Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-09-11
AN UNSOLvED PROBLEM,
THr RsFORMED CHURCH pytoy
7HURoUoBLY BBOUssED.
An aS''oie From the Pen Of REV. }. 10. puhbs
u. d. Of This City. In tho New yorn
Independent'--how the Great Event
Might lie Accelerated

synods Of Holland To tho Presbyterian
synod OF philadelphia. In this letter tho
Dutch synods inquired whether IL would be
practicable to consolidate tho presbyterians
Dutch Reformed and German Reformed In
America, into single body. Tho Prosby-
torians in their reply, tacity declined to
enter the union which had beon thus sug-
gested, but declared their willingness "to
assist tho Reformed ~ far AS possible in pro.
noting the common interests of religion"
IL was not until after this comprehensive plan
had failed that tho syuods ol Hailu.,', s: ilo
request of the Pslatinate church, undertook
the care OF the German emigrant ecclesiasti-
cal organization oi tho Dutch In New York
and the Germans In Pennsylvania.
DR.. BrigR, In his "American PRESBYTERIAN
ism," ascfibes the failure OF the synod of
Philadelphia to embrace this "magnticent
opportunity" to the disseHsiuns which then
existed in the Presbyterian church. He IL,
no doubt, right in saying that, If the proposed
union had been effected, "Presbyterjanism
would have become so strong in the middle
colonies that IT would have been impos.
sible to resist its onward sweep. 1t would
have ent enChed itself rs the national church
OF these colonies a. strongly a. Congregation
alism had entrenched itself in New Eng
land.' Still, IL IL doubtful whether the
various Reformed elements could, at that
time, have been successfully consolidated.
Not to speak of minor differences in doctrine
aud cultus, the distinctions of nationality and
language presented diihculties which would
have proved almost insurmountabe.
During the colonial period tho Dutch and
Herman reformed churches were both con-
nected with the synods Of Holland but they
occupied different territory, and did not
speak the same language, 80 that there was
but little direct communication between
them. Since the beginning Of The present
century lhey nave maintained pleasant cor
resPohdehce by means ni delegates, and al
o%ne % tiiiIe 'nete was q uiennial convention,
"Hi'h was, hpNoFtri destitute OF legislative
authority, ana was mainly Intended TO pro-
mote cooperation IN missionary work.
oeNeral attempts To elect the organic union
OF the TWO pnnles have proved unsuccessful,
iV' I , mhicn NM heeu nor nero DC rehearsed.
IL is hoPeu that lle present movement in the
same uirection may De more faithful, as many
ol lhe uiihcuilies Oh former years have passed
away.
ne ne union ps OF some OF Tue minor branches
"l tno IseIorhed cutrch IL perhaps neces-
SaIy preliminary 10 the revival oi The more
C%oin ON npIehehsINe pian Whlch was suggested by
lhe iathers IN Holland The establish.
iheht OF a reformed church, including within
its limits all tho Presbyterian bodies in
America, WOulu certainly be an event OF the
rst importance in ecclesiastical history and
though it may still to 20 lar distant as 10
appear visionary, il ia e,uinantly desarvinp o.
| OF our prayers and labor Great changes. II
| should los remembered have taken place
since this union was first suggested The
question of language has lost is importance
| and many foreign peculiarities have disap-
peared. Best of ALL Christians have become
| more tolerant, and are willing To allow a
| degree OF freedom in teaching and worship
| which, a century ago, w0nid have been re
gsrded as InadmisSlble It, therefore. seems
as il the union OF the churches might now ba
urged with greater hopps of success.
| OF course, the union which Ia here contain
| plated does not necessarily involve the i'm.
mediate ohliteratiOn of denominational dis.
| tinctions. There are many of us who love
our denominational standards as the soldier
loves his regimental nag, We are proud ot
our history, and cherish the memory of our
departed heroes Some of us belieye that
We are called to bear special testimony to the
truth in certain of its aspepts. and in eVerv
instance We are bound bv social ties which
must not I've violently severed Surelv we
think, the denomiuatiOnal system, which is
not without its exceliencIas, might be indefi.
niteIy preserved, in due suL0rdinatIon IN
proper' constituted authority, without in.
iring n the reserved rights of churches
or inul ais There would however be
order a. where thers IL no con fusion and
the strength OF the church, in her con flict
with evil, would be Immensely Increased nv
the harmonious action OF her 'ai ious consti
tuehth
II INC union oi INC reformed churches Is
ever 10 become AN accomplished in'i, IL must
oe me result oi gradual pIo"e7S Instead
oI pelhs ln.Posed upon ihe "huT'hes by Tor.
| h' hl1' ocCIesidt'cal aciioh' II must grow from
mo mo N.a, y Vi 'ho Fe''iIe' IL 'An'es are not
IHlo "nou atteihPts AT union nave simply
IoSul'eu III tiIe 'orl'htIoh oi aiio'ler SECT. To
aN1Lu lhl9 i4heh'aoIe result lhe way 10
,, u'I.Im shou'n' U'o'e'"r'' pe patiently ana
III aT,.''IS l.'P't""'
49, W ,, a,,.' ,''"' @ w ''!o N''th'e Oh he-
l, Ct tt,iuu - nut'HTH nn"'hG the Presbyterian
~ 49,, - - - io'u IN ,uIIu S'heiW couhcu
,r,t ,,, ,n ouHe i>,' ~ an I'M
loftaht movement IN tho desired direction.
49, tt's ,S ar u"'S acrou Piisho" lhn'h ny pflng'
@ ttiS Is 'osU''iel eil'lheht hieii from Wiuely
,'', ies'ons, anu ihdica'lhg Dy thelr
Ia a' i'iouios co-olerauoh ths essential unity
"a tt,o i,nio' , iiou ~ rhu',ueS IT. cannon be
,t '"at - WIZ innueh'o HS american
tI',aIn ~ ~ iaNul cl"ser uhIon oi the
b1Sro,-or ~ it'.i anoS icPIoNohL ihus iar,
faI az, ano ali"nco % naS "t, l" '"uiIeiIea TO
tGaora, - mipS az" its M"lh 'ia' Iather peen
,n,'',Inni", nan @ li.".'.a, ~ heeus 10 pe
IN hr ,na,' W. "a ienuol II ellectiVe
Its nrncsadinas insH ano - ai chs,rches.
a LARGO voInna uhinI' a. VI n,s poins eoninsu 70
tn Gat shnni,' ~ o'on ., :, oH peilsl.e anu haru
tho efo,,n 81 a ,,on,.Ho "s Nu'y Si'0"'a.eu ln
volume might .Ilo ha nra,,,ou "., ~ ta,, sinai
Iriar AZ 80 = ~ -, ". ~, p fr'l''o", containing
10, ni,.o,y w ',io ''eioilhea ehurches and
sII 60 - ,ha ,,Ori, VI 'nvu t'oseht conulllon
nTeparad t',o c,Ia ia r r"yh 1T"k, properly
iihoiL,San,I '''' ~ ''i'"'"p'u ny huhureus OF
Ia /, too ,,,,,oh =, ,..,,, A.. A.,
will in G,Ia ,;n'o - ,fat .'io alIlahce
unisSinnsS Da'n, !. ,,9o'. leit III WORK OF
yrastarn ,,iliaoal 80 - ~ " 80 my my "uusuai, III
mission cburcSes a. S't ue mug
- pronitori., 'i1piesentlns various KINDS
.,,t,i,ia,,y - '.. , "'i'iN oho Nouiu pe hinIly