The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-06-09
ADDRESS OF DIR. GlRIER.

sure share in the enjoyment Of those who
heard 1t.
ADDRESS OF DIR. GiRIER.
"Mr. Moderator and Brethren Of the Assem-
bly,: ] count 1t one of the privileges OF my
life TO be present with you Oh this occasion, To
and TO sit with You as u court Of Christ's
the vineyard of the Master.
"You have a little sister, some have thought
her q wayward sister. who for long years has
dwelt alone. While she was surrounded By
many Christian kindred, with whom she min;
gled In pleasant fellowship, she never felt the
home. fI III That ATS saddest Of ali alienations a fam:
lily. .estrangement, cut ber off from those who
alone could sympathize with her in her most
cherished beliefs and her most sacred tradi-
tions. But love Is as strong us death many
waters cannot quench it, neither can the
floods drown 1t. The songs Of the household,
those divine songs, 'indited by the Spirit ci
alive, however feebly, her affection for those
who were nursed Mt the same breasts: Our
common history is inwoven with every line
of those inspired Psalms and hymns and spr-
childhood when voices now hushed in death,
perhaps, sang soft and low,
Yea, thought walk through deaths dark vale
Yet will fear no ILL.,
"The memory OF our sainted dead has pass
ed into their majestic numbers. They have
been the ineXhaustible resources in every ex-
perience of Joy uand sorrow through which
we, Us O Church, have passed. They are the
tic, stronger than any cable OF expediency or
self-lnierest, that binds our hearts together.
They are the charmed speech which, like the
tinkling OF silver bells on hill and dale, toN
back the scattered flock. For example, sir, ia
me these scenes are all new and strange,
scarce q! familiar face In these great crowds,
and yet when this grave, sweet melody OF
song bursta on my ears there comes over me
Cow
get that am in Ohio and not South Carolina.
"The little sister, to whom have referred,
has charged me 70 bring you message OF
sincere and fraternal good will and affection.
So LORI isolated, she has grown reserved" and
shy, but your repeated manifestations of in
terest in her well-being have touched her
heart. For nearly twenty years one andgan-
other OF your household have come to her
with earnest invitations to closer relations
better whether these Invitations would be SO
frequent and cordial.
"Mr Moderator, we are very old fashioned.
natural and obvious meaning but to the old
practices as we'll. There Is neither O new
theology nor progressive theology amongst
US! ..,,,o .x,. ,,o,or
acquaintance you would come to think our
conservatism too intense--that 1t was slavi
ish, unintelligent. retardirlg reverence for the
old ways. Perhaps there may be an element
and wise men who maintain that there are
such things In churchly relations to society as
| dead issue 1t WAS the siying OF the lament
ed Garfield, 'Do not pitch your tents in the
statesman was thinking Of the political
aspects OF the subject. He saw before him,
perhaps, the Bourbon Democrat who never
learns anything and who never forgets any
thing or, perhaps, there was In his eye the
ardent Republican who shouts himself huarse
with the cry, The old flag-and an appropria..
ton But there are those who contend that
this saying has It's application to the Church,
and that the soundest, purest, most orthodox
Church may, In the progress OF time. feel call
ed upon TO part with some Of Its prescriptive
limitations. However that may be, repeat
it-your old fashioned sister receives with n
great deal OF caution all changes; not because
they are necessarily wrong, but because they
represent and minister to Il tendency that has
wrought infinite mischief to the simplicity OF
the gospel. We are sure. however, that the
United Presby yterian Church looks with a
kindly charity on this unconquerable love
for the practices Of our forefathers. appre.
hend II is just this common love for the old
and the true-for the old because 1t Is the true
that is drawing us together. 1t Is not mere
ly because Of our doctrinal unity, not because
we hold in common that venerable and justly
venerated symbol of our faith, the Westmins-
ter Confession, but above this 1t is because
of our congenial views of Gruth In their COM
prehensive and minute relations--it is be-
cause we believe alike in matters of Church
order and worshlp-it is because Of q family
likeness so strongly marked that we might
be taken for twinS-it Is be cause OF those cher-
ished traditions which link us to a heroic
past. Ills proud me mory, sir, that our, an
cesters stood together in the struggles OF The
Secession Church agai nst she 'hirelings OF the
State
ment towards closer relations has taken de-
finite shape. Your able COMMITTEE of Confer
ence, who are so pleasantly remembered by
our Synod, in consultation with a similar
| fp/Nftn hnu 6In a
'Dasis of union, which is now in The hands OF
our Prcsbyteres, and which Is receiving the
grave and serious consideration which the
Importance of the subject demands. What
may be the immediate issue OF this overture
cannot be safely predicted. What Is to be the
final outcome OF these negotiations 1a, /
think, certain. The sentiment In favor OF un-
ion has grown with US In the past twelve
months, and we feel persuaded that time and
friendly discussion and q generous prudence
will prepare the way for the desired consum.
"Let 1t be confessed, however, that there are
with us good, earnest, conscientious men who
say, "Thc time is not YET They still feel the
Influence OF bitter sectional agitations. and
that dreadful conflict through which we hnYe
passed. You have read of the Irisllman who
declared that he was nearly dead. that his
physician had so drenched him with drugs
SO It Is with us, Mr.. Moderator And, perhaps,
1t is no wonder. Why, how many are there
with you who stll sit pensiye around vacant
hearth-stones. Only the balm Of Glead can
cure that hearthache, only the divine PhSsi-
clan can PLUCK that rooled sorrCw from the
BRAIN But we may rest assured that as the
wears go by, while these memories will lose
nothing Of their preclousness, they will part
with their sting and bitterness. And 1t seems
| to Inc that the Church Of God which is the
appointed representative of brotherlg love on
this earth, ought To be forward in this good
work of complete reconciliation. What an
| Upportunity Is offered to uS to make the first
| decisive movement in this direction!
| "The overture which has been presented Is
no visionary scheme, based upon n bastard
charity. 1t proposes no compromise with er.
ror. II contenplates no mixture OF heteroge-
neous religious beliefs 1t is rather rccogni-
| ton of that power of combination which Is
| one of the most marked features of our mod
crn civiliZalion-a power which alone has
| rendered possible the fabulous material pros