presbyteries,
and Synods exercise " due regard for the
discipline" of the corresponding bodies
Of the South Finally, the Committee
give it as their judgment that the only
efectual method of removing these diff
culties is through organic union between
these two branches of the Presbyterian
Church "a proposition which the Com
mittee Of the Southern Church were not
able even to entertain, they being estop-
ped from making any recommendation,
and from considering the matter of or
ganlc union" by the action of their AS
sembly year ago. The action of their
Committees having been sanctioned by the
respective Assemblies, and it having been
settled that the annual exchange of greet
ings is hereafter to be by letters and not
by delegates, the two bodies seem to have
settled their policy and footing as re-
CARDS each other for the present-per-
haPs for years to come.
This may seem like a receedine from
what was gained before, but while the
outward demonstrations in either Assem-
bly, may be less conspicous from year to
year, yet the feeling Of the two bodies
towards each other has greatly improved.
If there be less speech making and hand
shaking in public, there are more tender
and loving hearts.
And this is the best Of all unions
union in love- Our relations with the