New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-07
CORDIAL SYMPATHY NECESSARY.
THE MODERATOR OF THE NEw-YoRK PRES
BYTERY THINKS THE TINE FOR UNION
HAS NOT COME YET.


HAS NOT COME YET.
The Rev. A. W. Halsey. tho pastor OF ,tho
Spring Street Presbyterian Church. Of this city,
is the moderator of the New-York Prosbytery To a
Tribune reporter he gave this opinion in regard to the
proposed union OF the churches North and South:
The time is not ripe for organic union between
the Northern and Southern churches; there are too
many delicate questions involved and too many con-
hcting interests which tlmD alone can settle. We
need organic comity-s mutual unders landing and
CO operation along al lines Of church work sat
for four years In college by the side Of Southern
man. Presbyterian, and a fine fellow; It VIII take
generation before he is ready for union, and he
fairly represents the attitude OF tho southern Church
The North has numbers wealth, position of advantage
for aggressive work her attitude should be friendly
Co operative and yielding whee this is possible. A
Grand Army OF tho Republic Post has asked permits
sion to hold Decoration Day services In the Spring
Street Church; permission has been granted on con-
dton that tho collection, instead Of being devoted
10 the funds OF tho Post, as last year at similar
service shall be given to the eX-Confederate Soldiers
Home at Austin, Tex. II every Presbyterian church
in the North would do likewise the question OF or
ganic union would soon settle itself We do not want
to spend time brushing flies off ombstones whom
there are tigers prowIing around the graveyard; II
we together fight tho tigers the dead issues VIII take
care Of themselves"
How far can cooperation be carried out?"
Gas Northern capital and Northern enterprise are
pushing into tho South tho Northern Church should
wherever the way Is opened cooperate with the South
ern Church in It's work have been assured by q
member Of the committee appointed 10 inquire INTO
the affairs Of the Freedmens Board that the Judgment
OF the committee is strongly in favor OF continuing
this Board and not Of consolidating 1t with the work
NJ the Home Board The color line, which runs
through Presbytory and synod In the South Is marked
one and for the present cannot be oblitcrated. In
the work of the Home and Foreign boards there should
be cordial and hearty sympathy, and not miserable
outbblng over questions where there conscientious
difference of opinion. The conference Of the Assem-
blIes' committees viii 10 keep the subject before
tho Church, awaken new interest, clear away non
essential differences and lead, perchance, TO some
definite steps toward ultimate union. But It Is
very doubtful an organic union is practicable or even
desirable now
WHAT A NORTHERN EDITOR HAS 10 SAY
In "The New-York Observer recently there was
an editorial article on the advlsabIy Of uniting the
Assemblies in which this paragraph occurred:
alt Is true that the Southern people have great
practical question regard TO the relations Of the
colored people, which they must settle In their own
way They arc not willing to place themselves in
position whore their liberty IN this respect