New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-24
BRETHREN NOW AT HEART.
TWO BODIES WITH ONE SPIRIT.
COOPERATION BETWEEN THE ASSEMBLIES
POSSIBLE NOW.
AN ANIMATED DEBATE OVER THE REPORT OF
THE CONFERENCE ooMMIrTEE-DouBTs
WHETHER THE ACTION WILL HASTEN
OR RETARD ORGANIC UNION
THE DISCUSSION TO BE
CONTINUED TODAY.


The General Assembly began its second weea
IN the Fourth Avenue Church yesterday with
It's second great debate. Again II was the eolored
man who caused the discussion-the question
being whether not the Northern Assembly
should cooperate with the Southern Assembly
on questions OF mission work at home and abroad.
osgame union Is the aim OF the Northern Church,
Dut 10 cannot unite alone. Last year the Assembly
went as far as possible toward securing that
end, but hnlf dozen leaders in the Southern
Church still refuse to yield to the demand of
the younger men for union Of the two branches
Of the Church, which is one in origin, one in his
tory, one in doctrine, one in purpose Why IL should
be divided now that all the causes that led
to its separation have passed away is hard
for Northern man 10 understand. But
it is admitted on every hand that forced unioa
would be mistake, and the Assembly last year,
holding that idea, appointed the committee which
reported yesterday. In doing so it adopted the
following:
The Assembly devoutly chcrishes the hone that m.
centennial celebration in which the representatives
OF the two Churches have within the past few days so
cordially united may prove the beginning OF an era
Of closer fellowship and more cortiaI coeperatinn t
The conduct Of their work for Christ and for the unore
smeStIai performance Of this, recommends that the
continued, with Instructions to confer with similar
committee Of the other Assembly, If 1t should be az.
%
work both At homo and abroad, shall open the door
to the fullest and heartiest cooperation.
The Southern Assembly adopted this resolution:
That, in response to the action of the Northern Az
sembly, cheerfully agree TO appoint a committee
whose duty 1t shah be to confer With similar com.
mec nssc "a appointed Gy them IN reference to al such
and edfying.
The chairman of the Conference Committee, DR..
Smith, of Baltimore, read its report last week. and
Oly0 hripn pnu in fa, Of
began in earnest and the earnestness was sus-
taned till the hour for adjournment was reached.
Already one order OF the day had been laid aside,
and in its anxiety TO settle this Southern question
the Assembly decided to take up no other topic
till this is out of the way Besides the Board Of
Church Erection, held over from yesterday, there
are several features assigned foc to-day the reso-
lutionS a change in the Confession of FAITH
being among them. The ioor of the church and
the galleries also are filed at every session OF the
Assembly now. The Importance OF the issues al
stake is felt 10 such an extent that the
large church is far too small to accom-
mOdate the hundreds who desire to hear the de-
bates.
As there was one member Of the Conference Com
mittee who opposed the report favoring co-opera-
ton. because he desires organic union. so on tha
floor OF the Assembly there was division, soma
they were opposed 90 cooperation. The commit
reported that there is cooperation now in the
foreign field the points Of difference being in this
country, especially in the border States The As
Sembly adopted the recommendations made con-
ccrning the work in the home field. One Of them
reads:
That persons connected with churches under the
care OF one OF these Assemble, who may remove into
the bounds Of other churches under the care Of ths
other Assembly. be advised 10 unite with those
lrN n thg nd n~nSn md
where such persons are found in sufficient numbers to
oESHle n ,S SSHh s onS no oeE r aSg s
such organization under the care Of the Prcsbytesy
with which the contiguous Presbyterian churches ara
connected; provided sad PreSbytery belongs either
of these Assemblies.
The man that does not see organic union be-
tween those lines does not read with the spirit
which was manifested when the Assembly took the
vote The recommendations TO be discussed this
morning read:
l. That the relations OF the colored people in the
work amone them 10 proceed on the same lines 80
>. That all proper aid. comfort, and encouragement
IN spin, Of kindly Christian sympathy. brotherhood
tho educational! and evangelzlng efforts Of the other
for the coorsd race with view TO the enc9gTasemen'
3. The schools and churches under Of the Board
on Missions for Freshmen and any corresponding work
Tuscaloo.a Institute for the Education OF Coored MIN
iSicrS, shah be heartily rccommended to the gvers o.
concerIr' in tbs same great missionary work tor the
glory of God and the blessing of our common coultry.
Besides the Southern question, the Board OF
Education and the greeting OF franrnnl delegates
received the attention of the Assembly yester-
day. DIR. Roberts hope that the time would soon
come when the Presbyterian Church and the Re-
formed Dutch Church would be united, won
generous applause While the commissioners are
busy in the Assembly the women Of the Church
are not idle, and large meetings are held daily IN
the Madison Square Church, where the gratifying
results OF wcman's work for woman are shown
Reunions and dinners not forgotten either In
tho rush of business. Tomorrow, after brief
session, the Assembly will 60 on special train to
Princeton 10 inspect the buildings, visit the
cemetery and watch an intercollegiate oaIsame-
il they desire 10 do SO.
SYSTEMATIC BENEFICENCE!