The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-03-31
Action of the Irish Presbyterian
General Assembly on the
Irish Question.
(Flom the Belfast Witness
THE SPECIAL ASSEMBLY.

The large body of ministers and elders
that attended the special meeting of the
General Assembly on Tuesday last indi-
Gated very clearly the importance of the
crisis which we have reached in the his
tory of this country. Special Assemblies
are not usually very numerously attend
ed. 1t is inc0nvenient, and in many
cases not a little expensive, for many OF
the members to come to Belfast, especial
ly at such an unusually inclement season
as this. But this week there was a
large attendance. Looking at the House
one could have fancied that it was June
again, for the seats set apart for members
were fully occupied-indeed so fully that
between the morning and evening sede-
runts it was found necessary to provide a
larger space for the use of members by
removing the barriers farther back, and
so curtailing the space allotted to the
general public. One could not help re-
marking also the earhestness of the meet
ing. A solemnity and a spirit of self
restraint and of mutual concession pre-.
vailed which could not but strike an on
locker. All seemed to feel that in pre-
sence of the possibilities in reference to
which they had met to deliberate, there
should be drawing together as close as
possible and a sinkingo OF all political and
ecclesiastical differences. We do not
remember any Assembly whose spirit
was more truly admirable 1t was worthy
of the emergency which brought it to-
gether and worthy of Itself.
We are betraying no confidence when
we say that we have heard on all hands
that the same feeling which was so hap
PLY manifested in public prevailed also
In the committee OF the whole House
into which the Assembly at an early
stage wisely resolved itself. Indeed, SO
far as unanimity and moderation are con.
cerned, we believe the entire proceedings
might have been conducted in public
The Assembly was ss unanimous in
lnterLoqtlitur as when in the presence oil
the representatives of the Press, both az
to the topics which should be discussed
and as to the opinions which should he
expressed regarding them. The phrase.
ology of resolutions can be better and
more easily adjusted in committee than
| elsewhere. But we think it is well for
the public to know what we have heard
stated on all hands, that on the entire
questions submitted to it the Assembly
was as unanimous in private as in public
No vote was taken at any stage, because
none was needed. The resolutions which
we're passed are the unanimous deliver
ance OF the Court-unanimous not merely
in form, nor because by argument one
body of the members wac brought tC
yield to another, but unanimous from
the very first by common conviction. II
is not on many subjects That so large
body of men, differing so wild Ely from
each other in political sentiment and
otherwise, could be unanimous. Thai
they we're 80 on Tuesday in regard to all
the phases Of the Irish question is cir
cumstance Of no little significance.
Turning to the resolutions themselves
we think it will be generally acknowl.
edged that they are worthy Of the solemn
occasion which called them forth. In
] the forefront is placed declaration o.